Playing the Perfect Boyfriend (Gone Hollywood) (7 page)

“Lunch break. Is your mom gone, and if so, are you busy? Actually, I don’t care if your mom is gone or not as long as you have the time to spare.”

Vicky laughed. “Home alone and always busy, but I’m also eating for two, so I don’t skip food. I don’t have time to drive into Studio City, though. If you’d told me earlier—”

“Not a problem, I’m in Brentwood already.” In fact, she was speeding through the streets as fast as traffic would allow. She needed to talk to her best friend like she needed sex.

No. Bad comparison, Jade. You’re having enough sex. Too much sex. Maybe you should need something else for once.

“Uh oh. This sounds like lunch in. Want me to order something?”

“Pregnant woman’s choice.”

“And that sounds like you want a drink ready when you get here. I’m on it.” Vicky clicked off before Jade responded. There was no need for her to say anything. She and Vicky were the kind of friends who were almost always on the same wavelength. Sometimes they fell out of sync, but this was more common—knowing exactly what the other one needed and making that happen.

Jade did her best not to feel guilty that she hadn’t been that sort of friend during their last lunch out, but she’d make it up to Vicky. There was no one in her life who mattered more than her best friend. It felt like it took forever to make it to Vicky and Dante’s place, but she turned in just as the delivery guy pulled out of the drive. As had always been their way, she knocked and then strode right through the door.

“Vicky?”

“In the kitchen!”

Safe. Jade was safe here. There would be no men, no distractions, no way she could do anything but have a seat and calmly analyze what the hell she was doing. Down the hall and to the left, and there was her drink, sitting on the edge of the counter where Vicky stood dumping Mongolian beef and rice into bowls. After taking a heavenly sip, Jade waved at the food. “This is what you’re craving?”

“It’s Dante’s kid—apparently the fire thing is genetic.”

Jade grabbed plates, silverware, and napkins and laid them out on the opposite end of the table from where Vicky’s computer and binders sat. “You weren’t kidding about being busy.” Shit. She shouldn’t have come here. It wasn’t fair to dump this on her.

Vicky waved her off and sat at the end of the table. “It’s nothing. I’m just trying to line everything up so I can train my new assistant planner.”

“Assistant? You hired someone?”

“It was on the to-do list before I got pregnant. Kind of became a necessity after. But we aren’t here to talk about me, or party planning. What’s going on with you? Because the kind of panic that would drive you to Brentwood on the chance I was here and available can’t be good.”

“I think I made a huge mistake.”

“Well, I’m going to feed the baby while you tell me all about it. And make sure you’re eating something, too, otherwise I’m likely to finish all this on my own.” She scooped up a healthy serving of rice then smothered it in beef, leeks, and sauce.

Jade didn’t waste time and dove right into the details of being caught by Isak and the subsequent plan to make him believe she was, indeed, ready to settle down. “And this morning, Isak called. He wants to get together with Dean and me this weekend.”

“First, I can’t believe you’re fucking a twenty-four-year-old.”

“Funny. My best friend is only twenty-six, but I guess age differences in friendship are allowed?” Was Vicky seriously judging her right now? Over
that
?

“Sex is different. If you were a new teacher, he could be your student.”

“No he couldn’t, because he’s
twenty-four
. He’s legal and has been for several years. Can we deal with the bigger issues?” Jade rubbed her forehead then pushed her drink aside. A headache was building, and the last thing she needed on top of that was a buzz, no matter how mild it would be.

“Fine.” But from the sound of Vicky’s voice it was anything but fine. “Here’s the deal, if you want to be with Isak, you’re right that you need to get him to see you as girlfriend material again, and I’m not sure how you’re supposed to pull that off while pretending to be with Dean.”

Jade stabbed a piece of meat and shifted it around on her plate. “I’m not, either, though when he caught us, I didn’t have much time to come up with a better plan. I thought I had it all figured out. I’d make sure Dean and I were seen out together and that we’d make it obvious it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Then we’d break up spectacularly, and I could run to Isak.”

