Faking It with the Billionaire (Ice Dragons Hockey #1)

by Willow Fox

He doesn’t ask me to show my identification or prove who I am over the surveillance system. And while he’s expecting me, given the fact I’m here to protect his family, I’m not happy with how the security within the house is being run.

He’s every girl’s wet dream.

I sweep my foot out and knock him onto his ass, staring down at him on the wooden floorboards. “See, plenty capable. You don’t have to worry. I trained at Quantico.”

She is small. She is petite and quite adorable, I realize, the longer I stare at her.

At least believing Emerson is her nanny might help her acclimate to having someone constantly around to protect her.

“Moretti,” I repeat, the name clicking on my tongue, “as in the Moretti crime family?” Any sane person would have probably not asked that question aloud, but I’ve been known to push when it’s not always appropriate.

“The two children are in the same class together. Liam sits behind Bristol and thought it would be fun to lift her chair with his feet. It was just a little harmless flirting.” The headmaster waves his hand dismissively. “She took things too far.” “What did Bristol do?” “She punched him.”

I get it.

What is Kyler hiding? It has to be something. There’s no reason that his life would otherwise be in danger, or rather, his daughter’s. I need to know what the actual threat is and whether it’s credible. How can I be expected to do my job in the dark?

“You’re definitely jealous.” He smirks, his gaze eating me alive.

Not the best plan to keep Kyler close and protect him and his little girl. Yes, he hired me to protect Bristol, but she’s not my only responsibility. He needs someone watching his back, and with women like Brittney vying for his attention, it’s going to be hard to keep him under a tight leash if he likes to flirt with other girls and even date them.

“M&M? You aren’t seriously giving me that as a nickname.” I have half a mind to pummel his ass to the ground, but that tiny voice in the back of my head reminds me that he’s my boss. “You’re tiny. Seems fitting.” “You’re an ass, but you don’t hear me calling you puckhole.”

“Relax,” he grunts and gestures for me to join him. “I don’t bite. Well, not unless you’re into that sort of thing.” And he winks at me. Fuck.

“Grab me some zip ties,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at Kyler. He’s got a huge grin on his face as he folds his arms across his chest, watching me.

“You can let Jasper go,” Kyler says. He takes a few steps, bending down and grabbing the gun from the ground. “He’s my brother. And this isn’t a real Glock.” Fuck me.

“I couldn’t bring my gun onto school property.” “Precisely,” he says with a smirk. “You planned all of it,” I say, and I have half a mind to pummel his ass to the ground and embarrass him in front of his buddies. “You don’t think I can protect your daughter.”

I’m a mess, thanks to him. “I needed to see what you’re capable of and how you would react. You surprised me,” Kyler says.

“Got it, M&M.” “And no more stupid nicknames.” She jabs her finger into my chest. Emerson is cute when she’s pissed.

Did I want her here for me? That was a thought I needed to squash before it became outright dangerous. My little firecracker is off-limits. Mine?

He doesn’t touch me. The man doesn’t have to, and I’m still practically a puddle of goo.

“We could tell her the truth, that we’ve been secretly dating, and you’re my girlfriend.”

“Bristol likes to eavesdrop. She wants to be a spy, and I can’t have her spilling our secrets unless we want the world to know about us. Hiring you as my fake girlfriend would be good PR for me.”

“I’d pay you for your services.” “You couldn’t pay me enough to fake date you,” I say a little too quickly. “Is that so?” he asks. Did I just challenge him?

He drags both of my arms above my head, pushing me up against the wall, this time trapping me. I have nowhere to go, and while I could outmaneuver him with my legs, the truth is that I don’t want to.

“I’ll pay you six figures on top of the initial contract.” “Seven. I want seven figures,” I say. “If I have to put up with your ass and pretend to like you, I won’t do it for a penny less.”

It’ll give her an incentive to play my games. And if we go over the course of a year—which I don’t think is even a realistic possibility with us pretending to be an item—then we’ll renegotiate a new contract.

