An I.O.U. from a Billionaire

by Olivia B. Dannon

  Alise put her hand on his shoulder posing as if she were on a runway. Liam ignored her, realizing how ridiculous she was acting, and told the crew it was a worthwhile cause that he was proud to support.

  They started firing more questions at him, but he just smiled and left them with their questions to get inside.

  “Liam.” Westley caught him as he entered the ballroom. “I am glad you kept your end of the bargain and showed up. What are you going to bid on?”

  “I just got here, West.” Liam scanned the room full of Arizona’s elite and prominent looking for Joan.

  “Yeah, baby, what are we bidding on?”

  Liam removed her hand from his shoulder. “Why don’t you go take a look and then meet me at our table and tell me what you’d like?”

  Alise was admiring Westley openly. “Is he on the menu?” She giggled tugging on Westley’s tie and pulling it loose. “Just kidding. Okay, I’ll go and do the shopping. You schmooze and I’ll catch up.”

  Westley swore under his breath and began battling with the bowtie. “I hate these damn things,” he said as Alise made her way to the bidding tables.

  “Who ties it for you? You’re making a mess of it.”

  “Oh shut up.” Westley laughed as he tried again with the tie.

  Liam scanned the room again. “Have you seen Joan yet?”

  Westley’s smile grew. “Yeah, she’s here all right.” He gestured with his chin toward the crowd near the bar.

  Liam spotted her then. Her golden brown hair shone like the moon off the water at night. The pale pink of the dress enhanced the soft, smooth look of her skin.

  “And I see you’ve found her,” Westley said a chuckle in his tone. “Looks like you just got hit by something undeniable too.”

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Liam watched as she pulled her hair forward over one shoulder. Her fingers grasped the single diamond at her neck. The swell of her breasts rising as her pink lips curved into a smile.

  A man with black hair was talking to her and making her laugh. She turned her head as she set down her glass and their eyes met across the thirty feet between them and held. The man sharing a drink with her turned and Liam recognized the doctor from the hospital.

  Is he just following her around? This guy is everywhere.

  “Keep Alise busy for a few, okay?”

  “Are you serious?” Westley let go of the bowtie giving up. “She’s not… how much money is the deal worth?”

  Liam cleared his throat. “She’s not horrible, just different.”

  “How much?”

  “Two hundred fifty mil.”

  Westley whistled. “Okay, but you owe me. Genevieve is going to skin me you know.”

  “Thanks, man.” Liam left Westley behind and searched out Joan again by the bar. The doctor was holding her hand to his lips.

  That asshole is hitting on my fiancée.

  Joan blushed under the doctor’s gaze saying something he couldn’t figure out. Liam started toward them. When their eyes met again she smiled at him. Her smile was so beautiful and having it directed right at him was breathtaking.

  Liam continued toward her. She looked so delicate and vulnerable, oblivious to the men that were like sharks watching her and circling with an eye to catch her.

  “Darling, there you are,” she said taking his face in her hands. She kissed both of his cheeks before licking her finger and smoothing his hair back into place. “You know, munchkin, I think some of these guys are feeling sorry for me thinking I got stood up.” Joan continued to smile.

  “They’re not watching you thinking you got stood up,” Liam said meeting the gaze of the doctor she’d shared a drink with. He lifted her hand and kissed her wrist, feeling the quick pace of her pulse against his lips. The scent of her was sweet like sugar on his tongue and delicate. “They see a woman so beautiful she steals your breath.”

  Her dimples deepened as she smiled. “Woo, that was a good one. You should use it again when President Little comes over.”

  Joan’s words reminded him that he was not actually on a date with this woman. Sure, she was even more beautiful than he had imagined she might be, but it wasn’t like he was attracted to her.

  “And I suppose your kiss on the cheeks is supposed to sell us as a couple in love?”

  “Alise is looking over here and I thought I’d better kiss your cheeks but if you want her to chop off your balls in your sleep….”

