Read Online The Billionaire's Deal: The Complete Story: An Alpha Billionaire Romance by Crystal Kaswell - Free Book Online
Authors: Crystal Kaswell
Ads: Link
warned me this company party would be long, boring, and filled with assholes. He didn't warn me that he was talking about me. "Kat Wilder. Nice to meet you."
I offer my best coquettish grin. Of course Blake mentioned me. People talk about their girlfriends. And that's what I am—his pretend girlfriend.
"Declan Jones," he shakes my hand. "You're much prettier than Blake said."
Big smile, little laugh. "Thank you. I've heard so much about you." Like the one time Blake mentioned his college friend who runs a start-up in San Francisco.
"And where is your date?" Blake asks.
"I'm here on business, my friend. No dates. But I'm glad you volunteered to entertain me." Declan smiles. "Things didn't work out well with Grace. Different lifestyles."
"That means she wasn't okay with him seeing other women." Blake raises an eyebrow as if to challenge his friend.
Declan shrugs with false modesty. So the guy is a bit of a player. No surprise. All that matters is that he's buying into this whole ruse. I have to admit, it's convincing. Blake is the quiet, protective boyfriend, and I'm the pretty—with the help of a hair, makeup, and styling team—young thing he needs around constantly.
There are another dozen introductions just like that one. I laugh. I smile. I swat men away saying things like oh, you. Blake's grip around my waist gets a little tighter with every compliment. Almost like he really is jealous.
A woman a few years older than I am storms up to us. "Blake."
He remains steel. "This is my sister, Fiona."
Fiona nods hello. "Nice to meet you. Kat, right?"
I nod. "I'm Blake's girlfriend."
Her eyebrows raise in surprise. She shakes the expression off. "Mom wants to meet your girlfriend. She said something about how she hopes you finally care about more than getting between a woman's legs."
I am under strict instructions to hold my tongue, but the anger coursing through me is so tempting. Big smile. I can play this my way. "It's funny. Our relationship started out purely sexual. But Blake is so sweet." I turn to him with my best gaga eyes. "How could I not fall in love?"
He runs his fingertips over my chin, tilting me towards him. He leans closer, closer, closer. Our lips press together.
That whole thing about butterflies in your stomach—it's fact. My entire body is light. I'm faint. Blood is rushing down. That must be it. A kiss for show is still damn hot. It's not like my body knows it's a lie.
I grab at his shoulders and kiss back harder. Pretend or not, his lips are perfect against mine.
Fiona scoffs. "Get a room."
Blake pulls back. He throws a fuck you glance at his sister. "Where's Trey?"
She plays with her wedding ring. "A conference."
There's a sadness in her expression, like even she doesn't believe her story.
"That's a shame," Blake says. It sounds sincere.
"Mom is tired today. Put in some face time before your little speech, okay?" She asks.
"It's under control."
"I bet." She looks at me like I'm a bimbo. "Where did you two meet?"
"It was a coincidence," I say. "I bumped into him on my way out of an interview."
"Oh? You work. That must be a refreshing change, Blake," Fiona says.
Irritation flares in his expression. There's a tiny hint in his eyes. Otherwise, he's a wall of stone.
"What do you do?" Fiona asks.
"That's not your concern," Blake says.
"We're having a conversation," Fiona says.
"I'm a waitress," I say.
Fiona fights something—judgment or solidarity or something else entirely. She looks at her phone and frowns. "It was great to meet you but I need to make a call."
She makes eye contact with Blake. Something passes between them, a mystery to everyone else. I can do that kind of thing with Lizzy. It's a kind of sibling magic.
Fiona turns and leaves with a loud huff.
My heart races. Slow inhale. Can't hold my breath any longer. I unfurl my clenched fists and lock fingers with Blake. I can deal with rejection. I'm not good enough for some snooty asshole, fine, but that's his
I offer my best coquettish grin. Of course Blake mentioned me. People talk about their girlfriends. And that's what I am—his pretend girlfriend.
"Declan Jones," he shakes my hand. "You're much prettier than Blake said."
Big smile, little laugh. "Thank you. I've heard so much about you." Like the one time Blake mentioned his college friend who runs a start-up in San Francisco.
"And where is your date?" Blake asks.
"I'm here on business, my friend. No dates. But I'm glad you volunteered to entertain me." Declan smiles. "Things didn't work out well with Grace. Different lifestyles."
"That means she wasn't okay with him seeing other women." Blake raises an eyebrow as if to challenge his friend.
Declan shrugs with false modesty. So the guy is a bit of a player. No surprise. All that matters is that he's buying into this whole ruse. I have to admit, it's convincing. Blake is the quiet, protective boyfriend, and I'm the pretty—with the help of a hair, makeup, and styling team—young thing he needs around constantly.
There are another dozen introductions just like that one. I laugh. I smile. I swat men away saying things like oh, you. Blake's grip around my waist gets a little tighter with every compliment. Almost like he really is jealous.
A woman a few years older than I am storms up to us. "Blake."
He remains steel. "This is my sister, Fiona."
Fiona nods hello. "Nice to meet you. Kat, right?"
I nod. "I'm Blake's girlfriend."
Her eyebrows raise in surprise. She shakes the expression off. "Mom wants to meet your girlfriend. She said something about how she hopes you finally care about more than getting between a woman's legs."
I am under strict instructions to hold my tongue, but the anger coursing through me is so tempting. Big smile. I can play this my way. "It's funny. Our relationship started out purely sexual. But Blake is so sweet." I turn to him with my best gaga eyes. "How could I not fall in love?"
He runs his fingertips over my chin, tilting me towards him. He leans closer, closer, closer. Our lips press together.
That whole thing about butterflies in your stomach—it's fact. My entire body is light. I'm faint. Blood is rushing down. That must be it. A kiss for show is still damn hot. It's not like my body knows it's a lie.
I grab at his shoulders and kiss back harder. Pretend or not, his lips are perfect against mine.
Fiona scoffs. "Get a room."
Blake pulls back. He throws a fuck you glance at his sister. "Where's Trey?"
She plays with her wedding ring. "A conference."
There's a sadness in her expression, like even she doesn't believe her story.
"That's a shame," Blake says. It sounds sincere.
"Mom is tired today. Put in some face time before your little speech, okay?" She asks.
"It's under control."
"I bet." She looks at me like I'm a bimbo. "Where did you two meet?"
"It was a coincidence," I say. "I bumped into him on my way out of an interview."
"Oh? You work. That must be a refreshing change, Blake," Fiona says.
Irritation flares in his expression. There's a tiny hint in his eyes. Otherwise, he's a wall of stone.
"What do you do?" Fiona asks.
"That's not your concern," Blake says.
"We're having a conversation," Fiona says.
"I'm a waitress," I say.
Fiona fights something—judgment or solidarity or something else entirely. She looks at her phone and frowns. "It was great to meet you but I need to make a call."
She makes eye contact with Blake. Something passes between them, a mystery to everyone else. I can do that kind of thing with Lizzy. It's a kind of sibling magic.
Fiona turns and leaves with a loud huff.
My heart races. Slow inhale. Can't hold my breath any longer. I unfurl my clenched fists and lock fingers with Blake. I can deal with rejection. I'm not good enough for some snooty asshole, fine, but that's his
Similar Books
