Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

I nodded, unable to find my voice. Simon Stark was talking to me!

I took a seat at the table and a few moments later he showed up with two flutes.

“To new friends,” he said, holding up his flute.

“New friends.” I clicked my glass with his and drank. The bubbles were divine as they tumbled down my throat.

“I’m Simon Stark.”

I smiled. “Mr. Stark. I’m—”

“Simon. Please.”

I had to be grinning like a loon. “I’m Leslie.”

“I haven’t ever seen you around these stuffy affairs before, Leslie.”

“It’s my first time.” I withheld my reason for being there. Who knew what I might learn if he didn’t know I was a reporter?

“It doesn’t take long to get the lay of the land. For as sophisticated as we think we are, we’re pretty base humans.” He nodded to the right. “Philandering philanthropist.”

My brows drew together. “Does that mean he’s liberally giving of his … you know what, or that he is a philanthropist who cheats on his wife.”

Simon laughed. “Both. And over there the opulent activist.”

I noted the widow who spent a lot of time helping the poor. Right now, she was wearing a scarf that probably cost more than my car.

“And there is the bored banker.”

I looked over and saw the president of the bank. “What are you?”

He smiled, and goodness it was handsome even though it never quite reached his eyes. “Magnetic playboy.”

I quirked a brow, wondering why he picked that persona when it didn’t seem to fit. I’d have guessed wounded poor little rich kid. Like Bruce Wayne.

“Let me guess,” he said leaning forward. “Innocent heiress.”

I stared at him coyly over my champagne as I took a sip.

“I’m eager to find out. How about a dance?” He nodded toward an area where a band was playing old standards.

Cinderella danced, and so would I. Except I’d likely embarrass myself. “I don’t know how.”

He stood and held out his hand. His fingers were long and graceful. They seemed like they should be on a pianist or surgeon. I took his hand. It was warm and inviting.

“It might be sexist these days, but in general, the man still leads in a dance. Just follow my lead.”

I did as he instructed as he took me in his arms. When he moved, I moved with him. It was like being in a cloud, floating around the room. We made small talk, and yet it didn’t seem small at all. As it turned out, he felt a bit out of place too, which didn’t make sense because I was sure he was the richest man in the room. But his youth and his admitted lack of interest in knowing these people made him feel outside of them.

I didn’t tell him I felt like Cinderella because that would giveaway that I didn’t belong here. But I did tell him that I felt similarly.

“Are you sure you’ve never danced before?” He whispered. He was tall, so his breath warmed the top of my head.

“You’re a good leader,” I said.

“Perhaps it's that we move well together.”

I lifted my head, wondering if there was innuendo in that. His brown eyes stared down at me and something was different. Like a door was opening.