Page 43 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

“Yet we fell in love,” I say, “so we must be each other’s type.”

“You think?” she asks me. “Rex is all about work. It’s all he cares about. Men like Rex would go for somebody who adds value on a connections level. Not that it’s not sweet to marry for…love,” she adds, quote fingers fully implied. “It’s just not Rex’s style.”

“Turns out it is Rex’s style,” I say, feeling nervous. Is she right about Rex? Is she seeing through our charade? Marvin’s not the only person with something to hide on this boat.

“Well, itwouldbe his style to bring a little something for the cabin.”

My blood turns cold as I get what she’s implying, but I smile in a sunny way, like I don’t care. It’s a million-watt smile, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, you never let them see you sweat. And you nevereverlet them smell blood in the water.

“The thing is,” I say, “when you meet the right person, it’s just an amazing feeling.” I gaze over at him. He’s talking sternly to the little group of men, who are all hanging on his words. “People say to me, why Rex? He only cares about business, and there’s his track record with women. But I’m the one he shows his sweet side to. His soft and sensitive side.” I turn my gaze back to her. “People don’t believe he has that side, but he shows it to me.”

She gives me a smile. She’s as good at fake smiles as I am. It’s the duel of the fake smiles. My blood races.

“It means everything that I’m the only one who gets to see that side, you know?” I say sweetly.

Her smile falters. She is not loving this. “Very special,” she says.

“Very,” I whisper.

I feel Rex before I turn and see him strolling over like he owns the place, dark chocolate sports coat picking up the rich tones of his hair and beard, dark eyes fixed on mine.

“Rex! What a lovely surprise!” Serena inserts herself between us and hugs him and kisses one cheek and then another, pressing a bit too hard if not downright smooshing her face to the side of his.

He directs a vaguely pained glance at me, and for a second, it feels like we’re allies. It’s nice.

“I’ve been chatting with your…fiancée,” Serena says to him, managing to insert more air quotes with just her silky tone. “Hairdresser. How unexpected,” she says. “You took up with your hairdresser.”

“It wasn’t unexpected to me.” Rex looks down at me. “I always knew there was something about her. Always.”

This strange bright feeling flits through me, and I beam up at him. He said it so convincingly, like he felt something about me, too, his gaze softening even through the scowl.

I know he’s acting, but it feels real.

“Huh,” Serena says.

Gail stands on a raised platform up at the bow of the ship, glass in hand. She’s calling for silence. Marvin and her two kids are next to her, shushing people. The yacht is finally heading out to sea.

Chapter 6

Rex

Tabitha is infuriating and impossible.But when that infuriating, impossible power is turned on Serena Driscoll?

Priceless.

I’d slept with Serena years ago. She’s beautiful and competitive with a cruel streak a mile wide. That cruel streak felt like worldliness when I was in my twenties.

I could see what was happening even if I couldn’t hear what they were saying, and I had to come over. Not that Tabitha needed a save. Tabitha is the last person who needs a save. If anybody needed a save, it was Serena.

I slide an arm around Tabitha’s sun-warmed shoulders, sucking in her berry scent, watching her chest rise and fall, imagining finishing what we started in the plane.

The kiss was a mistake—a very hot mistake, but a mistake all the same, because it got me thinking about her in a sexual way, which is so outrageous, because this is Tabitha, the most annoying woman in all of Manhattan.

It doesn’t matter. The feelings will pass. When I focus hard enough on work, everything goes away. Work is my fortress, my refuge, my escape hatch.

Gail’s talk is long.Thank you for being here, importance of family, good things in life,yada yada.

Marvin stands up with Gail like a little lord of the manor. I grit my teeth. Hitting on Tabitha like that? No way. Not on my watch.

---