All Chapters of Black Ties and White Lies: A Billionaire Fake Engagement: Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

PRESTON“Come on, let’s get you home,” I tell Emma, carefully laying my hand on the small of her back.Emma glares at me, adorably sticking her tongue out to show her displeasure. “Oh, but honey, I just got started telling everyone about our first date.”“We can save the rest of the story for another time,” I assure her. Emma had just started telling my family about the first date we never had. Her story was getting a little too elaborate to seem believable, so I had to cut in. If she agrees to be my girlfriend for this week—which I hope she does—we’re going to have to go over a few things first. The first thing being how we met and some details about how we first started dating.I might also have to tell her who I am and what I do for a living. She doesn’t seem to have a clue, but I feel bad leaving her in the dark, although it is refreshing for her to treat me like a normal human.“Do you really have to go?” Peyton asks, her words slurring slightly. She adjusts her body in Jackson’s

EMMAMy head is pounding. It’s like there’s a tiny little guy with a hammer sitting between my temples, beating both sides of my skull.I groan, realizing that my phone is vibrating on the pillow next to me. Pulling my own pillow over my head, I try to ignore it. My head is making it obvious I had a little too much to drink last night, and the last thing I want to do is talk to someone. All I want to do is go back to sleep and hopefully wake up without this excruciating headache.My phone stops vibrating for not even a minute when it starts back up again. Another loud groan escapes me as I push the top half of my body and reach for it. Winnie’s picture pops up on the screen.I slide to answer, trying to clear my dry throat. Maybe she needs me to meet a delivery driver or something for the house. “Hello,” I answer, realizing my voice sounds scratchier than normal.“Emma!” Winnie excitedly says on the other side of the line. “I’ve been trying to call you all morning.”“What time is it?”

PRESTONI sit in the driveway, my thumbs tapping against my steering wheel as my agent’s voice trails from the speaker of my phone.“Everyone in the front office is wanting an answer, Preston,” Ryan says, his voice tight. I know I’m making his life far more complicated than necessary right now, but it’s my right to do so. I’ve given my all to football for years. My heart isn’t in it anymore. I don’t want to completely trash my body, and as I get older, I realize that I want to be known for things other than my stats as a quarterback.“If the front office wants an answer today, then I don’t think they’ll like the one I give them,” I answer angrily, knowing it’s not fair to take out my frustration on Ryan.He sighs, staying quiet on the other end of the line for a moment while he gathers his thoughts. “I’ll tell them you haven’t decided, then.” It isn’t hard to hear the disappointment laced in every single one of his words.“Ryan, I really think this is going to be my last year.” I look

I’m slipping into what seems like the twentieth dress I’ve tried on when the smell of coffee wafts into the room I’m staying in. I pause, holding the straps of the halter dress as I try to figure out where that delicious smell could be coming from.I’d opened some windows when I woke up to let in the ocean breeze throughout the house. Maybe the smell is coming from a nearby house—or even Preston’s guesthouse. I close my eyes for a minute, relishing in how good it smells, even if I won’t have any.Ignoring the delicious aroma surrounding me, I look at myself in the mirror. My fingers hurriedly work at tying the two straps of the halter dress into a neat bow at the nape of my neck. If Winnie were here, she’d help me pick out an outfit that would probably be more appropriate for a garden party, but I’m working with the options I brought.The cream-colored dress has little blue flower details all over the fabric that complement my eyes. I was hesitant at first to choose this dress because

I let out a long exhale. “I wanted to make you some food to help cure the hangover, but it turns out you have nothing here to eat but stale Pop-Tarts and an abundance of boxes of noodles.”“My flight got in late last night,” she tells me, picking up the box of Pop-Tarts and inspecting the expiration date. “I didn’t have time to get groceries.”I nod, setting my coffee down on the kitchen island and tucking my hands into my pockets. “That’s right, you were too busy breaking and entering.”Her free hand falls to her chest. “Low blow, Preston Rhodes. Plus, if I hadn’t broken into the party, you wouldn’t have a fake girlfriend preventing all your sister’s friends from flocking to you at the wedding.”I drop the topic, surprisingly grateful she decided to crash the party. Despite her propensity to catch me off guard and even make me blush, I’ve enjoyed the little time I’ve spent with her so far. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’m ready for more of it.“Rhodes, huh?” I prod, changing the subj