by Leslie North
“Maybe a little,” she said with a laugh.
His blue gaze danced across her face. “I love you, Jackie. Let’s make a home together. I want to be with you for as long as you’ll stand me.”
Her cheeks hurt from smiling. She threw her arms around his neck, every inch of her body vibrating with bliss. “Sounds like you’ve still got your negotiation skills. How can I say no to that?”
Daniel squeezed her tight enough to pick her up off the floor, covering her mouth with his.
Finally, the risk of letting someone in was worth what might happen afterward.
Because even if this ended someday or left her broken, her life was better for opening up and taking a chance.
True love was worth it.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Henry! Henry! No more crotch sniffing!”
Jackie covered her face with her hands as her dog refused to unbury his snout from between the legs of the complete stranger at a nearby table. She and Daniel had come here with the newest member of their family—a golden retriever they’d named Henry, naturally—because it was their favorite outdoor cafe, based on both dog inclusivity and tastiness of menu.
Daniel managed to lure Henry away from the unsuspecting table of diners, offering his heartfelt apologies. Once he managed to get Henry back to their table of six, Daniel broke out into laughter.
“He’s a teenager, what do you expect,” Daniel said.
“I didn’t sniff crotches when I was a teenager,” Jackie said, unable to prevent herself from planting kisses on top of Henry’s adorable head.
“I sure did. And I’m about to do it again tonight,” he said, waggling his brows at Jackie.
She laughed, swatting at his arm with the laminated menu in her hand. “Stop it. Look, there’s Mila and Grayson and the baby! They’re coming over.”
Jackie and Daniel waved as the new family of three wound between tables toward them. Grayson had their son, Ethan, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, which was Jackie’s favorite part of Grayson’s transition into fatherhood.
“Hey, guys!” Mila held out her arms for a hug as she approached Jackie. When Grayson came over, she planted a kiss on top of Ethan’s head and then hugged them both.
“So good to see you guys again. I feel like it’s been longer, but it was just last month,” Mila said as she helped take Ethan out of the baby carrier so Grayson could sit down.
“Now, I’m happy to report we can meet up more,” Jackie said. “My thesis might have almost killed me, but it’s done!”
Grayson clapped his hands. “That’s what I like to hear! We need a round of beers to celebrate.”
Daniel rubbed at her back, smiling down at them. “Go on. Tell them the real reason we’re here today.”
Jackie paused, feeling a blush creep into her neck. “What, like graduating with my master’s isn’t reason enough?”
“Go on,” Daniel urged.
Mila and Grayson’s eyes went wide and she could almost see the word ‘engagement’ dangling unspoken between them.
“I already have a job offer,” Jackie said, unable to fight the grin. “I signed the papers last week. I start next month.”
Mila and Grayson gasped.
“That’s incredible!” Grayson said.
“Yaaaay, Jackie!” Mila said, making baby Ethan clap his hands too.
“Hey, hey, what did I miss?”
Jackie turned at the new voice, finding Blake approaching the table.
“Oh, look, it’s ‘A Bit Late Blake,’ finally making his appearance!”
Now that Daniel had formally dropped the ‘Delayed’ part of his nickname, it had become his mission to tease Blake about his own tardiness. Jackie loved watching the ways in which Daniel’s friendship had grown since changing his life around. Not that it wasn’t strong before, but now, the three of them gelled even deeper—and definitely more often.
Meanwhile, Jackie had given Daniel a new nickname: she had begun calling him ‘Dashing Daniel’—a reference to how gorgeous he was, of course, but also a nod to how willing and attentive he was to their lives together. He was willing to race toward their future, and do anything necessary so that they could both lead fulfilling lives, which made him more gorgeous than ever in her eyes.
“Everyone was clapping, I thought you were just excited to see me,” Blake teased, leaning down to kiss Mila and Jackie on the cheeks. He clapped Daniel and Grayson’s backs before settling into the open chair waiting for him.
“Jackie had some news,” Daniel prompted again.
“I’m finally done with school, and I’m about to have my first-ever well-paying big girl job,” she said with a huge smile.
“Hell yes, Jackie! God, these guys are lucky they found women like you and Mila to balance them out. Fashionista entrepreneur over here. Now a selfless, heart-of-gold life changer.”
“Just makes us wonder who you’re going to find,” Grayson said.
“Probably nobody,” Blake said.
“Oh, please. Now you sound like me last year,” Daniel said.
“I’m really proud of you, Jackie,” Blake said, ignoring Daniel’s comment and leveling her with his gaze. “You’re a bad ass, you know that?”
Jackie giggled, feeling her cheeks heat up. This group of friends…god, they felt so right and natural in her life. The perfect extension of the solid friend base that she already had. Because their groups were beginning to blend. Mila and Geri had already met and the three of them had gotten coffee, hitting it off right away. And Jackie had tagged along with Mila and Lainey to an art movie opening—one of the better nights she’d had out and about in San Francisco.
