Engaged to the Billionaire

by Cora Bell

  “I’m going with you,” I told her firmly.

  Isabelle blinked in surprise. Her mouth opened, those perfect lips distracting me for a moment. “But…don’t you have work?”

  “No.”

  I did, but it was being put on hold. Mrs. Claybourne already knew to cancel my meetings for the day. She’d also insisted on sending flowers to the hospital. I could always count on her to make sure my bases were covered.

  Isabelle looked like she wanted to argue again but set it aside. I imagined this was going to be a common thing with her until she knew her mother’s surgery was done and paid for. Once she knew I couldn’t go back on my word, I highly doubted she’d bite her tongue.

  Little did she knew the surgery was already paid for. None of it was coming from the chunk of money I owed her for signing the contract. I’d told Mrs. Davis I’d fix this, and I hadn’t been lying. The surgery, the bills, an upgrade to a better room—it was all taken care of.

  “Are we driving or…?” She glanced around like she expected me to pull out car keys so we could get a move on.

  “Breakfast first. You’re going to need your energy.” I didn’t miss her frown. And I expected an argument, so I continued, “The driver will be here in twenty minutes, which means you have time for breakfast.”

  “Oh. Right. I’m just nervous,” she said, walking around the counter.

  “Coffee then?”

  We both went for the mug on the counter at the same time, our hands colliding. Her touch was like silk, hands cool and smooth. In a flash, I imagined them running up my bare chest. Then moving down my abs to grip my cock. God, she was intoxicating me without even trying.

  “Isabelle,” I breathed.

  She jerked back when she realized she was still standing so close. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?”

  Her head bobbed in a nod. “Yes. Sorry. I didn’t—I mean, I wasn’t trying to…” Her cheeks flushed and she lowered her gaze. “God, this is awkward. I’m sorry.” She looked up again. “I agreed to a job and I know part of that is being professional. That’s why you wanted me. I can be professional, Mr. Holden.” She held out her hand. “Agreed?”

  Fuck. She thought I was upset with her because she’d stood too close. Because it wasn’t professional. How was it impossible for her to see how badly I wanted her? I wasn’t upset at all. I was turned on. And trying to hide it.

  Instead, she wanted to shake hands. But she was right. I’d wanted her because I wanted someone to be professional. To treat this as a business.

  I knew I was going to regret it, but I took her hand. And gritted my teeth as I shook it. Professional. I could do that.

  Even though my dick was at half-mast and she smelled like heaven. Even though I wanted to press her against the counter and kiss every inch of her body.

  Dammit, what the hell was wrong with me?

  “Agreed,” I forced myself to say.

  “Good.”

  She moved to pour her coffee and I gave her a wide berth. I didn’t think I could handle touching her again.

  We both stayed quiet as she drank her coffee, as we rode the elevator to the lobby, and as we got in the car.

  The moment we were at the hospital, we were greeted by doctors and told Mrs. Davis was being prepped for surgery but Isabelle could see her.

  It happened fast, moving from room to room and talking to one doctor or nurse after the other.

  I stayed with Isabelle the whole time. I sat with her while her mom was in surgery and brought her coffee to distract her.

  When the doctor finally came out to update us, I stood with Isabelle, setting a supportive hand on her back.

  “Everything looks good,” the doctor said, smiling at Isabelle.

  I felt and saw her shoulders move as she released a breath. “Really?”

  He nodded. “No complications. And once she recovers, she should feel much better. Back to normal.”

  Isabelle smiled. “Back to normal. Like…”

  “Like she can work, she can exercise, she can do everything she could do before. Just like new.”

  I reached out and shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you.”

  He nodded again and then walked away.

  I barely turned to Isabelle before she had her arms around me. I absorbed the hug with surprise.

  “Isabelle?”

  “This is the best news. Did you hear that? She’ll be back to normal.” She turned to look in my eyes and I froze.

  I could see how much this meant to her. And at that moment, I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else in my arms.

