Resting his forearms on his thighs, he leans toward me until his eyes are level with mine. “If I were your boyfriend, you would know you were the only one. You’d feel the difference between what’s real and what’s part of my job. I wouldn’t leave any room for doubt.”

My heart thunders in my ears.

“Besides,” he says. “She’s not my girlfriend.” He sits back, blessedly giving me some much-needed air and folding his arms over his chest.

My lips part. “What? But I thought—”

“Don’t believe everything you hear.”

“Or see? You’re always together.”

“Are we? Seems to me I’m always with you.” He raises his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes, hoping to distract him from the blood flooding my cheeks. “Heist aside.”

He shrugs. “Chloe has her own agenda. She likes to make it look like we’re a couple because she thinks being ‘in’ with my family will give her better placement in the field down the road—at least that’s why I think she does it—we’ve never talked about it. I go along with her because it makes my life easier. There are fewer distractions and less drama if I’m taken. I’ve known all the girls at Keystone—except for you, of course—since birth. It saves me from having to have the ‘you’re like my sister’ talk over and over again.”

“And technically I am your sister.”

“Good point, Bets.” He laughs. “Anyway, we can trust Chloe.”

“Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Okay… If you think she can be more than a decoy…”

“She’s much more than a decoy.” Standing, he resumes pacing. “As for you, since you’re buddies now—and you’re totally his type—you be Nash’s date. Distract him so he doesn’t notice the switch.”

I frown. “And what exactly is his ‘type’?”

“Short and sweet.” He winks.

I glare at him. “Aren’t you missing a step? How are you going to get the ring off Nicki’s finger?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet.” He comes to a stop, staring out the balcony doors. “I’m working on it.”

“You could drug her,” I suggest. “Plant something in her herbs?”

He shakes his head. “I’m not comfortable with that. If she acts out of character, it would tip Nash off. Besides, she might think something was up once she came to.”

“What about when she’s sleeping?”

Turning to face me, he folds his arms over his chest. “There’s no way Nash is letting me have a sleepover.”

“Valid point.” I bask in a rush of relief.

He closes his eyes, seemingly talking to himself. “No, we have to do it in plain sight…”