50. My Fake Fiance
MY FAKE FIANCE
Lorelei
Embarrassment spilled across my cheeks, red-hot and fiery as my father tapped at his watch.
He eyed Axel like he wasn’t worthy to stand in his almighty presence.
Senator Battenberg would be singing an entirely different tune if I was engaged to Axel Vanderhart and his millions.
Then all he’d see would be dollar signs.
Wriggling free of Axel’s hold, I grabbed my father’s wrist, the flash of his Rolex grating on my final nerve. “Excuse me, I need a minute with my dad.”
“Sure, I’ll be right here.” Axel leaned against the bar’s elaborate mahogany counter. “I’ll have your drink waiting when you get back.”
“Thanks, I’m sure I’ll need it.” I tossed a scathing glare in the senator’s direction, but he was too preoccupied scanning the room. Likely looking for Brock or his father.
As soon as we reached the end of the lavish great room, I dragged my dad into a small alcove in the hallway, sidestepping the priceless sculpture atop a marble column.
“Stop manhandling me,” he hissed and spun around, the ice in his tumbler clinking against the glass. “This is very unseemly, Lorelei.”
“This is unseemly?” I snarled. “How about you trying to sell me off to the highest bidder?”
“I wouldn’t have to make my intentions so obvious, if you’d only stuck to the plan.
You were supposed to marry Brock Haversham and secure our family fortune.
” He glared down at me, lips curling in disgust as if it was my fault he’d squandered our savings.
“You gave up a sure thing for some fling with the Vanderhart boy. He’s a star quarterback with endless potential and only twenty-two years old.
Do you really think he’s going to settle down now? With you?”
God, a punch in the gut would’ve hurt less. Hot tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not in front of him. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad.”
“I’m only being realistic, Lorelei.” He dragged his hand through his graying hair. “For some insane reason, Brock still wants you. He came to speak to me when he arrived in Copper Cove earlier today. He’s offered me twice the original dowry.”
“I know,” I gritted out.
He’d informed me of their conversation when he’d forced me to dance a few minutes ago. Besides the vote he needed from my father, he was clearly infatuated. Apparently, the great Brock Haversham didn’t often hear the word no. Now that I’d refused him, he was obsessed with having me.
“So why are you doing this to your family?” he growled.
“I’m not doing anything to the Battenbergs, Dad. This is your mess, why should I have to clean it up by marrying the most despicable man I’ve ever met?”
“You’re exaggerating. He cannot possibly be that bad.”
“Then you fuck him.”
The sharp sting reverberated across my face before I could process what had happened. I held my hand to my cheek, eyes wide and jaw nearly unhinged, staring up at the man who was supposed to love and protect me. The senator had been a verbally abusive asshole at times, but he’d never hit me.
He stared at me, frost glazing over his irises, his hand still in the air while the other white-knuckled the empty crystal tumbler. “I—I’m—”
Heavy footfalls beat the marble floor, and a dark blur zipped between us. By the time I blinked, Axel had my dad pinned to the wall, his hand wrapped around his throat.
“With all due respect, Senator Battenberg, don’t you ever fucking touch her like that again.”
Dad wheezed and gasped as Ax’s fingers tightened, his eyes bulging out of his quickly reddening face. The glass slipped from his grip and crashed to the floor, shards of fine crystal splattering the marble.
Axel didn’t even blink. Fury carved into his beautifully fierce expression as he glared at my father, brows furrowed and lips twisted into a menacing snarl.
I just stood there watching, completely frozen, enjoying the moment. More than enjoying, heat surged below, igniting unexpected desire at my new boyfriend’s protective streak.
“Ax…” With the shock of the slap beginning to dissipate, I attempted to string together a sentence.
The last thing we needed was someone to walk around the corner and catch a glimpse of the drama.
Especially Brock. Curling my fingers around Axel’s massive bicep, I gently tugged. “Let him go, Ax, he’s not worth it.”
His eyes never deviated from my father’s, piercing blue filled with pure hatred. “But he hurt you…”
“He can’t anymore, not with you here.”
He loosened his hold, my father’s ragged breaths coming out slightly less erratically, and pivoted his gaze to meet mine. “I’m always going to be here for you. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
“I know.” I pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, and he took a step back, sidestepping the glass and finally releasing my dad.
