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

“If I’m honest, I’ve never had a woman… here.”

“I was here the other night. You didn’t seem so shy, then.”

David’s whole face was crimson now. Emily wasn’t sure whether the sight was adorable or irritating. Why wouldn’t he kiss her? She glanced at the couch and her mind replayed their kiss from the other night. He seemed so sure, confident, sexy. Now, he was floundering and appeared to have no idea what to do with his hands.

“Having you here is… big for me.”

“You asked me to come, though. I can leave if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

“No,” David said quickly. Perhaps a little too quickly for his own liking because a faint look of horror crossed his face. Then he smiled in a feign attempt to look cool and austere.

“I know you said you haven’t had a girlfriend before… but you’ve––you know––had women….”

“Oh sure.” David was nodding with a knowing frown. “Loads.”

“Loads?” Emily suppressed the urge to laugh.

“Hundreds.”

David squared his shoulders. Emily raised a hand to her mouth.

“David Marks, you are a terrible liar.”

David’s shoulders slumped and he exhaled. The act was over. Wow, he couldn’t keep that up for long. Just how does he think he can pretend to be married and convince his family?

“Never.”

The word hit Emily somewhere in her midriff and stirred a flurry of excitement. His sincere gaze told her he was being honest. She gently took his hand.

“No one? At your age?”

“I just never found….”

Emily rolled her eyes.

“Don’t tell me, ‘the one’?” Emily studied David’s face. He just nodded intently. She squeezed his hand, her heart melting.

“Well, I don’t know what to say about that.” She took a breath. “But If we are going to pull this off, you’re going to have to get comfortable with me fast.”

“What did you have in mind?” David’s posture relaxed; Emily could see him returning to his normal self again. Talking to him seemed to be helping. “Well you can start”—she took his hand and placed it on the small of her back—“by getting used to touching me like I’m your wife, rather than an electric fence.” David’s lips curved upwards. She gently tugged on his shirt, pulling him in close. She could see dark rings underneath his eyes and wondered if he had slept at all. That would explain his odd behavior, she mused.

Emily reached up and interlocked her fingers behind his neck, standing on tip-toes. David lowered to meet her and the two of them stared at each other lovingly. Emily caught sight of him licking his lips; she had butterflies in her stomach.

“I can’t resist you,” David whispered to her.

“Then don’t,” Emily whispered back. She leaned forward to meet his lips when a knock on the door had them break apart in a flash.

“Yes,” David wheezed. He coughed like he had the air knocked out of him. The door opened and a short man wearing a perfectly pressed suit entered pushing a food cart.

“Your breakfast, sir, ma’am.”

Emily was startled at being addressed. She nodded to him and watched David stroll over and clap his hand on the man’s back.

“Thank you, Jonathan. It is Jonathan, right?”

The man stared up at him and a look of sheer delight flooded his face.

“Yes, sir, you’re welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you?” Jonathan clasped his hands together.

“Could you have someone bring up a hair dryer?” David glanced at Emily. She grinned sheepishly and pointed to her hair. The man gave a crisp nod, then vacated the room. Once the door was closed David turned back to Emily. He scratched his neck sheepishly, perhaps considering whether to invite her to sit down and eat or throw her onto the couch and satisfy other appetites. For Emily, however, the moment was gone. The brief interruption reminded her to keep focused on the task. This was a temporary situation; soon enough, David’s grandmother will have passed away, the shares would be in his name and Emily would be free to move to LA and start her new life. Was it fair to lead him on and think this plan would turn out any differently? Did she want it to be any different? Emily realized she was staring into space and blinked as she brought herself back, then looked at David, who appeared to be lost in his own thoughts

“What’s for breakfast?” Emily asked, David met her gaze, then shook his head and clapped.

“Right, breakfast.” He lifted the metal lids of the plates.

“Oh, how did you know I love croissants?” Emily said in a revered tone as she reached out to pick up the French pastry. The warm bread scent wafted over Emily’s nostrils and her stomach rumbled in response.

“I’m starving.” Her focus was now completely on eating. Emily loved food. She thought that perhaps, she loved food more than people. She caught sight of David standing immobile in her peripheral vision, she swallowed and looked at him.

“Are you not going to eat?”

David poured a glass of orange juice and lifted the glass to his lips. “I’m not sure I’m feeling hungry.” He gulped down the entire drink.

Emily picked up a clementine and mindlessly peeled it as she watched David take a seat at the table. As she went to take a seat next to him, a knock at the door stopped her in her tracks.

“Shall I get that?” she whispered. David waved a hand aside.

“Come in.”

The door swung open and Emily jumped back in surprise. A huge curtain rail moved into the room, dresses swung side to side with the movement, and someone mumbled from behind the rail.

“Hello?” Emily peered around the clothes to see a very thin woman, wearing horn-rimmed glasses and an entirely black pant suit. Her auburn, straw-like hair was cut so severely around her face, it looked to Emily like a badly-made wig.

The lady peered at Emily over her glasses and pursed her lips. “I can see why you called.”

A chair scraped across the floor and the sound echoed around the