Page 30 of Faking it with the Billionaire

“Or what?” The grin on his face makes my stomach somersault, and with one hand, he keeps me pinned down, and with the other, he knocks the book to the floor, managing to flip it over.

“Lady porn, that’s cute.”

I scoff at his suggestion. “It’s not porn.”

“Then why were you trying to hide it?” he asks. “Jailed Little Jadesounds like something that would give you a lady boner.”

I knee him in the thighs, careful not to injure his groin or hurt him too much since he has another game tomorrow, and I swiftly roll out from under him.

“What do you know about lady boners?” I laugh, sitting up on the floor, my back against the sofa.

“I’d say I know a thing or two about making a girl moan.” Kyler grins, staring at me. “Want to go for round two? This time, no interruptions.”

The room is several degrees warmer, and I laugh nervously, glancing away. I grab my book, bringing it back onto my lap as I pull my knees to my chest. “We were just pretending, for your friends’ sake,” I say.

The harmless crush I feel toward Kyler isn’t so harmless if I catch feelings for him. And that isn’t an option.

He’s an NHL player. I’m just—me. There are a million girls out there who would tear down his door for one night with him.

I’m not that girl.

Not that I wouldn’t love to experience a night with him, but I have to be realistic and not set myself up for failure again.

“Too bad my friends aren’t here,” he says and sits up beside me, leaning on the sofa. He drapes his arm across the cushions, and I swear it’s a maneuver to cuddle me. Except, he doesn’t place his arm on my shoulder like I think he might.

I try to mask my disappointment.

“Oh yeah, we have the meeting at Bristol’s school tomorrow morning,” Kyler says.

Tomorrow happens to be Monday. Way to start the week off head-on.

“The one with the Moretti family?” He’d been trying to schedule the conference with the school, and there were constantly conflicting schedules between his games and the other family not being available.

“The one and only,” he says with a heavy sigh. “I’d like you to be there, but I also want to know Bristol is safe.”

“I’ll watch Bristol,” I say in agreement. It’s not really my place to attend the parent-teacher conference.

“The headmaster has asked for Bristol to attend the meeting. I think he’s expecting an apology from her.” Kyler grimaces and rubs his forehead.

“You’re concerned,” I say. “About the Moretti family or Bristol?” I ask, sensing his discontent.

He’s silent, and the air is thick, surrounding us. It’s unlike Kyler not to say what’s on his mind.

“Both.”

“I’ll be there,” I reiterate. “I won’t let anything happen to your daughter.”

“Thank you,” he whispers.

* * *

When the school day ends, Kyler and I head into Briarwood. He’s done a decent job covering up the bruise on his cheek and his knuckles. He got into it with someone on the ice. But he won’t talk to me about it. Shrugs it off as game stuff that happens during a hockey game.

The kids are bustling out the door with their teacher as she signs them out for pickup.

I’m always on high alert, looking for potential threats. Although the biggest one is where we’re heading: the headmaster’s office.

We’re meeting with the Morettis, and I’m not thrilled with the idea of being in the same room with Antonio, the head of the mafia.