Page 52 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

Her eyes darkened as she stared at me. “I can’t get it out of my head either.”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Ashlyn. You were right; I don’t do long term. I want you, but that’s all this is.” I wanted to be sure she and I were on the same page.

She didn’t answer at first. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I like to be upfront about what I want, so there’s no confusion later.”

She nodded.

“I do have something else I’d like you to think about.”

She played with the stem of her wine glass. “Okay.”

“An idea struck me. You and I clearly have an attraction, and what’s more, I like being around you. You’re funny, smart, and a bit of a smart ass sometimes.”

She laughed, “Um, thank you? I’m not sure what that has to do with an idea you had, though.”

“I think we might be able to help each other out. You need help financially to get your business up and running sooner rather than later, from what it sounded like.” I waited for her to nod. “I need someone to show the world, at least for a short time, that I’m serious about settling down, so I can take over for my dad when he retires. What if you help me, and I fund your business?”

Her silence lasted so long I wondered if I’d pissed her off.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Dean

Ashlyn’s unblinkingstare unnerved me.

Tonight had been going better than I’d expected. Did I royally fuck up this proposition? Anyone else would’ve waited to spring a crazy idea like this. Instead, I bulldozed my way through.

Ashlyn took a big gulp of her wine.

The longer she sat there in silence, the more time I had to think. I prided myself on my honesty. If I was honest with myself, it wasn’t just my desperation to make progress with the board and Jules D’Amboise pushing me to extend this offer to Ashlyn. My desire to see her again was equally strong. We could work our attraction to each other out of our system and end up with what we truly desired.

There was no downside.

“So you want to pay me to be your girlfriend?” Her voice was low, hesitant.