The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) (4 page)

There was Barry.
 
He was bald and talked a lot.
 
David - he smelled too much like an ashtray.
 
Jefferson couldn't even lift his own fork.
 
I never even told him I was a nurse.
 
Basically I realized years ago that one day I'd have to choose between the ease of having everything I wanted . . . and love.

Rex represented both.
 
Love
and
money.
 

"Where do
you
see yourself in ten years?" I cleverly respond.
 
He nods.

"Married."

I practically choke on a chunk of cucumber.

"Really."
 
My instinct is to look around for a hidden camera.
 
No one freely admitted that on a first date.
 
No one.
 
This was more of a
fifth
date confession.

"Yes."
 
His voice is firm and unwavering.

"You're being sarcastic aren't you?"

"No."
 
He wipes the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
 
"Look, I realize this might seem a tad forward but-"

"You don't have lots of time," I finish.
 
My stomach rolls into a knot.

"Exactly."
 
He grins.
 
"I've recently found myself in a bit of a dilemma."
 
I couldn't imagine what type of dilemma a person like him could possibly be in.
 
He seemed to have it all.
 
Seemed.
 
Who knew what would come out of his mouth next.

"What sort of dilemma?"

"The kind that could cost me billions."
 
His chest rises a little quicker as he nervously eyes the way my fingers fiddle with my fork.
 
The knot in my stomach tightens.

"Shoot," I mutter under my breath.
 
"You're engaged?"
 
I scoot my chair back.

"NO."
 
Rex waves a hand.
 
"No, of course I'm not
engaged
."

"Then what?"

"My mum."

I twist my lips, wildly confused.

"My mum has had enough I'm afraid," he continued.
 
"I've been given a deadline."

"For?"
 
I knew what he was getting at, but I needed him to spell it out.
 
My jaw drops.

"Marriage," he softly replies.
 
"My father's company needs the promise of a prosperous future, and that means a continuing bloodline to pass on the business."

"So you need to get engaged by a certain date or your parents will . . ."

"Well," Rex sighs.
 
"My mum hasn't exactly dissolved my inheritance or anything, but I have no doubt she will start with her horrid tricks when my deadline passes."

"Wow."
 
But what I really meant to say was
and you're asking me to marry into that?

"Yeah," Rex quietly breathes.
 
"Sorry to spring this on you but I find myself having to speed things up and . . . well, I'm very fond of you Kat."
 
I blush, glancing down at my heels.

"Well," I gulp.
 
"I'd be lying if said I didn't feel the same way."
 
I glance at the glowing color of his eyes.
 
They lure me in, telling me I'm safe within the walls of this room.
 
The knot in my stomach squeezes my insides and reminds me of an unknown detail.
 
"Uh . . . sorry but I have to ask.
 
When is your deadline?"
 
Rex bites his lip as if hoping I'd forget him mentioning that part.

"Three weeks."

My brain flies through the days on my mental calendar.
 
A fall wedding.
 
I never thought my chance at actually following through with the pact I made years ago would spring on me this fast.
 
Then again I didn't think I'd ever lie awake at night stressing about the fact that I would be single on my thirtieth birthday either.

"Please say something," Rex clears his throat and studies my expression.

"You're joking."
 
I smile uncomfortably, still waiting for a hidden camera man to jump out from behind the french doors.
 
Rex shakes his head just as I discreetly scratch the side of my arm.
 
A sharp pain shoots up my bicep.
 
I was definitely awake.

"I'm afraid not."
 
He takes a long sip of his wine.
 
This is what I'd been waiting for.
 
What I'd dreamed about night after night.
 
I could hear Holly yelling in my head.
 
Who cares!
 
Kiss him and seal the deal!
 
I take a deep breath and compose myself, sneaking a glance at Rex's tan skin and perfectly wide set shoulders.
 
I could be happy waking up next him every morning.
 
Eating a handmade croissant from a delicate china plate for breakfast, and never having to pop and bandage a blister on the sole of my foot from a week of extra shifts.

"Okay," I respond.
 
Rex's eyes go wide as he puts down his now empty wine glass.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, I said okay.
 
If three weeks pass and you're still
fond
of me, I'll agree to an engagement."
 
Now
I
was the one being forward.

"And you're sure you're okay with this?"

I sigh, standing up and gripping the railing on the terrace.
 