“Okay. I suppose I can see him being the guy who would go for that. He has a bit of the white knight about him. So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is the media isn’t following the plan.” She and Dean had been seen out plenty. Jade had been on the receiving end of more camera flashes the past few days than she had been her entire life. Yet, somehow, the images that surfaced didn’t make them look like a couple on the verge of imploding. “Everything that’s coming out, every picture, every story, is about how
happy
we act when we’re out and how this could be another Tinsel Town Cinderella romance. My life has become the world’s most ridiculous rom-com, and I don’t know how to get back on track.”

Of course, that might have something to do with how much she enjoyed being around Dean, but she needed their public appearances to start following the damn program.

“Didn’t you have the fairy tale romance thing with Isak the first time around, too? Why would this be different?”

Because she was an idiot? Because things
never
went according to plan? Her last name should have been fucking Murphy. “Isak never did the club scene. He doesn’t do premieres unless he has to. I think we were seen together in public once, coming out of the fucking grocery store. Isak’s a homebody, so when we were with each other, it was takeout, Netflix, and sex.”

Silence fell on the table, and Jade stuffed the speared chunk of meat into her mouth, chewing and tasting nothing. Vicky set her fork down and steepled her fingers. “Speaking of that, but with regard to dear Dean, how’s the sex?”

“What?” Jade said, another bite poised in front of her lips. How did they jump from public sightings to this? “The sex is amazing. Like mind-blowing amazing.” She moved the fork toward her mouth and stopped again. “Why did you ask?”

“Because, bestie, sex is near the tip-top of your list of favorite things. If your younger man is giving you great sex, of course you’re going to be happy as hell when you’re with him. He’s pushing all your favorite buttons.”

She was right, and it wasn’t just the sex, either. Dean wasn’t like most guys who either raced off at the first hint of something shiny or their polar opposite who needed to be by her side at all times. He struck the balance between those perfectly. Why wouldn’t she be happy, other than she was supposed to be wooing a different guy? And they
had
to be seen in public, which meant she couldn’t break things off with Dean. Otherwise Isak wouldn’t be able to see them fall apart. Her fork clattered against the plate as it fell. “What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”

“You still have several weeks, and the two of you had a deal. So, have your sex, enjoy your sex, but if you’re serious about giving Isak a second chance, you need to start looking for the things that make Dean the absolute wrong guy. You’re bathing in new-relationship energy with him right now. Everything is shiny and awesome, but
everyone
has faults. You just need to find his and let them claw their way into your mind until the negatives start outweighing the positives.”

Jade nodded briskly. She could do that, and it was probably why Vicky had brought up the age difference in the first place. She could see it now, too. The difference might not matter today, when it was all sex and fun and games, but it would eventually.

God. What the hell had I been thinking? That maybe I was made for a guy like Dean instead of one like Isak? I can only imagine the looks on poor Bob and Susan Hartley’s faces when their gorgeous young son brings home the older woman for the holidays.

She needed to be smarter than that. Dean was amazing, and he’d make some woman very happy…it just wasn’t supposed to be her. Sucking in a breath filled with determination, Jade picked up her fork again. “Thank you, Vicky. I knew I could count on you to be a voice of reason.”

“Isn’t that what friends are for? Honestly, the only thing I want in all this is for you to find your happiness. After everything you went through with your parents, I want you to finally wake up every morning like I do—with a smile on your face because you can’t believe this is your life. And I think Isak can give that to you.”

No, he couldn’t; he never had. But Vicky was right that he could repair some of the damage done during her childhood. Isak could make her feel safe, secure in the knowledge that he’d
be there
in the morning. In the end, that was what Jade really needed, and it would have to be enough.

Chapter Seven

Nearly two weeks with Jade and Dean had almost managed to forget that he was the fake boyfriend. Tha
t all changed
when Saturday rolled around and Jade politely reminded him, “Don’t forget about dinner tonight.”

