Alpha Billionaire Series

JACE

Even though I want Bailey in my bed, I know I need to reel it in and chill out. I didn't mean to freak her out with that kiss, so figured the best thing I could do was act like it was no big deal. So I brushed it off and played it cool. Otherwise, I was scarec she'd call the whole thing off and leave me high and dry.

But the truth is that fucking kiss left me reeling. It caught me by complete surprise. Sure, the [**t made me do it, but when our lips touched, it became something else. Something more. Something I've never felt before.

And, hell, I was supposed to marry someone else, and she didn't even make me feel the way Bailey did in that hallway when had her pressed against me, devouring her.

sliding a hand through my hair, I know I'm in dangerous fucking territory. This wasn't supposed to happen. The whole plan was to trick my family, not get involved in a real romance. Those were my rules. And here I am thinking nonstop about Bailey with goddamn butterflies in my stomach.

I park my Range Rover in front of her apartment and pause to collect myself. Time to put my game face on and do this. With a sigh, I get out of the SUV, walk up and knock on her door. She opens it up and looks just as nervous as I feel.

“Hi!” she says breathlessly.

“Hi. Are you ready?”

A burst of nervous laughter erupts from her throat. “Ready as I'll ever be.” When she reaches down for her suitcase, I step up and grab the handle.

“I got it," I say and tug it out the door. I notice the side-eye she gives me, but I don’t comment. This might all be fake, but I'm still a gentleman. I think it comes with the territory when you grow up surrounded by women. They teach you how to treat and respect other women.

Because if you didn’t..Well, they would've kicked my a*s.

After Bailey locks up, we head down the walkway and I open the back of the Rover and heave her luggage inside. Then I climb into the driver's seat and start the car.

“No Ronaldo?” she asks and leans forward to turn the heat up.

“Nope. Gave him the holidays off. He has family in South America that he visits every year at this time."

“That's nice of you,” she states evenly.

Ishrug a shoulder. “These two weeks are when people should be with the ones they love," I say, trying to avoid saying “family” because I know that Bailey doesn't have anyone left. But after I say love, I almost cringe. I'm not sure that sounded any better.

But she doesn't read into it. “You're right”

When she doesn't elaborate, I glance over and take a moment to appreciate how pretty she looks this morning. Her dark hai is pulled up in a high ponytail and she’s bundled up in a coat with a fur-trimmed hood and matching gloves.

The heat is pouring out now and I loosen my scarf, starting to sweat. “Mind if I turn it down?” I ask.

“Sorry. I get cold easily. Rae always teases me, saying I'm cold-blooded because I always have the heat up so high in the office.”

I'turn it down a couple of notches and tilt my vents in her direction. “That okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, thanks."

We haven't seen each other since the night we kissed, and it feels a little awkward at first because I'm not sure if either of us knows where we stand with each other. But I need to alleviate the tenseness and make sure we present as a united, happy couple. Otherwise, my family is going to see right through us and call bullshit.

“Okay,” I say. “We should probably get our story straight about how we met and get to know more about each other”

“I think that would help.’ She turns in her seat. “I don't know anything about you really and if they start asking questions...” “What do you want to know?” I ask. “Lets say we really just started dating and take this time to learn more personal details! Other than how her lips feel against mine. Which, of course, is damn amazing.

“What's your favorite color?” she immediately asks.

“Red. What's yours?"

“Red,” she echoes back with a little smile.

“Well, that'll be easy to remember,” I drawl.

“Favorite food?”

“I've had some of the best meals money can buy, but you know what the sad truth is?”

She leans forward, blue-gray eyes studying me. “Are you going to say something completely crazy? Like your favorite food isn't filet mignon?” she teases.

“Hot dogs," I say with a crooked grin and zero remorse. “Smothered in ketchup and mustard with a little shredded cheese.” Bailey bursts out laughing. “I wasn't expecting that.”

“Why not?” I ask. “You think I only like fancy food and expensive restaurants?”

“Yeah, kind of"

“What about you?”

“I don't care what anyone says- I love Taco Bell!”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

We both laugh. “Well, I guess we have simple tastes when it comes to food. Because I love Taco Bell, too."

“You do?”

Inod, starting to relax, and lean back in my seat. “I usually grab a Mexican Pizza and Cinna Sticks on the weekend.”

“Oh, yum! A man after my own heart!”

Her words cause a warm, fuzzy sensation in my chest and I do my best to suppress and ignore it. “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?" I ask her. The tension between us is gone. Bailey seems more relaxed now and is enjoyin the conversation.

“No question about it. I'd be on a flight to Paris in a heartbeat.”

The City of Love. Why am I not surprised? “Have you ever been there?” I ask.

