Don't Fall For Me : An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Hate to Love Book 1)

by Gigi Black

  It was horrible to think it, but I doubted that Kara would have the money to pay anything while she stayed here with us.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, the weight of the world settling on my shoulders. Four mouths to feed if I included Piddlywump—of course I did—on a salary that was barely enough for one.

  I can give you everything you need and more.

  Daniel’s words drifted up, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I headed back downstairs and fetched my phone from my purse then entered my room and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror over my tiny dressing table.

  “Just do it. You don’t have a choice.” I did, but the consequence of it was to suffer for years, potentially lose my father, the house, and my hopes and dreams.

  I tapped the screen and found the number. I dialed it and put the phone to my ear.

  “Hello,” he answered.

  “No strings attached?”

  13

  Damien

  “There’s just one rule,” I said, admiring her despite my better instincts. “Don’t fall for me.”

  “I think you should amend that rule to ‘don’t punch me’ when you ultimately annoy the shit out of me, Woods.” Hazel sat on the edge of her seat across the table from me in Little Big Coffee Shop. It was around the corner from my place.

  She’d refused to come back to the house to discuss our business deal. Too scared she’d wind up underneath me again, screaming my name.

  I didn’t blame her. Christ, it was a triumph that I could sit across from her without sporting an uncontrollable boner.

  “I’m serious, Hazel,” I said. “This is supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement.” I lifted my coffee and sipped it. This place had the best in-house roast in the city, in my humble opinion.

  She flipped open the menu and paged through it, absently, ignoring me? Or was she just avoiding me because she couldn’t handle the heat? Suited me fine. I wouldn’t allow myself to be tempted by her.

  “We’re going to have a few ground rules for this arrangement,” I said.

  “No touching.” She snapped the menu shut.

  “Impossible.”

  “I’m not going to let you pay me and then wind up… doing stuff. That would make me a prostitute.” Hazel said the last part too loudly, and the couple at the table closest to ours gave her a dirty look. She blushed, and I was caught up in how cute she was again.

  Cute and dangerous. Like a sexy zombie koala bear? Man, I needed another coffee. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night. The call from Hazel had kept me up considering what would come next.

  Our waiter sauntered across the carpeted room, winding between tables and smiling broadly at us. The place was full of light and good energy, decorated in nut browns and creams, but the aesthetic didn’t mean much to me. Hazel’s perfume, a light scent of jasmine and citrus, had drifted over and intoxicated me since she’d sat down.

  “Enjoying the coffee?” the waiter asked, popping a hip and holding out his pad slightly. “Real palate cleanser, isn’t it?”

  “It’s great,” Hazel said, smiling up at him, and for the craziest moment, jealousy unfolded in my chest. She never offered me small smiles or kind words.

  “It’s coffee,” I replied then lifted the crystal vase from the center of the table and handed it to him. “Take that away. The flower is obstructing my view of what’s important.”

  The waiter blinked and fumbled with the vase, nearly dropped it. “Right. OK. And to eat?”

  “I don’t know, bring an arum lily.”

  “He’s kidding,” Hazel said. “I think.” She flipped through the menu again. “Can I get two poached eggs on rye with avocado?”

  “Of course,” the waiter nodded. “For you, sir?”

  “Nothing,” I replied. “I don’t eat this early.” The last part was for Hazel. She’d need to know that for our little plan to work. She’d need to know more about me than I was usually willing to share.

  The waiter hurried off, the saunter gone now, possibly because he had a rose tickling the underside of his chin.

  “You’re rude,” Hazel said.

  “Not rude,” I replied. “Just businesslike. And he was too friendly.”

  “He’s a waiter. It’s his job to be friendly.”

  I ignored the comment and removed my phone from my pocket and set it on the table. It was on silent, but I had my assistant on speed dial. “I’m going to have my lawyer draw up a contract for us that will stipulate what’s necessary and what’s not.”

  “Are you kidding?” Hazel asked. “That’s just… it’s weird.”

  “It will protect both you and me.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. “Fine. But like I said, no touching.”

  “Touching will have to happen. If we’re going to sell the fake fiancée bit, we’ll need to be affectionate, at least in public,” I said. “But behind closed doors, yes, no touching. Whatsoever.”

  “You’re making it sound like I’m the one who wants to touch you.”

  I arched an eyebrow.

  “Fuck you,” she whispered, glancing around to check the elderly couple at the table over hadn’t heard.

  My other eyebrow went up, and she colored red as a beet. She sat back, creating distance between us, but showing me her breasts and that her nipples had hardened at the memory of what had happened between us.

  Shit, she’d tasted so damn good. I licked my lips, setting aside my baser urges.

  “You’ll need to learn more about me, and I’ll have to learn more about you to make this work,” I said. “I want you to draw up a dossier of personal information that I can browse through.”

  “That’s insane. We can just… talk about stuff.”

  “I don’t do talking,” I replied. “About my stuff.”

  “But you’ll type it up on a computer and let me read it? Yeah, that makes sense.”

  She had a point, but I was less worried about someone finding that information than I was about having to discuss it with her. Then again, I wasn’t about to go into too much detail. There were certain things she didn’t need to know. Things I didn’t approach mentally with a ten-foot pole.

