Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I reached over the console and took her hand, lacing our fingers together before resting them on my thigh. “I didn't think it was, baby. I just thought I’d explain since we don’t know each other.” Well, she didn’t know me, anyway.
“Oh. You don’t mind talking about your childhood?”
“No, I just don’t mind talking about it with you.” I gave her a soft smile before returning my attention to the road. “You can ask me anything, and I will always be honest.”
“Why?” She sounded genuinely curious, and I couldn’t help chuckling.
“You’re my fiancée,” I replied because it really was that simple to me.
“But I’m your fake fiancée,” she insisted.
I just shrugged and changed the subject. She’d figure out that I was her not-so fake fiancé. Eventually.
The drive to the jewelers took twenty minutes, and we spent it getting to know each other a little better.
When we arrived at our destination, and I turned into the parking lot, McKenna gasped. “Kennedy Diamonds?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” I teased. “Only the best.”
“These are the most exclusive jewelers in the world, Jeremy,” she squeaked as I parked in front of the elegant building that looked lifted straight from 5th Avenue in New York.
“Yes, they are.”
“Don’t you have to be invited to shop at these places?”
I nodded as I shut off the car. “Lincoln Kennedy and I have known each other for several years. His cousin Jackson lives a few houses down from me, and Jackson’s dad handles all the security for JB Capital.”
Before she could respond, I exited the car and came around to open her door.
“Um, I’m not sure where to start with all that information,” she muttered when I helped her out of the Ferrari. “JB Capital?”
“That’s my company,” I explained. “The one I started with James and Jason, hence the JB.”
“Your company?” she squeaked, then tried to pull her hand from mine. “You’re…you’re a freaking billionaire!”
I frowned and tightened my hold on her. “True, but I fail to see why that’s upsetting you.” Her grandfather was wealthy…although it was to the tune of several million outside his portfolio of properties, so perhaps billions was a lot to swallow.
She stopped trying to get away and gaped at me. “Because…because…” She suddenly deflated, unable to come up with a good reason.
I grinned and tugged her toward the store. “Sticker shock, baby. You’ll get used to it.”
We were almost to the door when she yanked on my hand to stop me, then moved over to the side before whispering, “You know Jackson Carrington? The Dashing Swashbuckler?”
My eyes narrowed, and I drew McKenna close. My tone held a warning when I answered, “Yes. Are you a fan?”
McKenna blushed hard, and jealousy burned in my chest. “Who isn’t? I mean, he’s not classically handsome like you, but he’s…well, dashing.” She laughed, and I latched on to the other part of her statement before I turned into a Neanderthal and sent her running away from me.
“You think I’m classically handsome, huh?” I asked as I drew her even closer, then slipped my arm around her waist.
She rolled her eyes, but her tone was breathy when she spoke. “You know you are, Jeremy. Just because I think you’re sexy like every other—”
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” I grunted, cutting her off. Then I bent my head and sealed my lips over hers.
Her lips were every bit as soft as they looked, and when she melted into me, her body fit perfectly against mine. My desire quickly gained steam, so I hit the brakes before the train crashed, and I did something stupid, like push her up against the display window and stick my hand in her panties. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I groaned as I pulled back and my cock throbbed at the dreamy look in her eyes and pink bloom on her cheeks.
“We definitely don’t have to fake our chemistry,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood so I didn’t drag her to the car and fuck her in the back seat.
McKenna double-blinked, the haze starting to clear as she frowned. “Um. No, I guess not.” She took several steps back, causing my arm to fall from around her waist.
I wasn’t happy with the move, but I didn’t want to push her too hard, so I just moved to the door and pressed the button for the intercom.
“How can I help you?” a woman’s voice greeted us through the speaker.
“Hey there, Dana,” I drawled, looking up straight at the camera. “I heard Linc is in town and thought I’d drop by to see if he intends to lose any more money to me at poker next week.”
Dana scoffed. “You’re full of shit, Jeremy Bardot. I know he took you for ten grand because he wouldn’t stop bragging about it for three days. And no, he’s not here. He’s at home in New York.”