Fake Fiancé, Real Love: Fake Fiance Accidental Marriage Box Set

by Dez Burke

  But the damage had been done. They were parting with him thinking the worst of her and maybe that was for the best. This would keep her from being tempted to call him up again, hoping to book a few hours more of his time. No way he’d ever be interested in getting involved with her again on any level.

  Wow. Dumped by her paid gigolo. Now if that wasn’t just the bottom of low. Tia shook her head and almost wanted to burst out laughing. She must have been out of her mind, harboring secret wishes that somehow, she could ever be with Jordan for real.

  Deep down, she’d had that hope; somewhere at the back of her mind she’d imagined he must have felt it too. The way they’d connected like only few people could hope to do. There had been those things he’d said, that last time...when he’d told her he’d never met a woman like her. That she made him want to drop everything each time she wanted him. Well, so much for that, Tia thought.

  And so much for him saying it was no longer about what she needed – but also what he needed too. He’d told her he needed her. And now this.

  Damn, she must have read it all wrong. Maybe that was just the sex talking, Tia told herself as she tried to get back to work. Well, to hell with that. She’d take someone else to the charity dinner and have the time of her life.

  And, vowed Tia, she’d go out there as soon as possible and find herself a real man to be there for her without her pay check having to get involved. She deserved better than this.

  TIA ARRIVED AT THE venue of the event accompanied by her very handsome and charming companion – Bryant. He was more than a boost to Tia’s ego with his good looks and polished personality. She was glad that she’d let him chat her up that night she’d gone to the bar with Josie. Both girls had ended up hooking up with two well-mannered hunks who’d been happy to drop the girls home with just a few chaste kisses.

  Tia had liked Bryant on sight. She had never really gone for the overly tall types but something about Bryant’s endearing grin had drawn her from the start when he’d offered to buy both girls a beer. She soon found out he was single, working in IT, and ready to mingle. With Tia, apparently.

  Now here they were, walking into the prestigious hall that was brightly lit in a sweep of colors that added an Oscars-night feel to the event. There were beautifully set tables spread all around the hall, with spaces cleared for dancing. Pillars and drapes dotted the corners, and as the venue filled with more elegantly dressed guests the night took on a glamorous spin.

  Tia was glad she’d taken a lot of effort with her appearance; she’d chosen a nude-colored gown that fell in Grecian folds to the floor, the bodice cut in a modest mono-strap design. She’d opted to forgo exposing any cleavage and instead, left one shoulder bare to reveal her skin. Her hair was pinned up while some thick, wavy locks had been left to frame her jaw.

  Her make-up was a little more dramatic, her eyes smoky and lashed thickly while her lips held a deep pink shade. Judging from the admiring glances she kept getting from her companion and other guests, she felt she’d hit the right note for the evening.

  On their arrival there was a drinks reception to be followed by a three-course dinner with wine. The organizers had planned for an after-dinner speech, awards presentation as well as a live auction to be followed by entertainment to close the evening.

  Judging from the buzz the event had received as well as the celebratory atmosphere surrounding them, Tia told herself it was going to be a fun night. If only she could stop wishing she had Jordan by her side instead. She knew how well they fit together. He was just the right height, above six feet without towering over like Bryant did, making her feel like a dwarf next to him. He was a nice guy, seeing to her every concern and looking as handsome in his tux as any other man in the room.

  But still. He was no Jordan.

  And just as if she’d conjured him up with her thoughts, there he was.

  Tia could hardly believe what she was seeing. Jordan walked into the hall with a beauty that looked like she’d stepped straight off the runway at New York fashion week. She stood almost as tall as Jordan and Tia couldn’t help staring at her in her silky red dress that seemed sewn on her; every inch fit so snugly to her perfectly slim frame that it was a wonder how the woman could move. She had a face so beautiful you could spend a whole day looking for one single flaw and never find one. Cheekbones seemed almost diamond-shaped, with a small, blunt nose, wide eyes and lips shaped like a bowtie, and painted as red as a dress. She was fucking gorgeous.

  Tia couldn’t get over the shock that Jordan was here – and with some cover model on his arm. There was no doubt she was a model; it was in the way she moved and gestured as she laughed at something Jordan leaned in to say in her ear. Tia had to blink several times to tell herself she wasn’t seeing things.

  This time she was staring at Jordan and it was like she’d never seen him before. In his black tux, tie and dress shoes, he’d never looked hotter. In Tia’s eyes he outplayed every man in the room with his whipping good looks. His dark hair seemed freshly cut, framing his head perfectly while his clothes looked every inch as expensive and well-made as they had to be.

  Tia looked at his face with an unwavering stare and it was almost like she was willing him to meet her gaze. She kept telling herself it had to be some clone or maybe Jordan had a twin she knew nothing about. Anything to explain how he could be here, with someone else; and looking like he owned the room.

  He must have felt her burning regard because he chose that moment to glance her way. Just like that, his dark and dangerous handsomeness smacked her in the chest, making her pulse pound and her pussy twitch just holding the line of his piercing grey gaze. In that moment, the hot hours of passion they’d shared sped through her mind like a flashing reel of film, leaving her breathless and weak-kneed.

