If Kellan was at all surprised to see her, Alexa couldn't tell. He stood up and pulled out the chair beside him.

It took her a few seconds to realize it was for her.

"Thank you," she said, sitting down. They were supposed to be lovers. Right. But she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt him lean over her shoulder.

"You look beautiful," he said, then lowered his voice into a whisper. "But that's not the dress I got you."

She smiled at him, trying to ignore the closeness of his lips to hers. Any closer and he would be able to hear the nervous pounding of her heart. "I pick my own clothes, thank you, Mr. Butler," she whispered back.

"Very well."

"Everton Blake," said the Englishman beside her, offering his hand.

"Alexa Diaz," she said, and shook it. "I'm so sorry to be late."

"Not at all, dear," said Paige. "I hope everything's all right?"

"All right?" Alexa said, puzzled.

"With your family. Kellan said there was an emergency?"

How on earth did he know? "Yes. Well, I had to take my grandmother to the hospital. She had a slight fever."

Paige's brow furrowed. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"She'll be okay. They just need to keep her under observation overnight."

"Well, we're happy you can join us," said Everton. "I apologize if Kellan and I talk a bit of business over lunch."

"It's fine," Alexa said. She took a menu card from their server, smiling in thanks.

"So ... I changed my mind," Alexa said, speaking as low as she could. She held up the menu card to try to obscure her face from their lunch companions.

Kellan studied his own menu. "It would appear so," he said, not bothering to keep his voice down.

She shot him a sharp look.

"Whatever are you two whispering about?" Everton said. He looked at them with an amused expression.

Paige was quiet, but Alexa could sense her watching them with more than just a casual interest.

"Nothing," she said. "It's just —"

"Alexa and I made a bet," Kellan cut in smoothly.

"A bet?" Paige's eyebrow arched. "I never knew you to be a betting man, darling." She set an elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm. "Tell me more."

"It's nothing, really," Alexa said. She gave Kellan a warning look.

"Unfortunately, I can't divulge the details right now," Kellan said, turning to Alexa, "However, it looks like I owe her ... five hundred dollars."

"You bet more than that, Kellan, honey," Alexa said, smiling amicably at him.

"The previous arrangement, sweetheart, was a thousand dollars and only because it involved a certain amount of ... nudity."

"I say," Everton said, looking amused. "That sounds like such an interesting bet."

Alexa cleared her throat. "You could say that," she said. "But Kellan, that previous arrangement lasted fifteen minutes. This one is longer, and more ... confrontational."

"Fifteen minutes you say?" Paige said, raising an eyebrow.

"It was unsustainable for longer than that," Alexa said, nodding her head. "In fact—"

"Fine," Kellan said before she could say anything more. "Twelve hundred then?"

"Fifteen hundred," Alexa said. "Or you and I are never making a bet again." She turned back to look at her menu card. "Ever," she added under her breath.

She started reading the menu, trying to look casual, as she waited for him to reply.

The silence seemed to stretch on for ages, and she began to feel nervous. Maybe he now thought this whole thing wasn't worth it?

"I suppose a deal is a deal."

"One day you'll need to tell us about this bet, Kellan," Everton said. "I'm utterly intrigued."

"Now, sweetie," Paige said. "Let's let these two keep their secrets. I'm starving." She turned to their server. "I'm in the mood for some lobster today. Is the Maine Lobster Salad still good?"

"As good as ever, Ms. Mansfield," said the server. "The lobster catch this year has been quite excellent."

Now that she and Kellan had settled on the price for this "date", Alexa was finally able to relax and actually read the menu instead of using it as a prop. Dios mio, these prices were highway robbery. The price of a lobster salad was almost as much as she paid the last time she got groceries. "I'll have a ..." She spotted the cheapest entree on the menu. "... a chicken sandwich."

"All right, Madame. And how about some soup?" the server suggested.

"Just the sandwich, please."

"So, Kellan, I guess congratulations are in order," Everton said, once the server had left after taking their orders.

Kellan raised an eyebrow.

"That piece on Forbes," Everton said. "Thirty under thirty. They had you in the list of exceptional tech entrepreneurs. Well done."

"Thank you," Kellan said. "That wasn't my idea, though. My business partner thought it would be good promotion for the company."

"Kell dislikes being interviewed by the press," Paige said. "Absolutely detests it."

"Weren't you on that list too, Paige?" Kellan said softly. "I didn't know you were planning on doing humanitarian work for refugees until I read the article."

"Yes, I'll be moving around Europe a bit. I won't be back here for months, I'm afraid." She patted Kellan's hand that was resting on the table. "I'll miss you, Kell." She cocked her head and looked at Alexa. "You'll take care of him while I'm gone, won't you Alexa?"