  “What’s the deal here?” Hazel asked. “Why do we have to memorize anything? Do we have to meet your father and go through a test?” She said it like it was a joke, but she had no idea how close she was to the truth with what she’d said.

  “Not exactly,” I replied. “But you will be coming away with me this weekend to my father’s resort. Eagle’s Rest.”

  “What?” She nearly did a spit-take. Hazel dabbed those lush lips with a handkerchief, shifting her glass of iced water to one side.

  “This weekend. You and me. Eagle’s Rest Resort and Spa.”

  “You’re insane,” she replied, brushing her hair away from her face. “I can’t just drop everything and go away for a weekend. I have a job. I can’t even afford to. I don’t even…”

  “Hazel, money isn’t an issue.”

  She stared at me blankly.

  “Seriously. You don’t need to worry about money anymore.”

  “That’s… whatever. I just can’t go away. My dad is ill. I can’t just leave him alone. He needs care. Someone to cook for him and look after him and—”

  “I’ll get him a nurse.”

  “A nurse.”

  “Yes, for the time we’re away,” I said. “No problem.” I unlocked my phone’s screen and sent a message to Cassandra. “Done. Anything else?”

  Hazel’s long lashes fluttered. “I—well. Uh, Kara’s staying with me. She can’t afford to pay for rent, and she lost her place.”

  “Because she stole from her boyfriend,” I said.

  “That’s not true.”

  “It is.” I’d done my research. “She got kicked out because she stole from him. And now she’s staying with you and not paying her way. That right?” It infuriated me that she’d been taken advantage of, but here I was about to do the same.

>   Hazel took a sip of her water.

  “Right. I can get her out of there.”

  “Out of the house?” Hazel set down the glass again, dragging her finger down the side, chasing the droplets of condensation.

  “Exactly. Out of the house. I’ll set her up in one of my father’s houses.”

  “Your father has houses?”

  “For his many mistresses and sordid affairs. I’m currently staying in one while I have business in the city.“ Mortimer still believed that it was a secret from me and everyone else who worked for him. He was delusional because of the power he possessed. “She can stay in one of them until she’s back on her feet, but I won’t pay for her after that. Only you.”

  Hazel bit down on her bottom lip. “I don’t even want to think of the implications of this,” she said, at last. “It’s… over the top. You expect me to lie to your father. Your family.”

  “That’s right. And you’ll do it convincingly.” I tapped out another message to Cassandra, giving directives that she’d follow through on. Kara would be out of the Hazel’s house within the hour. “I’m surprised you didn’t drive a harder bargain, Hazel. You want your café and your father’s care, and that’s it? No mansion? No car?”

  “I can look after myself,” she said, lifting her chin. “I just need capital, that’s all.”

  You need to be underneath me.

  Dangerous thoughts. I shoved it aside. “Right,” I said. “Then it’s settled. You’re coming with me to the resort this weekend. And you’re going to be convincing.”

  She sucked in a deep breath and let it shudder out from between her lips. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  “And you can’t tell anyone about this,” I said. “I’ll be sending over an NDA.”

  “I have to tell my father. I can’t lie to him.”

  “No. Tell no one.”

  “Do you always get what you want?” Hazel asked, folding her arms.

  “Yes,” I replied. “This is a contractual agreement. Nothing more and nothing less. You’ll stick to the agreement or you’ll get nothing.”

  Anger shone from her gorgeous features.

  “Is that understood?” I asked.

  “You’re a dickhead.”

  “Doesn’t change anything.”

  “Yes, it’s understood,” she said, at last. “And you’re still a dickhead.”

  “I’ve been called worse.” I took a last swig of my coffee then got up from the table, removing money from my wallet. I dropped it on the table, more than enough to cover whatever she wanted to eat and a tip. “I’ll see you on Friday. Be packed and ready to go by 9am.” And then I walked out, leaving her to stew.

  If I didn’t leave now, I’d do something I regretted.

  14

  Hazel

  If I’d wanted him less and hated him more, this would’ve been so much easier.

  I shifted the curtains back from my bedroom window and looked out at the road. It was ten minutes to nine, and he wasn’t here yet. Of course he wasn’t. He’d probably be late. Or annoyingly on time.

  You’re crazy to be doing this. You’re going to regret it.

  But I’d already signed his contract and NDA and told my father that I was going away on a little vacation with Damien. I’d even marched into my manager’s office in the Pieslice and quit. All so I could jet off with the man who had left me in ruins years ago.

  God, I had to get over that. Or did I? If I did, I’d be more open to getting to know Damien, and that scared the crap outta me. He wasn’t the type of guy a woman “got to know” without getting hurt as well.

  I’d internet stalked the shit out of him over the past week, and the tales of his bachelor behavior were legendary in New York it seemed. He was a serial dater, never staying in one place for long, and he’d been dating a model in France as recently as a month ago.

  He was a trap, and I had to remember that.

  Yeah, a thirst trap.