  “I heard that,” I whispered.

  Her eyes dipped to my lips. My cock shot to attention. I moved before I could help myself, sealing my mouth to hers.

  She met the kiss with a searing heat of her own, her lips parting for my tongue. I didn’t care where we were standing or who saw us, I just knew I wanted her.

  My fingers slid into her hair while she gripped my arms. When she released a soft moan of pleasure, I nearly blew my load right there.

  And then she gasped and yanked out of my arms. Her eyes were wide with shock when she met mine. “Oh, no. Nick—I mean, Mr. Holden. I’m so sorry—I didn’t—” She shook her head. “Please, believe me. I can do this. I can be professional. I was just happy about my mom. Trust me, I can do this.”

  I swallowed hard, wishing she’d just let go. Wishing she’d just follow her heart instead of her head. But that wasn’t my place to ask that of her.

  I forced a smile. “I know you can do this.”

  She gave a jerky nod. “Good. Right. I just—” She gestured down the hall toward the bathrooms.

  I watched as she turned and strode in that direction, not glancing back even once.

  Dammit, why the hell had I signed that contract?

  I shoved a hand through my hair and paced the hallway. Chase had been right. This was a mistake. Who knew that this whole thing would backfire on me?

  I’d finally found a woman to love and she’d just agreed to be my business partner. Somehow I didn’t think money was going to fix this mess I’d gotten myself into.

  Chapter 7

  The dog yipped with glee when it saw Becca, and I couldn’t help but smirk because I felt the same way.

  Even though Nick hadn’t liked it, I insisted on walking Suzie tonight—because I walked Suzie twice a week on the same night and had a commitment.

  I didn’t care that I didn’t need the money, I hated going back on my word. I also needed to get away. After our kiss in the hallway and coming down from the high of knowing my mom was finally going to get better, I’d realized what I’d done.

  I was engaged to Nicholas Holden.

  The idea freaked me out enough that I’d told him I was going to walk a dog and that was that.

  Once he’d dropped me off outside the building, just blocks from my own apartment, I’d called Becca immediately.

  “You scared the crap out of me, you know that?” Becca asked as she strolled up the sidewalk with her hands in her pockets.

  The sun was setting behind the buildings and a cool breeze blew past. It was nice to be outside in the fresh air and nice to be free of the one thing that had been worrying me for the last several years.

  “Scared you?” I asked.

  She crouched to pet Suzie. “You’re such a good girl—I know you know that. What? You smell something?” Becca grinned and reached into her jacket pocket to pull out a small bone. “Is this what you want?”

  I rolled my eyes. “You know Suzie’s not allowed to have treats.”

  “One small treat won’t hurt her.” She held it out for the dog, laughing when Suzie nearly gobbled it whole, and then stood. “It’s fine. We’ll walk her an extra block tonight so she doesn’t get fat.”

  Suzie wagged her tail, so I started down the street with Becca at my side.

  “Anyway,” Becca said. “Yes. You scared me. Calling me like you did earlier. I thought something
had happened with your mom. I mean, something bad with the surgery.”

  “Oh, sorry. I was freaking out.”

  “Yeah, you said.”

  I sighed. “I mean…” Guilt crept up on me. “Okay, so I didn’t quite tell you the whole story.”

  “About your mom?”

  I shook my head. I’d called Becca last night to let her know the surgery was scheduled for this morning, but I hadn’t told her why we’d decided to do it all of the sudden.

  “Nick,” I said. “Mr. Holden. Whatever.”

  “Yeah, you said he showed up at the hospital.” She frowned. “I told him not to talk about the interview—or the offer or whatever.”

  “No, he didn’t. Well, not at first.”

  Becca glanced over with murder in her eyes. “Really? I specifically told him not to bother you and then he—”

  “Wait. Becca. That’s not exactly what happened. He didn’t bring up the offer. I did.”

  “What?”

