The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) (8 page)

"With who?"
 
His voice is raspy but blunt.

"Not me Pops."

Earl looks at me as I check his drip.
 
"Congratulations," he says with a spritely bounce.
 
"I'm very happy for you."
 
I smile.

"Well that's kind of rude," Jack adds.

"It's not," Earl argues.
 
He turns to his son.
 
"She deserves someone who knows which end of the razor is sharp."
 
I quietly laugh as Jack and I briefly make eye contact.
 
His eyes were always brighter when Earl was criticizing him.

"Here we go with the shaving thing again," Jack mutters.
 
"I told you Pop, I like the scruff.
 
I'm keeping the scruff."
 
He runs a hand over his chin.

"It makes you look like a homeless person."
 
Earl throws his hand up in the air like it's hopeless.

"Okay you two," I interrupt.
 
"I'm out.
 
I've got a date to prepare for."

*          *           *

Rex's apartment was . . . I could hardly call it an apartment.
 
It was more like a palace.
 
It had a foyer that went on for miles, a chandelier made of real diamonds, marble floors that looked like they were hand polished daily.
 
I stand in awe at bay windows overlooking the ocean.
 
I can almost hear the rolling waves and smell the salt water.
 
Charles takes my coat.
 
I smoothe my fitted maxi dress just as Rex comes around the corner with a grin on his face.
 
My heart pounds and I hope the evening starts with a hello kiss.

Rex's collar is unbuttoned.
 
Underneath, I can see the top of his chest.
 
I wobble a bit in my stilettos.
 
I couldn't lose the ability to stand until Rex's arms were around me.
 
Then it didn't matter.

"Hi," I quietly greet him.

"Hi."
 
His eyes take in my entire figure.
 

"So last night?"

"I know."
 
He shrugs, looking disappointed.
 
"We should talk about that."
 
Our eyes meet, locking together and desperate for sweet fulfillment.
 
"But first . . ."
 
He takes a step closer.
 
My legs feel even weaker as his hand moves around my torso.
 
I stare at his cocoa eyes, and my lips yearn to be touched.

He grasps me tight, pulling my body towards his.
 
The tingles return, surrounding my chest.
 
A hand moves through my caramel locks and finally he kisses me.
 
Our lips press firmly together and I close my eyes - drifting to the place I fantasized about.
 
The foyer is silent aside from the faint moan that escapes my mouth.
 
My chest burns as his hand wanders.
 
I don't want him to stop.
 
I want him to pull me to the nearest sofa and undo the zipper on my side.

"Haha!
 
You're hilarious Helen!"
 
My entire face flinches and the fire in my chest is drenched with ice water.
 
That laugh.
 
No!

"Mum?"
 
Rex seems just as startled as me.

"Wooley!"
 
She pulls Rex in for a hug.

"Wooley?" I whisper.

"I was a bit husky in primary school.
 
That's all I'm going to say."

"I was just having a lovely chat with your friend here," she laughs.
 
My stomach feels nauseous as Holly smiles.

"Hi," she says in her upbeat hostess voice, acting as if we'd never met.
 
"I'm Holly."
 
I stare at her beaming face.
 
It was like being stung by that one annoying mosquito beneath layers of clothes.
 
As Rex politely asks his mother what on earth she's doing in San Francisco, I feel a pinch on my arm.

"Payback is a bitch," Holly mutters through her teeth.
 
Her sting was worse than her buzz.
 
And with Rex's mom in Holly's favor, I was on the verge of losing it all.

"Oh deary," Helen coos, placing a hand on Rex's cheek.
 
"I haven't seen you in ages."

"Yes mum," Rex replies.
 
"I told you to give me ring."

"I thought a proper visit was better."
 
Helen looked how I expected.
 
Her sleek, brunette hairdo was the same shade of brown.
 
Her royal blue blouse and matching skirt was nothing short of posh.
 
"And who is this?"
 
I break my gaze away from Holly's ridiculous ensemble.
 
Not that her outfit was trashy.
 
It was ultra conservative compared to mine.
 
So not her.
 
It went all the way up to her collar.
 
If Holly's plan was to make me feel like a hooker, she'd succeeded.

"Mum, this is . . ."
 
Rex stumbles over his words.
 
Was I just a friend, a lover, a coworker?
 
I
was even confused.

"I'm Kat," I answer for him.

"Oh nice to meet you."
 
As I shake Helen's hand she studies my dress.
 
