Fake It: A Fake Fiancée Romance

by Winter, Alexis

  Everyone cheers and claps as the music starts up and Cameron serenades me. He puts on a show, walking around the room and hitting all the notes perfectly. I had no idea singing was one of his many talents.

  As the song comes to an end, he hits the last note on bended knee in front of me. The spotlight is on both of us as he reaches into his pocket. “Samantha, you are everything I could wish for. When I’m with you, I’m home. Will you marry me?” He pulls out a gorgeous princess-cut champagne diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. The light catches the ring and I’m dumbfounded. It was the ring I had pointed out at Tiffany’s almost two years ago. He remembered!

  “Yes! Yes!” I say as tears pour down my face. He slips the ring on my finger and pulls me in for a tear-soaked kiss. I wrap my arms around him and he stands, picking me up and spinning me around to the cheers of the crowd.

  I wipe the tears away as El pipes up and raises her glass, “I just want to take this moment to take credit for setting this up. If it hadn’t been for me suggesting that Sam take your stupid-ass fake fiancée job, we wouldn’t be sitting here celebrating this.” We laugh as we raise our glasses and toast to a bright future together.

  I walk in our front door, still staring at the beautiful ring that now sits honestly on my hand. Cameron shuts the door and wraps his arms around me. “So, Ms. Fox, are you sure you’re ready to become Mrs. Styles?”

  I wrap my arms around his neck, “Oh, without a doubt. But are you sure that you’re ready to settle down your wild bachelor ways with one woman?”

  “Wait—one woman? This isn’t going to be an open marriage?” he says in mock surprise. “I don’t recall that being in the contract.”

  I jokingly pinch him and roll my eyes as I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips. “You’re mine now. Trust me, Counselor, I’ll make sure it’s in the contract.”

  WANT TO READ MORE FROM ALEXIS WINTER?

  Business & Pleasure: Castille Hotel Series Book 1

  Baby Mistake: Castille Hotel Series Book 2

  * * *

  Just Friends: Mountain Ridge Book 1

  Protect Me: Mountain Ridge Book 2

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  Coming Soon

  Baby Shock: Mountain Ridge Book 3-May 21st

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  Baby Mistake

  An Accidental Pregnancy Billionaire Romance

  How to destroy your career in three easy steps…

  Step #1: Sleep with your boss. Step #2: Get pregnant by your boss. Step #3: Quit your job and run away from your problems.

  * * *

  Griffin Karlsson, cold and arrogant, he should have been easy to hate.

  * * *

  But I always had a few scorching hot fantasies about Mr. Stick Up His A$$.

  * * *

  After all, who doesn’t want a Thor looking god of a man to drool over?

  * * *

  Now I’m pregnant, jobless and oh, I haven’t told the father…

  * * *

  He already has his perfect life, I don’t need to be reminded I’m carrying his mistake.

  * * *

  My only option? Run.

  Chapter One

  Janelle

  I pull my sweater tighter around myself as I walk down the sidewalk toward my apartment. The Chicago wind still has a chill to it even though it’s early May. It cuts right through my body and makes me shiver and wish I’d picked a heavier coat this morning. I sniffle as I push myself forward, mentally scolding myself for not putting every cent I have into purchasing a car. As the sun sets, the air gets unusually colder for this time of year. When snow flurries begin to fall around me, I roll my eyes and start grumbling to myself, but it’s all the motivation I need to get my butt in gear and pick up the pace.

  Less than ten minutes later, I’m rushing into my building and up the stairs to the second story, too impatient to wait for the elevator. I let myself in and drop my keys on the table and my bag on the floor as I stand in the hallway and remove my hat and scarf. After hanging everything up on the wall hook, I pick up my bag and walk further into the apartment.

  My roommate, Samantha, is lounging on the couch in the living room. “Hey,” she mumbles, not bothering to pull her eyes away from whatever she’s watching.

  “Hey. Have you been outside today? It’s seriously freezing out there. You’d think it would start warming up at some point.” I grab a throw blanket off the back of the couch and wrap it around my shoulders, then sit on the vent in the floor—absorbing all the heat in an attempt to thaw my bones from the layer of ice that seems to surround them.

  She nods. “I had one final this morning I had to go to.” She pushes her dark hair behind her ear as she sits upright, looking at me. “I saw Ryan Dillion today.” She smiles wide, and the smile makes her eyes sparkle with excitement.

  I roll my eyes and snort. Ryan is Sam’s ultimate crush. She’s tried to attract his attention all year, and so far, he’s yet to show any interest. “And?”

  “Annnnd,” her eyes stretch wide as her lips keep her smile in place, “he invited me to a party tonight!” She begins bouncing up and down on the couch like an excited three-year-old who’s just learned she’ll get ice cream for dinner.

  I laugh. “That’s awesome! So, what’s the plan?”

  “Okay,” she says as she settles and levels her eyes on me. “I’m thinking that you and I go to this party looking hot as hell. We’ll kick back, have a few drinks, and mingle. Then I’ll make my move. I’ll tell him thanks for inviting me and make it clear how much fun I’m having. I might ask him to dance or even ask him if he’d like to go someplace quiet to talk.” She points her finger at me, “So, if I disappear tonight, don’t come looking for me until morning.”

