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you. There have been times I’ve regretted how things ended between us, but it simply wasn’t the right time for me.”
    They’d been a thing—not just a one-nighter, but a thing . Based on how demure she was acting, Dean had a tough time believing that life with Alfredsson could ever have been what Jade really wanted. He pulled her closer. “I’m glad timing worked in our favor, kitten. I’d hate not having you in my life.”
    Jade smiled up at him, but it was tight, forced, like he’d said exactly the wrong thing. “Ditto.” She turned to Alfredsson and added, “Dean and I have to get going, but we really should catch up while you’re in town. How long are you staying?”
    Isak nodded, disappointment disappearing behind a mask of professionalism. “That sounds wonderful. I’m in town for about two months. Obviously, it’ll be a busy visit, but I’m more than happy to make time for you.” His eyes shot to Dean. “The both of you, of course. I’d love to get to know the man who stole your heart. Call me. My number hasn’t changed.”
    “It was good to see you again, Isak.”
    Dean stood there with his arm around her until Alfredsson was out of sight—and hearing. Finally, he was able to let the illusion drop. “Well, that was awkward.”
    Jade sagged against the hood of her convertible and buried her face in her hands. “This is a disaster!”
    “Not for me.” Dean sat down next to her and nudged her with his hip. “The hottest woman in all of Hollywood is apparently my girlfriend. I couldn’t be happier.”
    She snorted a laugh—seemingly back to a shadow of the woman he’d spent the night with. “I am not your girlfriend.”
    “Sure you are, kitten. I heard what you told Mr. Tall-Blond-and-Swedish. Also, I should probably know how long we’ve been a couple before we get together with him again.”
    For a moment, Jade’s mouth hung open like she was going to tell him off. Then it snapped shut, and she rubbed her thumb along her lip while she tipped her head to the side. “You really want me for your girlfriend?”
    “Who wouldn’t?”
    She rolled her eyes at the question. “Even if it’s not real?”
    Replaying the scene with Isak, Dean tried to piece together what the hell was going through her mind. Alfredsson had shown up, unannounced, which sent Jade into some weird diminished version of herself. Obviously the two of them had a past. It could have been anything, but the first thought to enter his mind wasn’t a pretty one. “Are you saying you want me to be your fake boyfriend to get him off your case? Did he hurt you?” That would make the most sense, considering her change in demeanor around the guy.
    “No. Definitely no. He’s a great guy.” Her gaze drifted in the direction Alfredsson had gone, but then she shook her head and returned to the moment. “I want you to be my faux boyfriend because he caught us here together and he needs to believe I’ve hit settle-down mode. I let him get away two years ago, and I need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
    Settle down? Jade and that wet blanket? After what he’d seen of her in the last twenty-four hours? No way. Except… “And what’s in this for me?”
    “You said you wanted me for a girlfriend. So you get that…for a while.” She quirked her lips to the side, every ounce of sass back in her eyes. “I know it isn’t a great offer, but I would seriously be in your debt.”
    Damn it. He couldn’t walk away from the possibility of something with her—no matter how temporary—at least not if he was going to get even a little of what they’d shared last night. “Define girlfriend.”
    She arched a brow, and it took him right back to the way she’d looked at him, almost like a dare, when she’d started in with the Russian spy role-playing. It was everything he could do not to get hard again.
    “You’re asking about sex.”
    “Obviously.” He believed in romance as a forever thing about as much as he