by Erika Wilde
“Ready to go?” he asked nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just blown her mind with his candid remark.
She nodded, sliding out of the booth while he did the same. As he walked beside her toward the lobby of the restaurant, she felt the subtle press of his hand against the small of her back and she tried not to overanalyze the intimate touch . . . but that didn’t stop her hyperaware body from cataloguing the warmth of his palm and the graze of his fingers as he guided her out the entrance and through the parking lot in the now cool, dusky evening air, or imagining how those warm hands would feel caressing her bare skin instead. Her nipples tightened shamelessly at the thought.
They reached Leo’s vehicle, and the doors unlocked with a chirp as he pressed the key fob in his free hand. But instead of opening the passenger side for her, he instead turned her around to face him . . . trapping her between the unyielding metal surface of the car behind her and the tall, muscular man standing less than two feet away.
He casually placed a hand on the door beside her and leaned a few inches closer. “Before we go, I have one more question for you,” he said, his tone serious.
She inhaled the warm, masculine scent of his cologne mingling with leather from his jacket and tried not to let that intoxicating fragrance distract her. “Okay.” She figured it couldn’t get any worse than everything she’d already admitted.
“So, usually, when a person gets propositioned, they get something out of the deal,” he said, his heavy-lidded gaze dropping to her mouth. “You’d be getting a devoted boyfriend out of the arrangement. What would I get?”
She didn’t miss the suggestion in his eyes or the playful curve of his smile. “What do you want?” she asked, unable to hide the breathless quality of her voice.
“Well, for starters, how about a show of good faith, like a kiss?” His free hand came up and gently cupped the side of her face, while his thumb skimmed along her damp bottom lip. “I think it’s important to know what I might be getting myself into and if we’re compatible enough to pull off this whole pretend boyfriend/girlfriend thing. I mean, what if we kiss and we realize that there’s just no spark there? Then this whole farce is doomed for failure.”
He was teasing her. She could see the mischievous glimmer in his eyes, and it provoked a smile from her, even as her breathing escalated with every second that passed with the temptation of finally having Leo’s lips pressed against hers dangling like a carrot in front of her.
“Then kiss me so we can find out,” she whispered.
His thumb dipped down beneath her chin to tip her head back as he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were surprisingly soft as they found hers for the first time, his teeth gentle as they nibbled at her bottom lip. She couldn’t hold back the needy moan that escaped her throat, or the way her hands instinctively lifted and settled against his solid chest even as he pressed closer to her, his hard thighs and hips pinning her against the car.
“Jesus,” he breathed against her lips in shock, clearly feeling the heat between them that was a spark on the verge of becoming an undeniable blaze.
Sliding both of his hands into her hair, he held her head steady as he came back for another taste, and this time, there wasn’t an ounce of gentleness in the way he swept his tongue inside and plundered her mouth—boldly, deeply, greedily. She made a wild, desperate sound as she fisted her hands in his cotton T-shirt and matched him kiss for kiss, turning that blaze into an inferno that was so hot it threatened to singe them both. And in the moment, neither one of them seemed to care.
She felt the unmistakable ridge of his erection nudging against her belly, and a new hunger spiraled tighter inside her. Desire made her knees weak, her nipples excruciatingly hard, and her panties wet. Everything about Leo Stone was sensation overload to every part of her body, and if there was any worry in either of their minds about pulling off a believable attraction, this kiss eliminated any and all concerns.
By the time Leo finally lifted his mouth from hers, they were both breathing hard from all the heightened sexual tension between them. His dark eyes glittered with lust as he gazed down at her, looking as dazed as she felt.
Somehow, someway, she found her voice. “Was that convincing enough for you?” she asked huskily.
His low, sexy chuckle made her shiver. “Oh, yeah . . . it was definitely a good start.”
