An Escort for Christmas: A Billionaire Novella (7 page)

Chapter Fifteen

It was the Saturday before Christmas, and the day of Jameson’s friend Mark’s wedding. The whole family had been invited, and I was grateful when Lily came upstairs to help me get ready. She tore through my suitcase and frowned at the plethora of short dresses. When she looked up at me, my gut burned with shame.

“While these are all really nice, Harper,” she said carefully, “I think it would be better if you borrowed one of my dresses. I have just the perfect one.”

“Will it fit me?” I asked, my eyes roving over her shorter figure. I was a good three inches taller than her by my estimation.

“Definitely.” She grinned. “It’s too long for me anyway, and I’ve been meaning to get it hemmed but I haven’t got around to it yet.”

“Okay,” I conceded. “Thank you.”

She ushered me through the house and into another bedroom that was almost as large as Jameson’s. It had a huge walk in closet, and when she led me inside, it looked like an entire store lived there.

“Holy crap,” I gasped.

She giggled and shrugged. “I know. I have a little bit of a shopping addiction. What can I say?”

She dug through the racks and then pulled a beautiful silver dress off the hanger and wiggled it in my direction.

“Wow, Lily,” I murmured. “This is gorgeous.”

“I know. I think it will look amazing on you. Go ahead and try it on.”

She laughed at the blush on my cheeks as I tried to wiggle out of my skin-tight dress. “For someone who dresses so sexy, you sure don’t act the part.”

The words slipped from her mouth before she realized how they sounded, and mortification washed over me again. I hated that Jameson’s family thought I was trying to get attention, and I was nothing but a gold digger. But I couldn’t really blame them. That was what Jameson had intended after all.

“I’m sorry, Harper,” Lily said weakly. “That came out completely wrong. You have a beautiful figure, I just meant it doesn’t seem like you really know it.”

“It’s okay.”

I turned around and discarded my clothes and pulled the dress over my head while Lily went about finding some shoes to match.

When I turned around and glanced in the mirror, I actually liked my reflection for the first time since I’d stepped foot in the King house. This dress was exactly my style, and I was so much more comfortable in the calf length material.

“You look stunning,” Lily squeaked. “I knew you would. Wait until Jameson sees you.”

Crap.
Jameson.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I worried he wasn’t going to like this. He wanted me to dress sexy.  This was more… charming and sophisticated.

Lily misread my expression and patted me on the arm. “Don’t worry, he’s going to love it.”

***

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. At every turn, there were tea candles and twinkling lights. The decorations were all silver and white, in keeping with a winter theme.

Jameson led me through the fray, finding our seats beside his family. He’d been oddly attentive to me ever since I met him downstairs at the house. When his eyes landed on my dress, they flared with unexpected heat. And then he surprised me by taking my hand in his and kissing it softly as he told me I looked beautiful.

It was a tender gesture, and one I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with. If he’d done it in front of everyone else, I might have questioned whether it was for show or not. But we were completely alone.

Even now, as we took our seats, he threaded his fingers through mine and gave a gentle squeeze. It was soft and sweet and I couldn’t stop looking at him. He seemed to be having the same problem.

The ceremony began and the bride and groom both wore happy, relaxed expressions throughout. Lily blubbered next to me and then complained about her boyfriend Clark not proposing yet.

As the happy couple left the room, we all made our way to the ballroom housed in the same hotel. The reception was due to begin immediately, and I was more than ready for a drink.

I spotted Katherine and her family across the room, and my grip on Jameson tightened. He didn’t even seem to notice and simply continued on with his mission to find us some drinks.

After dinner was served, Jameson leaned over and traced my palm with his finger while he whispered in my ear.

“Having fun?”

I shivered as his breath warmed my skin, and a jolt of desire burned straight through me.

“I am,” I whispered, my voice betraying me.

Jameson’s eyes flared, and he clasped my hand in his as he stood. “Come dance with me.”

