Free Billionaire Bad Boy by C.J. Archer

good for
your reputation."
    "I know. Nor is it good for my love
life."
    Now she was intrigued. "So why are
you doing it?"
    "Pretending you're my
girlfriend?" He shrugged. "I'm taking the week off."
    She thumped him on the arm and he smiled.
    But then his face straightened and he
gazed directly ahead. "Don't worry. I'll make sure everyone knows we're
not an item."
    "Oh," she said, returning to
reality with a thud. So that's how it was. She was nobody. That stung, more
than she cared to admit. But she should have seen it coming. Of course she was
an embarrassment to him considering the women he dated—beautiful and
buxom with confidence oozing from every de-toxed pore. She was a mousy bore who
never went to parties. No competition. Not even close.
    She sighed. As much as she was enjoying
his company, she needed to keep things in perspective and not expect a
fairytale ending. For now, she should just enjoy herself and maybe she'd make a
friend in the process.
    Zack could feel tension vibrating off
Annie. She was annoyed at him. Ah well. It was easier having her annoyed, so
that's the way he'd try to keep things between them.
    Except he couldn't, not always. Having
women approach him all day had helped keep Annie's temper simmering. He hadn't
realized how many women he knew until today. And not one of them could he call
a friend. He hoped he could call Annie one after this was all over.
    Although being around her, constantly
reminded of his feelings, could spell disaster.
    He'd loved the day. Just being with her
had been fun. Buying her things had been great. He'd lied about Bob paying for
the clothes. Probably Bob would, but Zack had no intention of telling him. Or
Annie. She'd make him return everything and he definitely didn't want to do
that. Then he'd never get to see her in those leather pants again, or that
short skirt. His step faltered as he remembered how her ass had looked in the
tight leather. H O T.
    Then again, since he couldn't—shouldn't—have
her, maybe he'd better return them...
    They headed back to the Ferrari parked outside the
Prada shop and piled their shopping bags in, then themselves. Zack cranked up
the air conditioning and Annie placed her hands on the dash, spreading out her
arms to get the full affect of the cool breeze.
    "One more stop then we'll head home and have a
cold beer," he said.
    She groaned.
    "Okay, you can have a glass of wine."
    "So where are we headed now?"
    "The beach."
    "The beach? But it's getting late!"
    "That's the best time. All the sunbathers have
gone home and the place actually seems peaceful."
    "So why are we going to the beach if not for
sunbathing?" She hesitated. "Oh. You're not going to make me swim,
are you?"
    "You'll see."
    Annie rolled her eyes. If there was anything she hated
more than an egotistical male it was an egotistical male who said "You'll
see" with a smile as broad as the Cheshire Cat's.
    After battling through traffic, Zack pulled the
Ferrari into a parking spot at Santa Monica beach and got out. Annie did the
same and followed him to an ice cream stand.
    "We're going to eat ice cream," she said not
really believing it.
    "Yep. That okay with you or are you way too
sophisticated for ice cream?"
    She scoffed at him. "Do I look
sophisticated?"
    He smiled. "What flavor?"
    "Chocolate of course."
    He ordered and paid for the ice creams and handed the
chocolate one to her.
    She licked it. "Now what?"
    "We walk along the beach."
    "Okay. But I don't see what you're trying to
teach me here."
    "To relax and enjoy the sunset."
    She frowned, disbelieving. "That sounds a little
too normal. I don't think Dug-E would be interested in sunsets. Sunrises maybe,
after a night of hard partying."
    "I don't care what Dug-E is interested in right
now," Zack said, nudging her. "This isn't part of your
training."
    She didn't know what to make of that. Not part of
her training. Then what were they doing? What possible motive could he have
for taking her for a walk along the beach with