  Liam laughed loudly and then said in a lower tone of voice. “You’re not going to ruin my deal and Alise is not crazy.”

  Why is she wearing such an alluring dress? The moment I leave her alone doctor stalker is going to come over and blow our fake engagement.

  Her fingers closed around the diamond at her neck again. “Is this a friend of yours?”

  He was envisioning her hand sliding lower over her glowing, soft skin. Forcing his gaze to rise, he tried to make sense of what she’d asked him.

  “I’m Westley Hawthorne. I am honored to get to meet you. I’ve heard great things.”

  “That’s kind of you to say,” Joan said removing her hand from Liams to shake Westleys.

  President Little waved and started toward them. Liam put his hand on the small of her back. “Westley and I go way back,” Liam said, at last finding his voice.

  “You must have the good dirt on Liam, then.”

  Westley nodded. “I do. I’ll tell you all about this guy while he goes and bids.” He fought with the bowtie.

  “I thought you were going to distract the bidders until I returned.”

  Joan reached up and stilled Westley’s furious effort to get his tie right. “Let me help you with that.”

  President Little stopped walking, scrutinizing them from where he stood. Liam guided Joan closer to his side. “Will you stop flirting with everyone but me?”

  Joan and Westley both looked at him like he was crazy.

  Liam nodded toward President Little as discretely as possible. “I need attention too, honeypot.”

  “Honeypot?” Westley repeated.

  Joan turned her head slightly and spotted President Little. “You’re right.” Joan turned away from Westley and ran her hand up his chest smiling at him. Her hand curled around the back of his neck, and her fingers sank into the back of his hair, the sensation sending blood from his brain south.

  He swallowed as his palms grew hot and moist. She was looking at him like she was ready to tear off his shirt, and it wasn’t helping him get his body back under control. Liam ripped his eyes away from hers chastising himself for his lack of control.

  Alise waved at him. She was holding up a diamond necklace while the security guard behind her was flipping out. He reached for the necklace, his mouth moving in rapid speed. Liam nodded to Alise. “Whoa, cool it. Let’s be careful please.” He discreetly removed Joan’s hand from his neck.

  “Ms. Taylor, Mr. Wainwright,” President Little said stopping next to Joan and Westley. “Or should I call you the Wainwrights?”

  “Why would you call them that?” Westley asked, his eyes darting between them.

  “Westley Hawthorne, this is my boss, President Little,” Joan said. “He can call us whatever he likes. Okay?”

  Westley looked at Liam with one raised brow. “I do apologize, I thought by the way Ms. Taylor was fixing his tie that you must be close friends. I assumed he knew.”

  “We are,” Westley said narrowing his gaze on the man. “Knew what?”

  Liam nodded. “That’s right. Best friends. Bidding is looking competitive, you should go get involved. I will be over soon myself.”

  Westley forced a smile. “Right because that’s going to win me a lot of points with Genevieve.” He shook President Little’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” His hand drifted over the perfect bow at his neck and he smiled at Joan. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I arrived at the same time you did, Liam, I can call you that right?”

  Liam nodded
already recognizing the disapproving look in the older man’s wise gaze.

  “You are lucky to have such an understanding fiancé. The way your family friend was posing with you I would have believed the two of you were an item.”

  “President Little, I hope you won’t hold this against me, but I take offense to what you’re implying about Liam. He is a very loyal and good hearted man. Why else would he be here tonight?”

  Liam didn’t speak. He was too surprised by her protective response.

  Did she actually just defend me?

  “Well said.” President Little thrust his hand toward Liam. When Liam shook it, the older man squeezed harder than necessary. “I apologize and hope you will forgive me. I can see you would not betray a trust like hers.”

  Liam recognized a lecture when he was getting one. Apparently it was he that wasn’t fooling President Little.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of getting my seat moved to your table. I just love to see young couples in love.”

  “Why would we mind?” Liam loosened his tie.

  President Little nodded. “Excuse me, I need to go and make the rounds.”

  “Don’t panic,” Joan said keeping her smile in place once her boss was far enough away not to hear her.

