When the desire to have his hands roam over her body met the more logical side of her brain, she suddenly remembered where she was. Breaking the kiss, she caught his hand at the top swell of her breasts and linked her fingers with his.
Turning her face away and leaning on his shoulder, she tried to catch her breath.
What the hell just happened?
“That ought to fool them. Right?” she asked when Liam didn’t speak.
He put more space between them so that it was impossible for Joan to hide her face from his. “Right,” he said. His composure was in place. The heat that she was sure stained her face couldn’t be seen in his complexion. The smile on his lips more for business than anything real.
And here she’d been picturing his hands on her naked body. He was just playing the part.
What a fool I am.
The song ended and the host called for everyone to take their seats. Liam led the way back to the table and pulled out her chair for her. “Thank you,” Joan said absently. She was trying to squash the twitterpated part of herself that clearly was obviously drunk from too much champagne.
Westley helped Alise into her seat. He was smiling despite the time he’d spent with Liam’s crazy girlfriend. Westley couldn’t possibly have enjoyed her company. Or maybe he had. Liam was dating her, wasn’t he?
Joan looked at Alise again. She was beautiful and rich even if she wasn’t crazy. Genevieve sitting next to her was just as lovely.
That’s what men like Liam and Westley want, glamorous women and more money.
CHAPTER TWENTY
I need a drink.
The flute in front of him was empty. Liam signaled for a waiter and turned his eyes to the host on the stage even though his mind was still wrapped around that kiss with Joan.
She was turned away from him looking toward the stage too. Her back was straight as she clapped for the host. The curve of her lower back reminded him of the heat and silky smoothness of her skin against his hand when they’d danced. When they’d kissed.
“We won.” Alise exclaimed squeezing his shoulder. Liam was startled back into the present. He’d completely forgotten that Alise was there. He smiled and gave a nod realizing that everyone was looking at him and applauding.
“And for our next item….” The host continued.
Liam had no idea what he’d won, he was just glad to be out of the spotlight as the host explained the next item for the silent auction. The waiter refilled his flute and the others at the table. Liam halted the waiter as he moved to leave and signaled for him to leave the bottle.
“…Liam Wainwright again with a very generous bid of two hundred thousand dollars.”
Two hundred thousand dollars?
The room erupted with applause and the spotlight returned to him again. Liam managed a smile and turned back toward the table hoping the spotlight would move on. Alise was standing and blowing kisses to everyone like she was the reason they’d all come tonight.
When the spotlight finally shut off and the host continued, Liam asked Alise, “Did you bid on anything else?”
“Just one or two more things.” She was smiling. “Don’t you just love to win?”
“I believe I’ve won enough,” he said low enough that only Alise could hear him.
She laughed. “You’re too funny. You know you can’t take all that money with you when you die, don’t you?”
The urge to strangle a woman had never struck him before, but now his fingers itched to take hold of Alise and shake some sense into her.
With his wallet getting lighter by the second, Liam was finally able to push the kiss to the back of his mind and listen to the host. He won a crystal chandelier next, and a day in the life of a doctor job shadowing day.
“I had no idea you were interested in medicine,” President Little said.
Liam downed a fourth glass of champagne. “It’s for my brother.”
“I see,” Xander said joining the conversation. “And the chandelier?”
“It’s for my home in New Zealand. Or I guess I could use it for my place in Paris. I don’t think I’ve made that decision yet.” Liam watched as Westley took the bottle from the table and set it next to himself and out of Liam’s reach.
I’m not drunk. He’s acting as if I can’t handle a little champagne.
The spotlight hit him another time followed by applause and Alise’s Broadway stage bow. With all the money he was dropping at this benefit he was pained that he was no longer in charge of the bottle of champagne.
Wouldn’t a man who was losing his money, faking his interest in Alise, and pulling off the title of fiancé be entitled to ask for as much alcohol as he wished for?
After a final applause, the music started up again. Joan turned back to the table along with the others. Her lips were still swollen from their kiss.
He thought about kissing her again until she leaned in close to him and said, “I think we’ve pulled it off. They’re buying that we’re together.”
“Perfect,” he said doing his best to ignore the intoxicating scent of her perfume. Instead, he embraced the fresh stab of reality she’d jabbed into his chest.
This is all just a game.
****
“You’ve been eyeing me all night,” Alise said to Xander when Liam went to claim and pay for his winnings and Joan retreated to the bathroom.
Westley was pretending to listen to Genevieve’s idea of getting away together, while he was actually listening to Alise and Xander.
“I’m sorry?”
“Let’s not play games. I know you’re dying to get your hands on me.”
Xander drank from his flute and stood up. “I’m so sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
“Oh, sweetie, you and I both know you didn’t. If you like to be chased, I can play along.”
Westley smiled and nodded along with Genevieve trying not to bust up laughing. Xander hot footed it away from their table and to his absolute delight, Alise followed.
The table cleared after that leaving just him and Genevieve. He watched as Alise squeezed Xander’s ass and he launched off his stool at the bar. She trapped him between the bar and her body. The look of terror on Xander’s face was too funny not to laugh.