  I hold up my hands, showing her my palms. “Ha! After last time, I’ve learned my lesson, thank you.” Last time, I did go looking for her and saw her in a very compromising position: doggy style, to be precise.

  She giggles. “So, you’ll go with?”

  I snort. “Of course I’ll go with. Have you ever known me to pass on a party?”

  She again points her long index finger at me. “And that is why we’re best friends.”

  We both giggle as I stand, taking my blanket with me. “But before I can party, I have to finish this writing assignment.” I grab my bag off the floor and head for my room. “If I haven’t come out in two hours, check on me. I’ve probably died from boredom,” I joke.

  “You got it,” she says from the living room.

  I close my bedroom door behind me and flop down in my desk chair as I open my computer. The document is already open and waiting for me to resume my work. I nearly growl as I scroll up to the top and read over what I’ve already written.

  I love writing. I’ve always loved writing, but once I decided to get my degree in English, I quickly figured out how much I hate writing something that holds no interest for me. I can write papers on nearly any subject, but finance and business aren’t on that list. Nothing bores me more than having to do hours of research on a subject I have no interest in.

  It’s going on seven when I save my document and close my computer to get ready. I step out of my room to find the living room empty. Music is blaring from Sam’s bedroom and I tap quickly on her door before letting myself in.

  “I survived, if you were wondering,” I joke, yelling above the music.

  She somehow manages to hear me, and she turns it down to a low muffle of background noise. “Good, I was about to come check on you. We have to be at the party in an hour.”

  My brows pinch together in confusion. “We’re going that early?” I cross my arms over my chest as I lean against her doorframe.

  “I’m not taking the chance of some skank beating me to Ryan. This is it, El. He’s mine tonight
.” She flashes me a quick smile before holding up two tops: a skimpy black one and a skimpy pink one. “Which do you like?”

  I laugh and roll my eyes. “Does it matter? Both of them will give him an eyeful, that’s for sure.”

  She tosses both tops onto her bed, then turns for the closet. “Do you think I should wear my little black dress instead?”

  “You wear that dress and you’ll be frozen before you get to the party,” I point out.

  “True.” She picks it up out of her closet and holds it at arm’s length, studying it as she thinks it over. “Is it worth it?” she asks, more to herself than to me.

  “Are frozen ovaries worth it?”

  She doesn’t look at me—she just holds up her middle finger before hanging the dress back in her closet.

  I laugh as I spin around for the bathroom to get a shower.

  I’m leaning against the counter with a drink in my hand as I watch Sam and Ryan dance. I can’t hold back the smile on my face at seeing her finally get the guy she’s secretly been crushing on.

  “Hey, beautiful,” someone says, bumping into my shoulder.

  I turn my attention to a dark-haired guy I’ve seen around school a few times. “Hi.”

  “I’m Chase,” he tells me, flashing a full smile that shows his perfectly straight white teeth.

  “I’m—” I start, but he cuts me off.

  “Janelle, right?”

  I smile and nod. “That’s right. But my friends just call me El.”

  “I’ve seen you around school. You’re in a lot of the same classes as me. Are you going into journalism?” He leans against the counter, directing all his attention at me. I look him up and down. His dark hair is long and shaggy, hanging to the top of his eyebrows, and he’s dressed in snug jeans and a tight black shirt with some logo stamped on the front. He’s full of swagger and confidence, making it very clear that he’s used to getting his way with the ladies. When his smile widens, I see an adorable dimple in each of his cheeks, further confirming my former thoughts.

  I move my head from side to side as I mull over his question. “Writing, yes, but reporting the news, not really. I like more freeform writing. I want to write things that interest me, not report on whatever crime has been committed. I’d love to get hired on at a big publishing house and put my editing skills to good use; however, I’m prepared to do what I need to do to get my foot in the door.”

  He nods his head. “So, not aiming for The New York Times.” He smiles, and it makes my muscles tighten.

  I shrug, brushing off the butterflies that take over my stomach. “I’m up for whatever. Right now, I just need to get some experience under my belt. I’ve put in for at least a dozen different internships, but I haven’t heard back from any of them yet.”

  “Oh yeah? What did you apply for? I’ve been doing the same. Maybe if we put our heads together, we’ll both get some new ideas.”

  I hold up my red Solo cup. “I honestly can’t tell you at the moment. All I know is the one I hope I get is the Castille Hotel Group. My sister is supposed to pull some strings for me, but I still haven’t heard back yet.”

  His eyes widen. “I applied for that one too! I’m really looking forward to seeing what they plan on doing with their new magazine. I’m not really aiming for a writing career, but I like to keep my options open. And I’ve heard they’re a great company to work for. If I get in, I’m hoping it gets my foot in the door. I’d really like a chance to go into advertising. I really enjoyed the assignment where we had to write ad campaigns.”

  I smile. “I did too.”