* * *
“Personally, I think you’re nuts for even considering being this chick’s boyfriend for the next week,” Eric said the following evening as they sat in a booth at a local bar having a beer and eating half-priced sliders during happy hour. “You just told us she stalked you on social media and superimposed photos of you to make it look like you’re a couple. Haven’t you ever seen that cult classic movie Fatal Attraction?” He shuddered for effect.
Leo rolled his eyes at his friend. “This coming from an indiscriminate ladies’ man who chases after anything in a skirt, including that woman you followed on Instagram, then ‘accidentally’ ran into at Omnia.”
Eric smirked but didn’t deny Leo’s claim. “Yeah, that ended up being a really great night.”
“You’d be a really good candidate to test out the new app I’m creating,” Leo’s techie younger brother, Dylan, said to Eric after taking a drink of beer, his tone completely serious. “It’s called The Boyfriend Experience, and it’s geared toward women who need a guy for a date, for whatever reason. No commitment and no strings attached. I’m getting ready to launch the app, so if you’re interested, let me know.”
Eric quickly shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m not that desperate.”
“Yet,” Leo said, and wasn’t surprised when Eric flipped him the bird.
After a few quiet moments passed with them eating their sliders, Dylan spoke again, this time to Leo. “I think you should do it,” he said, referencing the situation with Peyton. “The fact that you didn’t just flat-out tell her no last night leads me to believe you’re interested.”
Leo popped a beer-battered French fry into his mouth, neither confirming nor denying his brother’s accurate remark. He’d spent the entire day thinking about Peyton and her request, not to mention reliving that hot, delicious kiss, which had both aroused and tempted him beyond anything he thought possible . . . and made him crave more of her. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all physical, either. Just like she had back in college, Peyton was easy to be with and talk to. She was fun and clearly didn’t take things too seriously, and she still managed to amuse him and make him laugh, which honestly felt good.
Most notably, she made him forget all the reasons he’d kept women at arm’s length since Amanda and made him believe that maybe, possibly, it was time to take that chance again. He still wanted to find that one woman to spend the rest of his life with, and it could only happen if he put himself back on the market. Maybe a week with Peyton could be his gateway to seriously dating again.
Helping out Peyton was a mere week out of his life, and really, when was the last time he’d taken a vacation or done something just because he could? He’d spent the past few years consumed with the business, and now that things were stable and prosperous, why not have a little fun with a woman he knew he liked, enjoyed, and was attracted to? Since she’d be returning to New York, there was a firm end date to being her fake boyfriend . . . though why that thought already triggered a small dose of disappointment, he wasn’t sure.
After taking a drink of his beer, Dylan glanced back at him. “You know if Aiden was here he’d back me up, and not this clown,” he said, hitching his thumb at Eric.
Leo’s best friend huffed out a laugh. “That’s because Aiden is basking in those first few months of marital bliss and his perception is skewed, so of course he’s going to encourage Leo to be this girl’s significant other.”
Yes, Aiden did have his head in the clouds these days, not that Leo could blame his older brother. He’d found the perfect woman for him, even if it had taken an accidental pregnancy for Aiden to realize that Daisy was the one. T
he two had recently married and were anticipating the arrival of their baby in a few months.
At least one of them had gotten lucky in love, Leo mused, considering how he’d crashed and burned the day of his own wedding. Clearly, love hadn’t been enough for Amanda, nor had love kept his father faithful to their mother. Leo wasn’t cynical by nature, but it was hard to refute those facts.
“So, what are you going to do?” Eric asked, distracting Leo from those thoughts.
The fact that Leo genuinely wanted to see Peyton again was really all the answer he needed. He’d already looked ahead at the schedule at work to make sure he had no important appointments or meetings and knew that Eric could handle anything unexpected that might come up.
Decision made, he grinned at both guys sitting at the table with him. “I’m going to give the lady what she wants.” A boyfriend . . . and anything else Peyton might desire.
