Faking It: BBW Billionaire Romance (Fake Billionaire Series Book 1)

by Lexy Timms

  Quickly, dress hiked up in the most un-ladylike manner, she wrapped her legs around him. He leaned forward to take her mouth with his, his hands gripping her waist. Dane entered her tight, wet heat with one hard stroke. Waves of pleasure shot through her, leaving her shivering.

  He ended the kiss to brace his other hand up on the wall to steady himself as he rocked into her. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. A cry escaped her throat. Barely a day had gone by since their breakup and they were already in a frenzied, lustful haze of passion. His thrusts were fast, powerful, and each stroke filled her with more bliss than the last. She clenched around him and he groaned loudly.

  He plunged deeper and deeper into her, the punishing pace of his thrusts filling her with exquisite pleasure. Her nails dug into his back and she begged him not to stop. Neither of them was naked, but it was the most erotic experience of her life. This desperate, tangled, joining of their bodies.

  His grip on her waist tightened and his breathing was ragged, desperate like hers. The pleasure mounted until she was right on the edge of ecstasy. She knew he felt the same pleasure she did, as his thrusts became more frenzied, less controlled. He groaned out her name. Pleasure spread through her and she came hard and fast with a whimper, her entire body trembling. Dane climaxed right after her, his breathing still heavy.

  They held tightly to each other for several moments until they could catch their breath. Finally, he pulled away from her and she slipped out of the bathroom to give him privacy while he freshened up.

  She opened the rest of the boxes and looked over all the gowns until he reappeared. He leaned against the bathroom door frame, his eyes sweeping over her appreciatively. “That dress is something else.”

  With a laugh, Allyson stepped towards him. He slipped his hands around her waist and planted a kiss on her lips. She shivered; the sensation of his strong arms holding her was dizzying.

  When the kiss ended, she giggled. “I hope we haven’t ruined the dress.”

  “My housekeeper will take care of everything,” he said. “Remember, you’re my guest now. Oops, I mean you live here now.”

  Spending the next several days living with Dane sounded like delicious trouble. Except, right now, they had to face the outside world if they hoped to accomplish anything with the Handels. “I remember,” she said softly, “but I insist we go to work.”

  * * *

  Work? He couldn’t concentrate on work. All through his afternoon meeting with the owners of all the local sports teams, Dane barely could focus. Not with Allyson in that pink pencil skirt, walking around, all business. As usual she had made sure the meeting started on time, reminded him of everything he needed to know, and completely charmed the owners. And she’d managed to do it through all media frenzy that had descended on them.

  Now she was gathering all the leather-bound folders from the conference room table, her heels clicking on the marble floor, and looking damn good. It was probably rude to stare, but Dane couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

  “Mr. Prescott, remember your phone call to the dean of NYC College is scheduled at four o’clock today,” she said. “They’re the ones who want to get better equipment for their female athletes.”

  He leaned back in the chair at the head of the long table. “So, we’re still Mr. Prescott, are we?”

  Her sultry green eyes narrowed. “We’re at work. When we’re at work, we act like professionals.” She headed towards the door but he reached out to stop her, his hand on her thigh.

  “We could always lock the door. Finish where we left off the last time we were in here,” he said, reminding her about the day the reporters had chased them in here. Damn, had that only been two days ago?

  She rolled her eyes. “That won’t be happening again.”

  Allyson seemed to have absolutely no idea that her ultra-professionalism was a turn on for him. He might be her boss, but the truth was she had all the power over him. Nothing could get done without her. With a sigh, he reached for the baseball in front of him, the one with the cherry red Prescott logo on it. He started tossing and catching it, memories of their evening at the baseball diamond last week flooding back. It was like she was a part of him. Everything reminded him of her. She was essential to his life in a way nothing else was. And it wasn’t just because she was his assistant. “That’s a shame,” he said, tossing the ball. “I thought you liked me.”

