Page 1 of Fake it for Keeps

1

COLT

“You’re a mess.” My sister popped open her small handbag and rifled through it.

“I’m fine,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You fuss too much.”

Her annoyed frown made her look every bit the right-hand woman our late father had groomed her to be. She found what she was searching for in her purse and held it out to me. “We’re supposed to be presenting you as reformed, Colt. Polished. A man who’s finally taking the reins of Valenteen seriously.”

I took the shiny flat disc from her. “What am I supposed to do with this? Does it need an app or something?”

“It’s a mirror,” she said flatly. “Fix your face.”

I flipped the mirror open and found my reflection. A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth when I saw the perfect imprint of a pair of lips in red lipstick on my cheek.

I wiped the stain away with the back of my hand. “Better?”

Frankie’s brows drew together. “I wish you’d take this more seriously, Colt.”

“I am taking it seriously.” I smoothed my hair back, checking my reflection in her little pocket mirror one last time. Still a little disheveled. I’d been in a rush when Chelsea texted that she was in town for the night, and she was not a woman you ignored or rejected. “A friend called and let me know she was in town. I’m warming up for the main event.”

I smoothed my collar and wet my thumb with my tongue to wipe away the lingering pink smudge on my cheek.

Frankie’s eyes narrowed but she caught the mirror when I tossed it back to her. “Warming up? Is that what we’re calling your revolving door of hookups now?”

“Revolving door sounds so impersonal.” I adjusted my bow tie, which had somehow gotten crooked during my pit stop at Chelsea’s hotel. I thought I had more time before we had to pick up Frankie. But Chelsea had other plans. “I prefer to think of it as a carefully curated roster of talented individuals.”

“You’re a hoe.”

I laughed. “And you’re a prude.”

She pushed back against her seat and crossed her arms before showing me her profile and gazing studiously out the window at surrounding traffic. “You smell like Chanel and bad decisions.”

“That’s my signature scent.”

She shot me a glare out of the corner of her eye. I winked at her, but her expression didn’t soften. If anything, she looked more irritated. Poor girl.

Her intentions were always good, but she was delusional if she thought her advice and scolding sessions were going to change a damn thing about how I operated. In business? Hell yeah, I’d take Frankie’s advice. But letting her speak about who I let into my bed?

No way. If I didn’t adore her so much I’d tell her to stay in her own lane. But I did adore her, and poking fun at her and making her squirm was a lot more fun than hurting her feelings.

“The ladies always compliment how I smell.” I leaned back in my seat, too, and studied my sister as her composure began to crack. She finally looked at me and I pumped my eyebrows.

“Don’t look so pleased with yourself,” she muttered. “And get yourself tested one of these days.”

The limo slowed as we approached the venue. I could already see the flash of cameras through the tinted windows. My stomach tightened, not with nerves but with the familiar weight of expectation. It had been a year since I inherited Dad’s empire, and every public appearance felt like walking a tightrope. One misstep, and the press would eat me alive.

My reputation was well known. I didn’t care. I never tried to hide it. But it did make for some damn good gossip and that often led to more whispers than I cared for.

And Frankie hated the gossip.

It pissed her off and made her mad at me.

“Smile, Colt,” Frankie hissed as the car rolled to a stop. “For once in your life, just look like you give a damn about love.”

I smirked, glancing at the paparazzi lined up like vultures waiting for dinner. “I’m here, aren’t I? That’s as close to love as they’re gonna get.”

“That’s the problem.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. “Your reputation can’t survive another night of you leaving with a different woman. Do you understand me? This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about Valenteen. About Dad’s legacy.”