An I.O.U. from a Billionaire

by Olivia B. Dannon

  ***

  Xander Clark stepped back giving Joan a smile that made her blush. He was too handsome for his own good. The attention he was giving her was going to her head. He just didn’t know anyone else there. It wasn’t like he was actually interested in her.

  Westley stepped in Xander’s place and began to dance with her. “So you’re engaged to Liam?”

  “What?” Joan met Westley’s measuring gaze. “Um. Did he tell you that?”

  Westley nodded still measuring her as he smiled. “What’s going on? Something’s up.”

  Joan swallowed. Why Liam told Westley the lie didn’t make sense. He wanted to keep it a secret. “Listen.” Joan began seeing that Westley was clearly onto them. “It’s a favor Liam’s doing for me, a pretend secret engagement.”

  “Does he know it’s pretend?

  “Of course he does.” Joan laughed.

  Westley nodded again smiling like he knew something she didn’t. “If you say so.”

  What a strange thing to say.

  “Who was the guy you were dancing with before me? He seems pretty fond of you.”

  “No. He’s a doctor from work. He just doesn’t know anybody else here.”

  Westley’s smile grew bigger. “Or he’s got a thing for you. Do you like him?”

  Joan exhaled. “He’s a nice person. Are you interested in him?”

  “Funny.” Westley laughed. “I like that.” He looked over toward Liam and then back to Joan. “The fake engagement is for that old guy?”

  “President Little? Yes and Director Wheatley. It’s a crazy situation.”

  Westley continued smiling. “In that case you’d better dance with your fiancé, right?”

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Liam and I don’t really get along when we spend time together.”

  “Sexual frustration, huh?”

  Joan felt her eyes widen. “No, not at all.”

  The song came to an end and the host announced that dinner was soon to be served. “I guess we’d better find our table.” Westley led the way toward the dining area. President Little was just taking his seat next to his wife.

  Westley pulled out the chair for her next to her name plate on the large round table. To her left was Liam’s nameplate and to her right was Xander’s next to President Little. At least she’d have someone to chat with while Liam kept Alise occupied.

  “This is going to be fun,” Westley said quietly to her as he pushed in her chair. Her back went ramrod straight with his comment. Why did he sound happy?

  I really should have gotten something to drink.

  A woman arrived at the table the same time Westley rounded it to his seat. He pulled out the chair for the woman who was staring at Joan for some reason. “Genevieve, this is Joan Taylor. Joan, this is my girlfriend Genevieve.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Joan said smiling, even though she was uncomfortable with the way Genevieve was looking her over.

  “Pleasure,” she said sitting in the chair Westley held out for her. “You’re not at all what I pictured for Liam. I’d love to hear how you captured him.”

  Captured?

  “Let me introduce you to the rest of the table, Genevieve. This is my boss President Little and his wife, Fiorella Little.”

  Genevieve nodded in their direction but continued to scrutinize Joan. “I don’t recognize the name Taylor from any of the invite lists I’ve seen. You must be from new money.”

  “I’m not from money. I am a nurse.”

  “You’re a nurse?” she asked, the glint of disdain clear in her dark brown eyes and slight wrinkling of her nose.

  President Little cleared his throat. “Where is Liam?” he asked looking at Joan with kind silver blue eyes.

  “I think he’s entertaining his family friend Alise. They’re bidding I believe.”

  Fiorella smiled at that. Her brown eyes were warm like hot chocolate as the deep smile lines by her eyes deepened. “I saw a lover’s trip for two to Paris. Maybe he’s bidding on that. Wouldn’t that be a lovely place to honeymoon?”

  A sharp twinge of guilt twisted in Joan’s stomach as she looked into Fiorella’s loving expression. Lying to her would be like swallowing broken glass. “It would make a lovely honeymoon.” Joan hedged.

  “Ah, here’s Liam.” President Little stood as Liam approached with Alise on his arm. Director Wheatley was walking behind them and watching them with disapproval.

  Uh oh.