"I'll, uh," Alexa said, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. "I'll do my best."

"Oh, I'm sure Kellan can visit you sometime," Everton said.

"Will you?" Paige said.

Kellan looked at her quietly for what seemed like forever. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your work," he said.

"How considerate of you, darling."

Alexa ran her index finger up and down the stem of her water glass, staring at the drops of condensation dripping down its sides as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Anything was better than having to watch this awkward exchange in front of her.

"So you're from here, then?"

She looked up. Everton was looking at her curiously, but his smile was friendly.

"I've lived in L.A. all my life," she said. "You're from London?"

"Yes. Paige and I have known each other forever," Everton said. "You ever been there?"

She shook her head. "I don't get to travel much."

"Well if you do drop by, give me a ring. Paige and I will be delighted to show you around."

Right. The idea of cruising around a foreign European city with Bertie Wooster and Posh Spice sounded only slightly more fun than getting stabbed with a rusty knife. "Yeah, sure. Totally."

"I wonder if you'll get Kellan here to come with you," Paige said. "I don't have much luck in that area, but maybe you'll be more persuasive."

From the way the young woman looked at her, it didn't seem Paige was openly hostile at all. However Alexa could sense her curiosity had been heightened. It was as though Paige was trying to figure out what exactly she was to her fiancé. A casual lover? A mistress?

"We'll see," she said, smiling. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room."

***

Alexa didn't have much time to get dolled up before showing up for lunch. A little powder, a little blush and a bit of lipstick was all she had on. It didn't matter. There was no way she could compete with Paige anyway, no matter how much make-up she put on.

In the powder room, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. What the hell was she doing? It was even more uncomfortable now that she actually had to look Paige in the eye and lie about dating Kellan. And she was lying — letting the woman believe she was sleeping with her fiancée — even if she never said it outright.

She sighed and retouched her lipstick. This would be the last time she was doing this. No amount of money could justify the guilt she felt, not even if she needed it to pay for abuela's medical care.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts on her way back to their table that she didn't see Kellan until she nearly bumped into him.

"Oh hey," she said. "I was just on my way back."

"I'll need your phone number," he said.

She pursed her lips. "You won't need it. Look, Mr. Butler, you've been really generous, but this will have to be the last time we do this."

"Alexa—"

She didn't let him finish. "It's one thing to pretend to be asleep in your bed, and something else to actually lie about our ... relationship to your fiancée's face."

"Fine."

"Oh?" That was easier than she thought.

"Yes. This is clearly not working."

"I'm sorry?" She frowned. "Are you saying Paige isn't buying it?"

"Paige is. You aren't."

"Huh?" What was he talking about? "I showed up, didn't I?"

He stepped closer and put a hand in his pocket. "I think the longer we carry on this charade in front of her, the less she'll be convinced. It's best if we pretend we're seeing each other without her actually seeing us together. Which is why I need your phone number." He pulled out a mobile phone and looked at her expectantly.

"I guess I'm just not that good an actress." She gave him her phone number. "You know what the problem is with this setup, don't you?"

"No, what?" He looked up at her as he put the phone back in his pocket.

"You can't fake intimacy."

"People do that all the time, Alexa. My parents have been faking intimacy for as long as I can remember. Let's go."

Alexa touched his arm as he was turning, and he stopped. "What?" he said.

She ignored the impatient tone in his voice. "Have you ever imagined me naked?" she asked him.

Kellan frowned. "Of course not. Why would I—"

She was glad she was wearing high heels. It made it easier for her to reach up and pull his head down. The last thing she remembered was the heady scent of cologne on his skin before her mouth found his.

It had been a long time, but Kellan could swear kissing a woman was never this ... pleasurable.

Sweet.

Warm.

Alexa's lips moved slowly, taking in his lower lip. She nibbled it, as though tasting him, before her mouth parted to take in his tongue.

She moaned softly, pressing her lips harder against his kiss.

He felt her breasts move over his chest, and before he realized what he was doing his hands were gripping her waist. He thought he was going to push her away, before they went too far. But it was as though he couldn't stop his fingers from exploring the soft, firm curves of her backside.

When he sensed she was trying to pull away, and he let go of her reluctantly.

He opened his eyes to see her staring up at him, her eyes bright and her face flushed.

"Don't worry," she said. "I won't do that again."

Kellan stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Good," he said.

"I thought I could ... fake intimacy better if I knew what you tasted like," Alexa said. She smiled and took one step back. "We should get back before your fiancée thinks we've run off together."