“What does that even mean?” Kagan asked.
“It means talking to people. Getting the scoop.”
Kagan cast Shane a glance, her brows furrowed, her mouth set in a grim line. But it was her eyes that undid him. They’d dulled, all the life that he’d come to recognize as a part of her, gone.
Against his better judgement he brushed his lips against hers. Quick, but full of promise. Because dammit, he couldn’t abandon her now.
He hated the idea, but he could pretend long enough to get Brett off her back. “Doubtful,” he said, looking at Brett out of the corner of his eye.
Then he took Kagan’s hand and ushered them out of the party before he thought too hard about things and changed his mind.
Because holy hell, he’d just become Kagan’s accidental boyfriend.
Chapter Four
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have involved you in this. I thought if I said I had a boyfriend Brett would leave. But don’t worry; I’ll talk to him tomorrow and straighten it out. I’ll tell him… something.”
Kagan wiped her free hand across her forehead. “I’m so embarrassed and so sorry. He took me by surprise, finding me, and I couldn’t think straight and then you showed up at my house and really, by accident, I said you were my boyfriend and I know I suck for saying something so stupid. You’re off the hook, but if you wouldn’t mind keeping what happened to yourself that would be—”
Shane stopped his march and let go of her hand. He turned her around so her back was pressed against his car, and then he kissed her right on the mouth. Quick. Firm. To shut her up, she supposed.
It worked. When he stepped back, she was at a loss for words. Her stomach, nauseated only minutes ago, now quivered—not because of the quick kiss, but because a crease appeared between his eyebrows like he’d just been hit upside the head, and that made her nervous. He was about to walk away and while she’d just said he could, she had hoped he wouldn’t.
She drew in an unsteady breath and looked up into the night sky. Wishing on her birthday candles had yet to work, but maybe a wish on a star would bring her the independence she needed.
“Who are you?” Shane asked.
Kagan closed her eyes.
After several seconds of silence, Shane continued. “Look, if I’m going to help you, you need to level with me.”
“This isn’t good-bye?” she whispered.
“Do you want it to be?”
She shook her head but didn’t meet his gaze. Every time his blue-gray eyes met hers she thought about getting lost in them, just for a little while. And right now being lost didn’t seem like the wisest idea.
“Okay, so I think I understand why you’re so private and keep to yourself. You’ve been hiding from your dad. Am I right?”
She nodded.
“And I gather he must be a man with power, a father who doesn’t like to take no for an answer.” He scooted beside her so they were both leaning against the car, side-by-side. “If I’m going to pretend to be your boyfriend, I need to know the truth. All of it.”
“I…” She swallowed hard. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” Telling him the truth meant making herself vulnerable. It meant relying on him and she didn’t want to do that. She wanted to rewind the last two days and do things differently.
There’s an easy solution. Go home now.
“A little late to change your mind, don’t you think?”
“That’s the problem. I wasn’t thinking.”
He pressed away from the car and paced in front of her. She hated that she’d ruined this incredible night for him with her lie. And if he did this, he’d have to lie too. They’d have to make everyone believe they were a couple so Brett would buy it.
“Shane.” She reached out and put her hand on his arm. “I can tell this is too much for you. I get it. You stood by me back there and for that I’m grateful, but I’ll tell Brett we broke up.”
“We’re not breaking up,” he said forcefully.
“We’re not?”
“No.” He tugged at his shirt collar. “Now don’t tell me just what you want me to know. Tell me everything.”
She sighed. She imagined as a project manager it was the details that Shane needed, even in his personal life. “My name is Kagan Owens Donaldson. My dad is Fred Donaldson.”
Shane stopped pacing and faced her as if he wanted to watch her expressions for the rest of their conversation. “The Fred Donaldson?”
“Yes.”
“One of Forbes’s richest people and a famous actor before that.”
“Yep.”
“How did I not recognize you?”