Page 27 of Billionaire in Disguise

“Actually, I’d say you’re quite hard.” She flushed, licked her lower lip, and he resisted the urge to trace his finger across it. To lean forward and taste. Simply to hold her.

She inspired a lot of urges, many far deeper than physical. The strong, smart woman attracted him like no one ever before, with her fascinating conversation, clever wit and uncompromising generosity. His feelings for her were anything but pretend.

How could he give her up?

A relationship would be a challenge. She didn’t even know his real name. Yet no matter how many times he listed the obstacles, his determination never wavered. He wanted more.

But first he had to tell her the truth.

“You didn’t know I was a vegetarian.”

He grimaced. “I thought I saw you eat meat. You should have mentioned it when we were discussing our habits.”

“You’re right.” She frowned. “Next time I have a fake boyfriend, it will be the first thing I share.”

No.

She would not have another fake boyfriend. Not another boyfriend at all.

“Look at all this.” Mrs. Lewis strode into the room, flipping through the mail like a Fortune 500 CEO. She held up a magazine and frowned. “I can’t believe your brother forwards his mail every time he comes here on vacation.”

Adrianna looked upward and smiled. Nick returned it, just as her mother stacked the letters. He froze at the image glaring from the back of a magazine:

Him.

He barely remembered the magazine shoot, which was part of a campaign for one of his charities and featured a close headshot. Even with the cleanshaven face and different haircut, he was clearly identifiable. If they saw it, the ruse would be over – for good.

“Adrianna, can you put these in the den? Joshua’s mail is on the coffee table.”

“Of course.” Adrianna reached for the stack, her fingers wrapping around the neck of his printed picture.

He jumped up. “Let me help you with that.”

Adrianna looked up in surprise. “You don’t have to–”

He grabbed it out of her hands. She stared, yet he hadn’t a choice. If she saw his picture, it would be the blue screen of death. “I’m just trying to be a courteous guest.” And as any courteous guest would do, he turned and fled.

“Wait up.”

He moved quicker.

He reached the den just before she jogged up to him. Unable to discard all manners, he gestured for her to go ahead, then walked straight to the coffee table and slammed down the mail. Suspicion and curiosity tangled in her emerald gaze, as she looked from the mail to him and then back again. She sifted through the letters, grasped the magazine.

His picture was not on the cover. However, the front page did contain–

“Dominick Knight.”

He tightened. “I’m sorry?”

“You must be familiar with the CEO of Knight Technology.” She pointed at the name in two-inch letters. “Famous, rich and powerful.”

How did he respond to that? “I do know him. Well. Really well. Extremely well.”

That didn’t sound suspicious or anything.

She looked at him strangely. “He’s incredible. Built the entire company with hard work, determination and a genius IQ. He’s the reason I applied for the job in the first place.”

Wow.“Really?”

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