Page 24 of Billionaire's Fake Plus One

My body hums in response, coming alive as intense lust assuages me. My hands move up, greedy palms sliding through the scruff on his jaw, down to his shoulders. He cradles my face and stares at me intensely for a moment.

Then he crushes his lips over mine, kissing me fervently. The kiss is opposite to the gentle way he’s holding my face, and the air whooshes out of my chest at the delicious contrast. His tongue prods insistently against my lips until they part for him; he growls against me as he pulls me flush to his body.

My fingers dig into his shoulder blades as the kiss spirals out of control. My nipples tighten inside the soft cups of my strapless bra, and my core clenches desperately. He deepens the kiss, his hands dropping from my face down to my lower back, hesitating before reaching my ass.

“Get a room!” someone shouts, shattering the spell. Lucien breaks the kiss softly, and I stare up at him, my lips parted as I pant. His lips glisten from my gloss, and he licks them before whispering, “Vanilla”. The game continues on around us, but I’m not really following anymore, my brain now hazy. Fuck, that was so hot. Mind scrambling.

Afterward, the MC moves us to the next room with a large dining area. We sit with the wedding party, Zane and Brittany at the head, as the MC and the staff of the lodge herd the guests in.

“So, you’re a nanny, huh?” Brittany asks, and our table hushes. I don’t know why, but something in her eyes and the way she worded the question rubs me the wrong way. I just know she’s doing it to belittle me. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I’ve done nothing to make her dislike me. Is it just because I’m Zane’s ex?

“I used to be a paralegal at Kane and Wilson.” The guests nod in approval, some even offering me a small smile. Kane and Wilson is the best law firm in Washington State and one of the top firms in the United States. “I needed a change of pace, so I opted to go to Bainbridge Island. Maddie and Millie are such sweethearts, and I enjoy spending time with them. I don’t know why their mother is out of the picture, but they seem better off without her.”

The guests gasp as Brittany goes white. A hush falls over the room, and our group looks ardently from Brittany to me to Lucien and back again. Lucien’s hand slips over my right thigh, and he squeezes it. What? What did I say?

Thank God, the waiters flood in at that exact moment; everyone looks down as the food is served. Dinner at our table is an awkward affair, the only sound coming from silver cutlery against bone china. The other tables seem to be having a hoot as the Kiss or Confess game seeming to do its job at breaking the ice. I know the awkwardness here is from what I said, but even after racking my brain, I can’t for the life of me figure out what I said that was so wrong.

18

Rachel. I got your message, and I’m so worried. But I know you’re going to kick that flu’s butt. Sending you all my love ??

“What was all that about?” I ask Lucien as we make our way into our suite.

“What was what?” he asks, not looking at me as he tugs at his tie impatiently. He walks into the bedroom, and I follow him.

“You know? The awkwardness and dead silence at the dining table after I spoke.” I sink into the armchair and take off my heels, wiggling my toes on the plush carpet. “Did I say something wrong? I can’t help but feel like I put my foot in my mouth.”

He directs a cool look at me. “Can we not talk about this tonight? I’m tired.” He stalks off to the closet to continue taking off his clothes. What? I gape at his retreating back in disbelief. He emerges from the closet a few minutes later clad in only a towel and walks to the bathroom without so much as a glance my way. He closes the door behind him and the shower comes on. I scoff in disbelief. Wow. What the hell crawled up his ass and died?

I move out of the bedroom, walking to the library for some added privacy as I dial Rachel’s number. She picks up on the third ring. “Willow, you didn’t have to call me. Aren’t you busy faking it at Half Moon Bay?” She tries to joke but her voice isn’t as strong as it usually is.

I told Rachel the truth, of course. She’s become really vital to me, and I like to think we don’t keep any secrets from each other. “I’m never too busy to check in on you. How are you feeling?”

“I feel way better already. Andrew freaked out so much and made me come to the hospital. I think he was secretly worried I might be pregnant because he had a meltdown.”

I chuckle lightly, as I try to imagine tough Andrew having a meltdown. “I would’ve loved to see that. So, what’s the verdict? Baking a mini Kane in your belly?”

“Ugh, don’t even joke about that. Even after I got the all clear, Andrew made me go visit an obstetrician. Besides, Mom would kill me if I got pregnant before the wedding she’s been planning since before I was born.”

I laugh at her put-out tone. “Poor you. Are you still at the hospital?”

She sighs heavily. “What do you think? Andrew refused to let me check out even though the doctors said the worst has passed. He wants me to stay one more night just to be safe.”

“That’s really sweet,” I say. She mumbles something under her breath but doesn’t argue with me. She might grumble but she secretly adores it when Andrew dotes on her.

“Enough about me. Have you seen Zane?” I tell her all about the welcome dinner. She laughs at the ridiculous toasts and listens attentively when I tell her about the kiss or confess game. I try to make it sound like it’s not a big deal, but she knows me too well.

“Be careful, Willow. Don’t fall for him. Remember it’s all just pretend. By the end of the week, you’ll be back in Bainbridge Island watching his daughters, and you’ll still be their nanny.”

A twinge of hurt goes through me at her words, but I push it aside. She’s right, of course. “You’re preaching to the choir, girl. You forget I know firsthand how uncool it is to fall for the wrong person. Hell, I could write a book on it!”

Watching my mother become a shell of herself, then being cheated on by the first guy I decide to take a chance on, is enough to teach me a lifetime lesson. Nevertheless, I take her advice to heart.

“I know all that. But there’s something about the way you talk about Lucien. Just be careful.” I assure her that I will, and she asks me to continue my story. I tell her about the dinner conversation and the strange awkwardness that ensued.

“I’m glad you put Brittany in her place! She sounds like a real piece of work. Don’t worry about any awkwardness Willow and keep your head high during the spa day tomorrow.” I nod even though she can’t see me, then I continue on, telling her about Lucien’s strange behavior.

“Maybe he just needs some distance. From what I know about him, the guy doesn’t seem like he spends a whole lot of time around women, and even those he’s been with don’t last long. Just give him space.”

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