  “Considering that Alise is going to be angry already when she sees you at our table, I think adding your boss to the mix is precisely the grain of salt that tips the scale. I need to go and spend time with her or I’ll lose my deal.”

  “Go,” Joan said, giving him a shooing motion.

  Liam started to go and then stopped. “No more drinking. You need to keep a clear head.”

  “It was water. Relax, Mom.”

  Joan watched him hurry back toward the bidding area. Her ego was stung by the way he’d pushed her hands away when she’d touched him. Combined with his nausea when she’d told him about the fake engagement, Joan’s ego was bruised.

  A drink, a real drink was what she needed to make it through the evening. Besides, who did he think he was telling her not to drink?

  Joan turned on her heel and crashed into Dr. Clark. “We just can’t stop running into each other can we?” He laughed steadying her with his hands on her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry. Again, I had my mind somewhere else.”

  “These benefits are nerve-racking aren’t they?”

  She nodded feeling her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The new doctor had to think she was careless the way she kept running into him. “They are. Have you attended a lot of these things, Dr. Clark?”

  “Please call me Xander. We’re not at work. I feel silly calling you Nurse Taylor when you look as lovely as you do. May I call you by your first name?”

  “Sure. It’s Joan.”

  “I know.” He smiled.

  Her cheeks were burning hotter.

  Of course, I swear off doctors just before this hot doctor comes around.

  “Would you like to dance?” Xander asked, offering her his arm.

  “I’d better not. My date might get jealous and yours might too.”

  Xander’s smile grew. “Your date shouldn’t have left you standing alone, and I’m stag tonight. So how about it?”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “The prizes are so perfect, Liam. When are they going to announce the winners? It’ll be so exciting when they announce your name.” Alise kissed his cheek and tugged on his tie.

  Liam looked down at the prize Alise was standing in front of. A Lovers Trip to Paris. “You’ve been to Paris a dozen times, Alise. What about this wine tasting?”

  “It’s what I want. You said I could have what I want.”

  Director Wheatley was standing at the next table. She wasn’t looking at them but she had her ears perked up and Liam knew it.

  Just great.

  “What about skiing lessons?”

  “Will we cuddle up in the snow together? You know how to make me warm.”

  The director’s nostrils flared. She was listening all right.

  “Is there anything else you’d like to bid on?” he asked Alise.

  She exhaled. “There is one other thing.”

  Liam took a small step back as Director Wheatley turned her head casually on purpose in their direction. Liam looked out in the direction where he’d left Joan to signal her about the director. She should be over here distracting her boss.

  Joan wasn’t where he left her. Scanning the sea of faces, he located the doctor she’d been drinking with and of course, he was dancing with Joan. His hand on her back was precariously low and the way he was leering over Joan made Liam’s blood boil.

  “Go ahead and bid on what you want, I’ll go and get us a drink,” Liam told Alise.

  “Okay. I’ll get us the best stuff. You’ll be so happy you left me in charge.”

  “Great.” Liam had his eyes on Joan and Dr. Handsy as he took large steps to reach them faster.

  A hand gripped his shoulder. “Liam, you know Genevieve. Tell her about Alise for me, won’t you?”

  “Now isn’t the right time, Westley.” Liam stepped around him but Westley didn’t let go. Liam looked at Genevieve. Dark almond shaped brown eyes sliced into his. Her pink frosted lips set in a line as straight as her ironed shoulder length black hair. “Alise is the daughter of the man I’m trying to make a very big deal with. Westley did not want to keep her occupied. He said he’d rather be with you but I pleaded with him.”

  “See?” Westley asked still holding onto Liam.

  Joan was laughing at something Dr. Handsy said and blushing under his hungry gaze.

  How can she let this guy drool all over her when she’s fake engaged with me?

  “… two dates? Is that true?” Genevieve was talking and he barely picked up the last of what she was saying.

  “Alise is business. Joan is my fiancée.”

