A Gentleman's Agreement Read Online Free Page A

said
something comforting, but nothing came. “ Congratulations ,” danced on her
tongue, but she didn’t release it.
    “My mom believes you and
I are dating.”
    This snapped her back
to the matter at hand. “Wait. What?” She sat forward in the club chair. “You
told your parents we —as in you and I—are dating?”
    “No, silly. I didn’t
tell my parents we are dating. I told my mom we were dating. But I’m
fairly certain she’s told my dad by now. Those two share everything.”
    Was he really playing
semantics right now? “Why would you—? How did you—?” She couldn’t form a lucid
thought. “Why not just tell your mother you’re happily single?” she asked.
Because didn’t that make the most sense?
    “You do not simply tell
my mother you are single. The last time I told my mother I was single, when I
arrived home, she had all of her friends’ single daughters and granddaughters lined
up. I went on so many lunch and dinner dates the week I was home, I gained
fifteen pounds.”
    This drew sympathy
because her aunt was notorious for playing matchmaker, too. And if Blake’s
mother was as lousy at it as her aunt, Eunice completely understood. She
pointed to his desk. “You have a thousand women listed in your rolodex, why did
you decide to tell your mom we —as in you and I—were dating?” She would
never admit it out loud, but it flattered her to an extent.
    “I didn’t actually say I
was dating you in particular.”
    Talk about having your
bubble busted.
    “I sort of described
you when my mother inquired about the kind of woman you were.” He rolled his
eyes to the ceiling. “Not you , but the phantom woman I described, who I
unknowingly fashioned after you.” He appeared exhausted by his own words. “I
was in a pinch.”
    The phantom woman
he’d unknowingly fashioned after her . The most logical question to ask now
was, “What did you say?”
    Blake looked confused
by the question. “That…I was in a pinch,” he repeated.
    “Not that. What did you
tell your mother about me— Not me, the phantom woman you unknowingly fashioned
after me, I mean.” Yes, she was curious as to how Blake described her to his
mother. She witnessed the questioning in his eyes and added, “If I decide to go
along with your deception—” which she most certainly would not—“I need to know
what role I’ll need to play.”
    Blake started to
rummage through papers on his desk. “I, ah, told her that I’d never met any
woman who exhibited as much compassion as you.” He cleared his throat. “I
described you exactly how you are. Thoughtful, kind, compassionate.” His eyes
met hers, but only briefly. “Intelligent. Beautiful. Don’t worry. All you have
to do is simply be yourself and you’ll do just fine.”
    Wow. He really thought
highly of her. For a second, his words almost convinced her to agree to this
sham, but the moment quickly faded. He would just have to coach someone else to
be all of those things. Coach someone to be her. Because this…she couldn’t do.
Play his lover? Nope. Out of the question.
    “Okay. I’ll do it.” Wait . What the…? Did she just…?
    Blake stopped
mid-shuffle and met her gaze. “Did you just say okay?”
    Had she just said okay?
Jesus. She had. They were so not the words dancing on her tongue. Breathe,
Eunice. Then fix this mess . She started to recant her yes, but something
dawned on her. If she were in Norfolk with Blake and his family, she wouldn’t
be here spending Thanksgiving alone. “Yes, I said okay.”
    When the corner of
Blake’s mouth lifted into a sexy smile, a thousand red flags waved in her head.
Each signaling the potential for utter disaster. Why was she such a glutton for
punishment? Maybe that, too, was hereditary.
    “Just like that?” Blake
asked.
    Was she missing
something? “Wait, I thought you wanted me to say yes. Now you sound like
you’re preparing to talk me out of it.”
    Blake arched a brow. “No,
I am definitely not