  He smiled thinly, inclining his head slightly in recognition even as Tia gasped in utter shock and outrage.

  It was him.

  Before anything more could pass between them, his attention was seized by a group of organizers who showed him to a vantage table close to the stage. Jordan didn’t spare Tia another look as he placed his hand low on the back of the woman by his side, guiding her along as he returned the greetings of the other prominent guests as he walked by.

  I don’t believe this, Tia thought stormily as Bryant found them their table and they were seated by one of the many waiters. Tia’s eyes kept flying to Jordan’s end of the hall as she wondered how on earth this could be happening.

  Why was he here? She couldn’t figure out how come he was attending as an escort to his model-type companion. Was that why he’d stood her up? He’d had a hotter client to take to the ball?

  When she’d first asked him, he’d assured her he could make it only to change his mind when she’d called to confirm. He should have told her he was a guest as well, or was attending with a guest. Whatever. She didn’t care. He was little more than a stranger to her and it didn’t matter if he was the governor – which he probably was if the attention people were paying him was anything to go by.

  The evening took on a surreal quality all of a sudden and it was all Tia could do not to betray her inner turmoil to her attentive and amiable companion. The live jazzy music playing in the background seemed to buzz in her ears as she gulped down glass after glass to calm down her nerves.

  Her PR firm had spent several hundred dollars for the tickets to the event and it was being organized by one of her favorite charities – in aid of medical research – all these reasons keeping her from jumping up and leaving the room to sort through her confusing emotions.

  She barely tasted any morsel of the well prepared three-course meal. As more and more minutes passed and her eyes were drawn to Jordan’s lively table, she began to wonder just who he could be.

  Was he some kind of dignitary she hadn’t heard about? How could he be getting so much attention? Of course she always suspected that his male escort pursuits were just one part of his lifestyle. But seeing him sitting there, fitting so
perfectly with the dignified and opulent environment, made her realize that there was far more to Jordan than met the eye.

  Even worse was watching him with that model next to him, their heads bumping intimately as they shared one conversational tidbit or the other. Her teeth gritted around her soup spoon as she watched Jordan flick his companion’s long dark hair off her slender shoulders in a proprietary manner.

  For some reason Tia felt he was making some kind of point with his choice of female partner. Jordan had known Tia would be there and she could only tell herself he was sending her a very clear message.

  But things got even more bizarre as the dinner ended and the host for the evening announced the after-dinner speech was to be delivered by one of the charity’s top patrons as well as key city finance expert, Jordan Hancock.

  Huh? What the hell?

  Tia straightened in her chair, watching in amazement as Jordan rose from his chair to widespread applause, walking up to the podium and shaking the hand of the host before speaking into the microphone.

  When he spoke he was the same collected, cool and charming Jordan she recognized, but he was also different. Tia listened with widening eyes as her gigolo made a short yet arresting speech that had the crowd tuned in right to the end where he closed off with a well-received joke that had everyone laughing good-naturedly as he asked them to enjoy the rest of the evening.

  “Are you okay?” Bryant asked, his large hand on her arm and his deep voice tinged with concern. Tia turned to him, blinking.

  “I’m perfectly fine,” Tia said on a voice sounding too squeaky for her liking. “Why do you ask?”

  “You don’t look too good, sweetheart. We could leave if you’re feeling unwell.”

  Bryant’s well-meaning hand closing over hers would have been calming but Tia had too rough a tempest whirling around inside her. Nothing about the evening made sense but even she knew she’d had one jolt too many. Giving him a grateful smile, she nodded as she only just managed to remember to pick up her shawl and clutch. “Yes – please. I suddenly don’t feel too good.”

  Tia was glad for Bryant’s strong supporting arm as they made their way out of the crowded hall just as the host announced that the live auction was about to start. Tia was more preoccupied about making it out without stumbling as her mind filled with conflicting thoughts she couldn’t shake off.

  Chapter Twenty-Five: Jordan

  For Jordan the evening lost most of its allure when he saw Tia walk out of the room with her handsome, hulking companion. He’d been well aware of her confused gaze as the night had progressed and he’d have given anything to know what she was thinking. He knew she’d never expected to see him there and she’d certainly never imagined what his real identity could be. Well, now she knew but he could tell the shock had really gotten to her.

  He’d wanted to rise and go after her when she made her way out of the hall leaning on the arm of her escort. He knew he’d hurt her in some way and now he felt irritated with himself for how much he cared and wished he didn’t.

  But really what had she expected? The things she’d said on the phone had been uncalled for and it had hit home harder than he’d have imagined. He’d thought she’d enjoyed every moment she’d spent with him but then she’d made it up to be nothing more than a joke. That had hit him out of nowhere – he hadn’t seen that coming at all.

  She’d said it herself that he’d never made being with him feel odd – but then maybe she was just talking about the gigolo part and not him as a person. God forbid that Tia would want to be with the real him, Jordan thought with a grim self-derision.

  He was just some exciting experiment for her and judging by her companion, she was well back into dating. Jordan felt like a fool.

