Although he cringed slightly at her blunt language, his head nod was decisive. “Yes. Exactly. If we find someone else we want to date, we’ll stop our arrangement, but until then we’re exclusive. So, I’ll go with you to your cousin’s wedding, and you’ll have a date. When is it?”

“The weekend after next, so you don’t need to worry that it will interfere with Lexie and Patrick’s engagement party. And we’re going to have to travel to the Eastern shore and stay with my parents for the weekend.”

“Great. Then you’re definitely not taking Brian.”

“Great,” she said dryly. “Now what are you planning on telling our friends about all of this?” Swirling her finger between them, she lifted her eyebrow in challenge. There was no way she was going to take responsibility for coming up with an explanation. This was all on him.

Plus, she was busy repressing the sudden giddy warmth that had bubbled up in her chest. Part of her really liked the idea of Jake coming to Melinda’s wedding as her date. Dammit.

Getting attached was a bad idea.

Wasn’t it?

Except that he seemed kind of attached too... Ugh. Whatever. Chances were, once he met her family he was going to run. That or he was going to agree with all of her parents’ opinions about her and she was going to have a perfectly miserable time, which would kill any interest she had in him anyway.

Ah well, it had been too good to last.

“I’m just going to tell them that I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go with an ex and so I offered my services instead,” he said matter-of-factly, as if he actually thought that would fly. Without waiting for her response, he turned to make his way back to the bar table.

Well, this should be entertaining. Already smirking, Sharon followed him back in.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jake glared at his group of friends and at the exasperating woman currently smirking at him from across the table. He’d expected to be in the hot seat, but he hadn’t expected to be there alone. Plus, he’d thought his explanation sounded reasonable enough.

Sharon shouldn’t have to ask her ex to be her date when she had a single and willing friend, right?

His question had been met with a level of extreme skepticism that was a little insulting. Especially on his sister’s part. Although she just looked like she didn’t believe him; Andrew had been scowling non-stop at Jake since he and Sharon had returned to the table. Everyone’s reactions had been pretty interesting; Andrew’s was the most extreme.