Page 24 of Wreck Me

‘Fifty grand?’ Avery hisses, wide-eyed. ‘Holy fuck. You know he never paid any woman for anything before, right? Please tell me you finally parted with that invisible chastity belt?’

I swear if Avery’s eyes get any fuller they’re going to pop out of her head.

‘No! Jesus, Avery what do you take me for?’

‘A mug, Scarlett, clearly. I take you for a mug.’ Her blonde hair swishes across her face as she shakes her head in disbelief. ‘I would let that man do anything he wanted to me for fifty grand. Hell, I’d let him do it to me for free! He’s the most perfect example of the male species to grace this earth!’

‘That at least we can agree on.’ I purse my lips to halt a grin from splitting them open.

‘And did you doanything?’

‘I danced for him.’ I shrug, like it’s not completely crazy that a billionaire paid me fifty grand to dance for him.

‘You didn't…’ She gestures with a perfectly manicured hand and nods towards my body. ‘He didn't…’

‘Nothing.’ I confirm. ‘And the money was wired into my bank before I even got home, minus Christopher’s twenty percent of course.’ I take a sip of my drink then nod. ‘That’s not all.’

‘Go on.’ If Avery arches any further forwards her generous-sized chest will be crushed on the table. ‘You’re killing me, Scarlett. Spill the fucking beans.’

Where do I even start?

‘The flowers were from him. He wants me to fake date him,’ I whisper, glancing sidewards to check no one can hear us.

‘No. Fucking. Way.’ Her head snaps up so quickly she should probably be treated for whiplash.

‘After that New Year’s Eve yacht scandal,’ my cheeks flush, ‘he’s coming under pressure to at leastappearlike he’s behaving.’

Avery’s eyes look like they might actually pop out of their sockets. ‘Please, please, please tell me you said yes.’ She reaches for my hand over the table and squeezes it.

‘I didn't say no.’ I shrug.

‘James might be a lot of things, but he’ll be good to you. Accept his offer. Hang off his arm like you’re the next Harry and Meghan. Lose that damn V-card if you get the chance! Fuck’s sake, girl, you’ve been hanging on to it way too long…’ She licks her lips lasciviously, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

‘I can’t sleep with him, Avery. No way.’

‘Whether you sleep with him or not, you have to accept his offer. You’ll graduate college debt free. And you’ll have access to your own personal tutor through your finals.’ She winks. ‘I’m sure he could teach you a few good lessons. Take whatever pleasure you can get and milk it for all it’s worth.’

‘I told you no sex!’ I hiss.

‘Why not?’

I stick out my index finger. ‘Because it would be like he’s paying me for it, which feels wrong on so many levels.’

‘He’s paying you to pretend to be his girlfriend!’ Avery snorts. ‘You could at least throw in the sex for free!’

I shake my head in disbelief, though her blasé attitude doesn’t surprise me.

‘It reminds me of Julia Roberts inPretty Woman.’ Avery sighs dreamily.

‘Huh.’ I offer her a swift, sharp dig to her shin beneath the table and she squeals.

‘What was that for?’

‘I’m a virgin, and you’re comparing me to a hooker?’

‘Oh honey, if James Beckett gets his way, you won’t be a virgin for much longer.’ She waggles her eyebrows. ‘He might be paying you to go out in public with him, but I’m pretty sure if you chose to “pretend” in the bedroom, he wouldn't say no either.’

‘Have you forgotten he’s never been pictured with the same woman more than once? At least not since Cynthia Van Darwin.’

---