Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 by Laura Burton (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

“Grandmother, are you all right? Do you need something?” David snapped out of his stunned silence. His grandmother came back into normal view and she pressed a tissue to her thin lips.

“I’m moving the date of my party to next week.” Her voice was weak, and her pale skin glistened with sweat.

“Next week? You can’t––”

“It’s my birthday and I can do what I please, David. I am most-anxious to meet you, Emily. I’ll have John send the details across.”

Emily wrapped her arms around David and squeezed as she offered a gracious smile, he stiffened against her touch.

“We’re both looking forward to it, don’t worry,” she said with a beaming smile.

“I best go, this phone is heavy, and the nurses say I’m not supposed to be making calls.”

“Okay, Grandmother, we will see you soon. Rest up.” David shrugged out of Emily’s grasp and raised a control to turn the TV off. The screen transformed back into a mirror. Emily grinned sheepishly at David as he turned to give her a look of bewilderment. Had she just crossed a line? Was she really so desperate to drag a sick grandmother into the situation? She bit her lip and watched David drag his hand across his brow.

“So… we’re married now?”

Chapter Four

Negotiations

David cradled his favorite mug in his hands and stared at the piping hot chocolate while Emily paced the room.

“What did you do?” he said, dazed.

“What I had to,” Emily snapped. She stopped pacing and stood with her hands on her hips. “What else was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, hi there, I’m the woman who is trying to find David a fake wife.’ Yeah, like that would be any better.” Her usually straightened hair was beginning to curl at the ends and fanned out wildly across her shoulders. David couldn’t help but notice how fitted her black dress was; the way it sat snug on her hips sent his imagination running as she ranted.

Stop it. Listen to her.

“… on the screen and she could see me, it’s not like you were even saying anything.”

She had a point. The shock of seeing his grandmother deteriorating so fast threw him back. Her usually tanned complexion had become ashen grey since the last time he saw her. Then she started talking to Emily… David inwardly sighed. She was astute and quick on her feet. When she wrapped her arms around him, the scent of her perfume intoxicated his senses and he became distracted by the heat of her body pressed up against his.

“You do realize what you’ve done, though?” David placed the mug on the glass coffee table in front of him. “You’ve introduced yourself to my family as my wife.” He looked across the room at Emily and studied her expression. Her eyes were guarded, but the twitch in the corners of her mouth gave her away. “You think this is funny?”

Emily exploded into a fit of laughter as she bent over and clutched her stomach.

“Yes.”

The sound of her musical laugh softened David’s heart and he stared at her, grinning at the sight of her cheeks flushing as she hyperventilated. His eyes lingered on her red plump lips and he licked his instinctively. Her hazel eyes twinkled, and David was overcome with the urge to race over to her, grab her, and kiss her. His body wilfully obeyed, and before his brain could tell him not to, he found himself on his feet. He must have given Emily a look of intensity because she stopped laughing abruptly and stood up straight, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Are you okay?” She stepped back hesitantly, her reaction stopping him in his tracks.

“I was going to kiss you.”

You sound like an idiot. Why did you say that?

Emily opened her mouth and closed it again as she played with her brown hair. David couldn’t decide if she was considering the idea or planning her escape. It was the first time he had seen her look unsure. She always acted confident and feisty, the way she swayed her hips and held her shoulders back, further accentuating her curves. The image sent a rush of heat through him and his body tingled. He licked his lips again as he stood immobile.

“So, you want to kiss me?” Her voice was low and silky now, and David clenched his fists, digging his nails into the palms of his hands. He swallowed.

“Yes.” His voice sounded alien, like someone was speaking for him. The tingling faded to a numbing sensation; he could no longer feel his arms, or the pain of his nails pressing into his skin. He supposed they should talk about their current predicament. It was a serious situation. But in that moment, his brain forbade him to think about it. Emily was there, looking dangerously tempting and biting her lip, indicating she might share the same thoughts.

Before David could think about anything else, Emily moved forward in a flash and by the time his brain could catch up, his arms were wrapped around her. Emily’s hands ran up and down his back. She could barely reach his shoulders, so he stooped down and lifted her up; her body pressed tightly against his. Her head was now above his, her mouth hovering a couple of inches away. Emily closed the gap and their mouths collided and moved in unison. All sensation came crashing back. David spun Emily around and lowered her onto the couch as they kissed. Her hands roamed and the warmth of her mouth against his lips sent vibrations through his body. Minutes later, the two broke apart, panting and breathless. David’s head was buzzing, as if he just took a shot of adrenaline. Emily was biting her lip again as her eyes glinted devilishly in the amber lighting. As David leaned in for another kiss, a vibration on his thigh jolted him out of the moment.

“Sorry.” He pulled away from Emily and retrieved the phone from his pocket, glancing