He glanced up from the couch where he’d been going over his script while she dealt with some emails. “I was thinking that new Italian place. I can make reservations.”

Her fingers paused, hovering over the keyboard like birds stopped midflight, then she turned, her brows pulled together. “We have dinner…with Isak.”

Oh. That.

“I totally forgot.”
On purpose
. “What time are we doing that again?”

She gave a heavy sigh—the first sign of irritation he’d ever seen from her. “Seven. We made these plans on Wednesday. How could you have forgotten already?”

“Don’t get your fur ruffled, kitten. I got distracted. I’ll make sure I’m ready in time.” He’d even brought over a jacket and tie for this clusterfuck. Jade’s frown hadn’t disappeared, though, and try as he might, he was having a tough time not responding to the negativity that seemed to be seeping from her pores. This wasn’t like her. He wasn’t sure what had changed, but something definitely had.

Time to get back in her good graces, and quickly. Which meant doing the one thing he’d never had to do with her before—put on his nice-guy facade. It felt like slipping into a pair of perfect-fitting shoes that he hated.

Setting his script aside, he stood and strode to the bar, easing his hands up her arms, gently kneading her muscles. “I’m sorry I forgot about the dinner. It’s really nothing to get upset about. I’m here. I have my clothes here. There’s plenty of time before we have to leave.”

“So you think I’m being irrational?”

When had he said that? So much for her not needing to be handled with kid gloves.

Pretend for Jade
.

He shook off the thought violently. She had never asked that of him, not really. This was his decision, even if he wished he’d never felt the need to do it. “No. I think you’re tense and upset at me, and I don’t like you tense or upset. All I’m saying is, yes, I fucked up and forgot. I will, however, still be there and still be your doting fake boyfriend, just like you asked me to be.” Beneath his fingers, her shoulders slumped as the fight vanished from her. “Is there more to it?”

She didn’t answer, but her gaze shifted to the floor.

They’d never shut down on each other like this before. He didn’t like it, but at least this was real enough he was able to shed the forced persona. He
didn’t
want her upset. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” And the damn tightness was back. Across her shoulders. Through her jaw. In her voice.

It was different, but somehow this was like a new and unimproved version of how she acted when Isak Alfredsson had stumbled upon them outside her studio. The woman who embraced life and shunned filters disappeared. She became an actress playing a role, and no matter how readily he fell into character, too, he couldn’t keep up. Not when he didn’t have a copy of the damn script for whatever this was.

The silence must have done her in, because she finally said, “I just feel like if you can’t remember dinner plans for three days, how are you going to remember anything important? Like what we’re doing all this for?”

He remembered—all too well—he just didn’t like it. “Look. I care about you. I
like
you. Ask me your favorite color, your childhood pets’ names, your favorite subject in school—I can answer all of those things, because they’re part of you, and you’re the singular most intriguing woman I’ve ever known. But Alfredsson? He’s just the guy you want to move to Sweden for. The only way I care about him is because he matters to you. I don’t have any issues apologizing for forgetting about dinner, but I won’t apologize for him not being my priority.”

“But he’s mine.”

Which pissed Dean off more than he wanted to give voice to. But this was getting ridiculous. “And you’re mine. I will follow all the rules you set, but
he
doesn’t matter to me. Alfredsson is your part of this arrangement.”

“Here I thought you and I were in this together.” She twisted away from him and stalked toward the bedroom.

Were they fighting? Did faux couples actually get to have fights? He strode after her, all hints of his public persona gone as irritation set in. “I thought you only wanted a one-night stand, too, but here we are. You asked me to help you, and I’m doing that, but you do not have the right to demand I care about the guy who willingly walked away from you two years ago. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the dumbest ass on the planet.”

She shot him a look of abject horror, her mouth hanging open and her hand going to her throat. The message was clear—she thought he’d ruin all her insanely stupid plans.

“I’m an actor, kitten. I can sure as hell pretend I think otherwise, but if you’re going to push for my real feelings on the subject, here they are: he doesn’t fucking deserve you.”