I followed him onto the dance floor, melting against him as he pulled me into his chest. He smelled so good I couldn’t stop myself from inhaling his cologne. There was a very small part of me that wished he would use our code word just so I could touch him.

“I said it before,” he murmured as his eyes met mine. “But you really do look beautiful tonight, Harper. I know we have an agreement for you to dress… a little differently. But I like the way you look tonight so much better.”

Oh, to hell with the code word. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I reached up and grasped his face in my hands, pulling his lips to mine. Our bodies collided, and for a moment, everything else ceased to exist as he devoured me with his mouth. His hands tugged me against him, so close his arousal burned against my belly.

I was panting and flushed, breathless and completely at his mercy when he pulled away with a confused expression on his face. He looked like he wasn’t certain what he was doing. Like he wanted more but knew he shouldn’t. And then he did the worst thing he could possibly do.

He put distance between us and left me standing there, feeling completely exposed and vulnerable.

“I need to get a drink,” he muttered.

He needed an out. Why, I couldn’t say. Because he was still in love with Katherine? Maybe. Or was it because he thought I was really an escort. My heart fractured a little as I nodded and watched him walk away.

I walked back to the table and found Lily, who was drowning her own sorrows in a gin and tonic. Her boyfriend wasn’t able to make the wedding and wouldn’t be flying in for another two days. She told me weddings always reminded her of how badly she wanted her own.

I smiled and offered to drink our sorrows away together.

After about an hour and four drinks later, I felt a little better. Jameson still hadn’t made an appearance, and I’d done a rather good job of not thinking about him. But as my eyes wandered over the room, I couldn’t help but feel a stab of pain when I saw him. He was standing beside Katherine, and she was blatantly flirting with him. Her hand was on his tie, smoothing her fingers up and down as she looked up at him with big doe eyes.

I sucked in a harsh breath and tore my gaze away, which caught Lily’s attention. When she glanced across the room and saw what had upset me, she cursed.

“I’m going to kill him, Harper,” she said indignantly. “Why is he letting her touch him? That stupid conniving…”

“It’s okay.” I attempted to play the unaffected card. “They’re just old friends, right?”

Lily knew I didn’t really mean it because my voice was wobbly and my eyes were glassy. And I was humiliated. I was falling for the man who brought me here to make his ex jealous. Talk about pathetic.

“Do you want to get out of here?” she asked.

“God yes,” I blurted.

“C’mon.” She stood up and grabbed my hand. “We’ll take a cab. Leave that dickhead to wonder where you’ve run off to.”

***

Jameson came in two hours later, and I pretended to be asleep.

He turned on the light and sat at the end of the bed.

“Harper?”

I didn’t respond. But he continued anyway.

“I’m sorry about the reception, for leaving you alone like that. Lily told me you saw me talking to Katherine, and I just want you to know it wasn’t what it looked like…”

I rolled over and flaunted a bored expression. How many times had women all over the world heard that line before?

I wasn’t going to be another one. And if Jameson wanted to treat me like an escort that’s what he was going to get. I’d had two hours to numb myself and think this over. To realize that I couldn’t let myself get invested in something that was one-sided. This was just business.

“It doesn’t matter,” I told him in an emotionless tone. “I don’t care what you do or don’t do with Katherine. The only reason I’m here is because you’re paying me to be. Remember?”

He flinched away from my words and looked at me like a wounded puppy dog. I turned my attention to my hands and picked at my nail absently so I didn’t have to see it.

“Is that all?” I asked. “I’m tired.”

“I guess that’s all,” he agreed. “Goodnight, Harper.”

Chapter Sixteen

I spent the entire next day in the kitchen helping Julia prepare for dinner.

It was another big King event, she explained, and the entire family would be there tonight. She put me in charge of desserts, and I went a little crazy baking while she prepared the roast and side dishes. I relished the opportunity to avoid Jameson and the tension that seemed to grow between us with every passing day.

Lily was beside me, mixing up various batches of liquor concoctions.

“Tonight’s going to be fun.” She wiggled her nose. “Just you wait and see.”

“Do I even want to know what’s in that?” I asked in a teasing voice.

