Page 5 of The Billionaire Dating Game

“Anna didn’t tell you I was coming, did she?” Candice wrinkled her nose.

He remained quiet.

“On the bright side, I’m a ray of delightful sunshine.”

This time he growled his annoyance.

Damn her roommate for not telling her client that she’d done a switcheroo. This man was not amused. She didn’t blame him. She and Anna were night and day. Literally. And this dress was meant for a size four, not six. Thank goodness her breasts didn’t match her wide hips and the high slit in the dress gave her more room.

“She hooks them and then what? You show up hoping I’d be disappointed enough to walk away?” His grip tightened on her waist.

“I swear, I’ve never done this before. I promise, Anna is sick. If it makes you feel better, she was coughing up both lungs when I left home. She might be close to dying.” As soon as Candice got back to Louisiana, she was going to strangle Anna herself if she wasn’t already dead. She gave an exaggerated sigh for Alexei’s benefit. “No one would fault you for dancing at her funeral.” She stepped back, but he only held on, and if it were possible, pressed her seductively closer. Candice shivered. This man made breathing impossible.

His eyes roamed her flush face, but before he said anything, a female voice called his name from behind.

A soft grumble escaped his mouth, and his fingers bit into her waist before they softened again. The gruff sound that escaped his chest tickled her ear, and Candice’s eyes widened. He might be mad that the woman he ordered didn’t turn up but, whoever this chick was, made him angrier.Thank goodness.

His head dropped to her ear. “Play your part,” he warned, his breath fanning her cheek as he slowly raised his head. The tip of his nose ran along the side of her face in an enticing caress. A lover’s caress that made her wetter.

Could he smell her arousal?Of course, he couldn’t. He was a whole foot taller than her five feet three inches, five feet seven in heels, but she imagined he would catch her scent if he were on his knees.

Alexei turned toward the woman, tucking Candice into his side in a single move. “Jasmine, what can I do for you?”

Candice might have collapsed at the icy greeting if not for his hand around her waist. Jasmine was beautiful and Candice didn’t mind saying so. Yet even in Jasmine’s fancy, off-the-shoulder dress and the diamond necklace draping around her neck, she was a boot-leg version of Anna.

“Why so formal, Alexei, moya lyubov.”

Alexei stiffened at the endearment. These two had tension. Now she understood the assignment and why he’d hired Anna. Pretending to be into Alexei wasn’t hard to do. He was a gorgeous specimen of a man, and though he didn’t look a day over thirty-six, she found the light sprinkle of gray in his hair gave him a distinguished air. Despite being out of her league, she was here to play a role, and she had no intention of giving up.

“I’m Jasmine.” The woman offered her hand, and Candice shook it.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Candice—”

“A working girl?” The woman cocked a brow at Alexei. “Where did you find this one?”

What the…

At Candice’s frown, Jasmine continued. “I can tell from your hands that you’re not his usual.”

Alexei’s usual probably meant sophisticated, charming, and reeking of money. She didn’t need to hear any more to feel that slap in the face propelling her back to senior year in high school.

“Jasmine,” he warned.

The insult was already cast. This wasn’t her world. She had nothing to be ashamed of, and it was better he knew that now. Candice took a steadying breath. She was here to smile and be high-priced arm candy though she felt like neither at the moment.

“I’m a working woman too.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Jasmine. Spending money you don’t have is not working.”

Candice choked.

“Men have no appreciation for what a woman does.” Jasmine flipped her brunette mane over her bare shoulders with the grace of a seasoned ballerina. “Did he tell you we were once engaged?”

“He did,” Candice lied, “and I thought I’d have to work hard to make him forget you, but it was surprisingly easy.” She looked up at Alexei, hoping she hadn’t crossed a line, but he surprised her. Pulling her closer, he tilted her chin and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed at the tenderness, then opened when he nipped her lower lip between his teeth, sending a fiery jolt directly to her clit.

Gosh, he knew how to pretend to care about the person he kissed.Her toes curled.

She almost believed his instant attraction mirrored hers, that he wanted her all to himself as his possessive hold suggested. The way he looked at her as if he saw her soul…sent her pulse racing in her veins. A lock of dark hair lightly peppered with gray fell across his forehead, and she inched to smooth it back. What was wrong with her; this was business. He paid her to pretend.

---