“You’re very sweet,” Jackie said. “So sweet that I’m sure it won’t be long before you find the lady of your dreams.”
“Let’s see. If Jackie and I fell in love during Mila and Grayson’s wedding,” Daniel began, “then that means that Blake will fall in love with someone during our wedding.”
Jackie laughed. “I mean, that sounds logical. Except for the part where we haven’t even planned a wedding.”
“Right.” Daniel leaned in closer, and added in a lower voice, “So let’s change that.”
Jackie’s eyes widened as Daniel fished something out of his pocket and pushed his chair back. Slowly, he sank down onto one knee at her side, holding out a sparkling white gold engagement ring. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Henry and I,” Daniel began, scooping their dog against his side, “have been talking, and we both thought that since you’re formally done with school and about to begin your career, now would be the perfect time to admit how much I want to marry your beautiful pixie butt.”
Laughter rippled out of her, tears already blurring her vision. “Oh, my God. Is this for real?”
“It’s so for real. Because what we have is the realest. I’ve never been with anyone like you before, princess. You wake me up. You make me look forward to every single day by your side. And I want to spend the rest of our lives together, loving everything about you, loving everything about us. Will you marry me?”
A muffled sob escaped her and she nodded, falling forward to wrap her arms around his neck. “Yes, Daniel. Of course. Of course I’ll marry you. You’re the only one I would consider forever with.”
Applause erupted around them—not only their table of friends but the tables nearby, too. Jackie wiped away a tear as Daniel eased the ring onto her finger.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
“Not even a fraction as beautiful as you are,” he whispered into her ear, bringing her knuckles to his lips. “My princess.”
“My dashing Daniel,” she whispered.
End of The Billionaire’s Pretend Girlfriend
The Billionaires Club Book Two
The Billionaire’s Pregnant Competition, June 18. 2020
The Billionaire’s Pretend Girlfriend, June 25, 2020
The Billionaire’s Girlfrie
nd Bet, July 2, 2020
PS: Do you want to be swept off your feet? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet and The Billionaire’s Pretend Wife.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!
About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
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BLURB
For all of his life, billionaire Blake Harrison has firmly believed the route to happiness was keeping his heart free. But after seeing two of his best friends fall hard for women, he’s starting to second guess himself. The problem is, if he can’t get past the second date with a woman, how can he possibly consider settling down? Jokingly, his buddies bet him he can’t go out with the same woman five times. When he gets beaned in the head with a baseball at his team’s practice field, trainer Michelle Stewart is the one to patch him up. His buddies immediately set their sights on the beautiful trainer. She’s the one, they agree. And after a few dates, Blake begins to wonder if she really is…
Sure, Michelle is attracted to Blake. He’s sweet and charming and the hottest guy she’s ever dated. But if she’s attracted to him, it’s got to mean he’s wrong for her. For one thing, she works for him. For another, she has a rotten track record when it comes to men, and it’s better if she just steers clear of charming, hot guys. Besides, she has to think about her daughter Mollie and what’s best for her, too. Even though her mind is telling her no, her heart is shouting that Blake is a big yes. The problem is, listening to her heart has always gotten Michelle into trouble. Could it be possible that her heart is finally telling her the truth? Or is Blake just too big a risk?
Grab your copy of The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet
Available July 2, 2020
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
EXCERPT
Chapter One
“You might own a baseball team, but do you even know how to throw a baseball?”
Blake Harrison grinned, tossing the baseball in his left hand while his two best friends looked smugly across the baseball field. Grayson had delivered the friendly ribbing, but Daniel could have just as easily said it. Mockery was an essential element of their friendship, though it was always meant in good fun.
“Throwing a baseball is irrelevant,” Blake countered, “when you own all of what you see around us.”
Daniel snorted. “Yes, yes, Mr. Owns A Baseball Team. We know. Now throw the ball.”
Blake narrowed his eyes at his best buddies. It had been a long time since the three of them had come to one of his practice fields together. Owning their own highly successful businesses meant that it was hard to find time to meet up consistently, but it was harder than ever now to snag their coveted bro time since Grayson had gotten married and become a new father.
With Daniel’s own marriage on the horizon, Blake knew it was only a matter of time before he was the lone inhabitant in the Singles Club he and his best friends used to rule. Which meant he had to not only get comfortable being the last bachelor standing…but also, he needed to get ready. Prepare himself. Because his best friends had a weird twinkle in their eyes recently, and Blake knew they were only amping up to start convincing him to join them in so-called wedded bliss.
And if there was one thing Blake didn’t plan on doing in this lifetime, it was to marry himself off.
He hauled back and threw the ball as hard as he could muster. Grayson caught it easily in his outstretched glove.
