Her Big Fat Fake Billionaire Boyfriend (Billionaire Series Book 1)

by Victorine E. Lieske

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think it’s people and their goals. When money becomes the main goal, people lose sight of what’s important.”

  She could relate to that. “Yes.”

  “You make some pretty good money with your jewelry business.”

  “I make enough for my needs, because I limit how many pieces I make. I could earn more, but I don’t need it. I think earning so much more than you need is almost obscene.” She laughed until she looked at Camden’s face. His eyebrows were pulled together and his lips pulled down in another frown.

  “People can do a lot of good with the money they make,” he said. “I know . . . someone . . . who donates a lot of money to charity.”

  Kenzie snorted, then slapped her hand over her mouth. Camden raised an eyebrow at her. “Sorry. I just know what those charities actually spend on helping the poor. It’s often so little it’s ridiculous. Pennies on the dollar.”

  Camden stiffened. “Some are corrupt. But there are good ones out there.”

  “It’s hard to find the good ones.”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and scanned the beach. “So you’d never date a guy with money?”

  She cringed. She wished she had made a rule about not dating a guy with money. That would have saved her a lot of heartache.

  She brushed a strand of curls from her cheek, not wanting to admit anything. “Guys with money are arrogant and self-serving. I can’t imagine being attracted to that.” A seagull landed on the railing and they both turned to watch it. “What about you? Would you date a woman with more money than you?”

  He coughed and pounded his chest with his fist. When he’d regained control, he spoke. “Of course. I don’t think having money makes a person selfish.”

  “The money itself doesn’t. I just think that people who seek after it are shallow.” The conversation seemed to be bothering him, so she switched gears. “Are you in a relationship right now?”

  “No. Just broke up with someone. Yesterday, in fact.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  He smiled, but it was reserved. “Don’t be. She was kind of crazy.”

  Kenzie laughed. “People call me that all the time.”

  “I’m sure they mean it in the nicest way.”

  Kenzie glanced back at the resort and did a double take. The man standing by the tables looked familiar. Like . . . no. It couldn’t be. She squinted at him.

  He looked just like Mason.

  Her heart jumped into her throat. How had he found her? And why did he have to show up now of all times? His gaze connected with hers and she panicked. She grabbed Camden’s suit jacket with both hands and pulled him down, pressing her lips to his.

  Camden’s eyes grew wide. She didn’t have time to explain. She put everything she had into the kiss, hoping Mason hadn’t recognized her. She twisted so Camden was between her and Mason in an attempt to hide even further.

  Camden must have figured out she wanted to make it look like they were a couple, because he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. He took command of the kiss, his lips moving over hers. The sensations it caused made her brain stutter. Man, he was a good kisser. Too good. In fact, she quickly forgot why she’d started kissing him in the first place and got lost in the moment.

  His lips teased and caressed hers, making her heart pound and taking her breath away. When she finally pulled back, he smiled down at her, an unspoken question in his eyes.

  “I—uh—saw someone looking at us.” Why were her words all jumbled up in her head?

  “Are they still looking?” he whispered, his sweet breath on her lips.

  What? She couldn’t make sense of his words. “I don’t know.”

  “Then we’d better continue, just in case.” He kissed her again, and she found herself threading her fingers through his hair. Why had she started kissing him? She couldn’t remember.

  When the kiss ended and Kenzie could think again, she peeked over his shoulder. Mason was gone. Her heart continued to pound, though. “He’s gone,” she whispered.

  Camden glanced behind him. His head cocked to the side as he stared at her. “Who?”

  She didn’t want to tell him about Mason, but she’d spoken without thinking. She bit her lip and tried to think of what to say. “Actually, I think I was mistaken. No one was there.”

  He gave her his full dazzling smile. “I see. You just wanted to kiss me, is that it?”

  Actually, she wouldn’t mind doing that again, but she didn’t want to tell him that. She whacked him in the chest. “You’re impossible.”

  She began walking toward the resort, and Camden fell into step beside her. “So . . . rule number two?”

