Even though I’d almost walked out of our quick meeting more than once, I eventually settled down. Seeing him at first had reminded me of how awful he’d been when we met. But it was clear that he had very little memory of that night. If he had remembered it at all, he would have apologized or acted a little differently. That was the only reason I sat back down when he begged me too.

When he’d suggested going out before Social Month even started, I’d wanted to throw something at his face, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. The only way we’d be able to sell the idea of us dating would be if we actually started doing just that.

I needed to remember that it was all fake. That I was getting paid to go out with him, no matter what happened or how he acted. My being by his side would be purely for show, for the sake of his mom, and it wouldn’t mean that Joseph Martin really wanted to be with me.

That was going to be the hardest part. Not because I planned on falling for the guy or anything, but because I was a female, and even though I had professional goals and aspirations that were my priority, I was still emotional. My heart wasn’t a machine the way my brain was.

I had to keep it together ... somehow.

JOSEPH GOT MY NUMBER from Kayla, like he’d promised to do, and started texting me that night. The first thing he wanted to know was my schedule for work and when we could go out publicly. He said the sooner we made our debut, the better. I responded to him, taking my time and making sure I didn’t jump at his beck and call, but it was hard not to give him my full attention when no other man was even clamoring for it. At least, no man that I was interested in.

“He wants to go out tomorrow night,” I said as I plopped down on the couch next to Kayla, who dropped the magazine she had been flipping through to look at me.

“Okay? So, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know,” I said, suddenly nervous and wondering what the hell I’d gotten myself into.

“No.” Kayla’s tone grew serious. “You’re not getting cold feet now. You have to at least try.”

“This isn’t a good idea. You know it’s not,” I started to argue, but Kayla shook her head, her lips pursing together.

She cleared her throat before taking my hands in hers. “At least do the first dinner. The whole point of going out now is to see if it will work or not.”

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “You’re right. I can do this. It’s just dinner.”

“And press,” Kayla whispered.

I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right or not.