“No problem,” he said, slipping into her office and shutting the door behind him. “I just thought you might like to hang out with me today.”
Her gaze narrowed at him. “Hang out? Do you mean practice some more? Go over our cover story again?”
Julian shook his head. “No, you’ve got that covered, I think. I’ve got to run a couple errands today and I thought you might like to join me, that’s all.”
Her eyebrows drew together as she considered his offer. She seemed genuinely confused by it. That, or suspicious again. He still didn’t understand that. “I’m not dressed up for an official day out with you.”
Her hand ran self-consciously over her hair, which was pulled back into a butterfly clip. Her makeup was done, but not heavy-handed. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a simple V-neck sweater with boots. The dark brown of the sweater matched her eyes and made her skin look even creamier against the rich tones. She looked great to him. He actually had a hard time tearing his gaze away from the tantalizing glimpse of cleavage that her sweater teased at, without being too blatant. “You look great,” he countered.
“I’ve also got a lot to do,” she said, uncertainty in her voice.
“Well, it just so happens that I don’t have a lot to do. How about a little trade-off? You come with me to do a few wedding-related chores, and then I’ll come back here with you and help you do whatever it is you do.”
A delicate dark eyebrow raised at him. “You’re going to help me?”
“Sure,” he said with a winning smile. “I have no clue what needs to be done, but I’m an actor. I can fake it.”
Gretchen snorted and shook her head. “Well, I’m not sure how much help you’ll be, but any help would be great.”
Julian chuckled. “Well, thank goodness you have low standards. Let’s go. I have to pick up the tuxedos and the rings.”
He helped Gretchen into her coat, and they left the chapel a moment later. As they got into his rental, he admitted, “I also have no idea where I’m going. Do you know where Couture Connection is? That’s where I have to get the tuxedos. I can look it up on my phone if we need to.”
Gretchen nodded and pointed to the right. “I know where it is. It’s just a couple miles from here. Go out to the right.”
That part of the day went smoothly enough. They found the store and waited a few minutes to pick up their suits. It wasn’t until they were getting ready to leave that Julian noticed the guy across the street with a camera.
He sighed. They’d finally found him. It had actually taken longer than he expected. “Someone tipped off the paparazzi,” he said to Gretchen, although he gave a meaningful glance at the girl behind the counter. She’d been in the back room far, far too long in his opinion. She bit her lip and handed over the suits without comment.
“What do we do?” Gretchen asked. “I told you I’m not camera-ready today.”
He shrugged. “We do what we need to do. If life stopped just because someone was taking my picture, I’d never get anything done.” Julian draped the suits over his arm and reached out to grasp Gretchen’s hand. “Off we go,” he said.
By the time they reached the jewelry store, there were three cars tailing them, and they were bolder than before. Julian hadn’t even opened the car door for Gretchen before there were four guys swarming the car with cameras, snapping pictures and asking questions.
“Who’s the lady, Julian?”
“Her name is Gretchen McAlister,” he said, opening the door and helping her out of the car. Normally he would just ignore them, but what was the point of having a fake girlfriend if he wasn’t going to publicize that fact?
“Is this your new lady love?” another one prompted, making Gretchen blush.
Julian took her hand and looked into her eyes. It was easy to get lost there, the feelings she evoked in him lately hardly an act. “She’s very special to me,” he answered with a sincere smile.
“What do you think Bridgette will think of your new relationship?”
“I really don’t care what she thinks,” Julian said and leaned into Gretchen’s ear. “Let’s get inside.”
The cameras stayed outside while they met with the jeweler. The woman at the counter left them for a moment to go back and find the owner. Julian watched Gretchen peruse the case, her eyes lighting up as she spied something interesting. It was always dangerous to go into a jewelry store with the women he dated. It almost always cost him more than he expected.