  Dang. Why had she made that rule in the first place? Now she looked like an idiot. “You know, I kind of overreacted with that rule. It’s almost impossible to pretend we’re a couple without any kissing.”

  He nodded, his lips twitching. “I’m fine with getting rid of rule number two.”

  “Okay. It’s settled. Kissing is allowed.” Her heart pounded in her ears, and she hoped he couldn’t see the affect his kiss had on her. She glanced up at him. “But only when others are looking.”

  “Of course.”

  Chapter 6

  The clubhouse room was bustling when Kenzie entered. Camden put his arm around her waist and leaned over. “Do you know all these people?”

  She tried not to react to the tingles now racing over her from his touch. She scanned the room. Luckily, she didn’t see Mason. “I see a few of Tessa’s high school friends. That’s about it.”

  Camden pointed to the food table. “Want something to eat?”

  “Yes. I’m so hungry I could eat a snake.”

  “I think that’s horse,” Camden said.

  Vita stepped toward them. “That’s ham, dear. We don’t eat horse.”

  Her wide smile made Kenzie laugh. “You’re right, Aunt Vita.”

  She patted Camden’s arm. “Get your girl some food. Love doesn’t grow on an empty stomach.”

  “Will do,” he said.

  Kenzie snagged a small plate and went down the line, filling it with things on toothpicks. When they got to the end she stood against the wall. The room was packed. She cocked her head and stared at the older woman by the fireplace. “Tessa invited her third-grade teacher?”

  Camden chuckled. “She sure is spending some cash on this wedding.”

  Kenzie shook her head. “I don’t get big weddings. Like, at all.”

  He shrugged. “People like to celebrate.”

  “But a wedding is all about you and your spouse. It’s not about all these other people.” She bit into a cherry tomato, the flavor bursting on her tongue.

  “People would be disappointed if they didn’t get to see you get married, though, right?” Camden asked as he leaned up against the wall.

  “They’d get over it.” She swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable with this line of conversation. “How’s the ham?” she asked.

  He grinned. “Delicious.”

  She’d finished her plate when Tessa emerged from the throng of people and grabbed her arm. “Kenzie, you have to meet my friends.” She tugged Kenzie through the room and over to a trio of women. “Kenzie, meet Adele, Shelley, and Brenda. This is my sister, Kenzie.”

  The girls all nodded politely. “Nice to meet you,” Kenzie said, self-conscious of the way they were looking at her dress.

  “That’s an interesting pin,” Adele said, pointing to her brooch. “Where did you get it?”

  She probably should stop wearing her jewelry. She cringed every time someone asked about it. “I made it.”

  Adele raised her eyebrows. “You did? How interesting.” The way she smiled said she was anything but interested. “I thought maybe it was made by an artist.”

  Kenzie bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from speaking. She just had to get through the next couple of days. That was it.

  Tessa pointed to th
e other side of the room. “Kenzie brought her boyfriend. He’s the buff one by the hors d’oeuvres.”

  The girls craned their necks to see. “Seriously? How did you snag him?” Brenda asked.

  The way she said it made Kenzie stiffen—like she couldn’t possibly attract someone like Camden. “I’m paying him to attend the wedding with me,” she said before her inner snark could be smothered.

  Tessa laughed and picked up a glass of wine from one of the servers who walked by. “You’re hilarious, Kenzie.”

  “He’s wearing an Armani suit. What’s he do for a living?” Shelley asked, curling her dark hair behind her ear and staring at Camden.

  “He’s a construction worker.”

  “No way,” Adele said.

  “He’s coming over.” Shelley nudged Adele’s arm.

  Camden appeared beside Kenzie a moment later. “There you are. I wasn’t sure where you’d disappeared to.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Perfect.

  She introduced him to Tessa’s friends. “We work together at the bank,” Tessa added.

  The hair stood up on Kenzie’s neck and she glanced behind her. Mason was standing at the door, looking around the room. She was sure it was him this time. His blonde hair was a bit longer, and he was thinner if that was possible, but it was him. She suddenly couldn’t breathe. She crouched to the floor.