My hand grazes her hip, pulling her tight against me, my lips crushing hers, proving to her that we can do this. It’s as much an attempt to prove to myself that I’m not making an even bigger mistake. Emerson is rigid, and everything with her feels forced. No doubt even Bristol will see through the farce.

Emerson takes a swig of her beer. One arm is gingerly wrapped around my neck from carrying her. “Telling everyone about us?” Emerson asks with a sly smile. “I thought we were going to do it together.”

She shifts her hips on my lap, and she’s only making me harder. Is that on purpose? Is she toying with me because she wants me, or is this a game to her, and she’s really good at her little act?

I intend to mark her. I want any man who gets a glimpse of her collarbone to know she belongs to me. If she so much as thinks about going out on a date with another man, there will be questions if they see my mark. Fuck.

“Your brother,” she says with a smirk, and my eyes widen. I’m sure as hell she’s trying to make me jealous and rile me up.

“None of them have decades of experience,” I say. I was hoping he’d have picked an older woman, someone he wouldn’t think twice about sleeping or flirting with. Definitely jealous.

I inhale sharply and exhale a nervous breath. “I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea when you hire a nanny who’s cuter than I am.” “You’re jealous,” he states. It’s an accusation, not a question.

I swear he’s trying to give me a heart attack. Leaving Bristol alone with Lia wasn’t exactly easy. Is that how it feels like for first-time mothers to leave their child with a babysitter?

“I want to show you off and make all the guys on the team jealous,” Kyler says.

“Kyler,” I squeak, my voice betraying me. I don’t need to give everyone a show or let them see that I’m not wearing underwear.

“Ever since you put that damn dress on, I can’t stop thinking about what’s underneath.” Kyler nips at my neck, leaving a mark, claiming me. “I’ll give you a hint; it’s nothing,” I say with a smirk.

“Brad Clemens,” the douche introduces himself, “I used to work with Ryan.” He holds out his hand to Kyler. Kyler pauses a beat, casting a quick glance at me before shaking the douche’s hand. He doesn’t so much as tell him it’s nice to meet him, and while Kyler doesn’t know much about my short past with the bureau, he must sense my discomfort.

Kyler is steaming and holding me tighter, possessively, like he can read my mind, which I know is impossible.

“I’m going to fucking kill him.” Kyler heads back inside, yanking the heavy door with ease as it flies open. “Kyler, wait. No.” I hurry after him.

“Kyler, I didn’t confide in you so you’d start a fight.” Her fingers graze my cheek, bringing my gaze down to her stare. Her eyes are glistening, and she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth. There’s a smear of blood. It’s small and tiny, but I hate seeing Emerson hurt herself.

Another reason to stay joined at the hip with Emerson. If I let her out of my sight, he’ll pounce like the animal he is. And I don’t want anything happening to Em.

I know this routine, trying to silence me with a kiss. I’m not an idiot. I’m a hot-blooded male who would gladly take her distraction and use it to my benefit. I let her kiss me and pull her closer as our lips brush against each other.

While Fitzgerald is a huge douche, I refuse to let Em out of my sight. After what she confided in me about Brad, I need to protect her.

She’s a spitfire, my Em, and something about her boldness makes me hot and horny for her.

I pull my arm back to land a blow to Fitzy’s face when Noah and Owen jump in, each throwing an arm around my shoulder, keeping me from making a career-ending mistake.

She’d better be joking, because if Fitzgerald comes anywhere near Emerson, I’ll put her over my shoulder and carry her ass out to the car.

I shouldn’t care that he isn’t touching me. This relationship is one hundred percent fake. He doesn’t want me. He could never want someone like me.

“You’ve been talking about Em?” The room feels several degrees hotter, and I scour the room. “Who else?” I want to know what they’ve been saying about my girlfriend.

“I’m telling you, take that off before he loses his fucking mind,” Noah says, glaring at me. “You can’t be supporting the other team!”

Greyson grumbles and glances over his shoulder at me. “Are you trying to make me bleed?” “What?” I ask. “You’re cheering on the Island Bruisers?” Greyson’s eyes are wide. “I can’t believe my girlfriend is supporting the other team.”