Page 94 of Faking it with the Billionaire

I rub my forehead, my stomach tossing and turning. “You deserve to be cared for, Em. Protected.”

“I don’t want you fighting Fitzgerald.” She is firm in her answer, and her hold doesn’t loosen on her purse.

I exhale a heavy sigh. “Maybe I could suggest we play a game on the ice together. I’m sure he has his skates from his younger days.”

“Why? So you can beat the crap out of him fairly on the ice?” Em smiles as she stares at me, shaking her head. “No means no. You are not going to fight my battles for me. I can handle his dumb ass. In fact, I did when I was in his office. You have to let it go.”

“How am I supposed to let it go? He admitted to masturbating with you in the room!”

“He’s a pervert,” Em says. “Karma will catch up with him. But he did one thing right.”

I refuse to see her point of view. “He’s a douche pervert.”

“And he admitted to seeing his brother plant the threatening note in your mailbox,” Em says, her voice soft and calm. She rests her hand on my arm and slides it down to my fingers, intertwining our hands together.

Her touch is soft and soothing, like a drug that settles my anger and my adrenaline. How the hell does she do that?

“I hate him,” I seethe between clenched teeth.

“Don’t waste your energy on him. He’s not worth it, babe.”

“Babe?” I glance at her, surprised by her term of endearment.

Em shrugs. “Just trying it out,” she says. She gives my hand a squeeze and releases her fingers from my grasp, her hands protectively clutching her purse. “Now, where are you taking me on this cheap date?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

TWENTY-FOUR

EMERSON

Dinner is absolutely delicious.Sitting across from Kyler, I can’t believe that he found this cute little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant.

The prices are affordable, which meets the requirements I set for him to spend no more than one hundred dollars on our date. Which is still a lot of money, but to him, it’s nothing. He griped about my budget for several days before our date.

I half-expected him to prepay for dinner or take me someplace fancy and have the restaurant foot the bill because he is friends with the chef. Neither of which he did.

I’m impressed.

I’m also lovestruck, which makes me nervous and giddy around him. I’m trying my damndest to keep my cool. It’s Kyler Greyson, the man I used to work for as his daughter’s bodyguard and had a fake romance with, but now, it’s real.

The pressure is definitely there, at least for me. I want to live up to his expectations. And it’s hard when I swear every girl on the street turns her head, or there are whispers inside and glances as people recognize him.

It doesn’t seem to faze Kyler in the slightest, or maybe he just doesn’t notice it anymore. He’s been in the public spotlight for years.

Kyler orders us one dessert to split, and it’s divine. I’ve never tasted chocolate quite so good in my life. Apparently, I’ve been missing out.

He smirks as he watches me lick the spoon.

Is he seriously getting turned on right now, watching me eat? The tips of his ears are red, and his eyes have darkened as he stares at me.

I glance down at the dessert. “Are you going to have any more of it?”

Kyler shifts in his seat. “I’m thoroughly enjoying watching you lick that spoon,” he confesses.

I’m sure I’m blushing from his comment, and I glance down, smiling nervously. Why does he make me feel like I’m a teenager all over again? I don’t get nervous around boys or on dates. But with him, he makes my stomach flutter and my heart race.

His stare is intense as he watches me, and I glance away, noticing a woman at another table sitting alone, watching us.