In response, Lily poured a glass of the cloudy concoction and handed it off to me. “Trust me,” she said. “You’re going to love it.”

I took a sniff and caught a hint of apples and cinnamon. It definitely smelled like Christmas. I brought the cup to my lips and took a sip, expecting a powerful hit but receiving only a sweet concoction that seemed innocent enough.

“What is that?” I asked.

“It’s Apple Pie,” she smirked. “Another King tradition. We’re going to use it tonight.”

Something about her words told me I was going to be in for another surprise. I just shrugged and tossed back my glass, hoping it wasn’t more of Katherine.

***

By six o’clock I was freshly showered and ready.

After prying the guest list out of Lily, I learned that Katherine was in fact going to be there tonight. It wasn’t the greatest news I’d received, so I decided to up the ante on this one.

I slipped into my sexiest black dress with a low cut back and sky high red stilettos. My eyes were smoky and my hair teased to perfection. I embodied the role that Jameson wanted. It gave me a small thrill and an aching heart at the same time.

When he walked in to the room to collect me, his eyes trailed over my body in surprise. And then he frowned.

I swallowed, wondering what that was all about.

“Am I not to your liking?” I asked coolly.

His eyes snapped up to mine, and he took a step closer as though he couldn’t help himself.

“You look beautiful, Harper. It’s just…” He paused. “There’s going to be a lot of guests here tonight, and I don’t want any of the guys getting ideas about you.”

“Like what?” I retorted. “That I’m an escort?”

He looked at the ground and then back to me. “It has nothing to do with that.”

His voice was deep and held a hint of possession that surprised me. And before I could stop myself, I took a step closer.

“So what do you need from me tonight?”

“What do you mean?” his eyes roamed over my face.

“Katherine’s going to be here.” It came out much bitchier than I intended, and Jameson took notice. “So I’m just wondering if you want me to keep my distance or throw myself at you. It’s been a little bit of a guessing game which one you want whenever she’s around.”

“Jesus,” Jameson groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Is it that obvious?”

His words were like a vice around my throat. “That you’re still in love with her, you mean?”

His eyes widened, and he actually laughed. “God, no. Is that what you think?”

I shrugged. What the hell was I supposed to think?

“You’re partly correct in assuming she’s the reason you’re here,” Jameson explained. “But it sure as hell isn’t because I’m in love with her. I just…”

He paused, and for a moment came across as vulnerable. I wanted to stroke his cheek and tell him it was okay. That he could trust me, and he could tell me anything. But that was far too intimate.

“It sounds childish when I say it out loud,” he said. “But I didn’t want her to think I’m still in New York pining away from her. So I figured, what better way to accomplish that then by bringing a beautiful woman back home with me.”

“She hurt you,” I whispered.

Jameson rubbed his neck and looked away. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“I understand,” I said. “But just so you know, you can trust me, Jameson. I’d never betray your confidence.”

My words seemed to dissolve some of his armor as his anguished eyes found mine. I could only imagine how difficult it was for him to trust anyone when he found out the woman he was supposed to marry slept with his own brother. Nevertheless, I still wanted him to know I wasn’t like her. I would never be like her.

“Are you ready to go downstairs?” I threaded my fingers through his. “It sounds like everyone’s arriving.”

For a moment, Jameson just stared at me, his eyes searching my face. His lips were so close I could feel his breath on my skin, and I so badly wanted to know what he was thinking. When he leaned in and brushed his lips across my cheek, I nearly melted into a puddle on the floor.

“Thank you for coming here with me, Harper,” he murmured against me. “You’ve made it bearable to be here again.”

***

Dinner was quite the affair.

Julia had really outdone herself, and the guests were more than thrilled to indulge in the delicious food and beverages while they chatted happily amongst themselves.

I could feel Katherine’s eyes on Jameson and I throughout, and the few times I’d glanced up I caught her staring. She didn’t even seem embarrassed. In fact, judging by the scowl on her face I sensed there was going to be more trouble on the horizon.