  “What’s the matter?” Tessa asked, bending over.

  Kenzie patted the carpet around her, pretending to feel for something. “I lost a contact.”

  “Oh,” Brenda said, backing up.

  “You wear contacts?” Tessa knelt down on the floor with her. “Since when?”

  “Recently,” Kenzie said, her heart pounding. She felt around, looking for the non-existent contact, inching her way toward the table. What was her plan? Hiding under the table for the duration of the party? She was in serious trouble.

  Camden joined her on the floor. “You okay?”

  “She lost a contact,” Tessa said, feeling around on the commercial-grade carpet.

  The longer she stayed on the floor, the more attention she’d draw to herself. Kenzie pretended to pick something up. “Ah, here it is!” She scrambled to her feet, keeping her head down. “I need to go wash it off. Where’s the ladies room?”

  “I’ll take you there.” Camden protectively put his arm around her and guided her toward the door. Toward Mason.

  She stopped. “Wait. This isn’t a contact. It’s a hair.”

  “What?” Camden looked confused.

  “You know what? I forgot I didn’t put my contacts in this morning.” She ducked back into the crowd to avoid being seen. Camden followed close behind her.

  An exit sign caught her attention. There was another way out of the room! She almost broke into song. She sprinted toward the door.

  “Kenzie, wait.”

  She pushed the door open and the cool hallway air hit her in the face. She sucked in a breath and almost sprinted down the hall.

  “Kenzie!”

  The last thing she needed was Camden shouting her name. Mason could hear him. But she also wanted to get away from the clubhouse. She slowed, then turned and smacked into his chest. “Oh!”

  He caught her from falling. “What’s going on? Why are you running?”

  She glanced at the door, certain Mason would walk through it at any second. “No reason.” She bit her lip, wondering if she was as terrible at lying as she felt.

  “Come on. Spill it.”

  Mason shoved through the door to the clubhouse and turned toward her. “Kenzie. I thought that was you.”

  Camden spun around. She appreciated the protective way he stood in front of her. “Who are you? Why are you following her?”

  Mason stopped walking. He rubbed the back of his neck. The image of him and another woman in a passionate kiss flashed through her mind, and she grew angry all over again.

  Mason pointed to her. “I’m her husband.”

  ***

  Camden sucked in air and coughed. “What?” he choked.

  “Ex-husband, if you can even call it that,” Kenzie said. “We were only married one week.”

  Camden felt like he was twelve steps behind. “You were married?”

  The man looked pained. He took a step toward Kenzie, and Camden moved further in front of her. He didn’t want this man anywhere near her before he could figure out what was going on.

  “Kenzie. I just want to talk. I made a mistake. But I still love you.”

  “A mistake?” Kenzie hissed. “Picking up the wrong mayonnaise is a mistake. Kissing the hotel towel girl when we are on our honeymoon is not a mistake, Mason.”

  Camden was catching up fast, and he had the urge to deck the guy. Mason cringed. “I know. It was a terrible thing to do. But she meant nothing to me. I would have told you, but you left and I didn’t know where you were.”

  Tessa emerged, looking confused. She approached them. “Kenzie? I saw you leave. Did you get your contact back in?”

  Camden glanced at Kenzie. She sighed and buried her face in her hands. “Not now,” she muttered.

  “Yes,” Camden said, covering for her. “She did. It’s good now.”

  Tessa’s gaze flickered between Mason and Kenzie. “Who’s this?”

  Mason turned around and extended his hand. “I’m Mason, Kenzie’s husband.”

  Tessa’s eyes grew wide as she shook his hand and Kenzie made a guttural noise. “Ex!” she shouted.

  “Wait, you were married?” Tessa froze, clutching at her neckline. “And you didn’t tell me?” she whispered.

  Kenzie groaned, and Camden wondered what he could do to take the heat off her. Nothing came to mind, so he put his arm around her to show his support.

  “I’m sorry,” Kenzie said. “It was a rash decision. And bringing family into it seemed like it would . . . complicate things.”

