Page 73 of Faking it with the Billionaire
“You work seven days a week, Em. You should take some time for yourself. Go out. Get away from Bristol and me for a few hours.”
My brow pinches. “Even if I wanted to do that, I can’t go out without being seen. People know who I am,” I remind him. Every paparazzi and tabloid will have my face on the cover if I’m out in public.
I’ve caught a few photographers trying to get pictures of Bristol, and I’ve shielded her from the limelight as best as possible, skirting her into a store and even going out the back exit to avoid being harassed.
“Does that bother you?” he asks, and he opens the fridge, grabbing himself a beer. He pops off the top and takes a swig.
The kitchen is a bit stuffy, and his heated stare does nothing to cool me off. Quite the opposite.
“I don’t mind the attention. It’s not like I want it, but it doesn’t bother me.”
“It did the other day when your sister called.” He reminds me of my discomfort when Amber reached out to tell me that she had heard about our engagement.
He has a point. “I don’t like lying to my sister. And it’s not just a little white lie.”
“Any other family?” He takes another sip of his beer.
“I didn’t realize there’d be another inquisition,” I say. I grimace, realizing my tone is too harsh. He doesn’t deserve it.
“Just curious how you’ll handle it when they all find out about the engagement. You talked with your sister, but you didn’t call anyone else to explain.”
“I don’t have to explain myself to anyone.”
His gaze tightens. “No, I suppose you don’t. I just thought if you wanted to go out shopping or meet up with your sister, I’m giving you the night off.”
With not much notice. “I don’t think Amber will be available tonight.” I open my mouth and quickly shut it. It’s hard not to run my gaze over every inch of him. He’s gorgeous, and I hate that my body is beginning to realize the attraction between us.
“What is it?” he asks, noticing my hesitation.
“You want me gone for a couple of hours. Do you have a hot date?”
“With my hand.”
My eyes widen, and Kyler chuckles. “It’s a joke. Relax. Who could I even date, Em? The press is all over our fake engagement. My social calendar isn’t exactly booming.” He takes a swig from his beer.
“But it could be,” I say. “You’re a hot commodity in the dating world.” I should keep my mouth shut. I’m not doing myself any favors by telling him what I think. It’s only going to complicate matters between us.
“How do you figure?” He tilts his head, his gaze never leaving mine. It’s like he’s staring right into me, and it makes my insides warm and gooey. Like nothing else in the world matters but me, right in that very moment.
“Do you really want me to list all the reasons?” My cheeks heat at the thought of baring my innermost private thoughts to him. He knows he’s good-looking, but the real reasons I’m attracted to him go beyond his sex appeal.
The corner of his lips turns upwards. “I kind of do,” he admits. “The way I see it, this hot commodity has a career that takes all of his focus and is only second to his kid. The ladies aren’t interested in single fathers.”
“You’d be surprised.”
He laughs under his breath. “I would be.” He steps closer, and I feel the air sucked out of my lungs. His gaze is on me. It’s hot and primal.
There’s a hum of electricity between us, charging the air, making my insides tingle as he steps closer, into my personal space.
It’s the reason I’ve avoided him, and him me, after our little romantic encounters. At least, I assume that’s why, and it doesn’t have anything to do with him not being attracted to me. I can feel his attraction, his desire poking me, and I gasp softly.
“Are you going to list the reasons?” he asks, his voice gravelly and sexy.
My body reacts to him. Like a magnet, I’m drawn toward him. Even if I don’t want to be, the gravitational pull is undeniable. And by the heavy look in his gaze, he wants it too.
“The reasons I like you?” I say, and I’m not sure that was exactly what he was asking, but somehow my mouth has run rapidly on its own, and I ought to snap it shut.
“We could go with that,” Kyler says. “You called me a hot commodity.”