  Liam pulled out the chair for Alise, who lost her smile when she spotted Joan.

  Double crap! She is going to out me, I just know it. I’m going to be fired, laughed off the property, humiliated in front of all these people.

  Liam sat down giving Joan a smiling nod.

  Director Wheatley sat down next to Fiorella with a vacant chair on the other side of her for her husband. Joan watched as she leaned in close to Fiorella whispering.

  This is the beginning of the end. Right here.

  Joan elbowed Liam and nodded toward President Little. He missed her cue, however, because he and Genevieve seemed to be having a silent argument.

  What is that about? Does it have to be now?

  Xander arrived seating himself next to Joan. “I get to sit next to the loveliest nurse of the ball.” He smiled.

  Genevieve looked at Joan with a slight head shake added to her disapproving downcast gaze. Alise, on the other hand, appeared to exhale with relief.

  Joan cringed inwardly knowing her face was turning as red as the roses in the crystal vase centerpiece. “You’re probably getting sick of me by now.”

  The deep rumble of Xander’s laugh beckoned her eyes to meet his. “As if anyone could ever get sick of being near you.”

  Warmth and the return of a little confidence she’d lost came back with his ego boost. Joan smiled at him in a silent thanks.

  “Xander is it?” Liam asked in a bark like clip.

  Xander smiled back at her and then turned his gaze toward Liam. “I am. You are the one with the rash, right?”

  Joan pressed her lips together and quickly picked up the napkin she’d set on her lap to dab at her lips and hide her smile.

  “Joan was kidding. I don’t have any rash.”

  “No, he definitely doesn’t.” Alise laughed.

  Oh shoot me now.

  Both the Little’s and Director Wheatley looked at Alise, questions in their eyes and soon to be on their lips.

  “You wanted to discuss the new wing with Liam, didn’t you, President Little?”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Westley watched Liam’s ears burn red and his jaw clench. He was watching Xander’s arm as it brushed against Joans. Knowing Liam like Westley did there was no mistaking the look of jealousy in Liam’s eyes or the territorial forward lean of his frame.

  Liam has fallen for Joan and he doesn’t even realize it!

  The man who constantly tried to cast a shadow of doubt over Westley’s feelings about Beth, his childhood sweetheart, was falling for a woman of his own.

  Finally. Now I just have to speed things up between them.

  Unable to keep a smile from his lips, Westley said, “You two make a very cute couple.” He gestured to Xander and Joan.

  “They aren’t together.” Fiorella corrected him.

  Liam was shooting daggers at him but had not been the one to speak up. Clearly, he needed at least one more push. “Could have fooled me.” Westley added.

  Liam’s body stiffened with a slight jerk as Genevieve flinched letting out a groan through clenched teeth. Her eyes shredded Liam like cheese through a grater.

  Westley covered his mouth that was about to let out the laughter shaking his frame.

  The look of horror on Liam’s face as he tried to apologize to Genevieve for kicking her instead of Westley was priceless. “I’m sorry. My leg has a twitch.” Liam picked up the glass of ice water in front of him and drank deeply.

  “No problem.” Genevieve bit out. She cleared her throat and nodded
toward Westley.

  Great, Westley thought, knowing just what she was up to. As soon as Liam said fiancée, Genevieve had gotten all over him about their relationship and when were they going to get engaged.

  “It’s about time you started thinking about popping the question,” Liam said as stiffly as if he’d just pronounced he believed the sky to be green.

  “No. Not me,” Westley said, feeling Genevieve watching him. “I’m not the marrying kind. Gen knows that. Right, pumpkin?”

  When she didn’t agree or paste on her accepting smile as she did in the past, Westley loosened his tie. Genevieve was a beautiful, strong woman. He knew she wasn’t going to wait around forever. But he wasn’t ready for her to go.

  “Looks like you’ll have to do like your friend and start the wedding planning,” President Little said.

  “One of our friends is getting married?” Alise asked. “I just love being a bridesmaid. The bride is off limits, so all the sexy, single guys will look right at me.” Her smile grew as she looked up at the ceiling remembering some encounter.