  “What?” Westley intensified his grip. “Some old guy knows you’re engaged before I do?”

  Liam looked at him and realized what he’d said. “I mean not my fiancée, fiancée. She’s just… look at her dancing with that guy.” Liam finished, unable to keep his attention on the current situation while Handsy over there was practically molesting Joan on the dance floor.

  “Oh, Liam, I’m sorry. You’re better off keeping track of your client than her. Don’t you think? It is your business after all, not Westley’s.”

  “Fiancée?” Westley repeated. “How could I not know about this? It doesn’t make sense. Why did we sneak into the hospital if you two are—”

  “Just. It’s complicated. Okay, Westley? Do me a favor and go cut in. Okay?”

  Genevieve tightened her grip on Westley’s arm. “He’s not a servant for you, Liam. You can’t just boss him around.”

  The look of annoyance that crossed Westley’s face reminded Liam so much of himself when he was enduring Alise’s presence. Why was it that both he and Westley were keeping company with women they didn’t really want?

  “I was just hoping for an opportunity to dance with you,” Liam said to Genevieve.

  Her frown flipped itself into a cat-like smile. Her eyes ran over him and she released Westley’s arm. “I’d enjoy a dance, Liam. Thank you so much for asking.” Genevieve didn’t see Westley mouth the words “thank you.”

  Liam led Genevieve out onto the dance floor and began to dance with her to the slow, joyful notes coming from the live band. “You are a man of great power. I really respect that about you, Liam,” she said as he watched Westley approach Joan and Handsy.

  “Thanks.”

  Handsy was whispering in Joan’s ear, his mouth practically kissing her ear as he spoke. Didn’t he know by now that Joan is engaged? The hospital had to be just as big a gossip mill as any other company.

  Good lord, Westley, my great grandmother could have made it to them and cut in by now!

  “… he does what you ask him to do. It’s the respect he has for you, ya know?”

  “Westley has his own mind.”
/>   Genevieve giggled. “Of course he does. But he still hasn’t asked me….”

  Finally.

  Westley tapped Handsy. The jerk didn’t stop dancing. Westley looked over at Liam with wide questioning eyes. Liam frowned with a scowl, nodding again toward Handsy.

  A smile won over Westley’s face as if the situation was funny in some way. He tapped Joan this time. She looked at him surprised as if it took a moment for her to recognize Westley. The uneasiness in his stomach wasn’t at all linked to the fact that she might prefer to stay with the handsy doctor, it was obviously because she was going to blow their engagement lie.

  Genevieve was still talking though he had no idea what she was saying. When Joan nodded to Westley and began dancing with him, he let go of the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

  “So you’ll tell him?” Genevieve asked.

  “Yes. Absolutely.” Liam smiled with relief that Handsy wasn’t going to blow their cover story.

  “Tell me again what I’m telling, Westley?”

  “To ask me to marry him. You said you would.”

  Liam shook his head. “He won’t ask you if I tell him to. That’s something he’ll have to decide to do on his own.”

  “Liam Wainwright, I’ve known you for years now. I have your number. I happen to know Alise too. She is counting on you asking her to marry you.”

  She thinks she can blackmail me?

  “Westley is my best friend. If I tell him you’re trying to blackmail me, he’ll drop you so fast everyone in your little clique will forget your name.”

  Genevieve sucked in air. Her nostrils flared. “If you ask him I’ll help keep Alise busy. Deal?”

  “Sure.”

  Westley will laugh it off, and I’ve got more help keeping Alise busy.

  “I love him.” Genevieve was looking at Westley. “I really do. I’m sorry I tried to blackmail you. I’m just tired of him being afraid. He doesn’t have to be afraid to marry me. I will take good care of him. I love him enough for both of us.”

  Liam felt a twinge of guilt. Genevieve wasn’t a nut like Alise. Looking at her, she really did care about Westley – deeply. He needed to cut her loose or take the plunge, but who was Liam to tell Westley what to do with his life? He was stringing Alise along, wasn’t he?