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My confidence soared. I leaned in and whispered, “I’m wearing red lacy panties, by the way.” His jaw set, and he growled.

As the driver held open the door for us, Rex’s mouth descended on me, warming me, taking away all my nerves, replacing them with excitement for the adventures to come with him.

16

20K TO STOP

REX

“Isn’tthis like the fourth date you’ve been on this month with Chelsea? That has to be a record for you.” Pearl’s shit-eating grin irritated me, which was probably how she planned it. I ignored her.

“She said she misses home and wants to go dancing at a country club where a friend of hers is a DJ tonight. I don’t know. Are you sure about this?” I worried; my type of country club in high society didn’t typically involve cowboys.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror of my executive corner office. Pearl glanced over my shoulder at the clothes I had her order for me for this occasion. But Wranglers, flannel shirts, and cowboy boots? They weren’t usually my style.

“Oh yes, trust me. You’ll fit right in.” She giggled on her way out.

“Glad my dating life amuses you. But I draw the line atwearing the cowboy hat.” I smirked and tossed the hat back into the box. Shit, the lengths I went to for Chelsea…

But, if I was honest with myself, I hadn’t tired of her yet, which surprised me. Most women bored me on or right after the first date.

She dazzled my friends, too. That night at the wine bar, she was the lady in red no one could take their eyes off of. Xander, Brody, Gage all met us there, and I couldn’t help but puff out my chest with her on my arm. She kept up with the conversation, mesmerizing everyone with her bright smile, and seemed to fit in well with us.

How perfectly she fit with me later that night, too, in the bed of the penthouse suite I’d rented at the hotel next to the bar.

On two other dates, I wined and dined her at some of New York’s exclusive and finest restaurants and took her to fancy hotels after. I adjusted myself thinking of those nights in bed with her. Woke up each of the next mornings invigorated, as if the small-town girl breezed into the city and took my life hostage somehow.

I wasn’t complaining, and she’d better be impressed with me and my lifestyle by now.

I enjoyed showing her the finer side of life, watching her eyes grow wide at it all. She was suddenly occupying too many of my thoughts. Something I grew used to and especially needed for my plan to work.

After haggling with my lawyers about every detail, I finally had a prenup and a marriage contract. I even had a huge 6-carat Tiffany ring picked out. Now, I just needed tofind the right time to proposition her with the idea of marrying me.

I’d had everything set, but kept putting it off. Part of it was nerves—it wasn’t everyday I asked a woman to marry me for convenience and give me what I wanted. But I wasn’t a total asshole; I had a sweet deal etched out for Chelsea in this marriage, too. She’d walk away with plenty once it was over.

Over…I’d probably miss her when she was gone, but surely I’d move on. Return to my playboy lifestyle and see this as nothing but an interesting experiment on the lengths I’d go to get everything I wanted.

Now, I’d bide my time, waiting for the right moment to bring it up. My business instincts for negotiation in my real estate deals were usually on point, but this…with Chelsea…I couldn’t get a feel yet for the right time to close this deal.

Pearl was right.My outfit blended well at the country bar among the other men. The only difference between me and them was I probably could buy the bar, pay each man and woman in here at least a year’s salary, and call it a day without blinking an eye.

I scanned the crowded bar for Chelsea, since she and her friends arrived earlier for trivia. I wasn’t about to sit in for that, and told them I’d meet up later, but I didn’t count on Brooks being here. He laughed at me as I approached.

“Well Goddamn, Rex—Buchanan Energy already ownsthe East. Are you looking to win the West, too?” He snickered.

“Yeah, keep laughing asshat. At least I tried to fit in.” Although eyeing his casual jeans and black t-shirt, I was a little jealous. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here with Maisy.” He took a swig of his beer.

“Does that mean you have no designs on Chelsea?”

“She’s all about you, my friend. You’reallshe could talk about during trivia.” He rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer.

Smiling inwardly, I could strike Brooks off my list of competitors for Chelsea’s affection. “Look, I like her, and how many women have I said that about or gone to bed with more than once?”

He studied my face for a moment. “You serious about her?”

“Yeah. So can we put our friendship back on track then? No hard feelings?”