  What is Liam doing wasting time with Alise?

  “Weddings are a lot of fun.” Xander agreed leaning back as the waiters arrived with large round trays of good smelling food dished up on oversized platters.

  The platters were placed in front of each person at the table. President Little and his wife Fiorella smelled the aroma of the food and smiled at one another in silent agreement. They were a perfect pair.

  Alise began to gush about how the platters could feed a team of women and how she couldn’t possibly eat so much. Xander smiled politely as Alise carried on while everyone else at the table began to eat, tuning out Alise and her annoying chatter.

  Westley smiled to himself, cutting a healthy bite from the brisket on his plate.

  “Who’s getting married? You never said,” Alise asked Liam. He took an oversized bite of his own meat and spoke around it in indistinguishable noise. “I can’t understand what you’re saying. Just tell me when your mouth isn’t so full.”

  Alise cut a shred of beef from the brisket and set it on her tongue. She’d no doubt suck on the morsel all evening refusing to eat a human-sized meal. Genevieve was not perfect, but at least she ate enough Liam didn’t have to worry she’d pass out.

  Xander whispered something to Joan, who blushed and then dabbed her napkin on the corner of her mouth but missed a tiny drop of salad dressing. Xander smiled as he gently wiped the dressing from her bottom lip.

  Liam was looking at Xander like he was ready to punch his lights out.

  “I’m full,” Westley said. “Since you’re finished as well, Alise, I was wondering if you’d care to dance.”

  “I’d love too.” Alise stood and took his hand.

  Leading her to the dance floor, once they were far enough away, he said to her, “I’m so sorry Liam is so jealous of Xander. You really can’t blame him the way Xander keeps watching you.”

  “Liam did seem uptight, but I thought it was about that nurse woman. Did you see how sloppy she was eating? Poor Xander had to clean her up.”

  “I was surprised he managed to help Joan. His eyes were on you.” Westley began to lead her in a dance. “Liam is beside himself. Dr. Xander is so well respected. Any man would be intimidated by Xander.”

  “I did catch him smiling at me. He’s a famous doctor?”

  Westley nodded. “Oh absolutely. I can tell he’s smitten with you and Liam is trying so hard to hold himself together. Xander is just the man to endorse Liam’s next invention but Xander won’t give Liam the time of day.”

  “Really?” Her eyes widened at him.

  He nodded again. “If only there was someone he would listen to about what a great inventor Liam is.”

  “I can do that.”

  “No. I wouldn’t dream of sending you after Xander. He’s a closed mouth businessman.”

  Alise tossed her hair back like she was in a shampoo commercial. “He’s been undressing me with his eyes since I first arrived. If anyone can talk to Xander it’s me.”

  Westley smiled, barely able to contain the laughter her comment evoked. “Do you really think you can?”

  “Please, he’s watching us now wishing he were in your shoes.”

  Westley glanced back toward their table. Xander’s back was toward them but he nodded. “He is. You just might be able to pull this off, Alise.”

  ****

  Liam was relieved when Westley took Alise away from the table. He put his arm around Joan and kissed her on the cheek. “You didn’t tell me you and Xander are such good friends, darling.”

  Joan’s cheeks were bright pink as she looked at him. “He’s a very good doctor. I actually met him today at the hospital. He works in the ER too.”

  “How nice. Is he as friendly with the other nurses as he is with you?”

  Xander looked at him, a cool smile still on his face. “I didn’t realize you two were together. I thought you were with the other woman you’ve spent most of the evening with.”

  “We’re engaged to be married,” Liam said meeting Xander’s gaze. He watched with satisfaction as Xander’s Adam’s apple bobbled in his throat.

  He raised his glass. “Congratulations,” Xander said and took a long drink from his champagne flute.

  “Yes, congratulations to the new couple.” President Little and Fiorella raised their glasses too, clinking them together.