* * *
“I know I’ve said this a dozen times already, but I can’t tell you how disappointed your father and I are that we’re not going to get to meet Leo this trip like we thought we would,” Peyton’s mother, Tawny, said as the three of them sat at a table at her parents’ favorite restaurant, waiting for their entrees to be served.
“I know, Mom, and I’m really sorry,” Peyton replied, for the same dozenth time since arriving home last night. “His company keeps him—”
“Very busy,” Tawny finished for her, because they’d had this conversation a dozen times and her mother knew Peyton’s standard response. “So you’ve said, but surely he’d realize how important this trip was to you, and how much we were looking forward to meeting the man in our daughter’s life after he’s been dating her for the past nine months.”
“Tawny, honey,” Peyton’s father, Carson, placated his wife gently. “How about we just enjoy dinner tonight and be happy that we get to spend the next week with our girl. She can’t control her boyfriend’s work schedule.”
Peyton appreciated her dad coming to her defense, but his understanding also increased her unease because there wasn’t a boyfriend, and clearly Leo wasn’t going to magically appear to appease her mother’s growing doubts. She’d pleaded her case to Leo last night, put the ball in his court, and hadn’t heard from him since. No text, no phone call, nothing. Twenty-four hours later, and she was pretty sure he’d gone home last night, replayed their conversation in his mind, and decided he didn’t need her kind of crazy in his life.
Never mind that he’d taken her mouth like it was made solely for his pleasure. Deeply. Thoroughly. With the slow stroke of his tongue along hers and firm lips that promised to take her body places it had never been before. The man knew how to kiss a woman to make her forget every thought in her head, except for the need thrumming through her veins and the pulsing heat between her legs that hadn’t felt a man’s touch in way too long—and wanted Leo to be the one to assuage the ache.
She shifted in her seat at the arousing thought just as their waiter arrived at their table with their meals. Italian was on the menu tonight, and he served her the baked ziti, her mother a large portion of lasagna, and her father the grilled chicken covered in marinara sauce. Despite the delicious, savory scent of their dinners, Peyton’s appetite had vanished in the wake of her mother’s questioning, and in its place, a heavier cloak of guilt was starting to take hold and weigh heavily on her conscience.
She took a few small bites of her ziti, then absently pushed the noodles around on her plate, wondering what had made her believe she’d be able to convince someone like Leo to agree to the pretense of being in an intimate, long-term relationship with her for the sole purpose of keeping her parents happy? Then again, she’d created the elaborate charade, and it was her problem to deal with and not his issue to fix for her.
“Peyty,” her mother said after at least five quiet minutes had passed, her voice filled with concern as she set her fork down, while her pale blue eyes searched her daughter’s face much too intently. “I’m starting to worry about you,” she said, clearly sensing Peyton’s subdued mood. “Did something happen between you and Leo? Did you get in a fight or break up? Is that really the reason he’s not here?”
Startled by her mother’s perceptive question, Peyton did her best not to react in a way that would confirm her suspicions. No, it wasn’t as though they’d gotten into a fight or broken up . . . Leo, her boyfriend, just didn’t exist. “Why do you ask that?”
Tawny paused for a moment, and one of those brief, conspiratorial looks passed between her parents before her mother spoke again. “Because you’re usually so upbeat when you talk about Leo on the phone, but this afternoon, and even now, it’s as though you’re forcing yourself to make excuses for him not being here. If something happened, you can tell us. You don’t have to pretend everything is okay between the two of you if it’s not.”
From across the table, Peyton’s father was watching her just as expectantly, which told her that her parents had discussed the possibility of a split or trouble in paradise because they’d sensed something was off. Both of them were waiting for her to answer, and a part of Peyton felt defeated. Really, how long would she be able to continue this farce without giving her parents some kind of solid, physical proof that she was in a relationship?
She figured she’d had a good nine-month run with pretend Leo, so maybe she just needed to get it out in the open that the two of them had broken up and be done with it. Which meant she’d have to deal with the disappointment and worry from both her parents and her mom continuously asking her if she was going to be okay, because God forbid she was going to be alone again in New York. Ugh.