But to my surprise and relief, Jameson hadn’t taken any notice of her. He ate his dinner and talked to the man at his side about business in New York, occasionally checking in to give me a smile. Halfway through, his hand found mine under the table and squeezed, and he didn’t let go. It was nice to feel that warmth. That comfort he provided.

I wondered if he felt the same spark of electricity when we touched, or if it was only me.

“Alright everybody.” Lily clapped in excitement when the dishes had been cleared. “It’s that time!”

The table erupted in excited cheers and shouting as everybody stood up and shuffled into the other room. I gave Jameson a questioning glance and clung to his hand as he ushered me in after them. Lily walked over to the entertainment center where a man held out a mic for her. She tapped it twice before bringing it to her mouth.

“Okay, you know the drill people,” she said. “Robert here is going to call out the word for each song, and then you’re going to stop and run to the bar.”

She pointed at the long table across the room. It had been set up with what looked like a thousand shots already poured across it.

“What’s going on?” I asked Jameson.

He smiled and shook his head, but didn’t get time to explain before the music turned on. It was
Fireball
by Pitbull. And the next thing I knew, Lily was running across the room to grab my hand.

“C’mon.” She grinned. “You’re going to love it.”

I shot Jameson a helpless look, and he just shrugged as his sister hauled me onto the middle of the floor. Then Robert gave instructions over the mic.

“Alright, ladies and gents. The magic word for this song is… you guessed it... fireball! Every time you hear it, you take a shot. When you’re not taking shots, you better be dancing your ass off. And go!”

I barely had time to grasp the concept before Lily started busting out her best moves in front of me. A nervous glance over my shoulder confirmed Jameson was watching me from the chair where he’d taken up residence.

“C’mon,” Lily urged. “You have to dance or you’ll get kicked off the floor. It’s part of the game.”

I started to move, even though I had no clue what I was doing. I mirrored Lily for a moment, and then we were running for a shot. The process continued for the entire three minutes, and it felt like we’d taken about ten shots. Now I understood why the alcohol was so weak.

When the next song came on, I started to loosen up and have fun. I glanced over my shoulder to give Jameson a playful wink, only to find Katherine standing at his side. She was trying to talk to him, but his eyes were trained on me… and there was no denying the hunger I saw there.

“Mind if I cut in?” a smooth voice asked from beside me.

I glanced around to see one of Jameson’s friends from the wedding. His name was Carl if I remembered correctly.

I nodded politely, and he started dancing in front of me. Thank God for the fast music because I didn’t want him using this as an opportunity to get grabby. Or at least that’s what I thought.

Carl’s hands found my hips anyway, and he started to weasel his way closer. A wave of nerves came over me because I didn’t know what I was supposed to do in this situation. Would Jameson want me to just go with it, or not?

I didn’t have time to think about it, because the next moment, a possessive hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me against a hard body behind me. I didn’t have to look to know it was Jameson. His hand came up and rested on the base of my neck as he started to move against me.

“Carl.”

The word was filled with venom and Carl backed away immediately. I was grateful.

I still couldn’t see Jameson’s face. But I could feel his hard body against mine, and then his lips on my ear.

“Vixen.”

Like a light switch had been flipped, I spun in his arms and snaked my hands around his neck, staring up into his molten dark eyes. Good Lord, the man was sexy as hell.

I smashed my breasts against his chest and rubbed my belly against his obvious arousal, a jolt of electricity zipping down my spine. His eyes were hooded and filled with lust as I curled my fingers in his hair and brought his lips down onto mine.

He kissed me hard and deep, like he couldn’t get enough of me. His hands found my ass and squeezed, and for a moment, I almost forgot we were in the middle of a crowded room. Until people started whistling and making crude jokes around us.

Jameson pulled away, leaving me breathless and wanting as I pleaded with my eyes for him not to stop. I needed him. I wanted him to be the one.

“Let’s go upstairs,” I whispered.

He released a breath like my words were exactly what he needed to hear. And then he pulled me along behind him.