  I end up losing track of Sam as Chase and I get into deeper conversations about school, writing, and potential jobs. It turns out, we have a lot in common. We both applied for a lot of the same internships, and have similar life goals. Not to mention, he’s a total flirt and pretty easy on the eyes. We both flirt and tease one another, but in the end, it doesn’t move past that. He seems like a gentleman—not some player who only comes to parties to hook up. In fact, we have so much in common that I could see our new friendship turning into a relationship with time.

  It’s going on two a.m. when I sit back and notice almost everyone at the party has left.

  I put down my now-empty cup and push my chair back to stand. “It’s getting late. I really should be going.”

  He stands with me. “Want to share an Uber?”

  I smile. “Sure!”

  He pulls out his phone and arranges for an Uber to pick us up as we head outside. Again, the cold air causes a shiver to run through me.

  “Here, use my coat.” He takes it off and drapes it over my shoulders.

  “Are you sure? It’s pretty cold out and you’re only wearing a sweatshirt.”

  He waves his hand through the air, dismissing my concerns. “I’m naturally warm. And the Uber will be here soon. I think I’ll survive.” He flashes me that cute grin that stirs my stomach.

  “Thank you,” I breathe out.

  “You’re welcome,” he says, raising his hand to push a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.

  Something between us changes. One second ago, we were talking the way friends do, and now there’s an electric current bouncing between us. It’s warm and causes tingles to take over my body. His blue eyes seem to darken as he begins leaning closer. He wets his lips as his hand lands under my chin.

  I close my eyes and lean forward. We meet in the middle, his soft lips finding mine. His hot tongue demands entrance, and I can’t deny him. He’s cute, funny, and sweet. And this kiss would be the perfect ending to our night.

  As his tongue dances with mine, his hot body presses against my front, warming me, but also turning every bone in my body to jello. I melt into him, living in this kiss and forgetting everything else. His lips are soft, yet strong, and his tongue tastes like a mixture of beer and the fruity shots we’d taken earlier in the night.

  When he pulls away, rather unexpectedly, he shoots me a grin. “I’d really like to see you again, El.”

  I nod, blush staining my cheeks. “I’d like that too.”

  The Uber pulls up, and he opens the door for me without pulling his eyes from mine. He motions with his hand for me to slide in first. Without saying another word, I do, and he takes his seat after me.

  On the ride back to my apartment, we exchange numbers. When the car comes to a stop in front of my building, he opens the door and steps out to allow me to exit.

  “I guess I’ll see you around,” I say, standing on the sidewalk.

  He nods. “Thank you for tonight. I enjoyed the time we spent together.” His hand moves to cup my cheek.

  I smile as my face burns with embarrassment. “I did too,” I say, shyly.

  Slowly, he leans in, giving me one last kiss that doesn’t last nearly long enough.

  He pulls away. “Good night, El,” he whispers as he slides back into the seat.

  I smile and hold up my hand to wave goodbye as the car pulls back out into traffic. Unable to find my feet, I stand there, watching him drive away, happy and surprised by tonight’s turn of events. It makes me wonder if I should have invited him inside, but he didn’t strike me as that kind of guy. He seemed perfectly happy just spending time with me, and stealing the few kisses he did.

  The wind picks up, bringing me back to the present, and I turn and walk into the building when the car is no longer in view. I went to this party for Sam, but I’m sure glad I did. While I’ve never been the serious relationship type of girl, meeting Chase was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t go with intentions of finding a boyfriend, but maybe that’s exactly what I found. I guess I should wait to see if he actually calls before getting my hopes up. But the nervous feeling in my stomach tells me that I’m hoping he calls, that I’m praying for a night alone with him, and that I may have just found the guy I’ll end up with.

  I let myself into the apartment, and to my surprise, find Sam in the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water. She’s already dressed in her oversized nights
hirt, ready for bed.

  I pause in the doorway. “I wasn’t expecting to find you home. Things not go well with Ryan?”

  “No, he has a girlfriend.”

  I press my lips together. “That’s weird; I’ve never seen him with anyone.”

  “That’s because she doesn’t go to school here. They’re in a ‘very serious committed long-distance relationship,’ as he puts it.”

  “Damn. That sucks.”

  She shrugs. “Yeah, but he introduced me to one of his friends, Seth.” She smiles. “We’re going out tomorrow night.”

  I laugh. “That’s more like it. I knew you’d bounce back quickly.”

  “I’m nothing if not flexible,” she jokes. “Hey, so who was the guy you were talking to?”

  I walk into the kitchen and lean against the counter. “His name is Chase. I’ve seen him around school, but never talked to him. We ran into each other tonight and really hit it off.”

  “Really? Like, you guys are going to see each other again?”

  I nod. “I think so. We exchanged numbers anyway.”

  “Look at us. This time next year, we may both be on our way to marriage.”

  I laugh. “Hey now, I have no interest in getting married anytime soon. You keep those dreams and aspirations all to yourself before you jinx me or something.”

  She shows me the palms of her hands. “Fine. Good night, El.”