Peyton glanced at her dad’s face. Despite recently going through a quadruple bypass, he looked healthy and fully recovered. And she didn’t need to tell them about losing her job, too. Not until she found a new one, at least. If she had to listen to her mother fuss over her for the next week because Tawny believed her daughter was heartbroken, then Peyton would suck it up and deal.
She inhaled a deep breath, gathered her fortitude, and decided it was time to come clean. “About Leo . . . ”
“He’s here!” her mother announced, a tinge of excitement elevating her voice as her gaze focused behind Peyton, toward the entrance to the restaurant.
Peyton frowned in confusion, certain she’d misheard her mother, because there was no possible way that Leo was here, at the restaurant, when she hadn’t even spoken to him to let him know where she was. “What? Who’s here?”
“Your Leo,” Tawny explained, her entire face lighting up with delight. “I’m pretty sure it’s him. He looks just as handsome as he does in the pictures you’ve shown us. I think he’s looking for you.” Her mother lifted her hand and waved enthusiastically to get the man’s attention.
Still not convinced, Peyton glanced over her shoulder. Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight of Leo Stone making his way toward their table in his sexy leather jacket and a pleased-with-himself smile curving his lips. He was carrying a cellophane-wrapped floral bouquet in one of his hands, and she had to tip her head back to look up at him as he stopped beside her chair.
“Hey, Pixie,” he said affectionately as he tucked two fingers beneath her chin to push her mouth closed since it was currently gaped open in shock. Then he leaned down and pressed his warm, firm lips to hers as if he had every right to kiss them because she belonged to him.
“Surprise,” he murmured, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he straightened again to address her parents.
“It’s a wonderful surprise,” her mother agreed, clearly thrilled with this turn of events.
Peyton couldn’t think, let alone speak when her mind was spinning and trying to make sense of what was happening considering she hadn’t heard from him after last night’s dinner. All she could do was watch as Leo stepped toward her mother and bestowed a charming smile on Tawny that flashed his swoon-worthy dimple.
“You must be Mrs. Bishop. These are for you,” he said amicably as he handed her
the colorful bouquet. “You’re even more beautiful than the pictures I’ve seen of you.”
“Thank you. The flowers are lovely,” her mother said, blushing like a schoolgirl and completely won over by Leo’s compliment and good manners. “We aren’t formal people, so please call me Tawny, and this is Peyton’s father, Carson.”
Leo reached out and shook her dad’s hand in a firm grip. “It’s nice to finally meet you, sir.”
“Same here, Leo,” her father said with an approving nod. “Have a seat and join us for dinner.”
Leo settled into the chair next to Peyton. “I ate earlier during my layover so I’m all good,” he said, making it sound as though he’d flown to California today and had just recently arrived.
Dumbfounded, Peyton couldn’t stop staring at him . . . This was all so unexpected, and a hundred different questions were running through her mind.
He glanced at her, tipping his dark head slightly when their gazes met. “You okay, sweetheart?” he asked, as if he hadn’t just thrown her for a major loop.
“I, uh . . . What are you doing here?” she blurted out, then realizing just how rude that sounded, she rephrased her question. “I mean, how did you know to find me at this restaurant?”
“You know I have my ways,” he said with a slow, sexy wink that caused flutters to take flight in the depths of her belly. “Remember that selfie you took with your parents right outside this restaurant about forty minutes ago? You posted the picture on your Facebook page with the name of the place, so instead of calling you ahead of time, I thought I’d drive here from the hotel I just checked into and surprise you instead.”
Smart, resourceful man, she thought, but Peyton still didn’t know what all this meant. Was he here just for the one night? Or did he intend to spend the next week with her until her cousin’s wedding? She didn’t know what the plan was because they hadn’t talked about it, so for now, she just had to go with the flow.