***
Gage couldn’t help but chuckle at the expression on her gorgeous face. “Not that kind of proposition, Shawna. When we go there, and make no mistake about it, we will go there, it will be because you beg me to take you, to fuck you until you can’t remember your own name. And only then will I give you what we both want. Long and hard and slow.” He shrugged. “Or maybe fast and hard, if you prefer.”
Her pupils dilated and the little pulse at the base of her neck pounded furiously, but that was the only indication she was as affected as he was. “Right.” She gave her best disbelieving smile and shook away all traces of desire. “So, this proposition?”
Gage stood and walked around his desk, leaning on it right in front of her. She wouldn’t be able to ignore him now. “I find myself in need of a girlfriend.”
“What?” She uncrossed her legs and moved to the edge of her seat. “Can you be serious for a second, please?”
Leaning forward just enough to make her lean back, Gage sighed. “Oh, I am serious. I want you to move in with me and pretend to be my girlfriend.” He’d thought about it long and hard for the past two days, and it was the perfect solution.
She stood so that they were face to face. “Move in with you? And why would you need a fake girlfriend when I just saw another one of your women leaving? Ask her!”
Gage watched her cheeks flush prettily and bit back a grin. “That was not one of my women, merely a woman looking to get a few benefits by fucking a billionaire. Which is another reason I need you.”
“There is so much wrong with what you just said, I don’t even know where to begin.”
“In return, I will protect you from Pearce.” Gage knew women, and he’d had dozens try and make their way to his home in nearby Henderson, but he never allowed that. Visits to his home would give them hope, something he never wanted to give. They got one night with him in a penthouse suite and nothing more, unless they attended an event with him, in which case he was happy to shell out a necklace, bracelet or earrings. Never rings, because they could be easily taken the wrong way. Shawna would likely jump at the opportunity. After all, there was only reason she would date a guy like Pearce Worthington.
She scoffed and shot him a disgusted glare. “I hardly need your kind of firepower to protect me from a pouty frat boy.” A look of surprise must have crossed his face because she asked, “What?”
“How long were you with him?”
“Two lousy months, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Why?” He had to know. She obviously had no idea he was rich and connected, so what was the attraction?
“What’s it to you?” she asked, arms crossed in a clear back the hell off signal.
That pulled another laugh from him as he shook his head in amusement. “I’m just curious because you obviously didn’t go out with him for his family money and influence, so why?”
“I can’t even believe you would say that. You know what, I guess I’m not. You only date chicks who want you for your money.” She scoffed and then froze, turning questioning emerald eyes his way. “Wait, his what?”
Unbelievable! “His father is a very wealthy land developer, and he has plenty of juice in this city to make Pearce’s threats to you a reality.” She noticeably deflated at his words, and Gage almost felt bad. Almost. Except this new revelation increased his chances of getting her to do what he wanted.
“Shit… for real? How did I not know that?”
He quirked a brow. “Other things kept you busy?”
Shawna snorted out a laugh and for some stupid reason he found it adorable. “Yeah, right! I never even slept with him. I was going to actually, until I found him in bed with Skank and Skankier bouncing on him like a carnival ride. I definitely dodged a round of antibiotics with him.” Her smile was gorgeous but missed her eyes. She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “What would I have to do to get this help of yours?”
Gage smiled, leaning in closer until he could smell the sweet scent of her cinnamon breath. “I need it to look like I have a girlfriend I’m getting serious about, which is why you need to move in with me.”
Her emerald eyes darkened to an enchanting forest green but she scoffed anyway. “Ah, because everyone knows you don’t take your conquests back to your precious palace.”
“Exactly. In return, you’d be under my protection, and I have a lot more juice than Walter Worthington,” he promised in a suggestive voice. “I also need you to keep the gold diggers at bay.”
She frowned. “But I thought that was your thing.”
“What?” Gage didn’t think he liked where she was heading, but as usual, she was oblivious to the effect she had on him.
“Using your money and your good looks to get any girl you want to do anything you want.” She spoke so bluntly it was impossible to get upset.
But the more he thought about it, he was kind of offended. “That’s really what you think?”
She shrugged. “I do have eyes and ears, Gage, and you have slept with every cocktail waitress we’ve ever had, other than me.” She rolled her eyes. “So how long would you need me to do this if I were to agree?”
He smiled, because he had her. At least, he was pretty sure he did, but this was the tricky part, so Gage fixed on his most charming smile, the one that had landed a princess and a mayor in his bed. At the same time. “At least one year or as long as it takes to repair my reputation.” He had a meeting coming up with Steve Wilde, who was reluctant to sell to Gage because of his reputation as a party boy.
“What? No, that’s impossible. No one will believe that you’d go out with me for a full year. Hell, anyone really, but definitely not me.”
Was she blind or did she really believe that nonsense? He’d wanted Shawna since the moment she’d walked onto the floor in those tiny white shorts that hugged her curves and drew his attention to those thick thighs he knew it would be heaven to slide between. But she didn’t need to know any of that. That’s how women worked; give them the upper hand and they would use it to get everything they could from you. No, Gage always had the upper hand, so he schooled his expression. “I’ll expect an answer by the end of the week.”
She stood and glared at him. “So, you want an answer on Friday? As in two days from now? Fine,” she said, turning and leaving before he could even respond.