  I stopped at a tree so Suzie could do her business and faced Becca with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I just—it was my mom.” Her face softened. “It was really bad—like…really bad. They didn’t think she’d get out of the hospital this time.”

  “Oh, Izzy, I’m sorry.” Becca reached out to rub my arm.

  “I knew she needed surgery, so I told Mr. Holden I’d sign the contract.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “But…did you even read it? Do you know what you were agreeing to?”

  “I already know it’s enough money to cover my mom’s surgery.”

  “But don’t you think you should at least read the fine print?”

  A flicker of worry hit me, but I forced a shrug. “It doesn’t matter. I already signed it.”

  “What?” Becca lifted her hands in an Are you kidding me? gesture. “Isabelle Davis, are you serious?”

  I tugged on Suzie’s leash to get her walking again. “Why would I lie about this? And why are you so surprised? I had an opportunity to help my mom and I took it.”

  Becca nodded immediately. "Of course,” she said. “I know you would do anything for your mom, and if this helps her then I’m behind you 100%.”

  I smiled at Becca, grateful. “Thank you.”

  It meant a lot to me that Becca understood why I’d done this. But I’d still called her for a reason.

  “So, I did call because I have an issue.”

  “What? I’ll do anything I can to help. Just name it.”

  I gave a nervous laugh. “The issue is that I've managed to get myself engaged to a man I hardly even know.”

  Becca looked over with her eyebrows raised. Then she cracked a smile. And after a minute, we were both laughing hysterically on the sidewalk as the day turned to night.

  Suzie stopped to look up at us with her head tilted. I gripped my side as the laughter subsided.

  “This is crazy,” I told Becca.

  “Yeah. You’re the only person I know who can manage to trip and basically fall into an engagement.”

  I snorted and turned back the way we came. “I guess. I prefer to think of it as luck. The right thing at the right time.”

  “It was pretty lucky. And I’m a little pissed I didn’t think of it first,” Becca said. “When I found out he was looking for a wife, I should have thought of you first.”

  “No way. You’re the one who wanted to be his wife.”

  Becca held up a finger. “No, I wanted an in. A way to get him to notice me. I just figured if I had to marry him to do it, then that was the way it had to be. It was only temporary anyway.” Her lips curved when she looked at me. “Though he’s not exactly hard on the eyes.”

  I dropped my gaze, watching Suzie sniff every single tree and car tire as we passed.

  “I saw that,” Becca said. “Izzy.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumbled.

  But I did. Nick definitely wasn’t hard on the eyes. And when he’d kissed me… God, it had curled my toes. Made my body come alive like it never had before. Nothing like the chaste kisses my neighbor gave when we went out. No, this was pure fire.

  “It’s just business,” I reminded her—and myself. I promised Nick, too. Business. I could control myself around him—I knew I could. I didn’t want to give him any reason to go back on the agreement.

  “Business with perks,” Becca quipped. Then she sobered. “Regardless, you’re helping your mom, which is more than enough reason to do what you’re doing.”

  “Right,” I said. “So I should just go with the flow, right? Make sure I’m holding up my end of the bargain.”

  “Right.” Becca gestured. “And you probably want to start right now.”

  I followed her gaze to the limousine in front of the building where Suzie’s owner lived.

  My core tightened immediately when I saw Nick—no, Mr. Holden—step out. He looked like pure sex. Dark suit with just a pop of blue underneath, smoldering eyes, and full lips. And he was mine—at least for right now. I supposed sudden engagements did have their perks.

  When Mr. Holden saw me, he strode straight up to me and put his arms around me, his lips brushing my cheek.

  “Wh—what are you doing here?” I blurted.

  Becca stared at me, wide-eyed, over his shoulder. What the fuck? she mouthed.

  “I’m picking up my fiancée,” he said, leaning back to see my eyes. I didn’t miss the way his gaze dropped to my lips. “It’s the rules.”

  “Oh.” I bobbed my head immediately like I’d read the rules—which I hadn’t. “Of course. Thanks.”