  Mason turned to Kenzie. “I know it’s a bad time, but I really need to talk to you.”

  “There’s nothing to say. We’re through,” Kenzie said.

  The door opened again and Helene entered the hallway. “Tessa, darling, people are starting to ask where you went.”

  Tessa looked like she swallowed a marble. “Uh, yes. We should get back in there, mother.” She grabbed Helene’s arm and started tugging her toward the clubhouse.

  “Wait.” Helene’s gaze centered on Kenzie. “What’s going on here?”

  Mason stuck out his hand again. Kenzie’s face turned white as Mason spoke. “You must be Helene. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mason, Kenzie’s—”

  “Ouch!” Kenzie shouted, and everyone turned toward her. “Sorry, kink in my neck. Mason and I met in California a while back. Funny he’s here at the same resort we are, isn’t it, Mason?” She shot him a glare.

  “I’m Kenzie’s husband,” he said. “I’m here to work things out.”

  Helene’s face flushed. “McKenzie? You’re married?”

  “Ex-husband. I filed for an annulment.” Kenzie looked like she wanted to melt into the floor.

  “That’s what I’m here to talk about. I don’t think it went through.” Mason ran a hand through his hair. “We’re still married.”

  Chapter 7

  The elevator dinged and Kenzie desperately wanted a thousand clowns to come pouring out of it. Anything to take all the eyes away from her face. Unfortunately, all that emerged was a woman in a perfectly normal looking pencil skirt.

  “We can’t still be married,” Kenzie said, her throat dry. “I went to court. Even though you didn’t show up, they said the annulment was finalized. It’s like we were never married.”

  Her mother cringed at the words. Mason shook his head. “I received notice in the mail. You put in the wrong date on the paperwork. It messed everything up.”

  She closed her eyes. This wasn’t happening. A low buzzing noise started in her ears, and she couldn’t swallow. “No,” she whispered.

  “I tried to contact you, but you’d
left. I couldn’t find you.”

  Her mother pinched the bridge of her nose. “You mean to tell me that you married this man without telling us, then you changed your mind but messed up the annulment?”

  Tessa tugged on Helene’s arm. “Maybe it’s best if we let them talk it out, Mom. Let’s go back to the party.”

  Helene nodded, plastering on a fake smile. “You go in, dear. I’ll be right with you.”

  Tessa gave Kenzie a small sorry-but-I-tried shrug and left. Helene came toward Kenzie. At first she thought her mother was going to slap her, and she flinched, but Helene simply stuck her nose in Kenzie’s face. “This is your sister’s wedding,” she said, her voice low. “If you do anything to ruin it, you’ll have me to deal with.” She turned and stalked down the hallway, disappearing into the clubhouse.

  Kenzie couldn’t hold back anymore. She rounded on Mason. “Why did you come here? Messing up our wedding wasn’t good enough for you? You had to come mess up my sister’s wedding too?”

  Mason looked stricken. Good. She wasn’t done with him yet. He staggered back. “I couldn’t find you,” he said. “But after a long time searching, I found your family. When I heard about your sister’s wedding, I hoped you’d be here.”

  “Didn’t you stop to think that my sister’s wedding wouldn’t be the appropriate time to bring all this up?” She clenched her hands, wanting so bad to sock him.

  He glanced between her and Camden. Camden put his arm protectively around her. “Sorry,” Mason mumbled.

  “I’ve moved on, as you can see. If there’s a problem with the paperwork, I’ll fix it. There’s no getting back together. Ever.” She gave him the evil eye to punctuate her point.

  “Please. Can’t we go somewhere and talk?” He gave her that look. The one that made her run off to California with him in the first place. Stupid look. She cursed that look.

  She grabbed onto Camden’s waist. “Not without my boyfriend.”

  Mason nodded. “Fair enough.”

  Camden shot her a glance but didn’t say anything.

  “Let’s get a table at the Emporium restaurant. You can say what you came to say, and then you can leave,” Kenzie said.