3. Greer

CHAPTER 3

GREER

This might be the craziest idea I'd ever had, and I'd had a few in my lifetime. But Austin was the only one I needed for this situation. As much as he liked to deny it, we had more in common than not. He was the only one who could give me exactly what I needed—a chance to explain.

Now I just had to convince him.

I looked down at the vintage Rolex my father had given me for my twenty-first birthday a couple of decades ago. It was almost two, and I knew he'd be here any minute. His impeccable manners and highly organized brain would not allow him to be late. I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall when Jesse told him what I wanted.

Chuckling to myself, I stood and ran my hands over the gray-blue Tom Ford dress shirt that, according to the personal shopper, made my light hazel eyes downright sinful, before moving down to my charcoal-colored Tom Ford wool pants to smooth away any wrinkles. When all was well, I ran a quick hand through my way-more-salt-than-pepper hair, before walking to the window to wait for him to arrive. I'd just had it cut, so I knew it was on point.

Every time he came here on official EHM business, my heart raced as he got out of the vehicle and stalked in like a jungle cat, ready to devour me.

Who was I kidding? From the first time we met, Austin had made me feel things no one else ever had. Because of him, I'd figured out I was demisexual. Even though he refused to let me explain and preferred to despise me, I cherished every second I got to spend with him scowling at me. He had a valid reason to feel the way he did. But he didn't know why I'd done it, and that's what I hoped to correct.

My pulse kicked up a beat or two when the familiar black Tahoe pulled into the entrance of my office building and came to a stop. The door opened and out stepped the man I'd been waiting on for years. He glanced up at the window, right where I was standing, before making his way into the building. It wouldn't be long now.

The former Navy SEAL was six-foot-four with dark hair and piercing green eyes. He wore a serious expression most of the time that was so misleading to who he really was. That scowl was hot as fuck and did things to my nether regions, especially when he aimed all that at me. It was the indifference that ate at me. Like we hadn't almost been something.

My office door was open because my secretary, Melanie, was working at the reception desk today. Things were slow up here, and she volunteered to fill in this afternoon. With her being downstairs, that left the two of us alone up here.

The familiar sound of the elevator's arrival on my floor made me smile. And I could almost count down the seconds before he exploded.

Five... four... three... two... one.

"What kind of fucking game are you playing now, Greer? There is no fucking way I'm agreeing to be your bodyguard."

I tried to wipe the smile from my face and turned to face him. Looking up into those fiery green orbs, I smiled at him. I wanted to wrap him in my arms, but I knew he'd never allow it.

"Hello, Austin. Thank you for coming."

He towered in the doorway, glaring at me, before reaching back to grab the edge to slam it shut. He closed the distance until he was close enough that I could smell his designer cologne and watch that artery in his neck pulse to the beat of my heart.

Fuck, he was magnificent.

"Don't start that placating shit with me. We both know you're up to something."

Releasing a single huff, I was drawn closer, mesmerized by him. Taking my own life into my hands, I ran my finger over the pulsing vein. Austin froze, and his breath shuddered at my touch.

"I need you," I said, low enough that it made the timbre of my voice more gravelly than melodic.

Austin's eyes narrowed as he scowled at me. He was feigning being unaffected by my touch, but we both knew the truth. He had the exact same effect on me. Always had.

Staring into my eyes, I watched as he fought his attraction to me. His hands were propped on his waist, and his lean, muscled body stretched the limits of the slim-fit designer shirt he wore.

"You don't need a bodyguard for a wedding, Greer. You have no enemies except for me. And no one takes their enemy with them. Get someone else."

I removed my finger and nodded. "You're right. Normally I wouldn't. But this time, I do."

The heat radiating from him made the smell of his skin more intoxicating. His jaw was clenched, and I imagined how the stubble that was just beginning to make an appearance would feel against my skin.

His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know if Jesse told you or not, but I need a date."

His indignant expression lit me up. Austin's eyes narrowed while his face filled with anger.

"No. Get someone else."

I knew he was going to say that, but I went on. "I need someone who knows how to handle themselves in society," I lied. "You and I are cut from the same cloth, Austin, whether or not you want to admit it. You're a trust fund baby, just like me."

"You're far from a baby." He still hadn't moved away or stopped his eyes from devouring me. God, this was fun.

"There you go, trying to change the subject. It's only a week, Austin. It's not going to kill you to pretend to be my... boyfriend."

"You can hire someone else to go with you. We're not running a dating service, and you sure don't need protection." His eyes slid down my body, taking in my own physical prowess.

"But I do. I'm a billionaire and the owner of an NFL team. I'd be a perfect target for someone looking to cause trouble. That's why I need you. And you're the perfect blue-blooded bodyguard for me. You'll fit right in."

I knew I'd pushed his protector buttons and stretched the truth. If he thought I was in danger, there was no way he'd turn me down. No matter how angry he was at me.

Austin backed away and turned to pace the room. It was fascinating to watch him process all this information. I leaned against the window and waited.

"When? Where are we going?"

I smiled and stepped away from the window. "In two weeks. We're going to Costa Rica."

A new level of anger rose in him. He narrowed those green orbs and pointed a finger at me. It was all I could do not to take it in my mouth.

"I'm not playing your boy toy," he growled, making my cock plump up.

I smiled and shrugged. "Fine, but I need your help. Besides, I've already sent in the RSVP with your name on it."

I could see the anger boiling in him. He was going to blow any minute. And it didn't help that I wasn't giving him all the details. Just enough to get him to agree.

"If you don't want to play the boyfriend, that's fine."

"You're not gay, Greer. Or did you forget?" He relaxed a bit, but then I pushed him over the edge. Better to get it over with now so we can move on.

"That's up for debate."

I let that admission hang in the air for a moment. "If you don't like the title of boyfriend, you can be my fiancé. That's a better visual, anyway. More believable, actually, and it will keep the women away. You only have to hold my hand and kiss me occasionally. You know how these things go. And Jesse said yes. You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you?"

Austin stalked toward the door, then turned and pointed at me while he yanked it open. "You're insufferable, and there's no way in hell I'm doing that with you."

I smiled, knowing he'd eventually calm down. But since I'd already lost my mind, I decided to poke him a little. "We'll see, but I think I can convince you."