Free A Valentine Surprise by Lisa Page Page B

plan. The hot date. You just said yourself that you don't feel like jumping into the dating pool again, yet you think you can find a boyfriend by next week?”
    “ Well, not a real boyfriend, anyways. I just need to find someone to pretend to be my boyfriend.”
    Josh cleared his throat, but Kendra was too lost in thought to notice. She went on with her plan, “Someone to play the part, a guy who is better looking than Mark and who can act like he's crazy about me. Do you have any good looking guy friends or relatives, Libby? What about that guy who lives across the hall from you, he was pretty cute. What's his name again? Tell him I will pay him ”
    “His name is Derek and he moved out last month. Really, though, this is completely crazy, you know that don't you?”
    Kendra didn't answer, she just picked at her lunch while brainstorming ideas for who could play her pretend lover.
    “What about your cousin Jeff? He is super hot!” Libby had stars in her eyes every time she mentioned the name of Kendra's cousin. She met him the summer before at Kendra's birthday party and kept hinting to Kendra that she wanted to see him again.
    “ My cousin? Are you kidding? That's just gross! How can I pretend that I'm in love with my cousin? Not going to happen! Well, that is unless I get desperate, I suppose. But I'd prefer someone not related to me. Someone who I could really pretend that I'm falling in love with.” Kendra was interrupted by the sound of Josh clearing his throat again. They both turned to look at him.
    “ Are you okay?” Libby asked him. “I know there's something going around in my class, I have six kids out, you better stock up on Vitamin C.”
    “ Um, no, I'm not sick,” Josh said, “I just think I know someone who would be perfect for the job.”
    “ Who?” Libby and Kendra asked him at the same time.
    “ Me, of course!”
    “ You?” They both answered in surprise. Kendra looked him over, closely. The wavy hair that was too long and hung around his face, the five o'clock shadow and the baggy sweats did not scream sex appeal. She bit her lip trying to think of a nice way to tell him he probably wasn't right for the role without hurting his feelings. He was still her friend after all. Before she could say anything, he started pleading his case.
    “ I'd love to help you, especially after all these days of listening to what this jerk put you through. Seriously, you don't even have to pay me, you're my friend and I want to help. Who else are you going to get?”
    His last statement made her give him a second look. She had never really looked closely at him before. He did have amazing blue eyes, why didn't she ever notice how blue they were? Great skin under that shadow. And he had the kind of infectious smile that no one could resist, even as only a friend, she'd noticed that smile on the first day she met him.
    Hmmm... she thought, maybe if I could get him to cut his hair and lose the five o'clock shadow, get him a nice suit...it just might work. And he was right, with V-day only a week away, what if she couldn't find anyone else?
    “ You are so sweet to want to help me, Josh, but do you think we could pull it off?”
    As if reading her mind, he answered, “If by 'pulling it off' you really mean do I have anything in my closet besides sweatshirts with sports team logos, then yes, I think you will be surprised by what I have hiding in my closet.”
    “Ok, great! Wait, is that a metaphor for something that I'm not getting?”
    Josh laughed. Kendra thought he had a great laugh, it was like his smile, very infectious. “Yes, laugh like that when we're at dinner, I want Mark to think that you think I'm witty and funny.”
    “And, if you need further convincing that I'm your man, I have a secret weapon that can ensure us that we'll be seated close enough to Mark that he will definitely notice you.”
    Kendra's heart skipped a beat in excitement. “What is it? Tell me the secret,” she squealed