The Wrong Date

double-decker buses crawling down the street below into streaks of crimson. Inside the third

and knees. If I have to go on this date, I w

d velvet sofa, a half-empty mug of tea resting near her knee, her fingers flying

ice dry, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Last month you said you'd rat

hrough the cushions that nearly spilled Celine's tea. Kylie clutched her hands

friend's nephew. He's bound to be eighty years old, smells like mothballs and

kets to the theatre tonigh

lly turning to look at her roommate. "You're ditching a high-society blind date fo

don't care about the guy's money. I just need you to go in my place. Just step in, sit down

en. "Impersonating you sounds like a legal liability. Plus, I'm in my

eye" Kylie leaned closer, her voice dropping into a cons

afford my d

ng

She didn't reach for it immediately, but Ky

on. Check your

fication banner from her banking app hovered at the top of her lock screen. She

wing at the top of the hist

- Transfer f

oked back at the screen, double-checking the zeroes just to make sure he

r voice dropping an octave. "Wh

o strings attached, the second you put a coat on and walk out

hs of her share of the rent. That was a weekend trip to Italy. Tha

t a low, theatrical gasp, blinking knowingly at her bes

dripping with dramatic realiza

hands together. "It is an ethical compe

dden, decisive click and setting it onto the table. "For two grand, I will not onl

Celine by the wrists, pulling her up out of her blanket nest. "Come on,

me, and cosmetics. If Celine was going to play the role of an unbearable

tearing through her closet. She pulled out a sleek, emerald-green slip dr

supposed to sabotage?" Celine asked, wincing sligh

ision. "You look like a million bucks when you walk in. Stunning. Classy. And then the second you open your mouth; you act

sting sharply with her pale skin and dark hair. Kylie handed her a pair of gold hoop earr

ed, checking her screen. "My

!" Kylie handed over a pa

intimidating than she felt ten minutes ago in her baggy grey tracksuit. She gra

toward the front door of the flat while careful

against the doorframe with a triumphant gri

ne started down the stairwell. "The table number, the name on the res

oice echoing in the stairwell. "Prepare to receive a

a blurred canvas of neon signs, glowing streetlights, and couples huddled under oversized umbrellas. Inside, Celine

om Kylie

er: act completely self-absorbed, talk about yourself constantly, order the most expe

prospect of acting like a total eccentric, surprisingly entertaining. Whatever excuse Kylie had cooked up to avoid her mother's relentless matchmakin

to the kerb outsid

the pavement, flanked by two towering iron torches flickering with gas flame. A doorman dressed in a crisp wool overcoat stepped

he doorman said with pra

er blazer tighter around her shoulders

te clinking of crystal glasses, and the faint, rich scent of truffle and aged oak. Soft lighting bathed the dining room in a warm,

t be living on instant coffee and freelance paychecks, but in

do approached her, his posture straight as

artin," the waiter said, his voice smooth a

mall, cool smile.

shing with a sudden, heightened level of respect. Room

t this way, madam. P

or lined with fine art and subtle recessed lighting. The air grew quieter the further t

ade of dark walnut with a discreet

ad slightly, pushing the door open for her just wide

tepped past the heavy door, an

g view of a rain-soaked private courtyard illuminated by soft garden lights. A long, dark

e head of the ta

cks, her heart skipping a

h he wanted everyone to notice. Instead, sitting right there, swirling a glass of deep red wine betwee

t he carried the powerful, unmistakabl

harp precision, and a razor-clean jawline. The light caught his sharp cheekbones and

catching in her throat as she stared at him. This man

ed her mind. But then she remembered the two grand sitting in her account

of her shoes clicking softly against the h

lvet chair opposite him and sliding into it with effortless grace. S

trailing over her-from the crimson's lipstick, down the length of the emerald dress, and back up

across his broad chest, looking at her like a

echoed softly in the quiet room. "What can I do for yo

as the sheer audacity of his words hung in the air. She blinked,

ith a look of pure, sweet amusement.

shed, replaced by a look of sheer, cold confusion. He tilted his head, his dark eye

deep baritone dropping an octave