The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(35)

Before she could ask the next question, she swallowed, then wet her lips. "Do... Do you ever feel that way about me?"

Aiden's eyes glassed over while he considered the question. "No. Really, Gwen, you're just not my type. Why? Do you feel that way with me?"

"What? No, of course not! Not even a little," Gwen said. She couldn't look at him anymore, so instead she focused on the potted plants on the sill of one of the apartments in the building across from her. Tiny, delicate looking white flowers shifted in the pot as the breeze brushed them.

She knew that she shouldn't have asked that; she already had the answer. It must be all that touching and pretending, she thought. It made me think there was something where there was nothing.

Despite knowing that she shouldn't feel this way, bitter disappointment filled her. It really is just a business deal to him, she thought.

Still, there was one more thing, one last action she could take to try and see if he meant what he said. Gathering herself up, she turned her attention to him.

"Something else you wanted to know?" he said, misinterpreting her expression.

She shook her head, then said, "Kiss me."

"There's no one around, Gwen," he said.

"Just kiss me. There's something I need to know."

Seeing that she meant it, Aiden nodded. She expected some sort of resistance. She expected to have to lean into him.

She didn't expect for him to lightly slip his fingers around the back of her neck, leaving one hand on her thigh, while he pulled her close. Her lips parted slightly as his face filled her vision. Then she saw nothing but sparks and colors as she closed her eyes at the moment of contact.

It was just like in the car. Like an electric current passed from his mouth into hers, giving her prickles up and down her torso. His lips were soft on hers, and he tasted a little sweet from the latte.

His hand moved up from her thigh, coming to rest against her waist. He pulled her closer.

He was just as good a kisser as she remembered. Though her thoughts at the moment became rather fuzzy, due to obvious circumstances.

Again, her lips began parting as she really fell into the kiss, her body wanting more. And this time, there was no Henry Manning sitting across from them to cough politely and stop the whole thing.

No one can kiss like this and not feel something, she thought. She brought her hand up to his cheek, felt the prickle of his stubble against her palm.

Then Aiden pulled away. Slowly, Gwen leaned back and opened her eyes. Her blood felt thin and hot, pumping through her veins impossibly fast. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap so that he couldn't see them tremble. When she licked her lips, she could taste his sweetness again.

"Oh..." she said, "You stopped."

"Yes, I thought that maybe you were upset about it lasting so long. It says in the contract..."

"I know what the contract says!" Gwen replied. She knew because it was one of her requirements. Chaste kisses only. And technically that kiss did violate the rules, because at that moment she felt anything but chaste.

The question was, what did Aiden feel?

"Did you find what you needed to know?" he asked.

"Maybe... Did you feel anything?" Besides me, she added silently, remembering his hands on her neck and waist.

"You're a nice kisser," he said.

She smiled. That was a start. A real compliment, even. "Anything else?"

"No. Should I have?"

Gwen's shoulders slumped. "No. I just wanted to make sure the first time wasn't a fluke or anything."

"Good thinking."

Gwen glanced back at the TV, her mind going back to that night with Beatrice. B, believing that men and women couldn't ever be just friends, told her that Gwen had probably left strings of guys in her past who’d felt something for her, but never got any of that feeling back in return because Gwen thought they were just friends. A trail of broken hearts.

Was this, then, some sort of cosmic justice or comeuppance? Was B right, and now Gwen was finally getting a taste of what she gave (or didn't, as was the case) to others?

She watched Aiden pick up the contract and scan down the page. Maybe B was right.

She didn't want to think about this anymore. Her thoughts had been busy with Aiden all day, and she needed a break.

"I think that's enough for now. I really need to get to work on a paper."

"I'll show myself out," Aiden said, bracing against the armrest for the push off the couch. Her thigh felt cold without his touching it.

She leaned back against the cushion and listened to him walk through the apartment. When the door closed behind him, she remembered his jacket on the rack. Gwen got up and went to the door.

He'd forgotten, or left, the jacket behind. Gwen rubbed the cuff between thumb and index finger, feeling the fine threads that made it up. If she smelled it, it would still have his scent, she knew.

Instead, she pressed her forehead against the door and stared down at her toes. She really did have an essay to work on, but she just couldn't. Not with all this confusion swirling around inside her. She needed to work through this if she wanted any chance of making it through this utterly bizarre situation she'd stumbled into.





Chapter 14


Not knowing what else to do, desperately needing someone to talk to, she got in touch with Beatrice. B showed up later that evening, just before 7.