For the first time I see his face without the beard, and one thing is immediately clear: he’s no Photoshop user.

He fluffs his hair, which has been plastered to his head by the hat, and grins. “What’s the job again?”

Guess there’s really no other way to explain it. “I want to hire you to pose as my boyfriend for the holidays.”

Diego opens his mouth to protest, but before he can, I stop him. “And before you say ‘no,’ please note that the pay is very competitive.”

“How competitive?

“Five thousand dollars—twenty-five hundred in advance, and the rest at job completion. And our relationship would be strictly professional.”

“While I pretend to be your boyfriend?”

“Exactly.”

“I’m sorry, but—”

“Wait. Before refusing, please consider that if you say ‘yes,’ you’d be doing me a real solid, and I’d be happy to return the favor, professionally, of course, in any way you might need.”

I saved the best bone for last. A struggling actor would do anything to have someone who matters in the industry owe him one. As expected, this offer gives him pause.

He scratches his head and studies me. “You’re serious? This isn’t a joke.”

I shake my head. “Dead serious.”

“And you work for KCU?”

I whip out my business card and present him with incontrovertible proof. “Mmm-hmm.”

He eyes the card, thinking. “You guys are big on Super Bowl commercials. You even won an award last year, yeah?”

“Breath mints, that’s us.”

“Have you already cast this year’s ads?”

“No, we start in early January.”

“Can you get me a call in?”

“Into the castings, yes, but the rest is up to you. I can’t guarantee a part.”

A brief nod lets me know he understands. Then, out of the blue, he asks, “Why me?”

The question takes me off guard. I can’t exactly say, “Because I want my sister to rot with jealousy when I bring her dream guy home for Christmas.” He already thinks I’m nuts.

“We haven’t worked together in the past, so there wouldn’t be a conflict.”

Diego keeps his eyes trained on me for the longest time. “Am I the only actor in your agency’s database you haven’t worked with before?”

What else can I say to convince him? Only one plausible reason I can think of. “No,” I admit. “But you were the best-looking one.”

I don’t even think I’m lying right now.

My answer seems to have satisfied him. He smiles, forcing all the air out of my lungs. Now I get what breathtaking means.

Using basic yoga training to steady my respiration, I ask, “Then we have a deal?”

He offers me his hand. “Deal.”

After we shake on it, he pulls on his coat and guides me out of the Santa closet.

“So how is this going to work?” he asks once we reach the mall exit.

The cold night air hits us the moment we step outside. It’s freezing, and I’ve already had enough excitement for one day. So I say, “It’s late now. Why don’t we discuss the details tomorrow over lunch?”