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

by Willow Fox

“Ryan,” he says, nodding at me. “Yes, sir?” I’m not sure why I’m addressing him quite so formally, but it comes out before I can say anything else. He tosses a white, long-sleeved t-shirt over the glass at me. “Your boyfriend wanted you to have this. Go change before you wreck our game.”

Hopefully, by proposing, the ladies will see how serious I am about Emerson and invite her into their inner circle. I don’t believe any of them would be behind the threats to Bristol’s safety, but maybe they’ve seen or heard things.

The group, I’ve been told, is gossipy but also incredibly close and protective of their inner circle. And getting Emerson an invitation isn’t an easy feat. I can’t just ask them to invite her. It doesn’t work like that.

She means so much more to me, and she doesn’t have the slightest notion of how I feel.

“You don’t have to come with us,” Lia says. “I promise I can handle Bristol on my own for a day.” Is that what she thinks? That I’m spying on the nanny or something?

“I know, but I like spending time with you guys.” I’m confident Mitchell could handle any situation with Bristol, but he’s driving them to the zoo, not accompanying them throughout the entire park. “It’s really no bother.”

Easy lie: I want to spend time bonding with my bfs kid. Easy

“You didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone! And now you’re engaged?”

He glances at me with a genuine smile, and my stomach flutters. It’s hard to keep the feelings straight, the ones that aren’t real, when he looks at me as if nothing else matters, and his eyes stare straight into my soul.

I’m not sure what game he’s playing at, and even worse, I hate the fact that I may actually like it.

I wanted to celebrate it with you.” My voice betrays me as it comes out more like a squeak. “In your bedroom?” I’m confident my cheeks are flushed, and I shuffle backward, trying to keep ample distance between us. Not because I don’t trust Kyler. The truth is that I don’t trust myself.

“You look terrified,” Kyler says, and the smile fades from his face. “Shit. I didn’t think—I’m sorry.” He backs away from me, giving plenty of space between us.

Her non-committal answer was enough of a blow to make me realize that this relationship is entirely fake, just like I asked for it to be.

Em is standing in the kitchen with her back to me. She’s wearing my jersey with a pair of black leggings, and I can’t help but feel a swell of pride inside.

Wearing Kyler’s jersey is like a warm bear hug. If I could sleep in it and he wouldn’t make fun of me, I totally would.

“Daddy says you’ve been faking it with him.” I cough, shocked by the words coming out of Bristol’s lips.

And does she even know what she said or what that sounds like? She’s six. Of course, she doesn’t know what faking it means. But every hockey wife is staring at me, mouth agape, eyes wide.

“No, Em. I’d never make you wait. I wouldn’t want to deny you of any type of pleasure, ever.”

Dinner seems to drag on for hours, and Bristol refuses to go to bed. I swear it’s like my daughter has it out for me not to get laid.

She holds out a finger, indicating that she wants me to hold on a second. She flips the page and then dogears it, which makes me cringe. “You’re one of those people.” “And you’re not?” Em closes the book, holding it to her chest.

I don’t want to rush anything with Em. There’s no reason to when I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

“Who delivered the note?” I’m not playing games. This is Greyson’s future on the line, and his daughter’s life is being threatened. He pushes his chair back. “Come sit on my lap,” Fitzgerald says.

And I don’t even know what he did other than it went beyond acceptable. I’ve never seen Em look quite so broken and fragile. And she wasn’t like that before stepping into his office.

“I love you, Em. I’m not promising anything that I won’t follow through with.”

“You will have my baby, Em. We will get married. And you’ll let me worship your body and give me your heart because you love me.”

One hundred dollars will barely cover dinner. I want to make this night special with Em, and while I wholeheartedly agree to keep things from being extravagant, I also want to wine and dine her.

I take another bite of the chocolate dessert. Not exactly what I need, but I’m stewing in my jealousy. I can admit what I feel, at least to myself.

“Okay, we can go back to M&M.” He chuckles and rubs his eyes while laughing. I pinch his arm. “I’m not a chocolate-coated candy.” “But you could be,” he says, glancing me over from head to toe.