The Pretend Boyfriend novel Chapter 22

Brian stills. Her strong perfume wafts into his nostrils - dangerous and predatory. "Why? Lance Buchner doesn't get it up for you anymore?"

Lori slides her hands down his chest. "Let's just say he wouldn't be averse to me getting a little on the side."

"You sure about that? Or he wouldn't be averse to not knowing?"

"So what do you see in her anyway? She's clumsy, less pretty and interesting than I am ... and she's certainly not the type of material who snares a billionaire boyfriend overnight."

"I'm not a billionaire, sorry to disappoint you. My uncle is. I'm just a wage worker on the factory grindstone. I grew up eating baked potatoes and living in a hovel."

"Nonsense. You're a Morton and Mortons take care of their own. You own a hundred percent share of Vanguard Advertising, and like the rest of the family, you have shares in every single company in Morton Enterprises Ltd."

"Someone's been doing their homework. Did you Google Lance Buchner before you dated him too? Or did you hire a P.I?"

"Let's just say I'd make you a better partner than my sister will." Her hand dips down to his crotch. "I'm ambitious enough for the two of us. I'm fantastic in bed and I'll make a great hostess, the kind who will do anything to advance her significant other in any world."

"I don't want a hostess." His hand goes down to her groping one and seizes it. "I want someone who doesn't have a reptilian quotient of a backstabbing snake."

He can see her wince. Poor Sam. If this is the type of sister she has, no wonder she's insecure and angsty.

He says pityingly, "Go back to your fiancé, Lori Fox, and learn how to love him. For Sammie's sake, I won't tell her about this. She deserves to think you're a better person than you really are."

With that, he strides out of the room without a second look, leaving Lori open-mouthed.

Cassie, Caleb and Sam spend most of the time sleeping in the car on the journey back home. Figures. He's the only one who can hold his booze, fuck all night and still appear bright and coffee perky in the morning. That's only what he has been doing for the last ten years.

They drop Cassie and Caleb home with the usual goodbyes and love declarations of "We'll catch up this very night when we work off our hangovers". Then it's time to take Sam home.

Sam is pensive beside him.

"Benjamin Franklin for your thoughts."

She sighs. "They aren't worth a twenty."

"Let me guess. You're thinking that I'm a bigger asshole than I really am."

"I'm just thinking about my family and why I am the way I am."

"Maybe you are." Her big blue eyes turn to regard him. "I've been talking to Caleb, and he told me what you did for him in a bizarre, roundabout way that led to this weekend."

"He's deluding himself if he thinks I did anything for him." Brian chortles. Still, his insides are runny all over suddenly, as though they are in a state of melting.

They reach her apartment building. He stops the car in front of it, aware that this is the last time he would be seeing her again. That is, if Caleb and Cassie don't decide to become an item, in which case they might string him along just to see who Sam will be fucking.

She says, "I guess this is it."

"I guess it's your lucky day, being rid of me forever."

Her features soften.

"Thank you, Brian, for the weekend and ... everything else."

The melting feeling hasn't left his guts. It's almost as though he's coming down with the Spanish flu.

He says quickly, "Yeah, you and I know I was forced into it. Won't be happening again, you can count on it. You need help with your bags?"