  This would’ve been so much easier if… well, if he hadn’t been so gorgeous, and if Dad wasn’t sick. If I had the money to get the café back. Or if I’d had the money to pay for Dad’s bills or…

  “Knock, knock.” My dad stood in the doorway to my room, trembling on the spot. He was pale and shouldn’t have been out of his chair.

  “Dad, what are you doing?” I stepped away from the curtains and walked past my bag, already packed and waiting on the bed. Guilt at leaving him nearly overwhelmed me.

  I could still call this off. Tear up the contract and tell Damien to find some other willing participant. He’d surely find another woman to do what he wanted with a snap of his fingers. Begged the question: why me?

  I slipped an arm around my father’s shoulders and guided him back down the hall. “Are you OK? You shouldn’t be walking around—”

  “I’ve got cancer, Nut. I’m not a cripple.” But he’d grown weaker by the day, and my insides ached at the sight of how thin he was. I settled him back in his chair.

  “I know you’re not a cripple,” I said, covering him with a blanket and fluffing his cushion. “But still. You need to take it easy. The doctor said so.”

  “I’ve got my first appointment next week.”

  Chemotherapy. Tension banded in my chest. “You know what, I should stay. It’s terrible for me to go anywhere right now.”

  “Don’t be silly, Nut. You can’t change your whole life because of me.”

  “Dad.”

  “The last thing I want,” he said, grasping my hand and squeezing it. “Is for you to live less of a life because of me. I’ve already lost your inheritance. I don’t want you to miss out on anything else because of me.”

  “Dad, it’s not like that.” I let out the tension in a long breath. “I want to be here with you. I’ll just call Damien and tell him—”

  “Hazel Ann McCutcheon,” my father said, sternly. “You’ll do no such thing. You’re going on your little vacation. I can tell that Damien likes you, a lot. I’m happy that you’ll be spending more time with him. He’ll look after you.”

  “I don’t need to be looked after,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “I can take care of myself and you.” Kara had already left the house without so much as a goodbye.

  “I know that, Nut, but Damien’s a good man. You need him in your life.”

  I grated at the sentiment. Before I could offer up a fitting rebuttal, the doorbell trilled. He was here.

  Oh god.

  “You go have fun,” my dad said and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He smelled of the same cologne he’d worn for years and a hint of leather. It was such a nostalgic smell that I clung to him for a second. “Go on.”

  I headed out into the hall and opened the door for Damien.

  A thin-as-a-rake nurse greeted me and swept past. “He’s in the living room,” I called then frowned at Damien. “She didn’t introduce herself.”

  “She’s the best money can buy,” he replied, his deep espresso eyes fixed on me. “You’re wearing a dress.”

  “Yeah, is that a problem?” I’d chosen a floral print summer dress that swept to the knee but hugged my breasts and was cinched at the waist. It was the nicest thing I had—if I was going to pretend to be Damien’s fiancée, I had to try look the part.

  “No, it’s not. You look delicious,” he replied, heat entering his voice. He cleared his throat. “We’ll shop before we get to the resort.”

  “I packed a bag. I don’t need to shop.”

  “You’ll need to wear designer clothes,” he said and took my hand.

  Electricity sparked through my chest and nearly knocked me off my feet. He led me down the hall and toward my bedroom.

  The last time he’d been inside it, he’d been inside me too. Don’t think about it.

  He eyed my bag on the bed. “That’s it?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Is that unsatisfactory for you?” I walked over to it and grabbed the handle. Any excuse to let go of his hand and stop thinking about what it would be like to
kiss him again. It wasn’t fair that he had this effect on me. On all women. I had to remember that.

  I wasn’t special to him.

  He came over and placed his hand over mine. “It’s fine,” he said. “I don’t have requirements for your luggage, Hazel.”

  “Then why ask?”

  “So I can take it to the car for you,” he replied, studying me, the scent of him washing over me.

  Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I held my breath, trying not to react. My body had a mind of its own, though, and his gaze wandered to my cleavage then to my lips and to my eyes.

  “Let go of the bag,” he said.

  “I can take it myself.”

  “There’s a lot of things you can do by yourself.” He brushed a thumb over the back of my hand, and my grip on the bag’s handle faltered. I dropped it, he caught it. “And a lot of things you shouldn’t have to.”

  He passed the bag to one hand, easily. It wasn’t like I’d packed light either, and it was a reminder of the strong body that was hidden underneath that suit and tie.

  Stop it!

  Damien offered me a smile and reached into his pocket. He withdrew a ring box. “For you,” he said and put it in my hand. He leaned in, brushing the hair from ear and sending another spiral of shivers through my core. “Don’t lose it.”

  He walked for the door, brushing past me and drowning me in his scent. I waited until his footsteps faded before opening the box.

  A diamond ring sat nestled on a velvet cushion. The diamond was massive, tucked against a white gold band.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered. I snapped the box shut and closed my fist around it, my palm growing sweaty.

  15

  Damien

  “You need to put it on.” I sat in the leather armchair in the private jet, watching her and holding back with everything I had in me. There was something about her in this setting. Her green eyes were wide, and she kept turning her head, scanning the inside of the jet like she could scarcely believe she was here.

  Like fucking Cinderella, except sexy as hell and without glass slippers. And, of course, with ambition to not ever settle for a prince.