Page 3 of False Pretenses

Alyssa smiled. “You already know. In exchange for the loan.”

“Are you serious? It’s not that big of an issue. Besides, if your business is failing, how can you afford to close it down for a week?”

“My business is not failing.” She ground her teeth. “I hired a part-time manager recently. She can do full time for the week I’m not there.”

Trinity’s doubt in her sanity radiated. “You hired a manager?”

“She has over twenty years of experience and great ideas for growth.”

Her cousin shook her head in disbelief. “You know this is crazy, right?”

Alyssa stood up, certain she had gotten what she wanted. “I have to get back to the store. Call me tonight with the details. Oh, and make it crystal clear to your boss that I am not selling my body in exchange for the loan. In fact, let’s keep that part between us. This is just pretend. Okay?”

Trinity sighed and stood as well. “Against my better judgment, you’ve got a deal. Have fun in the Cayman Islands.”

Chapter Two

Alyssa fidgeted with her seat belt, her hands shaking so much and her head spinning until she thought she would pass out. Beside her, Nathan laid a hand over hers, and she was struck, not for the first time since they started out on this trip, by the difference in their skin tones. Nathan’s tanned flesh contrasted with her coffee-with-cream brown. She had never considered dating a white man. As far as he and others of his race were concerned, she enjoyed looking, but never sampling.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, cutting into her thoughts.

She jerked at his touch but resisted pulling away, and concern colored his expression. They hadn’t gotten off the ground in New York yet, and here she was blowing it. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ll have to do better than that,” he chided.

“I—”

He squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. She stared at him, watching as he brushed her palm. A zing of desire rocketed through her body and straight down between her legs.

“You’ll have to learn to be more comfortable around me,” he explained. “We’ll have to look like we’re in love. If I can’t touch your hand or even kiss you without you running away from me, we’ll be found out.”

“K-Kiss me?” Of course he intended to kiss her. They had discussed it over dinner when he insisted he take her out to go over the details of what he expected and what she would not put up with. She must have been insane to do this, but Trinity had agreed to give her a check as soon as she arrived back in New York. The deal had been struck, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her dream. “Of course, kiss. What was I thinking? You’re right. I’ll do better.”

She peered up through her lashes at him and didn’t miss the doubt marking his handsome face. Determined to prove he didn’t have the wrong woman for the job, she leaned over and touched her lips to his in a brief peck. The fleeting contact raised goose bumps along her arms and sent new pings of need to her nether regions, but Nathan appeared less than impressed.

He frowned. “That’s the kind of kiss you give to a friend.”

“You kiss your friends on the lips?”

He tipped her chin up. “You need to do it like you mean it. I don’t believe you love me, Alyssa.”

Damn, this man plays hardball. What was I thinking?

She licked her lips and swallowed, trying to get sharp control of her senses, but Nathan didn’t make it easy. Staring into those eyes threatened to rob her of equilibrium, a

nd staying silent didn’t put him off. He waited for her response.

After an eternity, he released her and turned away. Alyssa blew out a sigh of relief.

“This is why we are arriving a day early,” he informed her. “To get you ready.”

“So you’re not having any trouble at all? You’re okay with kissing some random woman?”

He chuckled. “You’re not some random woman. You’re Trinity’s cousin, and even if you weren’t, you’re very beautiful. Why wouldn’t I enjoy kissing you?”

Her throat went dry at the offhand compliment. “Thank you. I think.”

“Mr. Corde, would you like a drink, sir?” The flight attendant, with clear interest in Nathan, leaned over his seat. Alyssa wondered if the woman always worked for Nathan or if she’d been borrowed from another airline. At least when this trip ended, Alyssa would have an incredible memory. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think she’d fly on a private jet.

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