7. Liz
Chapter Seven
LIZ
Brilliant? What was that in there? What have I agreed to?
As the head of this entire financial operation, I didn’t expect Dean Bonnaire to be the warm, fuzzy type but jeez! Kent’s dad has to be the most infuriating yet intimidating man on this planet. Thank God he’s not actually going to be my father-in-law.
“Yeah, we pulled it off,” I reply. Barely. And that kiss? I just want to facepalm myself for that little stunt. Why exactly did I do that? Oh yeah, Daddy Bonnaire was being a big ‘ole tool. So rude. So condescending. Elizabeth.
But when he said that thing about ending Kent, I had enough. I did not like that one bit. No one puts me or my fake fiancé in a corner. Par for the course, I had to have the last word. Or should I say last kiss?
And after feeling Kent’s lips on mine, that will definitely be the last kiss.
Not because I didn’t like it but because I did.
A lot. The moment I pulled away and looked into Kent’s freckled blue eyes, I literally felt mine sparkle.
Sparkle! It only took that one second for me to realize just how easily I could fall for Kent.
Which I absolutely cannot do. Under any circumstances.
Doing so would make this wildly complicated situation even more complex. And between my real failed engagement and losing big with that damn venture capital deal in California, I can’t have any more complications.
I’m tired. It’s been a hell of a year. That’s why I’m looking forward to the new year, where I can start fresh and debt-free with lots of cash for my business.
“Let’s celebrate. Shall I get us some Champagne?” Kent asks as the elevator descends to our final destination.
“You know, it’s been a long night. I think I’m going to head back to my hotel,” I say, hardly looking at him, and head for the exit.
“So soon? But we just got engaged,” he says, following close behind like a shadow. I halt and shoot him a funny look. Kent shrugs. “Well, we did. Sort of.” His attempt at bringing some levity after that tense encounter loosens me up just enough to hint at a smile.
I shake it away when I shake my head. “I’ve got a big day tomorrow. You know, saving my business and all.” Speaking of, where is Jacqueline? Has she texted back yet? Is she here? I pull my phone out of my bag when Kent grabs my attention again.
“Let me take you. I’ll call my driver,” he says, placing his hand gently on my arm.
My skin warms at his touch, sending a shiver up my spine, but I seem to interpret it as a chill and I step away. “No, that’s all right. I can grab a cab.”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do.” Kent holds his phone to his ear, rattling off quick instructions, then hangs up. “He’s right outside.”
I suppose a car service is much nicer than a cab. I am supposed to be engaged to a billionaire, so I might as well enjoy a luxury here and there. Like the good English gentleman in a three-piece suit that he is, Kent escorts me to the black town car and opens the door.
A frosty gust sweeps past us, and I finally look at him under a dark evening sky and bright London lights.
“Well, that was . . . interesting,” I say, my words vaporizing in the winter air.
What else is there to say about what the hell just happened?
What started as a mild flirtation turned into a full-blown business deal with stakes as high as the Bonnaire Enterprise Tower. This all feels so strangely serious.
“You’ve got that right.” Kent smiles, flashing those pretty pearly whites, and his nose turns a slight shade of pink in the cold.
“Goodnight, Kent,” I say and slide inside the backseat. Heat blasts from the air vents, and I relax back into the leather seats, ready to call it a night.
“Whoa, I can’t let you go just yet.” He slides in next to me.
I startle, fully alert again. “What? Why?”
“We need to debrief on the ride over. Where to?”
Well, so much for escaping my dangerous crush for the evening. “Royal Regency Hotel.”
The car takes off, and soon we’re riding down the wrong side of the road. At least for me. Everything feels backward now. Kent looks at me the way most men do at the end of a date. A slightly raised eyebrow, a hint of a naughty smile, and a smoldering gaze.
I want to indulge him. I’ve been wanting to indulge myself with him since we met at Kate and Drew’s wedding in New York. But mixing business and pleasure can be a recipe for disaster. And as of about thirty minutes ago, we’re in business together.
If my business were not in such a precarious situation, I might be willing to overlook that age-old wisdom. But it is. So from this moment on, our relationship is strictly business.
“Just because we’re engaged doesn’t mean you’re coming up to my room,” I say, unable to hide the slight flirtation in my voice. I really have to work on that.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says with a playful grin. Why does he have to be so cute with that sexy smile? “Though, that was some kiss.” Kent leans in as if asking for another one.
Yes, it was. My gaze falls to his full bottom lip thinking back to the moment I recklessly pulled him in for that statement kiss. Kissing him again would be fun. Hell, having a full-on make out session in the backseat is probably exactly what I need to take the edge off this whole ordeal.
After the year I’ve had, I could use a little hanky-panky. But again. It’s too dangerous. So nope. It’s not happening again.
I press my lips together as if closing them for business. “Mmhmm,” I mutter and turn toward the passenger window as the dark London cityscape skates by.
“What was that about anyway? My father definitely didn’t see that one coming. And neither did I. You’re a ballsy bird, I’ll give you that.”
“Just playing my part.” I give a tight-lipped smile for a split second before focusing on the window again.
“What’s the matter, Liz? We should be celebrating. Your business is about to skyrocket, and I’ll finally get to run mine.”
“Why don’t we save the champagne for when the ink is dry?” I say, with a narrow-eyed look.
“Ohh-kay.” Kent goes silent for a moment, setting his hands in his lap.
Then, I remember I still haven’t checked my phone. I glance down at the lit screen, gripping it tightly. Still nothing from Jacqueline. I release my grasp, letting the phone and Jacqueline go. The fact is, her role holds a lot less weight now that I’m engaged to the heir of Bonnaire Enterprises.
“We’re still on for our date tomorrow evening, right?” Kent breaks the silence.
“Are you crazy?” I blurt. “We can’t have a date in the middle of this.” My voice goes up an octave, and heat creeps up the back of my neck to my ears.
“Liz, what’s with the hostility?” Kent seems a little irked himself. “I thought everything was going great.”
“I’m not being hostile. How can you not see how wildly inappropriate it is for us to have any kind of . . . situation?” I fling my hand in the air.
“That’s what’s inappropriate about all of this?” he asks, not getting the point.
“Let me spell it out for you. You and I have a business deal. A classic quid-pro-quo. I do something for you, and, in exchange, you do something for me. And that something has very real consequences for my very real business,” I Liz-splain to him with exaggerated hand gestures.
“We’re you not just in the room with my father? I’m also facing very real consequences.”
“Except you’re heir to a billion-dollar fortune. Getting fired from Daddy’s company doesn’t exactly affect your livelihood. I, on the other hand, could lose everything. I don’t have an inheritance to fall back on,” I snap back.
Kent sucks in a slow, sharp breath through flared nostrils. “So I’m just a spoiled little trust fund baby?”
I say nothing, but raise my brow as if to say, if the silver spoon fits.
Kent scoffs. “All that money doesn’t seem to bother you when it suits your bottom line, saving you and your company from ruin.”
What did he just say to me? Blood pulses in my veins, my eyes go wide, and I tightly clench my fists. Here’s the thing about me; I don’t need saving.
“You know what, Kent? I don’t need this,” I say, snatching my purse off the seat. My hotel is right up the block. “Excuse me. Can you pull over here?” I call to the driver, and he obliges.
“Where are you going?” Kent asks, looking both irritated and confused. That makes two of us, buddy.
“Anywhere but here.” I push the passenger door open and begin stomping toward the Royal Regency Hotel as icy wind whips against my pale cheeks. By now my skin feels so hot, I’m sure the frost will melt against it on contact.
“Wait, Liz!” Kent calls after me. “Come back!”