Make-Believe Beau. Keli Gwyn

She sent one Flynt’s way.

      His spoon clattered to the table, and his eyes went as round as the tabletop. He leaned forward and spoke softly. His voice held a hint of humor. “You certainly took me at my word. Anyone looking our way would have no doubt you’re attracted to me.”

      Mortification sent heat racing to her cheeks. She’d acted in haste, realizing too late that the looks Maggie’s girls gave weren’t the type nice, respectable women copied. Eager to shift the focus from herself, she cast a glance at Kurt, who stood waiting for a table to become available. His mouth hung open. She forced an airy laugh such as she’d intended to produce earlier. “Well, my exuberance did serve a purpose. Kurt might not have suspected anything before, but he does now.”

      “Indeed.” Flynt raked a hand through his hair. The unruly lock fell across his forehead. As much as she wanted to brush it back into place, she couldn’t. He had the bearing of a cat ready to pounce. If she were to touch him, he’d likely flinch, gasp or worse.

      Kurt ambled over. No. Swaggered was more like it. He wore a smug smile. “Everything makes sense now.”

      Flynt dug his spoon into his ice cream, paused and asked the obvious question. “What makes sense?”

      “Why Jessie got the job, of course. She turned your head. You created a position so you could offer it to her.”

      Jessie inhaled sharply. She longed to set the insufferable fellow straight, but the words lodged in her throat.

      Flynt lifted the bite to his mouth, took his time eating it and set his spoon on the table. When he spoke, his words were cold, much colder than the dessert. He enunciated each one. “You’re mistaken. I hadn’t even met Jessie before her interview. Her exceptional work is what got her the position.”

      Kurt scoffed. “I might not be as bright as you seem to think she is, but I know what I saw. Well, you can carry on your little tryst, but when Corby hears about it, he’s not going to be happy.”

      It took every ounce of restraint she possessed not to laugh. If only Kurt knew... “Why are you out to undermine me? We’re a team.”

      “We were a team, and then you showed up. And now you’re fraternizing with Flynt. I should tell Corby. Cross me and I will.”

      Flynt rested his fisted hands on the table and responded with a believable show of concern. “I’d rather you didn’t, but if you feel it’s your duty, I understand.”

      Jessie played along. “Are you sure you should be encouraging him?”

      “I trust Kurt to keep what he’s seen to himself.”

      The younger man gave a wry smile. “I’ll keep mum. For the present. Why blab now when the information could better serve me later?” He wheeled around and left the shop without ordering any ice cream.

      Flynt shook his head. “That young man has some lessons to learn. Give him time and he will. I was feeling my oats when I was his age. The last six years have taught me a great deal. What about you? Did you have all the answers when you were twenty-one?”

      “That’s when I arrived in California, confident but naive. The past three years have been humbling. I bounced from job to job the first two, doing anything from lettering funeral programs to drawing sketches of pipes for a sewer company’s catalog. I didn’t get my first drafting position here in California until Mr. Bishop hired me a year ago.”

      “He said you received your training in Chicago. How did that come about?”

      She chose her words carefully, lest she divulge too much. “An engineer came through town when I was eighteen. He saw a drawing I’d done and offered me a position in his firm. The first year I swept floors, emptied dustbins and the like. Mr. Fullerton taught me after hours. I spent my free time practicing until I was good enough to do tracings. I did those for a year and a half before I was assigned my first drawing. I had to redo it three times before Mr. Fullerton signed off on it.”

      Flynt finished his ice cream and dropped his spoon into his dish with a clink. “Sounds like he was a stickler for details, an admirable trait in our field.”

      She savored her last bite and licked the spoon.

      He grinned.

      “I’m sorry. That wasn’t very ladylike, was it?”

      He winked. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

      A delicious sense of contentment washed over her, far sweeter than the treat they’d enjoyed. Flynt Kavanaugh wasn’t just handsome, knowledgeable and considerate. He was fun to be with. She could get used to his company. Perhaps this arrangement had its advantages.

      The arrangement! How could she have forgotten? He was just playing a part.

      She dropped her gaze to her lap and rolled the edge of the red-and-white gingham napkin. The silence stretched until she could stand it no longer.

      “So what did you want to talk—”

      “I thought we should talk—”

      Their words collided. She laughed, a nervous sound quite unlike her. She’d dealt with hordes of men through the years, but Flynt was different. He was a gentleman through and through.

      He gave her a reassuring smile. “It seems you’re eager to clarify things, too. Let me start by saying how sorry I am that I couldn’t come up with a better solution than this.”

      Her chest tightened, making drawing a breath difficult. He didn’t want to spend time with her outside of work?

      No. Of course he didn’t. Why would he? She was his colleague and nothing more. “I know it’s not ideal, but I’m prepared to do my part.” Doubts gnawed at her. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, that is?”

      “Not at all. I agreed to Corby’s plan.”

      He had. And he’d been quite gallant about it. “Thank you. No one’s ever done anything like this for me.” The admission had slipped out unchecked. Where was her customary self-control? She pressed her lips together to keep any more words from rushing out.

      “It’s my pleasure.”

      It wasn’t, but it was nice of him to say so. “So, what do we do next?”

      “I’ll pick you up at half past seven Saturday evening, and we’ll head to the theater. The Placerville Philharmonic Society does a fine job. As much as you love music, you’re sure to enjoy the concert.”

      “How do you know I like music?” She did, very much, but she hadn’t said anything to him.

      He toyed with the spoon resting in his dish. “I, um, heard you humming while you work.”

      “Oh. I didn’t realize I was. It’s an old habit. I’ll work on breaking it.”

      “It’s not a problem. You didn’t disturb me. I like hearing the hymns.”

      Flynt recognized them? He must be a churchgoing man. Although he might view it as prying, she had to know. “Do you attend services?”

      He sent her another of those warm smiles of his that caused her stomach to flutter. “I do. Across the street from your boardinghouse at the Church of Our Saviour. Will I see you there Sunday?”

      “I plan on attending, yes. I’ve heard good things about the reverend and his messages.”

      “Mr. Parks is wonderful. I’m sure you’ll like him.”

      She tilted her head. “Mr. Parks? He doesn’t use the title?”

      Flynt shook his head. “He’s not like other ministers. I would be happy to introduce you to him. That is, if you’ll allow me to escort you. As your beau, it would be expected.”

      True. The thought caused her to smile. While she couldn’t allow her feelings to become engaged, she would enjoy Flynt’s company over the next few