He cut his eyes toward the paused Netflix show. “Oh yes. It looks that way.”

“Whatever. Just get on with it already. Why are you here?” I threw up my hands and stormed toward him. “And don’t tell me you came all the way out here to antagonize me. Because if that’s the case, then you can get the hell out.”

“I came here to offer you a job,” he said easily, barely missing a beat.

I stopped in the center of the floor and stared. Was this some kind of joke? Had I fallen asleep and found myself in some bizarre dream? “You made it clear last night you wanted nothing to do with me.”

“Now, that’s not true.” He stepped forward, erasing the distance between us. “I was impressed by your talent. At the time, I thought you weren’t right for the job, but I was too focused on your role as a dancer. There’s something else I believe you’d be perfect for.”

His dimpled smile made an appearance. Heat curled through my belly.

“A different job?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“In a way. I’d still want you to dance, but that wouldn’t be my primary reason for hiring you.”

Um, well, that didn’t sound weird at all.

“Explain.”

“There are some important events for my business coming up in the next few weeks, and I need a date for each of them. Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone appropriate I can take, and these potential investors have insisted I bring someone. So, when the events arrive, you’ll be my date.” He folded his arms and smiled. “In the meantime, you can dance at the club to earn wages and tips. You’ll be doing me a favor, so I’ll do one for you in return.”

I blinked at him. Surely I couldn’t have heard him right. “Wait a minute. You’re hiring me because you need…a date?” Okay, this guy really was trying to play a twisted joke on me. Did he think I couldn’t see his face? And that body? He could have any girl in New York City. What would be the point of this elaborate plot?

Unless there was something wrong with him.

“You realize this is totally weird, right? What’s the catch?” I asked, taking a step back.

“There is no catch. The final event is an important ball at the end of the month. After that, you’re free to move on to another job, and I’ll write you a glowing recommendation.”

“So, you want to pay me to date you.”

“No,” he countered, holding up a finger. “You’ll be paid to dance at the club. In return, you’ll pretend to be my adoring date at a few events. One who doesn’t hate me with the force of a thousand suns.”

“You want me to be your fake girlfriend.”