“Damn. You think someone with all these baseball teams could afford to work with a physical trainer,” Grayson said, the shit-eating grin on his face in full view.
“I can afford a thousand personal trainers,” Blake said, watching as Grayson lobbed the ball to Daniel. “But I can’t afford the time. Besides, my lady friends don’t care about my throwing arm—they’re more interested in other parts of me.”
Grayson and Daniel laughed. Blake grinned as Daniel threw the ball his way. It landed in his mitt with a hard thhwump.
“Can’t be that impressive—it’s not like any of them stick around past one or two nights,” Grayson said.
Blake scoffed. “You know damn well that any one of them would be happy for more—it’s my choice to keep things loose. And who can blame me? I own a baseball team, a record label, and my nightclub is opening next month. Why bother starting anything with someone when I don’t have the time or attention span?”
“I think it’s more the attention span that’s lacking,” Daniel cracked. Blake smirked as he caught the baseball his friend tossed his way.
“You’re one to talk,” Blake shot back. “Or did we not just bet that you couldn’t hack a relationship the length of Grayson’s wedding?”
“Yeah, well, turns out, an attention span can grow.” Daniel sent Blake a smug smile. “If you want it to.”
Grayson looked like he was enjoying this way too much. “Daniel’s right. I think he and I are both proof of that.”
“Well, I’m glad for both of you. I truly am.” Blake swiped at the longish brown hair hanging past his brow. He’d needed a cut for weeks but still hadn’t found the time. “But when it comes to women, my attention span is incapable of expanding.”
Daniel snorted, catching the ball from Grayson. “Yeah. right.”
“I bet you it’s not,” Grayson said, a familiar tone in his voice. The one that could set Blake on edge and push them all into competitive mode in no time. But then, with the three of them, it never took much. Just those magic words… “I bet.”
Blake held up his mitt to receive the ball Blake sent his way. “Come on. Not again.” But he knew it was coming. With Grayson, the bets were always coming.
“I bet you can’t go on a date five times in a row with the same person,” Grayson said. Blake sent the baseball back his way extra hard. The thwack echoed through the field.
“Five times?” Blake asked, trying to sound bored. Because it was boring. Seeing the same woman more than twice just wasn’t something that interested him. Blake liked to keep things fresh and exciting. New places, new experiences, new gadgets, new lovers. Committed relationships were fine for people who wanted them—but he didn’t. Never had. Never would.
“Yep. You heard me,” Grayson confirmed, looking as pleased as ever.
“And what’s in it for me?” Blake asked. He wasn’t one to turn down a bet, but he couldn’t think of anything Grayson could give him that would make this one worthwhile.
Daniel grinned suddenly, and Blake swore he could see the mischief collecting in his gaze. “I know what the prize will be.”
Grayson began to look equally as mischievous. “Oh, damn, Daniel, are you about to do what I think you are?”
“It’s something you could only dream of,” Daniel said.
Now the curiosity was killing him. “What? Just spill it, Grayson.”
Daniel caught the ball from Grayson before he explained. “If you can successfully take out the same woman on five dates without her being in on the bet…then I’ll make sure DJ Fiesta is personally present at the nightclub opening.”
The offer hit Blake like a sack of bricks. His mouth parted, and he could only stare at his friend while the offer circulated through him.
So there was one thing Daniel could offer him that he wanted.
And this was it.
Not
only was DJ Fiesta the hottest rising DJ of the past year…he was Blake’s personal favorite. His music crush, for sure. And somehow, this jerk also known as his best friend was using that to weasel Blake into the stupidest bet of all time.
“How do you have access to DJ Fiesta—” His words cut off when a loud crack shuddered through his head. His jaw dropped from the shock of the baseball meeting the side of his face. The first thing that registered was heat, and then there was shooting pain. All he could do was stare at Daniel, who was coming toward him with a concerned look on his face.
“Buddy, are you okay?”
“What was that for?” Blake touched the side of his cheek. Hot and probably bruised. But the pounding in his ear was starting to recede, at least.
“I thought you were still going with us! You looked at me—I thought that meant I should throw.”
Both Grayson and Daniel crowded around him, brows knit together as they inspected his head. Blake touched the hot part of his face, but Grayson grimaced, drawing his hand away.
“Wait. Your face might be busted.”
“Busted?” Blake repeated.
“Let’s get you to a trainer,” Grayson urged.
“Am I bleeding?” Blake asked.
His best friends shared a worried glance. “Not bleeding, per se,” Daniel began.
“Actually, yes, you’re bleeding. Come on. In we go.” Grayson steered Blake away by the shoulders, pushing him off the field and down into the dugout.
“Guys, come on. I feel fine,” Blake protested, not wanting to show up to the trainer’s area with an injury. It just seemed like one of the more humiliating things that the owner of a baseball team could do. “I’m not blacking out. There are no sparkles at the edges of my vision.”