It Seemed Like a Good Idea

Cosmopolitan and Sourcebooks are partnering up to launch an exciting book imprint: Cosmo Reads. Get ready to discover your new favorite books as we publish several reads a year starting in September 2025.

- WRITTEN BY LAUREN BLAKELY

BANKS

Do I always pretend to date random women in bars?

No, I don't.

But the way that sleazeball crowded her, leered at her, and spoke to her when she clearly told him she wasn’t interested fired me the hell up. If anyone did anything like that to my little sister... My shoulders tighten with tension. I wouldn't stand for it.

And while I didn’t hear everything he said, it didn’t take a body language expert to know she was telling him to get lost. Sure, I could have just physically shown the man the door—eight years as a Marine means I’m no slouch in the shifting unwanted types along department—but I don’t like to make a scene.

In fact, I'm excellent at not making scenes. Hence the offer to pretend to be her dude for the night.

But something I'm even better at than not making a mountain out of a molehill? Spotting opportunities.

I take the one this gorgeous woman with the long blond hair is offering me. “Yes, you can,” I say, meeting her captivating crystal-blue gaze at last, now that I'm done sending death rays at that guy. With him in the rearview, I pause, like we need a reset to move past that part of the night and into this part before I add, “On one condition.”

“What's your condition?”

“That you let me buy it for you.”

A soft laugh falls from her glossy lips. Such a better expression than the tight, tense look on her face moments ago. Now her shoulders are relaxed, her eyes inviting. “Chivalry isnot dead.”

“Not with me, that’s for damn sure.”

With a