The cool breeze did wonders for my burning cheeks.
 
I wasn't getting any younger and I wasn't getting any richer.
 
My savings account was pretty pathetic, as if that weren't apparent by the size of my apartment.
 
"It's not the traditional way of doing things, that's for sure.
 
But yeah.
 
I'm okay with this."
 
Rex stands up.
 
His spicy cologne wafts through my nose as he walks closer.
 
My heart drums as I imagine the two of us engaged - toasting to each other at a lavish party complete with caviar and golden utensils.

"Honestly," Rex quietly remarks.
 
"I was expecting one of two things."
 
He smiles.
 
"You tearing the piss out of me and storming off or me finding myself tangled in the arms of an obsessive psychopath."

"I take it you've had this talk with others before?"

"Perhaps," he chuckles.
 
"But none with a three week time limit."

"You really think your mom will cut you off for something so silly?"

"Well."
 
He moves his hand close to mine, making my breaths silently quicken.
 
"I have been sort of . . . procrastinating I guess.
 
I've been busy."

"Rex," I swallow.
 
"Just how long have you been
on the hunt
?"
 
His face cringes a little.

"Awhile . . ."
 
His gaze moves to the seaside view.
 
I knew that look better than anyone.
 
Something was on his mind.
 
Something important.
 
There was something else he wasn't telling me.
 
I take a stab at it.

"Your mom thinks you're dating someone, doesn't she?"

Rex looks surprised.

"How did you-"

"Just a guess," I interrupt.

"Kat, my work is very important to me."

"Then explain that to your mom," I suggest.
 
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ears.
 
What was I doing?
 
Trying to talk him out of the one thing I
really
wanted?
 
But I couldn't help it.
 
After Chad I'd become an expert advice giver.
 
Though I was crap at following my own words of wisdom.
 
"She won't just up and cut you off after all the hard work you've done."

"You don't know my mum."

"Right," I mutter.
 
Rex was rich, suave, sexy, and overall perfect.
 
It only made sense that his family was insane.

"Listen, if this is too weird for you-"

"No," I say again.
 
"I mean it is weird, but at least you had the guts to be completely honest up front.
 
You
are
being completely honest, right?"
 
The worried expression leaves his face allowing a soft laugh to escape his lips.
 
"You don't have an ex-wife and baby too, do you?"

"Nope," he says, loosening his shoulders.
 
"Now you know everything about me."
 
His eyes move to bare skin on my neck.
 
"Well
almost
everything."
 
My pulse skyrockets as he leans in close.
 
I'm surrounded by his scent.
 
His arm tightens around my waist and all at once I can feel the blood pumping through my veins.
 
His perfect lips explore the corners of my mouth.
 
I close my eyes as he firmly kisses me.
 
My chest rises and a warm tingle wraps itself around every muscle in my torso.
 
Yes.
 
I
could
be happy with Rex.

A flash of light breaks my trance and Rex pulls away, rushing inside.

"Bloody paps," he forcefully mutters.
 
"Charles!"
 
A man with giant arms and a frightening stare bursts in.
 
I hadn't noticed him before which was probably a good thing since he gave me the creeps.

"Sir."
 
His deep voice is expected.

"I thought our agenda was secure?"
 
There is a tone in Rex's voice that demands the attention of everyone in the room.

"I'll look into it," Charles responds.

"Sorry darling."
 
Rex squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the trance I found myself in while kissing him.
 
Darling.
 
The way he said it made me blush for the thousandth time.
 
"I was hoping for a romantic dinner with little to no interruptions.
 
But the paparazzi is part of the deal."

"And the picture?"

"Yes," he clears his throat.
 
"You might find yourself in the paper tomorrow."
 
He hangs his head, but I pretend that I'm okay with it.

"A souvenir," I reply.
 
Rex grins and his hand gently rubs my side.
 
I was about to dive headfirst into the world I'd only fantasized about.
 
It was real now.

*          *          *

"Tell me
all
about him."
 
I take a sip of tea and watch Holly rub her shiny lips together.
 
Her hair always fell perfectly over her shoulders and she always wore a pair of tight jeans or leggings to emphasis the fact that she was fit.
 
Her lips are a dark pink today.
 
They match the ballet flats she'd paired with a skinny jeans and a pink blouse.