“And you know me so well that you think you get to make that call?”

He knew her well enough to know she was less of a person when she was around Isak Alfredsson, and that was enough to make him hate the bastard.

Dean glanced around the room where they’d spent every night of the last two weeks lounging in each other’s embrace, where he’d spent two weeks falling for her. He should have known it wouldn’t last. Nothing good ever did.

His gaze fell on the bag from the sex shop. There were still things in there they hadn’t tried, but for once, he wasn’t in the mood. Sex now would be cheap and dirty—and not in the fun way. “A few minutes ago, I thought about suggesting we come in here and work off some of your nerves about dinner, but if he’s what you really want, Jade, maybe that’s not the best idea.”

“Right. You’re telling me you’re going to give up sex.”

“Sorry, but sex with a woman who’s thinking about her future with some other guy doesn’t really appeal.” He spun on his heel and walked through the doorway. “I’m getting back to work. I’ll be ready for your little charade later, but I’d prefer to shower alone tonight.”

…

Three hours later, Jade still wanted to throw up. She’d taken Vicky’s advice, hunted for a flaw, and jumped on the first one to appear. He’d forgotten about dinner, and she’d turned t
hat into the most ridiculous fight ever. But she didn’t know how to fix it—not if she wanted to continue with the plan. She’d pushed Dean away so hard that she couldn’t be sure tonight wouldn’t be their explosive “breakup.” Isak would have a front-row seat, and she…

She wouldn’t know how to react.

Dean had been perfectly polite since the fight. Polite, and cold as a sexy block of ice. It was like some shadow version of the guy he was when surrounded by fans. From the outside, everything looked normal, but to anyone who knew him—
to her
—he was all wrong.

She wished it were something physical that she could fix—reach out and adjust it like she would if he were in front of her camera. However, he looked impeccable in the perfectly tailored gray suit and crisp white shirt. The tie brought out the green in his eyes until she was pretty sure they matched her own. Or would have normally. Tonight hers were too green, too bright, like she’d been crying, even though she hadn’t. That would have been easier than this, but she wasn’t childish enough to cry over a stupid fight with her fake boyfriend.

It didn’t stop her eyes from showing the strain, though.

Without a word—not that there had been many since getting in the car—Dean pulled into a parking space, bypassing the valet as she’d requested, threw the shifter into park, and pulled the key from the ignition. He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, his entire body shuddered for a second.

Then he turned to her with a perfectly pleasant—but not excessive—smile on his face. “Let’s get this party started.”

The actor was in play and, fight or not, she missed her fake boyfriend. She didn’t have any idea who this Dean was. Suddenly chilly, she tugged her wrap tighter around her shoulders and climbed from the car. When Dean offered his arm, she paused, her gaze darting toward the restaurant then back to him. “I…can’t do this.”

He tipped his head, brows knitting together like he was actually confused. “Can’t do what?”

Shaking her head, she took a step away from him. “I can’t do
this
with us fighting. I can’t go in there and pretend everything is peaches and cream when you’re playing a role. I’m not an actor, Dean. I can lie if I have to, but I hate it. I’d rather call dinner off and leave Isak sitting there alone than go through this charade.”

Her breath was coming too fast, desperate, ragged. It was like being thirteen all over again, watching as her mom faded before her very eyes. No. She couldn’t do that again,
wouldn’t
do that again.

Dean stepped close and wrapped his hands around her upper arms, grabbing her attention, making her focus—on him. His face and bearing were softer now, not the too-perfect smile or the rehearsed lines. The guy she’d met in her studio was back. His eyes searched hers and his voice was gentle when he said, “This whole thing is a lie. You know that, right? You were so afraid he’d turn tail if he knew the truth—that you are a woman who enjoys sex and isn’t interested in settling down to raise kids or puppies or whatever—that you concocted this. I’m just along for the ride.”