That was one for Holly, zero for me.
 
Holly puts her arm around Helen as if they're old friends.
 
It's apparent the two of them had been drinking.
 
I can smell the faint scent of alcohol in the hall, but Helen seems to carry herself well.
 
Something her and Holly had in common.
 
"How about the four of us go for a delightful meal?"

"That sounds like a fabulous idea," Holly encourages her.
 
I sneak a glance at the horrified look on Rex's face.

"Charles!"
 
Helen shouts down the hall until Charles appears.
 
"Get the car!"

"Rex," Holly steps in front of me and kisses him on the cheek.
 
My organs practically liquidate and melt down my sides.
 
"I hope you don't mind.
 
I recognized her from that photo you showed me last night."
 
My hand shook.
 
I wanted to slap her.

"How did-"
 
Rex attempts to avoid eye contact.

"I spotted her walking around The Four Seasons and thought I'd introduce myself."
 
What the hell was
she
doing at The Four Seasons.
 
That should have been my next line but I was still waiting to wake up on my couch in a pile of drool.
 
This didn't seem real.

"Oh."
 
Holly pulls out her innocent look.
 
"I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Actually-"

Holly glares at me the instant I open my mouth.

"Cocktail time," Helen chimes down the hall.

"Mother," Rex yawns.
 
"I'm actually pretty knackered."

"Oh nonsense," Helen shakes her head.
 
"You're going.
 
We're all going."
 
I attempt to exchange glances with Rex.
 
I needed reassurance.
 
A wink.
 
A look that said "I'm sorry".
 
Something.
 
I tilt my head but Holly is in the way.

"The car is ready mam," Charles nods.
 
Helen's face lights up.
 
She follows Charles to a stretch limo and slides in first.
 
I force a swallow as Holly joins her.
 
All smiles and giggles in her cute yet conservative getup.
 
I hesitate when it's my turn.
 
Rex gently touches my arm.

"I didn't know she was in town," he whispers.

"Rex, I don't think-"

"Please," he mutters.
 
"Please come."

"And that explanation?"

"As soon as we're alone."
 
That was it.
 
That was my reassurance.
 
I tug on my dress.
 
A week ago, I never thought I'd be dining with a sexy billionaire on a Tuesday night.
 
Now I had a potential mother-in-law to impress and a best friend to crush.
 
So far I wasn't doing too well.

"Okay," I sigh, hanging onto my dress as I duck into the car.
 
My fist clenches as Holly's fruity perfume fills my nose.
 
Rex sits next to me.

"So Kat is it?"
 
Helen was finally directing all her attention at me.
 
My forehead felt like it was being fried on a skillet.
 
"What is it that you do?"
 
I gulp.
 
My answer probably wasn't what she was looking for in a future daughter-in-law.

"I'm a nurse," I politely answer.
 
Holly nods as if it's the first time she's heard this piece of information.
 
It makes me sick.

"Oh."
 
Helen breaks eye contact.
 
Dammit.
 
"Holly dear, what is it you do again?"

"I run a dance studio," she proudly responds.
 
A load of bull.
 
She wasn't the owner.
 
Far from it.

"Yes."
 
She puts her hand on Holly's knee.
 
"I did dance at university.
 
That's just lovely."
 
I feel like sinking into the fabric of my seat.

"How long will you be staying," Rex asks, looking a tad annoyed.
 
He pulls at his shirt collar.

"Don't you worry about that."
 
Helen chuckles and looks out the window.
 
Sometimes I thought I knew what she might be thinking, and other times I had no idea.
 
But one thing I did know?
 
She was hard to please.

"Will you be staying at the flat?"

"No," she tells her son.
 
"I couldn't be bothered."
 
The car rolls up to The Four Seasons.
 
I feel underdressed.
 
Dressed up but with too little clothing.
 
"Brilliant."
 
Charles opens the door and Helen steps out.
 
She takes Holly's hand and proceeds to tell her all about her last stay in San Francisco.
 
I narrow my eyes, directing them at Holly.

"Ready to kill me yet?" Rex mumbles, touching my arm.

"Just about."
 
My brain is stuck on one thing.
 
My competition.
 
"Who is
she
?"
 
This was it.
 
I gaze at Rex's expression looking for signs of hesitation.
 
A twitch even.

"Actually we just met," he answers.

"Really."
 
I pretend I'm not threatened.
 
"I thought maybe she was a cousin or relative or something."
 
Total lie.