Real?

Not terrible," he said, looking down at her. "Just not great. You, however, look fantastic." She was wearing a silky pink dress that flattered her golden brown skin . . . and the rest of her body.

Keep looking at me like that, and we'll have no problem convincing people we're dating." She grinned up at him.

Oh God, he was such an asshole.

"Oh, I . . . I'm sorry." He dropped his hands from where they'd been resting on her shoulders.

She patted him on the arm. "Don't worry about it. Just getting into character, right?"

Not exactly, but if that's how she wanted to play it . . .

"Right." He smiled at her and hoped he hadn't made this girl hate him already. "What can I say? I'm delighted that you're my sandwich tonight."

She smiled. "Well, isn't that one of the loveliest things a man has ever said to me."

He leaned back against the restaurant window.

"I hope that isn't true."

She shrugged. A big group of guys pushed past them on the sidewalk, and he pulled her closer to him.

"Hey, Mike?" she said. "We ever going to go inside?"