When Genevieve was suddenly quiet he realized his mistake. Once he turned his attention to Genevieve, he recognized the look of despair in her eyes.
Westley’s guilt weighed down on him like an elephant standing on his shoulders. He’d never meant to hurt her or mislead her. She wasn’t heartless like Alise seemed to be. Genevieve was a sensitive woman.
“Genevieve, you know I love you. You’re beautiful, smart, and passionate. I understand if we need to break up. If you want marriage, you deserve it. I don’t want to hold you back.”
“I love you too.” She took his hand in hers and Westley realized that she wasn’t going to leave him even though she deserved better. The evening lost all humor as he realized that somehow, he was going to have to break up with her to give her the chance at real happiness.
How could he break up with her without breaking her heart?
He wouldn’t do it here but he knew he’d have to do it soon.
****
Pressing a wet hand towel to her neck and against her hot cheeks, Joan faced herself in the mirror. “Joan, you’re a mess.” Her heart sped up as she thought of the kiss she’d shared with Liam. How could it be getting to her like this when Liam had walked away scot free?
“He’s all business so you’re all business,” Joan told herself in the mirror.
Good Lord, now I’m talking to myself in a public place.
The bathroom stall behind her opened and Fiorella stepped out.
Of course, she would be in the stall when I’m talking to myself.
She lathered her hands with soap smiling at Joan in the mirror. “They’re never all business, honey. I say don’t hold back. You’ll regret it if you do.”
“Thank you,” Joan said, thinking she
’d do the exact opposite.
Liam isn’t the kind-hearted President Little. He’s a multi-billion dollar businessman.
He kissed her like he did just to get to her and she’d let him. Joan knew she probably had it coming the way she’d told him she was going to blow his mind with her amazing flirting skills.
Yeah, Joan, great skill.
Fiorella dried her hands as she shook her head. “…too blind to see what’s right in front of her.” Joan thought she heard Fiorella say to herself.
Obviously, Fiorella was buying into Liam’s act. Joan had to admit to herself the man was a master performer. She’d bought in to the kiss that he was feeling the zing and heat that she was experiencing from the enthusiasm and duration. Not to mention the way he’d looked at her afterward.
It was just the champagne.
Fiorella said as she opened the door, “Good luck, honey.”
“Thanks.” Joan touched up her makeup and just as she was ready to exit, a man slid inside the door. He faced the door holding it in place. “Excuse me, this is the….”
The man turned his face toward her with his finger against his lips. For a moment it frightened her, but then she recognized Xander.
“What are you doing?” she asked, lowering the volume of her voice.
“There’s a woman out there who won’t leave me alone.” Xander’s eyes were wide. The lipstick kiss on his cheek matched the same shade left on his lips.
Joan laughed. “Oh, poor guy. Someone out there likes you. How terrifying.” She handed him a paper towel. “You got a little something leftover from your make out session.”
“I’m serious. This lady doesn’t take no for an answer.” He froze listening to voices outside the bathroom. He leaped back flattening himself against the wall as the door opened closing him between the wall and the back of the door where he hid.
Alise smirked at Joan as she held the door open. “Hiding in here, Joanie? Good idea. Your hair is beginning to frizz again. That has to be so embarrassing.”
Joan smiled back. Alise’s lipstick was smeared and the same shade as the one Xander was wearing. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Honey, I’m the flame and all these men are moths. I don’t have to look for anybody. He’ll come to me.”
Yep, crazy as the day is long.
Alise let the door swing shut as she returned to her search for Xander, who was closing his eyes still plastered to the wall behind him. “Is she gone?” he asked, opening his left eye.
“Yep. For now, anyway. She’s on the hunt.”
“No kidding. I don’t know how to get her to leave me alone.”
Joan laughed. “Well, in here is a bad idea. Someone is bound to tell her how smeared her lipstick is and she’ll be back.”
Xander nodded. “You’re right. Can you go first and tell me if the coast is clear?”
“All right. You’re a grown man. I can’t believe you don’t know how to get rid of an admirer by now.”
“I had a strict southern upbringing. I can’t bring myself to be unkind to a lady.”
Joan laughed as she gestured to his mouth. “I can’t take you seriously while you’re wearing hot pink lipstick.”
He handed her the paper towel. “Help me get it off, will you?”
She took the paper and wiped his cheek clean and then moved to his lips. The door swung open about then and the woman held the door open as she looked at the two of them with disapproval. With a sound of disgust, she brushed past them and the door swung shut. Joan laughed wiping off the last of the bright pink lipstick.
“That’s as good as it’s going to get.”
“All right. Thanks, Joan.”
She nodded and opened the door to peek out. There was no sign of Alise. Joan waved at him to go and laughed as he made a mad dash from the restroom into the crowd bending his knees to lower his height.
Oh boy. It’s going to be a long night for him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Three hundred thousand dollars?” Liam repeated to the man at the claim section.
I am going to kill Alise.
He scanned the room as the man said, “Three hundred thousand five hundred to be exact, Mr. Wainwright.”
“Perfect, just making sure.” Liam removed his checkbook from his inner jacket pocket and penned in the information. The man accepted the check and ran it through a machine verifying the funds.
