The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(36)

They stood in the kitchen, Gwen watching Beatrice pull the vodka out of the freezer and pour a healthy dose into a glass. She offered Gwen some, but Gwen declined, remembering the trouble that got her into the last time.

"Suit yourself," B said, throwing her head back and downing half of what she'd poured. "So, is this about Aiden, or have you finally decided to accept my offer and come live with me?"

"I'm not moving," Gwen replied. She'd forgotten that B still believed she was in trouble. Well, Gwen thought, I am still in trouble. Just a different kind. She quickly gave B an abbreviated version of the ring story.

"Man, really? That is just incredible! Next time Astor throws a party I'll see if I can get a look," B said.

That just elicited an internal groan on Gwen's part. Why did everything have to be so complicated? "I don't think they'll let you. They're probably super tight with security on it, now. I bet they'd even pretend the thing doesn't exist."

That seemed to satisfy Beatrice, who muttered something about tight-fisted rich people before turning her charm back on Gwen. "So it's about Aiden then, I take it."


"Yeah, things are just... different than I expected," Gwen started.

"You mean in bed? Yeah, rich guys like weird stuff," she said, her tone full of sage wisdom.

A number of images flashed through Gwen's head that she hoped never to experience again.

Gwen opened her mouth, then closed it, not really sure what to say to that. It might have been something like, Is that why you like them so much? but that wasn't somewhere she wanted to go. Not without having any alcohol in her, anyway.

"No, nothing like that. We haven't done anything like that anyway," Gwen said.

"You mean not yet. You haven't done any of that stuff yet."

"You're right, not yet I mean. It's just... I had this dream about him last night. One of those dreams, if you know what I mean."

This just earned her a snort and a rolling of the eyes. "Come on, Gwen, this isn't middle school anymore. It's okay to say 'sex' now. Just say it; you had a sex dream about the guy you're dating last night."

Gwen felt her cheeks burning. Then she realized that B was right. There wasn't anything to be embarrassed about. Or, at least, there wouldn't be if she and Aiden were actually dating. But she couldn't exactly say that to Beatrice. It wasn't like she was a prude or anything. She'd had boyfriends before. She'd had fantasies before (though none quite that vivid). But she'd never pretended to be someone's girlfriend for money. Someone who apparently didn't at all feel the same way about her as she did about him.

And Gwen also wasn't about to let on that Beatrice might be right about the whole men and women debate.

"I know, it's still just weird though, you know?"

"Uh, no, not really? So you had a sex dream about him, big deal? Tell me, was it a good one? Inquiring minds want to know."

Gwen threw up her hands, "Yeah, it was great. I can remember everything right until I woke up."

"Oh, that's always a good sign. Maybe you'll have another one tonight. Maybe you'll have one for every night of the week," B said, draining her glass. The woman could drink, all right.

"You think so?" Gwen said, hugging herself and squinting down at the floor. What if she did have more? From the way her body tingled in anticipation, she knew it would be nice on a physical level. But did she really want them?

"So wait, did you really just say you guys seriously haven't done anything yet?"

"We've been together less than a week..."

"...And?" B said.

Gwen couldn't take that look from Beatrice any longer. That look of, "This is the 21st Century; you don't have to wait until you're married anymore." And Gwen knew that. She'd had boyfriends before this, and Beatrice had been there for some of them.

She hated that she couldn't just explain this whole bizarre situation to B and get it over with. It would make things simpler, at least on one level. Probably more complicated on others, but she tried to ignore that. Some simplicity in her life would go over nicely, about now.

But she knew she couldn't tell Beatrice the truth. One, because of that non-disclosure agreement, two, because she still wasn't sure of how B would react, and three, Beatrice kept secrets like a sieve held water.

So, rather than stay under that glare from her friend, Gwen turned and faced the sink. It needed a good scrubbing, what with the cloudy calcium buildup all over the stainless steel. My whole life needs a good scrubbing, Gwen thought.

Setting her glass down, Beatrice came over and put her hand on Gwen's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were so touchy. I didn't mean anything by it..."

Glad for the contact, Gwen nodded, "It's no problem. Trust me; it's definitely me and not you with the hang-ups here."

"What hang-ups?"

Just because Gwen couldn't tell Beatrice the truth about the nature of the relationship that didn't mean she also had to hide the way she felt about it, did it? No, it couldn't, she thought.

"It's just that... I think I really like him," Gwen said.

Beatrice started to say something. Probably something smart, judging by the way she cocked her eyebrow. Then her filter kicked in and she thought better of it. Finally, she said, "You like the guy you're dating? I'm sorry, Gwen, but I can't really say I'm shocked to hear it."