Page 26 of The Companion Love Trap

Something inside of me crumbled, and I didn’t know why. I didn’t care what others thought of me, but feeling the rejection from his obvious displeasure of me hurt. I’d convinced myself there was some weird bond between us in the few seconds I’d watched him, but clearly, I’d been wrong. He was just another entitled rich kid who had more money than he knew what to do with and felt privileged to get whatever he wanted from life.

Stuffing away the tears that wanted to fall, I lifted my chin, remembering I didn’t let anyone tell me how to feel about myself. If he didn’t want me to be his fake girlfriend, he shouldn’t have had his best friend pick me out. At least Jace would be on this trip. I could retreat to his friendly presence when the grump became too much.

“Kieran, I’d like you to meet your fake girlfriend for the trip. This lovely creature is Everly.”

Jace lifted my hand, kissing it before spinning me. He was so effervescent, and it was contagious, making me chuckle as I indulged him. A determination to make this grumpy asshole regret his first impression surged forward, and I smiled as I held out my hand to Kieran. I’d be the best fake girlfriend there ever was.

“Nice to meet you, Kieran. I’m excited to spend the week with you.”

He glanced down at my hand, his nostrils flaring as he looked at it before darting his eyes back to Jace, emotion passing between them I couldn’t decipher. I looked at my hand quickly, ensuring I had nothing on it. But only the smooth skin and pink nails showed. I’d buffed and polished to perfection, and I still didn’t meet this guy’s standards. Typical.

Anger that didn’t belong here rose as flashes of my mother turning up her nose at my messy clothes and chipped fingernails. Of winning a violin competition and her dismissing it by stating I’d only competed against two people with no talent and could’ve played “Twinkle Twinkle” and won. Or the time I was so proud of my research paper I’d worked on for weeks for her to tell me I wasted my time on a topic that didn’t matter.

Over and over throughout my childhood, my mother made me feel less than or unworthy. No matter what I wore, or how I performed, or did in school, she always had a critical word to give me. So many nights, I’d been sent to my room without dinner for crying at her stern words. It worked as a double punishment by keeping me from the comforting embrace of my father and helping me “lose my baby weight.”

You’re too loud, Beverly.

You’re not even trying.

You can do better.

Boys don’t like fat girls.

Try harder, Beverly.

You’re never going to amount to anything.

Fat girls aren’t pretty.

You’re too much. You’re not enough. Never right.

The harsh criticisms of my mother flooded my mind, the intrusive thoughts overpowering me at Kieran’s easy dismissal of me. I’d given everything up to be my own person, but how easily I fell back into the trap.

NO! I refused to feel small.

Clenching my fists at my sides, I felt the fingernails press into my palms. The pain helped center me, my chest rising at my shortened breaths, and my heart galloped off into the sunset, leaving me to clean up the mess.

I’d missed whatever Jace had said while my mind had been at war, but I didn’t care. I opened my mouth to tell Snooty Grumpshire exactly where he could stick the stick in his ass when the sound of Kieran’s voice momentarily shocked me into silence.

“What are you playing at, Jace? I trusted you, and you go and do this! How am I meant to concentrate with—” he stopped, biting his tongue as his nostrils flared more.

The pause shook off the lust I’d felt at his accented words, reminding me I’d been angry first. But I wanted this job more than any other I’d ever had, and I wouldn’t let my anger ruin it for me. I needed to be smart about this. Taking a deep breath, I met his eyes. Anger would get me nowhere.

“I can assure you, Mr. Byrne, that I’ll do the job well. We don’t have to like one another to pretend. But, as it stands, I showed up, and I’m ready to help your investors fawn over you. So, as per the contract, if you’re the one to end the arrangement, I get to keep everything I’ve been given so far, along with a check for two grand for my troubles. I’m completely fine with walking away right now. I don’t particularly want to be stuck on a ship with someone who loathes me based on my appearance, even if he is a handsome elitist grump. But you don’t see me throwing a tantrum in the first-class lounge.”

So much for not being angry, Everly!

To my surprise, his blue eyes widened to the point he resembled an owl, his mouth opening and closing as he stared at me dumbfounded.

And fuck, if that didn’t make me want to push his buttons more. To see how riled up I could get this grumpy billionaire. I stepped closer, an expensive cologne wrapping around me and making me momentarily off-balanced. It smelled familiar, and I tilted my head all the way back to take in his eyes from this close. My finger tapped his chest, the stiff muscles beneath flexing at my touch. I licked my lips, forgetting for a second what I’d meant to do.

“Based on how Jace fingered me and dry-humped my leg yesterday, he at least wants me on this trip. I have a lot to offer and know I can do this job, but I won’t be made to feel less than, for whatever reason you’ve decided.”

My words were soft, the anger gone, and vulnerability shone through despite my best efforts to hide it.

Kieran gave a curt nod, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he stared down at me. His pupils were dilated, and I was tempted to press forward to see if he was aroused, but I managed to rein in my desire and step back. Jace stepped closer, wrapping his arm around my waist and instantly making me feel better. Damn him and his powerful sunshine juju.

“That’s not what this is at all, Firecracker. I surprised Kieran, that’s all. He wants you here. Don’t you, big guy?”

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