“Everything is in order. You are now the proud owner of a skiing trip and cabin stay for two in lovely Aspen. You also will get to enjoy a lover’s trip to Paris, the crystal chandelier, women’s diamond tennis bracelet, and of course the right to name the baby girl tiger in our own Phoenix Zoo.”
“I see. How much exactly did I bid for the honor of naming the tiger?”
“Ten thousand, sir. Where would you like your chandelier delivered?”
Ten thousand to name a lousy tiger cub?
Liam gave his father’s address and told them to address it to Mrs. Fran Wainwright. His stepmother would love it as an early birthday gift.
He accepted the small folder containing the tickets, naming certificate, and slipped the pink velvet box containing the diamond tennis bracelet into his pocket.
The bracelet was beautiful, made for a delicate wrist. The white gold and pearl size diamonds glittered under the lights. Liam couldn’t help but picture Joan opening the box. It would perfectly match the white gold of the necklace and earrings she was wearing.
Evelyn said Joan liked the diamond earrings and necklace. He was sure she would like this bracelet too.
Smiling, he turned back looking for Joan. She wasn’t at the table and neither was Alise or anyone else. Now that he thought about it, where was Alise? It was very unlike her not to be there to claim what she wanted.
“You look a bit lost, Liam,” the older woman married to President Little said as she came to stand next to him. “Are you looking for Joan?”
“Yes,” Liam said turning toward her.
The woman smiled, studying him with very wise eyes. “She was in the restroom a moment ago. I think you’ll find her leaving it soon.”
“Thank you.” Liam began to maneuver through the crowd loosening his tie. It’s so hot in here. I need a drink. Liam found an open stool at the bar where he could sit and keep an eye on the restroom exit.
Pulling on his collar, he asked for water from the barkeep. A tall glass of square ice cubes and water was set in front of him. Picking it up, he took a mouthful as he glanced toward the restrooms. The door was opened by a woman who was just standing in the entrance.
Then as she leaned to the right he saw them, Joan and Xander. She was leaning in close to his face and wiping her lipstick from his mouth and face.
A square cube slipped down his throat and Liam spit out the mouthful of ice cubes and water all over Genevieve, who’d just stopped behind him.
Liam coughed hard trying to recover from what he’d seen and the painful swallowing of the oversized ice cube. “I’m so sorry.” He rasped out and hit the bar top. “Napkins please.”
“You kicked me and spit on me tonight. What did I ever do to deserve so much of your attention?” Genevieve fumed. She was glaring at him like she wanted him to drop dead right there.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose trying to push aside the unreasonable rage he felt toward Xander, who was clearly after his fiancée. “Nothing. I’m very sorry. I apologize. That kick was meant for Westley. I would never kick a woman purposefully.”
Genevieve ripped the napkins from his hand and began to dab at her wet face, neck, and bodice.
Turning back to the barkeep, he held up two fingers. “Bourbon.”
“This has been such a horrible night,” Genevieve said taking the seat next to him. She began from the top of course like most women do. He stopped trying to listen when she got to the part where her feet were too swollen to fit in her favorite shoes.
He spotted Joan leaving the restroom. She walked tall and was smil
ing. Why shouldn’t she be smiling? She had every man’s eye in the place and two of them kissing her. He downed the bourbon knowing he’d already had too much to drink.
How else was he supposed to make it the rest of the night knowing what he did? He raised his hand with the empty glass. “Refill. Bourbon.”
“Liam, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you drink more than one shot. Even then it was only once. Are you quite all right?” Genevieve asked him.
“Me? I’m just fine.” He never took his eyes off Joan. She chatted with the nosy director who was gesturing toward the bidding section.
More gossip. Perfect.
“Where is Alise?”
Liam shrugged. A man was asking Joan to dance. She smiled at him and whatever she said in her rejection to the man, it must have been good because he walked away still smiling.
She can play a man like a violin.
He tapped his glass on the bar. “Another.”
“Liam, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Westley stepped into his line of sight to Joan and blocked it. “Had a little much don’t you think? You’re done.”
“Fine. I was about to say the same myself.” Liam stood pulling off his tie completely and shoving it in his pocket. “I’m nobody’s violin.”
“Oh boy,” Westley said, holding his hands out like he was going to catch a toddler jumping into the pool. “Let’s call it a night. Okay?”
Liam nodded recognizing the stance Westley was taking. He was going to shove him into a taxi and stop him from doing what he needed to do.
Oh no. Not this time.
“I haven’t paid for my drinks,” Liam said.
“I’ll get them, just stay right there.” Westley pulled out his wallet, and as soon as he was looking at the barkeep Liam started making his way to Joan. She was talking to President Little now.
Dr. Handsy himself joined the group, and Liam decided enough was enough. Circling around until he was directly behind Joan, he approached. Xander saw him first and took a side step away from Joan.
Liam put his hands on her shoulders. “Hello, my love.” He kissed her shoulder inhaling her scent. “You smell like something I could eat up.” Joan’s nervous laugh vibrated against his lips as he pressed them to the curve of her neck.
An I.O.U. from a Billionaire Page 16