Billionaire's Accidental Wife

Chapter 22

If she’d thought Dave had looked good in that T-shirt while at Sebastian’s house one year ago –well, shut her mouth. And open it again, because those dimples were in danger of making Chelsea’s jaw hit the floor. How could he look so good in a suit?

He wore a dark navy suit, the jacket unbuttoned and the scarlet silk of his shirt making his skin almost glow. He’d tugged off his tie in the heat and was now absentmindedly wrapping it around and around his strong, graceful hands. His gorgeous eyes seemed to sparkle in the faint light of the torches and fireworks, and his hair fell in defiant curls around his face. A hint of stubble graced his cheeks, just enough to rasp against someone’s skin if he leaned down to claim their mouth with those full, pouty lips… Oops, Shawn was saying words. She should probably pay attention to Richmond’s words and not Dave’s lips and notice how Jane and Catherine are eying her like a mother hen. Though Dave’s lips were definitely more interesting.

He’s got a company to run, Chelsea reminded herself. He’s off-limits, and also, he’s a jerk! He chose his work over hers. Like, who does that? One minute he was telling her he bloody loved her, and the next he told her that she needed to stay away from him for a while.

Jerk!

a strict no-jerk policy! All jerks must be put in checked luggage; if she attempts to board this relationship with a jerk, Security will ask her to step out from the line. “-all in the museum together,” Shawn was explaining to Jane. “Dave, my wife and I played Indian Jones together in Thailand. If

so high they could have formed their own airline. Dave took her hand. “Stop being a jerk, Dave,” she said shortly, pulling her hand away. “Dave, did you forget your manners again?” Catherine asked. “He likes to put on the whole Prince Charming act now, but way way back home, he couldn’t speak two words to girls that weren’t ‘move, you’re blocking the Twilight chronicles or whatever those nerdy guys called.” “Catherine, please,” Dave said, starting to look embarrassed. “This one time,” Dave started, a wicked grin blooming on her face, “he didn’t know his crush from the debate team was in the lobby, and he was racing down the stairs, skinny arms flailing in the wind-you should have seen him before he got into body-building, a toothpick could have taken him in a

C22

punch in the shoulder. His face took on a mischievous cast, and his slightly awkward. smile widened. “Unless you want me to bring up that incident with you, the sorority, the drunk homeless man, ice cream, and the fire department.” Catherine shot a fake-panicked look at Jane and Chelsea, who rolled their

think I’ll play it safe,” Catherine said, “and change the subject. Where’s your lovely date, Dave? Have you met her, Chelsea?” Jane raised her

HI

“Oh, there you are, Davey dear!” she simpered like a little lost kitten. “Ugh, this charity ball is such a drag! And oh my God, books. Like, what are poor kids even going to do with books? Can they even, like, read? Aren’t they all on crack?” Chelsea breathed in harder and raised her

as she could. “I think I need more drinks. Yes. A drink. Bye!” And she fled behind the kitchen area where no one could see her. Ten minutes later, when Chelsea had recovered, she poked her head back out and surveyed the scene. The coast was clear; Dave and his bimbo…she wanted to say ‘date,’ but ‘disaster’ seemed so much more accurate… seemed

paused for a moment before going to rejoin them, just watching them, so in love and so unselfconscious. Shawn teases Catherine by holding a chocolate-dipped strawberry just too high for her to grab and then kisses her gently before feeding it to her himself. Catherine laughs and relaxes into

if her whole package had gotten lost in the