  She laughed. That made him smile. She was happy. He liked when she was happy. “You know I like you plenty, but no funny business at work,” She shook a finger at him before tossing the ball back his way.

  He caught it and then set it back down on the table. “Are you right about everything?”

  She winked. “You know I am. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go sign my renewal contract.” As she swept out of the conference room he caught the scent of her sweet, feminine, perfume.

  He stared after her, still in a daze. What was wrong with him? He had always fantasized about her, but his desire for her was almost impossible to suppress. He blamed that sexy silky dress. It seemed black but when she moved in it, there were flashing of a sapphire blue that ran over the curves of her body. Damn, she had amazing curves.

  That dress was all his fault. Yesterday, after going over interview details, he’d called his mother to remind her to send some dresses for Allyson. Women dressed to the nines at those ritzy fundraisers. It wasn’t fair to let Allyson show up underdressed if she couldn’t afford expensive clothes. Nor was it fair to expect her to buy an expensive outfit she would only wear once, just to help his mother keep up a charade. Everything had been put on his tab, but he needed a woman’s eye, so naturally the task fell to his mother and her assistant.

  The dress was perfect. The shimmering silk had clung so tightly to her body it looked painted on. And the dark blue had contrasted perfectly with her fair skin and gorgeous black hair.

  Originally, he’d broken things off because he wanted to protect her. But he hadn’t slept at all last night after leaving her apartment. Last night she’d challenged him. Called him out. Told him in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going to wait for him while he revisited his decision. That had blindsided him. Usually, when he broke up with women they pleaded with him. Chased after him. Begged him to take them back. Allyson hadn’t done any of that.

  He didn’t doubt that she wanted him. After their passionate escapade in the bathroom, it was obvious she desired him. She just wasn’t one for games. Allyson wasn’t using him as a stepping stone. He wasn’t a business transaction to her. That intrigued him. Enticed him.

  He’d woken up this morning, contemplating how he would fix the mess he had created. Wondering if he could get her to take him back. He had thought he might give her some space and that a plan to win her back could wait until after the gala, but that sexy, slit dress had sent him over the edge.

  Not to mention she had done well at the interview earlier this morning. She proved that maybe his original assessment had been wrong. Or, at the very least, incomplete. Perhaps his world wouldn’t destroy her and ruin her life. The way she had handled the interview today was impressive. Prescott was in good hands with her, and maybe this crazy scheme would pay off and land them a merger. He had doubted her once before when he believed she was conning his mother. That had been a mistake. So was breaking up with her.

  This wasn’t going to be easy. They were treading in shark-infested waters here. Between the lies and game they were playing, and their own personal lives and hearts, it was dangerous. The media would make it a circus. His mother would do anything to make it work for her precious company; he didn’t want to think what Allyson’s family would do. In fact, he was ignoring all the consequences of their actions and only focusing on the moment. It was a dangerous game.

  Glancing at his watch, he saw that his scheduled phone call was in an hour. Which meant he could take a break and have a late lunch beforehand. Reaching for the remote on the conference table, he turned on the conference roo
m’s flat screen TV. He flicked through the channels until he settled on one of the business news networks he often watched.

  His eyebrows shot up at the headline. Prescott Global shares were soaring through the roof. At first he assumed it might be due to news of the upcoming merger deal with Handel and Company, but as he increased the TV’s volume he realized the news anchor was talking about Allyson.

  The clean-cut anchorman smiled broadly as he read off the news. “From the way Prescott Global stocks are moving today, we can only assume rumors of a Prescott heir are causing stocks to jump. Reports have been swirling this afternoon that Dane Prescott’s new wife might already be pregnant.”

  Chapter 19

  “Allyson!” Dane felt his jaw clench, his entire body coiling with some indescribable emotion.

  She rushed back into the conference room. “What is it?”

  Without a word, he pointed at the television.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh crap!”