  “You know,” Fiorella began once she set her flute down, “Connie and I were noticing the two of you are quite reserved.”

  Xander nodded along with President Little. “Your friend Westley didn’t seem to know about your engagement either. He thought Joan and I were together.”

  “It’s for Joan’s safety we’re not making announcements at this time,” Liam said wondering when Joan was going to chime in and help him sell this fake engagement. He gave her shoulder a squeeze that seemed to wake her up.

  “I’m not the type to be affectionate in public anyway.” Joan picked up the flute and downed the champagne.

  “Take it easy, honey. You want to keep a clear head.”

  Joan smiled at him while her eyes told him to eat rocks. “I’m fine.” She patted his cheek, with the last pat leaving a stinging sensation. “Maybe it’s a good time for you and President Little to talk about that hospital expansion.”

  “No, no. We can wait until after the wedding. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of a shortened honeymoon. When is the big day?”

  “Yes, when are you two tying the knot?” Genevieve jumped in.

  Joan tapped her empty glass on the table. “We haven’t picked a date yet, have we?”

  “Not yet, sweetness.” He picked up his flute when he saw Joan eyeing it.

  “I just love to see a young couple in love. Don’t hold back on our account. The kiss of new love is what keeps the fairytales going.” Fiorella nodded toward Joan in a gesture to Liam to kiss his fake fiancée.

  He glanced toward the dance floor seeing Alise tossing her hair and lost in conversation with Westley. This was a good moment to kiss her without Alise witnessing it. He leaned toward Joan.

  “How did you meet President Little?” Joan asked sounding panicked.

  Liam straightened away from her, his jaw clenched. She’d allowed Xander to rub his arm with hers and to dab at her mouth. She’d danced with him easily, laughing and smiling. Clearly, she was put off by Liam, a response that shouldn’t bother him but did.

  Fiorella finished up her tale of how she met her husband and they kissed with stars in their eyes for each other. They made it all look so easy.

  How do they do it?

  Joan watched them too, the same question in her eyes.

  “Would you like to dance?” Liam asked as he took her hand and stood.

  “Okay.” She placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess,” she said as he put his hand on the small of her back.

  Liam nodded. “
Me too, but now we’re in it.”

  “No one believes we’re engaged.” Joan blew out a breath.

  “A kiss would help.”

  Joan met his eyes. “What about Alise?”

  “She’s busy with Westley. I thought you said you were upping your game?” Liam challenged her.

  “A stiff kiss from you isn’t going to fool anyone.”

  “Neither will a cold kiss from you.” Liam parried.

  Joan smiled at him with a “bring it on” glint in her blue eyes. “I know how to kiss. You’re the one we need to worry about.”

  “How about you stop talking and show me.” Liam pulled her closer and released her hand to frame her face. Capturing her lips with his, he opened her mouth to his as a jolt shot through his system. Her soft lips moved against his, her tongue mating with his. She tasted of champagne and chocolate.

  Joan’s soft curves pressed against his hard body as her arms circled his neck pulling him closer. She opened her mouth wider for him, pulling him into the sweet warmth of her mouth.

  Joan’s fingers grazed the back of his neck before delving into his hair.

  His body was reacting to her. Liam nearly pulled her against his hard length, remembering at the last second that they weren’t really together. He dipped her low, resisting the logical next step to let her go.

  Joan thought she was ready to kiss Liam, but when his lips took hers, she’d nearly melted at his feet from the sexual heat between them. Her breasts tingled, the tips tightening into buds against the solid muscle pressed against them.

  His thumb pressed at her bottom lip opening her up wider for him as his tongue stroked hers. He tasted of bourbon and something else that she could only identify as hunger. She pulled him deeper into her mouth when she thought he might draw back.

  As he dipped her low, her stomach filled with butterflies, her core heating like the warmth from his open hand across her naked lower back. His hair was soft and short under her fingers.

  She forgot about their audience completely. All she seemed to be able to register was the slow descent of his hand from her chin, down her neck and heading for more sensitive skin.