The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(31)

And then Aiden continued, "Well, David—can I call you David?—Gwen and I were actually just about to go out on a lunch date. Would you care to join us?"

"Oh, yes, dad, that would be great! There's a nice Starbucks just down the street with good paninis and wraps."

"Actually, I should probably start on my way back home before the rush traffic begins," David said.

"That's a shame. Let me know next time you're in the area, and we'll be sure to set something up," Aiden said, leaning back against the wall so that he wasn't blocking David's exit.

"What was this about guidelines?" David said.

Oh! Gwen thought. In that rush she experienced from Aiden's story, she'd forgotten about her father overhearing that bit. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten. She smiled, gearing up for another story, another lie.

But again, Aiden saved the day. He offered David his hand again. "Really, David, it's been great meeting you. I can't begin to say what a pleasure it's..."

The color drained from David's face, his forehead wrinkling at the thought of another one of those extended handshakes.

"No, really, the pleasure's all mine," David said. He gave Aiden's hand three quick pumps and snatched his own hand back before anything untoward might happen. Then he rushed towards the door, pulling Gwen into a brief hug which included a peck on the cheek.

"Can't wait to come again, Gwenny. You and Aiden have fun," David said, pulling the door open, one foot already in the hall. When he realized what he said, he leaned back in and added, "But... not too much fun, okay? Love you. Glad everything's worked out."

Gwen's heart could have just melted. She loved her father, and all his quirks. "Okay, dad. Love you, too... Bye."

Aiden came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist and clasping above her navel. He, too, said, "Bye."

The door closed. Gwen listened to her father's footsteps recede down the hall. Her smile didn't falter until she felt sure he was out of earshot. She shrugged out of Aiden's arms.

"What was that?" she said, rounding on him. She was grateful that he'd gotten her out of the situation, but it was his fault she was in it in the first place.

"Oscar-worthy, I think... Can we discuss..." Aiden said.

"And what was with the prolonged handshake thing?"

"That? Oh, old business trick. It establishes dominance, for one. It also can make the party on the receiving end quite uncomfortable, which in turn makes them more willing to believe what you have to say..."

"And they teach you that sort of thing at Harvard?" Gwen said, not sure what to make of Aiden using what could be construed as an unscrupulous business negotiation tactic on her poor, innocent father.

Aiden shook his head, "No, actually. Henry made sure I knew that from a young age."

"Like father, like son, I take it?" Gwen said, crossing her arms and leaning back against the door.

It was a low blow. Aiden actually flinched, and Gwen realized that she went too far. "Aiden..." she said, meaning to apologize.

He held up one finger to silence her. "Forget about it. Have you had a chance to review that contract you apparently signed without bothering to read first?"

The tone in his voice stung, but Gwen took it. She deserved that one, at least.

"Yes, actually... What was with the back hug?" she said, her mind still fixed on that story they'd just finished telling her father.

"Well, we're supposed be in a relationship, aren't we? He needed to see that. And what was with that Titanic bit?"

"The devil's in the details, isn't it? Doesn't it take detail to make a convincing lie?"

Aiden just shrugged.

"What? Now that seems like something they'd teach you at Harvard."

Aiden smiled and shook his head. It wasn't a very big smile, but it still showed more teeth than usual for him. Suddenly, it reminded Gwen of the wolfish grin on his face in her dream. And that just made her think about the rest of that dream. She swallowed at the sudden dryness in her throat.

"You really don't know what they teach at Harvard. Someone ought to write a book..."

"Hey, can we get our heads back in the game, here?" Gwen said, trying to take her mind off the image of a certain bed in a particular fantasy condo, "Let's go get some food and talk about it. I'll go grab my copy of the contract."

She tried to walk by him, but he put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? It seems like something's gotten into you..."

She brushed his hand off, "Nothing! Nothing's gotten into me, okay? There's nobody around to see, so you don't need to touch me."

"I didn't mean anything by it... And yes, some food sounds great. It's amazing how making something up like that gives you an appetite. Oh, and Gwen?"

Almost at the door to her room, Gwen looked over her shoulder at him.

"You look cute in those glasses... Gwenny."

Glasses! Gwen thought, reaching up to touch the frames. She'd totally forgotten she had them on. Her cheeks heated, and she rushed into her room before Aiden could see.

"Never call me that again!" she said, horrified.

"Which? Gwenny, or cute?" Aiden replied.

Though, as she rushed to grab the papers from her desk while pulling her glasses off, she wasn't quite sure whether she'd blushed in embarrassment with being caught wearing them, or from him thinking they made her look cute.