Page 34 of Love is Fake

“What about her?” Lennox asks warily at the same time as I ask, “What about me?”

“You need a date, she’s a woman.” Declan makes the two points as if they amount to some kind of inevitable mathematical equation.

Lennox looks at me and I wonder if he’s just as uncomfortable with this suggestion as I am, especially after theheavy, silent but meaningful interaction we had before Kai’s interruption earlier. I’m definitely fully ready for him to shoot Declan’s idea down.

“How would you feel about it?” His eyes scan my face. “Obviously I’d pay you for your time.” Aaaaand… he must be shitting me. Pay for my time? The words pound in my head, flitting through all the education I’ve gone through just to stand here and listen to Lennox throw words at me that only hookers are keen on catching.

I hear a noise behind me that sounds like Kai slapping his hand against his head in despair and I’m tempted to mirror the action. How is it possible to be so kind and intelligent one minute and so damn tone-deaf the next?

“I’m a physical therapist, not an escort,” I reply icily, fighting the flame I feel rising to my cheeks.

Lennox’s eyes widen at my words. “That wasn’t what I meant.” He takes a step towards me and I take one back. Not because I’m afraid of him, but because I’m so damn irritated that I don’t want to be anywhere near him.

“Oh yeah? So youdidn’tjust offer to pay me to be your arm candy for the night? Because that’s sure as hell what it sounded like.” I grit my teeth, as though that will help to bite back the emotions that war for a spot on my face.

“We’ll leave you two alone…” Dec motions towards Kai and starts edging towards the door.

“No, stay.” Lennox barks the words out like an order. “We’re nearly done here, and I wouldn’t want Isabella to feel uncomfortable being in a room alone with me if she thinks I’m the kind of man who would proposition her like that.” Lennox’s jaw is so damn rigid it’s a wonder he doesn’t break any teeth.

He turns toward me with lethal grace. “I meant it as a business arrangement, Isabella.” God, I hate it when he says my name like that, like we’re complete strangers. “You wouldbe doing me a favor and I wouldn’t expect you - or anyone – to put yourself out like that for me without compensation. It seemed like a good plan as we’re working together anyway. You’ve already signed the non-disclosure agreement and there’s no romantic interest between us so there’s no danger of either of us getting the wrong idea. And I have enough respect for you to know that your time isn’t worth nothing. We’d be going as friends.” That last word is steeped with meaning.

I struggle to meet his intense gaze as he lets that final pearl drop and I ignore the flash of disappointment I feel.

Don’t be stupid, Izzy.

“Oh, right, that makes sense,” I say, somehow managing to leave all the venom out of my tone. Maybe it does make sense to someone like Lennox. Because maybe Lennox lives in a world where his dates have to sign confidentiality agreements, and his friends need to be paid to have dinner with him, that is.

“There we have it,” Declan claps his hands together. “Sounds like an excellent arrangement.”

“Shut-up, Dec.” Lennox and Kai chorus as one.

Lennox stands in front of me, his gaze heavy on me. “Isabella hasn’t said yes yet.”

The ‘yet’ irks me a little, as if he’s confident of my answer.

“I don’t have anything to wear to something like this,” I answer lamely, as if my wardrobe were the only thing holding me back.

“I’ll have something couriered over for you.” Dec doesn’t glance up from the phone he’s frantically typing into. “What size -?” He stops himself as I raise an eyebrow telling him he really doesn’t want to finish that sentence. “Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.” He looks at me uneasily, as if he thinks I might bite him, before going back to his furious typing.

“You still haven’t said yes.” Lennox looks down at me. He’s moved even closer and this time I haven’t moved away. Hisbody is blocking mine, so the men behind him can’t see me or what he’s doing, and I wonder if he’s created this wall of privacy intentionally. It doesn’t take long for him to approach me, albeit silently.

He hooks his index finger underneath my chin and gently lifts it up, so I’m forced to look at him, not that it’s usually a hardship. In that moment, it’s hard to remember all the reasons why agreeing to this fake date is such a terrible idea.

Looking down at me, his eyes intent on mine as if we’re the only two people in the room, it feels as if he has a direct line to the most deep-seeded parts of me, parts that are warming under his touch.

“Yes,” I say huskily, the word pulled out of me by the same power drawing my body closer towards his.

Absently, I notice the satisfaction on his face.

Lennox lets his finger drop from my chin, whispering along my neck, a barely-there touch, but one that leaves a searing line of fire behind it.

He steps away, breaking the spell he’s put on me and I’m suddenly able to take a breath.

I watch him walk back to his friends, discussing plans for the evening while I’m trying to persuade my legs to hold me upright. I wonder what the hell it is that I’ve just agreed to. And where the anger was that I felt when he offered to pay me money to hang off his arm just a couple minutes before…

Chapter

Ten

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