Page 53 of Seduced by Her Billionaire Fake Fiancé

“I’m going to get something to eat,” she said impatiently, moving towards the door.

He nodded once, then forestalled her, “Andie, before you go,” he said, dragging a hand through his hair. “We should talk about last night.”

She compressed her lips. “I’m not interested in talking about it. It happened. We had sex again. It’s no big deal, okay? Just forget about it.”

And with that, she left the room, waiting until she’d closed the door before expelling the breath she’d been holding.

It should have beeneasy to fake it around Max’s family because they were kind people around whom she felt comfortable, but that was a part of the problem. The more they bent over backwards to accept her, the more Andie felt guilty for lying to them all, and it was as she refilled her coffee for the third time, earning a look of amused approval from Max’s father, that she made the silent commitment to herself that this couldn’t go on for much longer. Certainly not the six months they’d originally suggested.

That had been before.

Before she’d spent long enough with Max to understand what a combination they’d be: petrol and flame. They couldn’t be together without risking an explosion, and the worst part of it was that Andie had somehow become a pyromaniac. She was addicted to the flames they sparked, in love with the feeling of almost being burned.

Or had she been burned last night?

Had he?

“Will you come and see the horses after breakfast, Andie?” Emilia asked. “There’s one there I think would be excellent for you to ride.”

“I’m not much of a horse rider,” she murmured.

“Have you never tried?”

“I have,” she said, finding both Emilia and Leandro watching her with interest. “My mother was a passionate equestrian, in fact. She loved horses and used to take my brother and me as small children. But I was thrown, when I was a teenager, and I broke a leg, badly. I found it hard to pick up again.”

“You were afraid?” Emilia said, with sympathy.

“Yes, terrified,” Andie smiled.

“You’re still scared?” That was Max. His voice, deep and magnetic, resonated in the depths of Andie’s soul. She wouldn’t have turned to look at him except for the fact they were surrounded by his family, for whom they were pretending to be madly in love. And so turn she must, her eyes even latching to his without incident.

“I—think so,” she admitted. “I haven’t really been near one since.”

“You must come and seeForesto.He is so kind and patient.”

“Or,” Leandro interjected, “she could go riding with Max. Far better to ride with someone if it’s your first time.”

“It is not her first time,” Emilia pointed out. “You’ve just heard her say she used to ride all the time as a girl.”

“And has not done so for many years,” Patrizia concurred with her younger son. “Leandro is right, Emme. Have Andie go with Max the first time. It’s safer, better for everyone.” Patrizia reached out, put her hand over Andie’s. “I couldn’t bear it if anything were to happen to you, my darling. Not when I see how happy you make each other.”

Andie’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. And suddenly, despite having not expressed a single interest in horse riding, she realized she was committed to doing exactly that after they’d eaten breakfast. And worst of all, she’d be riding with Max.

Twelve

“YOU ARE SURE ABOUT this?”

Andie ground her teeth, eyeing the enormous black horse. “Sure about everything but being saddled up with you,” she responded so quietly that only Max could hear.

His eyes narrowed a little. “We’ll just have to grin and bear it. Need a leg up?” He offered, holding his hands out for her to step into.

Andie would have loved to demur on principle but Max’s horse was high enough that Andie would never make it up without some assistance, so she reluctantly accepted, placing a foot in his palms and a hand on his shoulder.

Her stomach was a jitter of nerves as she took her position at the front of the saddle, a powerful gut punch of memories assailing her immediately. From the smell of the horse and leather of the saddle to the feeling of the beast beneath her, it was all so reminiscent of her mother that she felt a rich throb of emotion well in her gut.

But there was no time to focus on that. A moment later, Max was behind her, his body totally engulfing hers, one arm around her waist, pulling her back against him, the other grabbing the bridles, his confident, tanned hands easily in command. She looked across the field, to where Emilia and Leandro were already on their horses, riding in easy circles beside each other, waiting for Andie and Max to catch up.

“Okay?” He asked, and his tone was so solicitous, she heard the genuine concern and knew he understood what this meant to her.

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