His arm laced around my waist, drawing me into his powerful side. He nuzzled my ear, warm breath spilling across the sensitive shell. “Just go with what I’m about to do, okay?” he whispered.
“Huh?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yeah...”
He turned those blazing blue eyes on my father, his lip still curled in disgust. Dad leaned against the wall fixing his crumpled shirt and straightening his tie.
“Just so that we’re clear, senator, Lorelei is not wasting her time with me.
This was not how I planned on doing this, but now I see it’s the only way to get you off her fucking back. ”
With one arm still tight around me, he dug into the pocket of his slacks with his free hand. Something shiny pressed between his fingers caught my eye before he released me and dropped down on one knee barely avoiding the sea of broken glass.
My breath hitched, all the air squeezing from my lungs.
Axel lifted his hand, pinching an enormous diamond ring between his thumb and index finger.
Oh. My. Fucking...
Those blazing sapphire orbs fixed to mine, and a playful grin melted across his face.
“Lorelei Battenberg, I’m completely, madly in love with you, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.
I know we’re young and we haven’t been dating for long, but I can’t wait another minute to make you mine.
Will you do me the absolute greatest honor and marry me? ”
“Yes!” The answer erupted from my lips before I could control it.
I dropped to the floor in front of Axel, lacing my arms around his neck, completely oblivious to the glass still littering the floor. His mouth claimed mine with an intensity that stole my breath, revealing all the unspoken emotions that had built up between us.
From over Ax’s shoulder, I could just make out my father’s stunned expression. Murmurs and muffled voices echoed around us, along with the rustle of approaching feet.
“Oh, my, I think he just proposed!” An unfamiliar voice murmured, then more voices joined in.
Ignoring everything but the feel of Axel’s body enveloping me in his warmth and strength, I kissed him harder, held him closer. My heart thumped out a manic beat, dancing a stupid little jig. I’d never been this happy in my life.
Axel finally released my swollen lips, eyes locked on mine. With my dad and the crowd finally dissipating, he whispered, “Nice job, blondie. We definitely deserve an Oscar for that performance.”
Fuck. My insides crumbled, realization hitting me like a bucket of ice water. God, I was such an idiot. Of course, this wasn’t real. He’d warned me before he got down on one knee.
Still, I kept my beaming smile firmly in place. It wasn’t Axel’s fault I was stupid enough to think he actually wanted to marry me. We’d only been dating for real for a few weeks anyway. He hadn’t even told me he loved me yet. Maybe he didn’t… Ugh, what was wrong with me?
“You okay?” Axel’s light brow arched, and I should’ve known he’d be able to cut right through my bullshit.
“Yeah, I’m totally fine. I think I just got wrapped up in the moment for a second.” I drew in a deep breath, trying to clear my frazzled thoughts and limping, battered heart.
He tangled his fingers through mine then brought our hands up and slipped the ring on my finger. I stared at the enormous diamond winking up at me. I could practically feel my father’s gaze jumping from the ring to my new fiancé and back, dollar signs flashing across his greedy little eyes.
“Where did this come from?” I whispered, pretending to nibble on his soft lobe.
“It’s my mom’s.”
“Oh, no, Axel, so she thinks this engagement is real, too?”
He dipped his head.
“This doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to lie to them about this again.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, I should’ve talked to you about my crazy idea first. It was just a gut reaction.” He cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing my flushed skin. “When I saw that asshole Brock forcing you to dance, I just lost it. And then your father and his constant condescending remarks…”
“Thank you,” I whispered, as I ogled the gorgeous ring I had no right wearing. “I know you were only trying to help. It’s only that we just stopped pretending, and I was really looking forward to our relationship finally being real.”
“We’ll figure it out, Lore. I promise.” He brushed his lips against my forehead and despite the tangle of emotions crashing through my insides, I leaned into his touch. I was so damned lucky to have him in my life. That was what I should’ve been focusing on.
He offered me his hand, and I slid my palm into his, that incredible princess-cut diamond glittering beneath the recessed lights. My hand looked perfect nestled in his enormous one, like it belonged there.
Axel finally turned me toward the semi-circle of onlookers who still lingered nearby, and a wave of applause and congratulations filled the hallway. Despite the smile I’d plastered on, a prickle of unease surged up my spine as a pair of icy, cold eyes met mine.
Brock stood in the background, murderous gaze shooting daggers at my fake fiancé.