Page 104 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

“But Clark loves magicians,” Rex says. “Clark’ll be front and center with you all. It’ll be a treat.”

Marvin smiles.

We head back. “Clark can keep an eye on Marvin while we visit his room,” Rex says.

“We’re like Bonnie and Clyde,” I say once we reach our level.

“In what way?”

“Just like,we’re not going to your goddamn magician show!”

“You know Bonnie and Clyde were gunned down at the end,” he says.

“But they kicked ass before that,” I say.

“You did great,” he says. “I thought you were going to cave there for a moment.”

There’s a minor lounge deck area at the back of the fourth level where our cabin is, and out past the railing, a school of flying fish is breaking the dark water, jumping pell-mell. “Look,” I say, pointing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him turn to me. He’s watching me instead of the fish. My pulse races.

“Wearekicking ass,” he says.

“Gail said that exact thing. Score!” I say, deliberately putting things back into the all-business category. When he doesn’t reply, I turn, gripping the railing on either side over the rhythmic splash of the ocean that spreads endlessly behind me. “Sorry about the focus group. I know you don’t want me spending extra time with people. I get that it’s more room for error, but Gail really is sold on my idea, and it would’ve been weird to say no. I hope I’m not leading her on.”

“I get it. Don’t worry, she’s not going to expect anything that you haven’t overtly agreed to. Gail lives for this stuff, and she’s a damn fine strategist. Working on your idea is like a fun puzzle to somebody like her. This focus group will be like free coaching. You’d be a fool not to take it.”

“I really like her,” I confess.

“She likes you,” he says.

My chest swells with pride. “I know it’s not like I can partner up with her, you know…considering our fakery. Plus, I think she sees me as a more evolved businesswoman than I am.”

“What do you mean? You’re smart, effective, reliable, innovative. You know just how much to push. You can do anything you put your mind to,” he says. “You got me to tolerate a head massage.”

“You knew it was a head massage all along?”

“Kitten,” he rumbles, sliding his hand over mine. My body comes alive in response to even that small touch. Rex is dangerous to me—there’s no two ways about it.

“I’m enjoying this,” he adds.

“Save it for the audience, Brando.”

He moves around to face me, pressing his fingers onto my hips, sure and possessive. “I’m not playing.”

“This whole thing is playing. It’s the definition of playing. I’m playing the part of the fiancée. I’m literally wearing a costume. You remember how these aren’t my regular clothes? Do you remember the sparkles that you so hate? I believe there was a list.”

“Forget the list.” Heat shivers up my spine as he leans in. “What happened in the salon…” He plants a kiss at the corner of my jaw, nose brushing my ear, tickling it, sending shivers over me. “Can you honestly tell me it wasn’t the hottest sex of your life?”

“Vacation sex is often hot,” I manage to say over the whooshing in my ears.

Chapter 17

Rex

Clark isat the corner desk of our makeshift command center when we get in to the room.

“Anything new on the investigation?” I ask him.

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