Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(29)

Focusing on my father’s lucky dice always soothes my racing thoughts, and I need the extra help as I wait for Lily to wrap up her conversation, where she has spent the last three minutes listing my pros and cons aloud.

“I can hear you,” I say when she mentions my annoying personality.

“I’m only getting started.”

“Let me know if you need any help identifying my more…positive traits.”

“Actually, do you have a few more negatives? I feel like twenty isn’t enough.”

I quit teasing her after that comment.

After what feels like forever, Lily walks back over to where I stand and stops in front of me.

She tilts her head back, and I’m temporarily stunned by the way she looks up at me. The high points of her cheekbones look sharp while the shadows draw my attention toward the subtle curve of her lips.

There you go again.

I force a harsh breath through my nose.

She shifts her weight. “I don’t think us being friends is going to cut it.”

And even if it did, I’m no longer interested.

“I agree,” I say.

Her reply shocks me. “We need to do better than that.”

“We?”

“I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it.”

“Why not?”

“You wanted a fake fiancée?” She jabs me hard in the chest with a manicured finger. “Now you’ve got one.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN


Lorenzo


Lily volunteering to be my fake fiancée was never an option, and it isn’t about to become one now, so I shut down the idea fast.

“No.”

Lily’s brows hike toward her hairline. “No, you don’t want a fiancée? Or no, you’re still against me stepping in for the job?”

“Both.”

“It’s not like I want to do this either after everything you’ve done, but if it means helping you win the election, then I’ll do it.”

“Why?” I ask.

She keeps her face emotionless. “I don’t like the Ludlows.”

“You don’t like me either, so that can’t be the only reason.”

“It’s personal.”

I wasn’t expecting that, or the reply that follows it.

“I don’t want to talk about it, but trust me. I want you to absolutely decimate them in the election.”

I can’t get a word in because she keeps speaking. “You’re not going to see some massive jump in the polls because you were seen with me.”

My ironclad will is crumbling because I know she is right. I need more, and I need it now before the gap between Trevor and me becomes insurmountable.

She continues, “Our backstory would make sense. We’re two star-crossed lovers who hid our relationship because my family doesn’t like you. Plus we have…” She flicks her hand between us like I’m supposed to understand her version of sign language. “You know.”

I don’t. “Spell it out for me.”

“I’d rather demonstrate.” She brushes her hand over the front of my shirt instead, sending a blazing path of warmth down my body.

I bite my tongue. “Was something supposed to happen?”

To torment me some more, she runs a single finger back up my chest, and I fail to suppress my shiver.

“I can tell we’re going to have fun together.” Her voice has a husky rasp to it.

“This isn’t supposed to be fun,” I hiss, thinking of why I’m doing all of this to begin with.

My parents’ lives were cut short by Trevor Ludlow, so I need to focus on winning. If she can put personal feelings aside, why am I struggling with her logic?

My eyes drop to her mouth and the tiny beauty mark she has—

That’s why.

I glance away, hating myself for being so damn…enamored with her. “I can find another fiancée.”

She unleashes a noise of frustration. “You can’t come out of nowhere and announce you’re suddenly engaged—at least not to a random someone. People here are smart. There’s a huge chance they’ll see through the lie and lose whatever trust they had in you.”

I hate to admit it, but she has a valid point.

“In fact…” She pauses. “I bet that’s why you haven’t picked someone to play the part yet. You think it could backfire, so you’re not willing to take the risk.”

I’m impressed and annoyed, which are two feelings that muddle my brain, along with the entrancing way the corner of her lip pulls up in the sexiest smirk I’ve ever seen.

I force myself to look into her eyes instead. “I’m confused why you’re offering to be my fiancée when you think my plan is stupid.”

“I never said it was stupid. Is it poorly thought-out and risky? Yeah, but stupid…eh. I think there’s merit to you being in a fake relationship with someone. It makes you seem…likeable.”

“Didn’t realize I wasn’t.”

Her nose scrunches. “Moving on… Unlike some woman you’d pay to be your fiancée, I’m a sure thing. People here know me, and even better, I know them, which makes me an asset. As you said earlier, they like me, to the point of being invested in who I’m dating and why, and best of all, they trust me.” Her eyes sparkle with a confidence I find irresistible.