SLOAN
I crossed my arms across my chest. “I’m not fucking you.”
Caleb took a step back as his eyebrows flew up and his eyes widened in shock. “Uh, no. Nothing sexual.” He shook his head as if the idea was crazy.
I dropped my arms. “Okay.” But did he have to look so revolted? I was a cute girl. Plenty of guys wanted to fuck me. “What do you want then?”
“A girlfriend.”
I looked Caleb up and down. This guy didn’t need help getting a girlfriend. He was about six-two tawny colored hair and these big hazel eyes. I loved big eyes on men, but I would never share that with Caleb. He also had a very nice body. Muscular but not too much. Slim and trim was what I called his type. Basically, he was hot. The problem was, he probably knew it, which was why I’d stayed away from him. I’d had one too many things go wrong when it came to sexy guys.
I snorted. “I didn’t think you had trouble finding women.”
“I don’t,” he said with a bite. “But it’s more complicated than that.”
Oh. The plot thickens.
“Do tell.”
“No. Not until you agree.”
I snorted. “You’re crazy.”
The sound of Neil screaming cut through the air.
Caleb and I ran to the screen door and looked outside. Neil stood with a broom in his hand and a pile of Silly String at his feet.
“My car is ruined!” Neil yelled. “My paint.”
I saw Caleb look down at me from the corner of my eye. “I bet you didn’t know Silly String could ruin a paint job.”
I’d read that in my research, but in every prank I’d seen on the internet, nothing had happened to the cars. I’d thought the Silly String had to sit on the paint a long time. A couple of hours wasn’t going to do it. That was why we’d used brake fluid.
I continued looking out the door, neither confirming nor denying anything.
Caleb narrowed his eyes. “I take that back. I bet you did know that Silly String could ruin a car.” He looked outside again. “But … I got here around five thirty. It hasn’t been there long enough to do any real damage, which means …”
Oh jeez. The guy was good-looking and smart.
“You two did something on purpose to ruin the paint.”
“You can stop thinking now,” I told him.
Caleb burst out laughing.
“What do you want?”
“I already told you. I need you to play my girlfriend for a little while.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’m no lawyer or police officer, but I’m pretty sure that’s vandalism right there.”
“So?” I looked up at Caleb. “I’d rather get arrested than pretend to date you.”
He put a hand on his chest. “Ouch,” he said mockingly.
I looked back outside. Neil was furious, just the way we’d wanted him to be.
“So, that’s it?” Caleb said. “You’d rather go to jail than go on a few dates with me.”
“Yep. And I’m sure I’d only have to pay a fine. I highly doubt I’d go to jail.”
I saw Caleb shrug.
“Okay. Have it your way. But, remember, you’re taking your friend down with you.”
My eyes darted to Mel. She was chewing on her lip, and I knew her well enough to know she felt guilty. And the thought of the police showing up and questioning her, possibly putting her in handcuffs, made my stomach twist. I couldn’t do that to her.
“How many dates?” I asked. “And when?”
“Ten. And the first date is tomorrow at my boss’s house.”
I looked at him. “Ten? You’re out of your mind. I’ll give you two.”
Caleb shook his head. “No way. Ted will want to see you with me more than twice, or he’ll know something’s up. Eight.”
“Three.”
“Seven.”
“Four.”
“Five. Or I open this door right now and tell Neil it was you.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Fine. Five dates, and then we never have to see each other again.”
He held out his hand. “Five dates only.”
I shook it. “Five dates only.”