  This was bad. Worse than bad. Faking a marriage was one thing, but this rumor could sink everything. Even if his mother had managed to keep the local press on a short leash, the media houses were liable to go digging now. He cursed under his breath.

  “Should we call the PR department?” She bit her lip. “Maybe we could put out a statement.”

  He shook his head, his blood boiling. Someone had the audacity to tell lies about Allyson, putting her in a position like this, and he was going to find out who. “I’m going to deal with this now.”

  “How?”

  “I’m going to talk the network on the phone.”

  She pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket, and started searching for the network contact number. “I can get a network producer on the line.”

  “Good,” he said tightly.

  After dialing the number, she handed over her cell phone.

  “Wayne Radcliffe speaking,” a pompous voice answered.

  Radcliffe. Dane knew him. Met him a few times at some media functions. Making the guy angry might not be good for Prescott Global, but Dane was too enraged to care. “Where the hell did you get this BS about my wife being pregnant?”

  “Oh, hello, Mr. Prescott,” Radcliffe said smoothly. “I’m not at liberty to reveal my sources—”

  “Like hell you aren’t,” Dane barked.

  Allyson lunged for the phone, but he was too quick for her. He rose to his feet and headed to the other side of the conference room. Good sense told him to back down from this, but Dane never backed down from anything.

  “Our sources are confidential.”

  “Look, if something like this causes my allegedly pregnant wife undue distress, you’re the first person I’m coming after,” Dane said. “Prescott has damn good lawyers.”

  Radcliffe paused. “I want to tell you, really I do, but I can’t just give you a name.”

  “Well, give me a clue then.” Dane could play the same game this little weasel was playing.

  Radcliffe sighed loudly. “Fine. I wouldn’t trust the staff at Handel and Company if I were you. You think you’re acquiring them, but they’re not going to go down quietly.”

  “They’re signing this deal next week,” Dane said. That was basically an open secret, so it wasn’t like he was revealing anything the media hadn’t already speculated on.

  “Yes, but they don’t think of this as just an acquisition. I have it from a very reliable source that they’re not going to stand by and let their hundred-year-old company get swallowed up. They see the merger as more of a marriage than anything else,” Radcliffe said. “By the way, all this is off the record so you didn’t hear any of this from me.”

  “Don’t worry,” Dane said. “I won’t be telling anyone about this.”

  “Except maybe your wife? By the way, how far along is she? Rumor has it you two tied the knot because you knocked her up.”

  Dane wanted nothing more than to wring the man’s neck. He clenched his fist. “That’s a damn lie!”

  “Yes, well, if you ever want to tell your side of the story you have my number,” Radcliffe said. “By the way, have you got a comment?”

  “Yes,” Dane said through gritted teeth. “The Handels can go straight to hell.”

  “Dane,” Allyson gasped audibly.

  “Noted,” Radcliffe said. “I heard you and your new wife will be attending the McPhearson Foundation Fundraiser at the Prescott Hotel next week. I’ll be there as well, so if you’d like to speak—”

  Click.

  “Damn it!” Cell phones did not have that satisfying feeling when you hung up on someone. Dane set the phone down hard on the table. If it broke, he’d buy Allyson a new one. Another word out of that unscrupulous jackass and he was liable to go down to the network office and do something they would all regret.

  “What did you do?”.

  Dane turned around to look at Allyson. Her green eyes were wide, her hands practically tearing at her black hair. “I did what I had to do,” he said calmly. “I’m not letting these people spread lies about you or me.”

  “We’re living a lie right now,” she said, an edge of desperation in her voice. “That was not a good idea. The gala’s next week. You need the Handels to sign.”

  He shrugged. “Let ‘em sue me. They know where I work.”

  “Oh, for shit’s sake! You are the most stubborn man I have ever met.” She groaned. “Your mother’s not going to be happy.”

  “Nothing makes that woman happy.”

  “What woman?”

  Seriously? Did she fly around the office on a broom?

