Page 72 of The Guy Who Fake Dated Me

“Thank you. Our family’s stylist and Courtney are to blame.” His tone was sullen, but I caught the whisper of a grin on his lips.

Was—was that a joke? I did my best to absorb that as I said, “No blame needed. Really, if there were any single women here, they’d be swarming you.” The moment the words slipped out I wanted to take them back. I was a single woman, and I wasn’t about to swarm.

He gave me the tiniest smile, which somehow matched his green and black mask perfectly. “That doesn’t happen to me.”

I raised an eyebrow, forgetting that he probably couldn’t see it under my own mask. “I’m surprised.”

“Because I’m rich?”

Look at William being brutally honest. “You cut straight to the heart of the matter, but yes, that’s part of it.”

He sighed. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“You want to give me all of your money so women will love you for who you are and not what you own?” I let the words tumble from my smiling lips and felt William’s chuckle through my hand more than heard it.

“No, although it’s tempting.”

“To give me your money? I think it would be too much responsibility for me, and I’d totally use it for evil.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“You don’t understand my obsession with shoes.”

“Have you met my sister?”

“Not really.”

We fell into silence, and I waited for him to tell me what was on his mind. He’d assured Logan that he wasn’t trying to steal me away, but if that wasn’t why he wanted to chat, then what were we doing?

I looked around and found Logan and Courtney. He had a strained expression on his face but didn’t wink when I caught his eye, which I took as a good sign.

After a few seconds, William cleared his throat. “I’ve been watching you since we first met.”

My eyes went wide as I panicked, wondering if I needed to give Logan the high sign instead of the other way around.

“Don’t worry, this isn’t an admission of my love, just an inquiry about how you do it.”

“Do what?” I asked, taking a breath.

“Talk to people so easily.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you could walk up to anyone in this room and have a pleasant conversation with them.”

“Sure.” I shrugged.

“How do you do that?”

It’s not that I was confused by his question, I knew I had a natural talent for peopling, but he brokered billion-dollar deals. How did he have trouble communicating with others? “Don’t you have to talk to business associates?”

“It’s not the same.” He shifted his hand, and his eyes darted to something behind me. “In business transactions, I almost always come from a position of power. If I don’t have the power, I understand who does, and I make a plan around that.” His gaze moved back to mine. “I’m fairly certain that dealing with women should be different.”

“Depends on what kind of woman you’re looking for.” There were some girls who liked a domineering man.

William’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “A woman like you.” He shook his head. “Not you. I realize that you’re in a relationship with Logan, but someone who’s confident, can see the good and the fun in situations, and isn’t just looking at me like I’m a giant pocketbook.”

“Now I’m picturing you as a huge leather wallet with a gold chain.” He rolled his eyes, and I laughed. “So, you do like jokes.”

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