“Never, but I'm dying to go. It looks so amazing. The museums, the cafés, the Eiffel Tower,” she gushes. “There's just so much about Paris that calls to me.”

“You would love it. But you need to see it with the right person.”

“Yeah, that's one of the reasons I haven't gone yet"

Her words snag my attention and I look over, waiting for her to elaborate, but she doesn't. “No boyfriend has been Paris- worthy?” I press.

“No," she says softly.

“Honestly, I'm surprised I was able to steal you away so easily. I thought for sure some significant other had already claimed you for the holidays and was going to give me grief.” Even though my voice is light, her mood grows heavier.

“I'm good at hooking the right people up. Ironically, just not myself. And, trust me, 'm never busy at this time of the year. No with holiday plans, I mean.”

Fuck. I realize I just said the wrong thing and now she feels bad. How could I have been so stupid? “You're busy this year I say in a firm voice, brooking no argument. “In fact, you're going to be so f*****g busy that you won't have a minute alone." M voice softens and I've never felt so damn protective over anyone like this before. “I hope that's okay?”

A small, tentative smile lifts the edge of her mouth. “So how did we meet again exactly?” she asks.

“At a benefit,” I respond. “I saw you from across the room and my world stopped. All I knew was that I had to meet you and once I gathered my courage, I walked right over and struck up a conversation.”

“Gathered your courage?” she repeats, voice full of doubt.

“What? You think a woman as beautiful as you wouldn't make me nervous?”

Her cheeks flush. “It's just us. You don't have to lay it on so thick.”

“It's the truth. You're extremely beautiful, Bailey, and when I first walked into your office, I briefly lost my train of thought" The flush turns into a bright red blush. “Stop,” she murmurs.

Her modesty is refreshing. So, unlike the conceited, confident women I normally date. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?” “Oh, my gosh," she murmurs and drops her face in her hands.

I can’t help but laugh. It's endearing. She's a breath of fresh air and 'm really looking forward to spending the next couple o weeks with her. Choosing to bring Bailey with me and not some other woman she picked was the best decision I could've made.

The rest of the ride up to my hometown goes smoothly and surprisingly fast. We get to know each other more and the conversation is easy and flows. I'm not sure how she's going to react to the house. As I pull up to the gate and punch in a code, I glance over and see her lean forward and look out the windshield.

House is probably an understatement. Once I had the money, the first thing I did was buy this compound. The mansion and 50 acres of surrounding land sit on a private lake with only two other houses that are far enough away that no one bothers anyone. There's a large pole barn behind the house, the lake is suitable for swimming and boat rides, and theres an enormous garden where my mom and grandma grow all sorts of fruit and vegetables in the summer.

I wanted a place where we could all spend time together without being on top of each other all the time. My parents, sister and grandma live here full-time and various aunts, uncles and cousins drop by constantly. We're the epitome of one, big, happy family.

Being able to give that to Bailey this year makes me happy since she would have otherwise been alone.

When we pull up to the house, I hear her suck in a sharp breath.

“This place is insane,” she says.

“It was important to me to be able to have everyone come here and be comfortable. I can afford to spoil the people I love s¢ why the hell not?"

As Wwe get out of the car, the front door is thrown open and my sister appears. She hurries down the stairs and her blue eyes 20 wide when she sees Bailey.

“Merry Christmas, Kendall” I give her a hug and turn to Bailey. “This is Bailey. My fiancée,” I add, and Kendall doesn't even hesitate. Just pulls Bailey into a huge hug.

“I'm Kendall! Welcome to the family!”

For a minute, I'm not sure why Kendall is putting on a show until I see my grandma up by the front door. I wave at her, and she motions for me to come over.

“Get up here, Jace, or are you going to make these old bones traipse down there for a hug and a kiss and an introduction to that beautiful girl of yours?”

I reach over, take Bailey's hand and guide her up to meet my grandma. She's one smart cookie, so I hope she doesn't immediately see through this pretense. “Hi, Grandma,” I say and kiss her wrinkled cheek. “This is my fiancée, Bailey Briges. Bailey, this is Martha Montgomery."

My grandma makes a shooing motion with her hands at the formalities. “Call me Marty," she says. “And I can't tell you how happy I am to meet you"

“It's wonderful to meet you, too. I've heard so many things about you.”

Ilink one arm through my grandma's and the other through Bailey's and walk them inside. Kendall sends me a look, but I ignore it. I'm in full-on, doting fiancé mode and can't slip up. Because the moment I do, everyone will know this engagement is a fraud. And my goal is to keep an old woman happy and not give her a heart attack over the holidays.

lintroduce Bailey to my several cousins and other family members. Everyone absolutely adores her and why wouldn't they? She's polite and very lovely. As I watch her interact with everyone, my chest tightens. Bailey really is the perfect girlfriend. Too bad none of this is real.