  Allyson leaped about ten feet into the air, while Dane just stared. There she was. His dear old mother standing in the doorway of Prescott Global’s fiftieth floor’s conference room.

  “Nobody,” Allyson squeaked.

  “Have you seen the news?” His mother’s shrill voice bounced off the walls.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Hello to you, too, dear,” his mother said sharply. “I’ve flown back to the city for an emergency meeting with some of our country club friends. They’d like some new sports equipment.”

  “That’s an emergency?”

  His mother rolled her eyes. “Yes. Business is always an emergency.”

  He felt a headache coming on. He’d spent an incredible afternoon with Allyson and now it was crashing down around them. “We weren’t expecting you, Mother.”

  “Clearly,” she snapped. “Have you heard? They think you two are pregnant. What the devil do we do now?”

  “I’ve taken care of it,” Dane said.

  “Uh…” Allyson chewed her lower lip.

  “What does that mean?” his mother demanded.

  “It means the Handels might get wind of a choice quote I made to the media a few minutes ago,” Dane said stiffly.

  “You are joking, right?” Liliana shook her head. “How bad is it?”

  Allyson cleared her throat. “We might have to call the Handels and warn them Dane’s been misquoted.”

  “Why on earth would you give the media more quotes at a time like this?” his mother ranted. “I thought this morning’s interview went well.”

  “It did. Then the pregnancy rumors made national headlines.” Allyson looked ready to faint.

  Liliana waved her hands in the air. Dane tilted his head as he watched her. He’d never seen her so animated. Which meant they really were in hot water. “So, you two decided to call the press without a plan?”

  “I decided,” he said through gritted teeth. “I called and gave them a quote. None of this is Allyson’s fault.”

  “Why would you do that? Why would you act so impulsively?” His mother shook her head.

  He paused. How to explain? They hadn’t decided to tell his mother the truth yet. To tell her that there really was something romantic between them, and no lie could compare to the way he really felt about her. No charade could be as passionate as the very real thing they shared between them. Instead he simply said, “I
wanted to defend her honor.”

  “That’s very noble, but it doesn’t help us.” Liliana began pacing. “I seem to be getting you out of a lot of messes these days, Dane. I’m not sure I can fix this one. If we lose the Handel merger, we suddenly don’t have much of a company worth fighting for. We need this merger. At all costs.”

  Allyson took a deep breath. “Call the Handels and get ahead of this. And then we wow them at the gala next week.”

  His mother stared at her and then raised an eyebrow. “You know, I had you all wrong, Allyson. You’re made of tougher material than I thought.”

  “I try.” Allyson smiled weakly, not glancing at Dane. “I think we need to do some planning. And confirm to the press that I’m not pregnant. Issue a statement. Keep things simple.”

  “Good idea.” His mother glared at him. “Dane, do you think you can manage not to screw up anything more today? Allyson and I now have work to do.”

  He stared at the two women in front of him, wondering how the hell he’d turned into the bad guy. He stomped toward the door. “Do whatever. I’m going golfing.”

  * * *

  The next few days passed in a blur. A mess of trying to fix things, keeping a low profile, and playing pretend. More exhausting than working off a few hours a sleep.

  Now it was the night of the gala. The night before the Fourth of July holiday. As she reapplied her red lipstick in the back of the limo Allyson thought it was fitting, considering the monumental amount of business they had to get done tonight. It was probably best they get a break tomorrow.

  Dane sat beside her, on the phone, making last minute preparations with his mother. Between trying to leak good press after Dane’s choice words with Wayne Radcliffe, and Dane’s mother teaching Allyson as much as possible to be ready for the gala, Allyson was exhausted.

  She put her lipstick away and glanced at Dane. He was what kept her going. She’d stayed at his condo, but had her own room because, as he explained, he didn’t want to be presumptuous. They’d agreed to wait until after the gala to make firm decisions, but he’d assured her that he wanted to see this through.