Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
The waitress sets our drinks on the table and I wave her off on the food order, at least for now. Bella returns with that sweet sway of her hips, heating my blood. When she sits down, she says, “I think he’s going to be a star.” She sips her drink. “Becker hit on me. I turned him down. And he guessed it was about you. He said we were pretty obvious, which I blame on you, since you wanted to beat his ass.”
“Guilty as charged,” I say. “But I don’t apologize.”
“Of course, you don’t,” she says and then gasps, “Oh my God. I just told the guy on stage our names, and our company name, and it’s ridiculously obvious we’re not platonic. That was not smart.”
“I have about ten things I want to say about that statement, but I think it’s a little early in the night for me to go there.”
Her brows furrow. “What does that mean?”
“Later.” I change the subject. “Duke wants to work with Becker. He says his current agency isn’t playing ball.”
“I’m fairly confident he’ll sign in the morning. I want to sign him.”
“Fine. Sign him. Just don’t fuck him.”
Her expression darkens and she starts to get up. I catch her hand. “Don’t go.”
“I work with people like Becker all the time. Not once have I so much as kissed one of my clients, Tyler. I don’t deserve comments like that.”
“I’m not used to being jealous, Bella. It’s not a gentle emotion.”
“Is it jealousy or fear of losing your perfect fake fiancée?”
“Both, but not for the reasons you seem to want to believe. I re-read the will and all the fine print. I only have twelve months to get married, but the whole public engagement is six months. I have six months. I can wait—”
“No,” she says. “You can’t wait, Tyler. What if the board catches on and they challenge you? What if something, anything goes wrong? The more time this lingers on, the more chance, it backfires on you.”
I stroke her hair from her face. “Then do this with me, Bella. Just do it with me.”
“I don’t think I’m made for this, Tyler. I…you need to know I’m too emotionally involved.” Blood rushes to her cheeks and her lashes lower. She breathes out before she looks at me again. “You need someone who’s not going to get attached and the truth is, I already am.” She pushes away from me. “I need to go to the ladies’ room.” She stands up and starts walking away.
I think she thinks she just scared me off.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I down my drink, stand up, and follow her.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bella
My knees are weak, and I feel like I might be sick.
I rush around the corner and halt in front of the bathroom to lean on the wall, trying to calm my racing heart. Why did I just admit that to Tyler, other than the fact that it was the truth? I have feelings for him. I’m in love with him. I’m spinning out of control. I should have just said no to everything to spare us both the awkwardness. Now maybe he’ll feel we can’t even work together.
“Bella.”
I blink and realize Tyler is standing in front of me. “I just need a minute. I’ll be right back. I don’t think I ate enough and—”
He steps into me, his powerful legs framing my legs, his hips to my hips, one of his hands possessively at my waist, the other on my face. “Why are you here instead of out there with me?” he asks, his voice a low, rough demand, that is something sexy and intimidating right about now.
“I told you—”
“Tell me the truth.”
I draw in the scent of his cologne that’s a bit like a drug to me. He is like a drug to me. “I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t do a fake relationship just for sex and show. That’s just not how I’m made.”
“Damn it, woman,” he murmurs and his lips brush mine, a delicate tease of his tongue, and I’m already melting right here where I stand. No matter how I try to protect myself from the heartache I know he might bring me, there is not denying the seductive pull between us.
“Tell me that feels fake,” he whispers, his breath warm on my cheek.
“I don’t doubt you want to get naked with me again,” I reply breathlessly. “I doubt that I can keep doing it and still be okay.”
He eases back and looks at me. “Yes, I want to fuck you, always, anywhere I can, as often as I can. But I keep wanting to fuck you, Bella. That’s not what I do. I don’t come back for more. I fuck and I move on.”
I bristle. “That’s not making me feel better. I know you think it is, but it’s not. I can’t, Tyler. I don’t want a man who fucks everything that moves.”