Because Isak would have realized nothing about her had changed. That she still couldn’t promise him the forever he craved, even if she wanted the security that came with it. She’d told him to go once, and he would’ve seen no reason to stick around now. She wasn’t broken this time.

Isak had thought he’d saved her from herself two years ago. Right after getting the news that her mother had been killed by a drunk driver, Jade had sunk into a horrible depression over things left unsaid between them, wounds left unhealed. She’d been a mess until the day Isak walked into her life—her knight in shining armor. His unwavering attention helped lure her out of the depressive spiral, but he’d wanted to fulfill his role and rescue her, not just from her demons but from her life. Jade hadn’t been ready to be saved, not like that.

Hell, she wasn’t sure she was ready now, but she wanted to know. She
needed
to know.

Shaking off memories better left buried, she honed in on what Dean had said about Isak turning tail. “You’re making him sound like a dog.”

“One with a goddamn bone, most likely.” His jaw clenched as he glared toward the restaurant—toward Isak. This wasn’t anger about earlier.

Was he…
jealous
?

“And you’re upset that I want to be his bitch.”

Sucking in a breath, Dean traced the curve of her cheek with the back of his hand. “Yes, but more than that, kitten, I’m upset that you would ever think of yourself as anyone’s bitch.”

Flaws. She was supposed to find fault with Dean, but damn it, he was making it hard. Sure, he got frustrated with her, maybe a little jealous of Isak—if she could call it that. But even the blowup this afternoon had been contrived to a point. She’d been hunting for something—
anything
—wrong with him. His reaction had been to sink into the role everyone seemed to want him to play. Everyone but her.

The reality was Dean’s biggest fault was that he wasn’t Isak, he wasn’t the kind guaranteed to stick around when the going got tough. What he was, though, was one of the best guys she’d ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Maybe this would have been easier if that weren’t true.

Sighing away her tension, she linked her arm in his. “Thank you. You know bitch isn’t the insult it once was, right?”

Snorting as he wove them through parked cars, Dean gave an exaggerated exhale. “Can you please just work with me on this? No bitches. No bitching. No riding bitch. No—”

Jade laughed, which had likely been his goal. “Got it. Bitches, bad. Kittens, good.”

“And if a certain kitten is very good, I’m willing to forget that stupid fight ever happened this afternoon. At least if she is.”

Even with the olive branch only inches away, Jade lunged for it. “Definitely.”

Five yards later, they were inside the Red Lantern, and Jade inhaled the succulent aroma of spices, bread, and meat. She’d been dying to come here since the place opened, but a reservation for one had seemed stupid, and this wasn’t exactly the kind of lunch spot she and Vicky frequented.

She spied Isak waiting in a booth near the far corner. For a moment, she stood there, waiting for something to hit her, some flutter of excitement, but it didn’t. She felt calm, centered, but not much more so than she had after making up with Dean in the parking lot. Then again, this wasn’t about fire and excitement, it never had been. Dean was fire; Isak was water. It was a difference she’d just need to get used to.

She’d paused too long already, so she nodded in Isak’s direction. “There he is.”

No longer distracted by sorting out her emotional reaction, she let Dean lead the way and took in the restaurant. Rich cherry paneling was highlighted by burgundy damask that reached to a copper-tiled ceiling. The gilding overhead was echoed in copper-framed mirrors placed strategically along the walls, opening the space and making the intimate setting feel much larger. Cordovan leather booths tied everything together exquisitely.

Isak unfolded himself from the booth and pulled Jade into a hug. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He only embraced her for a brief second, backing off quickly and nodding to acknowledge Dean’s claim. Like he owned her just because they were dating. It made Jade’s skin prickle.

“Dean, wasn’t it?” he asked.

“Was. Still is.” The showman was back in place—perfectly polite and smiling—but at least it wasn’t directed at her now. “It’s nice to meet you under less awkward circumstances than last time.” He reached out his hand, and when they shook, they held onto each other much longer than Isak had hugged her.

It wasn’t a pissing contest, not by a long shot, but it was definitely something other than a friendly dinner.