  When he stepped back, Becca gave an awkward smile. “So…” She pointed across the street where her car was parked. “I need to go. ‘Night, lovebirds.”

  I rolled my eyes, but Nick grinned. I really needed to read that contract. What part was I supposed to be playing here? But the idea of knowing what he wanted from me almost freaked me out even more.

  Go with the flow. That was what I was supposed to be doing.

  “Almost finished here?” Nick asked.

  “Yes. Mr. Holden, you didn’t have to come. It’s—”

  “It’s Nick.”

  I blinked in surprise. “I was just trying to be professional.”

  “It’s in the contract. Besides, how would it look if my wife called me Mr. Holden all the time?” His lips curved. “Although, that would be kind of sexy.”

  Just the word sexy made my clit throb. Fuck, how was I supposed to be professional with him when he looked at me like that?

  “I just figured…” I shook my head. “I don’t know. That you wanted me to be professional and…”

  “Professional, yes. Cold, no.”

  “Cold?” I squawked. “I’m not being cold.”

  He laughed out loud, and I realized he was joking. Still, it bugged me that he thought I couldn’t play both parts. I’d always been the responsible Isabelle Davis, but underneath, I wanted to be the rebel. The one who lived on the edge. The sexy one.

  “Prove it,” Nick said, his hooded eyes smoldering.

  My heart lurched. Prove it? Safe Isabelle Davis playing the bad girl? I swallowed hard. I might be safe, but I also couldn’t resist a challenge.

  I stepped up to him, my heart slamming against my ribs, and lifted my chin. “Mr. Holden,” I whispered, my lips curving. I touched his chest, running my fingers up his tie and then brushing his lapel. “Whose house will we sleeping at tonight? Mine or yours?”

  To my surprise, he growled low in his throat. “Fuck, woman. You think you can say that to me, look at me like that, and I can be professional?”

  I blinked and then gasped when he jerked me against his body. “You can try,” I murmured, amusement in my voice.

  His eyes locked on mine. “Even my self-control has its limits.”

  A laugh tumbled out. “So I guess we’re going to your house, then.”

  He released me and lowered his chin, looking like he was trying to compose himself. “Yes
. It’s the rules.”

  I nodded and turned to the apartment to return Suzie, unable to suppress the shiver that ran through my body. I wondered what else was in the rules. Bad girl Isabelle Davis planned on finding out.

  Chapter 8

  It had become my mission as the days passed to get Isabelle to relax, to open up. She claimed she was just being professional, but I knew better. She was scared of fucking up this arrangement. And to be honest, so was I.

  Every time I saw her, I fell for her a little more, and I knew I wanted more than a contract. Which was why I hadn’t gotten her an engagement ring yet or told anyone—including my family—what I’d done.

  I wanted a real engagement and a real wife, not a fake one. Which meant I had to be extra careful. It was also why I didn’t feel bad making up “the rules” as I went. Even though it wasn’t what the contract said, I told her she needed to move in to keep up appearances. I told her she needed to call me Nick—and do it frequently. We were supposed to be engaged, right? I also insisted on her working less and joining me for every single function I was supposed to attend—which was the only thing actually in the contract.

  My first one, a charity gala, was tonight. I’d insisted on buying Isabelle a new dress. Not only because I figured she might not have one but because I wanted to. I wanted to give her even more than that, but I was being patient. If I could keep this ruse up long enough, maybe her feelings would turn from professional to real as well and we could throw away the contract and start fresh.

  I knocked on the door to her room early that evening, anticipation racing through me. I wanted to see my almost-bride. I wanted to touch her and pretend that tonight, we really were together.

  When she opened the door, the air was knocked out of me. Every line, every curve, was perfection. She stunned in a red dress that fit her like a glove.

  “Isabelle,” I breathed.

  “Too professional for you?” she asked with a smirk.

  I pulled her into my arms, skimming my hands over her bare shoulders and then running them down her back. I paused above her ass, willing my cock to stay where it was supposed to.