  Forcing himself to stay put, he turned to his beautiful companion who was pouting her sensually curved and full lips at him. “I feel like you’ve had only half your attention on me since we got here,” the beauty said, smiling teasingly. She was the daughter of one of his biggest clients; at twenty three she was a bit young for his tastes but he’d always admired her. He felt guilty now for picking her for the sole aim of making Tia jealous – if such a thing was possible.

  His date was a successful lingerie model and Jordan had promised her father he’d be on his best behavior with his daughter tonight. But as he felt her plant a hand on his thigh beneath the table, he almost started.

  “What does a girl have to do to keep you captivated?” she asked on a purr, her voice low even as her small hand ventured dangerously higher up his thigh.

  “I’m already captivated,” Jordan said, smoothly taking her errant hand and kissing it gallantly on the knuckles. “I promised your dad I’ll have you home safe before eleven and I’m a man of my word so...”

  He grinned endearingly when she looked disappointed, releasing her hand which he placed on the table. But then he soon had her smiling again when the fundraising auction began and his final bid won an all day visit to a luxury spa - which he told her he’d meant just for her.

  By the end of the night he dropped the beauty home, wondering why there was only one woman – Tia - who seemed to suit his needs in every way. Each moment he’d spent with her stayed burned in his mind and now no other female could even hold his attention for a moment. What would it take to win a chance at her heart? Could it be too late to tell her the truth and hope she took him in with open arms?

  He’d felt the magic thrill between them and couldn’t believe it when she’d made it seem like it was all a joke. When he’d been inside her...the way they’d fit. The way she melted even before he’d started to play her with his tongue, his fingers; she responded in ways that made his heart swell along with his loins. She pulled strings within him that no other woman could.

  Jordan had never known how staid and unexciting his life had been until Tia’s voice first came on the phone, interested in booking his services as a male escort. Since meeting her he’d lost many of those hang-ups he’d had both inside and outside the bedroom. Tia made him want to try new things; spice up his life. And there was only one person he could see sharing that with.

  When they’d met, she’d made it clear she wasn’t ready for any conventional romance. Tia wasn’t looking for love. Jordan didn’t care about her barriers or whatever reasons she might think of for them not to be together. Whatever it took to win his place by her side, he’d do it.

  JORDAN HAD PUT HIS relationship with Chloe long behind him. And one point he’d thought they’d make a perfect match due to the link between their two families. Her parents and his had been friends for years, and Chloe had been roommates with his little sister in college. Chloe had seemed to suit him on a basic level; they made a perfect picture together and she’d have made just the right trophy wife for a successful investment manager.

  But they’d never had any true physical chemistry and he’d made her know that sexually, she needed to let go of her inhibitions. Chloe had acted like she’d hated sex and was only going through the motions. Jordan couldn’t imagine ending up with a wife like that.

  Jordan knew he needed a woman who fulfilled his every desire. Not just in the bedroom but in every way. He’d known all the things that were lacking in his relationship with Chloe and even though it was just two months to the wedding, he’d broken it up as gently as he could.

  He’d always felt Chloe’s ego was bruised more than anything. It certainly couldn’t be that her heart had been broken. She was the kind of woman who thought all men wanted to be with her or had her in their fantasies. She’d been shocked when Jordan said it was over but he didn’t think she would moon over his loss for long.

  Now he’d showed up at her place to hear her say it face to face that she didn’t have anything to do with his details coming up on that escort directory. He’d been holding back a confrontation, hoping that Tommy would get to the bottom of things by now but it was taking too long. Tia was fast slipping from his fingers – if she hadn’t already – and he couldn’t
go to her without knowing the real truth himself.

  Chloe didn’t look in the mood to be helpful as she reluctantly let him into her classy penthouse apartment. Jordan looked at her and wondered how he could have ever thought for a minute he could spend the rest of his life with someone like her. She was beautiful, but cold. She had no interest in passion, if she even knew what that meant. She only had love for material things; diamonds, designer clothes and gear, and high-standing society. She found more joy in the latest fashion and gadget trends than in spending quality time with the man in her life. Jordan wished any man who’d end up with her the best of luck.

  “I had nothing to do with this,” she said with a careless shrug of her bony shoulders, turning disinterestedly away to pad barefoot around the living room of her art deco home. But there was something about her tone that told him she might know more than she was letting on.

  “This was a very vindictive act, Chloe and if you know anything about who’s behind it, you might as well tell me. You may say you had nothing to do with it – but sounds to me like you probably know who did.”

  She faced him with an impatient expression, met his hard glare, and sighed fretfully. “I really don’t want to get caught up in any of this. I can’t imagine why you can’t laugh over it and let it go. It’s just a silly joke, Jordan. Nothing more. I thought you’d be happy to get yourself out there – probably find yourself a woman to suit your appallingly animalistic sexual urges.”

  Jordan had to force his temper down and not grab her to shake the truth out of her. Instead, he played it cool. “So you do know about it. Care to tell me who’s responsible?”

  “She said she’d do it – but I never dreamed she’d have the nerve. I mean she was totally on my side when you broke up with me and assured me she knew just how to pay you back for your ill-treatment,” Chloe said airily, regarding her fingernails closely and avoiding Jordan’s eyes.