Free Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige

you understand exactly what I am asking of you. We tabled
this discussion last night…” He paused and I suspected he was recalling the
reason the discussion was tabled. At least, that’s what I was thinking about.
“So I neglected to mention a key point.”
    Hudson leaned back in his chair,
placing his arms on the rests. “I’m a very high profile man, Alayna. Convincing
my mother that we are a couple requires putting on a show for the world. That
means you will be ‘on duty’, so to say, at all times. When we are together
around other people, we will play the happy couple. When we aren’t together,
you must still act as though you’re mine.”
    Was it my imagination or had he
emphasized the words you’re mine ? Either way, goose bumps travelled down
my skin.
    “You can’t tell anyone that we
are not really in a relationship.”
    I creased my forehead and my
mouth suddenly went dry. “I hadn’t realized that.”
    “No, I suspected as much.” He
narrowed his eyes, gazing my reaction. “Are you still interested?”
    I didn’t really have a choice.
Either accept it or give into Brian’s wishes. Besides, whom would I want to
tell? Liesl. And David. Was I still thinking about David with tall, hot, and
devastatingly handsome sitting in front of me? Yes. Because David had the
potential of being real. And frankly, I didn’t know that I actually liked
Hudson beyond the whole physical thing. I certainly shouldn’t. 
    “How long would we keep up the
act?”
    “As long as we feel we can
without imposing too much on our personal lives. The longer the better,
obviously, but if my mother sees that I am capable of falling in love, she
won’t try to press me into a loveless marriage, even if you and I have ‘broken
up.’”
    “Are you still interested?”
    “It’s eighty thousand dollars,
Hudson. That’s a drop in the bucket for you, but for me...I understand if I
have to work for it.”
    He relaxed, nodding. “Good.” Hudson
pressed a button on his desk.
    “Yes, Mr. Pierce?” The sweet
timbre of the receptionist’s voice filled the room.
    “Send him in, please, Patricia.”
Hudson stood and pressed another button on his desk.
    I’d heard her answer the phone as
Trish when I’d arrived and I wondered if he was opposed to nicknames for people
in general, or if he just knew the weight of using a proper name—the power it
held over people.
    The doors opened and a
dark-haired, muscular man in a black suit walked in. If Hudson hadn’t already
sent my horny button into overdrive, I was pretty sure this guy would have set
it buzzing.
    “This is Jordan,” Hudson said, crossing
around to the front of his desk. Jordan nodded. “He’s been assigned to drive
you to and from work and anywhere else you may need to go.”
    Not that I wanted to turn down
such a beautiful gift, but one thing I loved about NYC was alternate modes of
transportation. My parents died in a car accident. Cars weren’t my favorite. “I
don’t need a driver.” Then, so I wouldn’t seem ungrateful I added, “I usually
get my exercise running home.”
    “Then he will drive you to work
and follow you home when you run to make sure you arrive safely.” Before I
could argue, Hudson eyed me sternly. “Alayna, my girlfriend would have a
driver. She’d also have a bodyguard. I’m willing to forego the bodyguard if you
use my driver.”
    I took a deep breath. “All
right.”
    “He’ll be waiting downstairs to
take you to the club when we’ve finished. Thank you, Jordan.”
    Jordan nodded again and then left
the office. Hudson pushed a button and the doors shut behind the driver.
    “And Alayna, wipe that look off
your face. Jordan’s gay. I wouldn’t have hired him for you otherwise.”
    I folded my arms over my chest,
embarrassed and chided. Also, I decidedly did not like Hudson. Beyond the
sexual appeal, anyway. “Anything else?” I couldn’t look at him.
    He leaned back to sit on the
front edge of his desk, his body close