Their Love Deal

By Helen Walton

What started as a way to keep her mom from nagging her about marriage ended in more...

Recent college graduate Tiffany Herringer never expected to fall in love with her two boyfriends. After three years of loving Dieter Brant and Dex Munroe, she can’t let go of either of them. Everyone seems content with their arrangement, until the graduation party when Tiff discovers they know each other—and they’re friends—friends who talk about her and the things she likes.

When they suggest merging their relationships, Tiff doesn’t think she can be with two men at once. Sure, she dates them both, but together? If she agrees, she’ll never have to choose between Dieter and Dex, but then she’ll never get married. Not that she wants to get married ... or does she?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Nov 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9780369504722

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Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2021 Helen Walton

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0472-2

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Lisa Petrocelli

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

For Dannielle and her inspiration choices of Keanu Reeves and Ben Barnes.

THEIR LOVE DEAL

Billionaires’ Reluctant Brides, 1

Helen Walton

Copyright © 2021

Chapter One

Loving Dieter was as easy as breathing. Loving just Dieter was as hard as breathing under water. It seemed I enjoyed living under water. Either that or I didn’t enjoy breathing.

Dieter drove Mom and me through the busy streets of Los Angeles after the college graduation ceremony. He was ever so attractive in his suit and tie, but then he always was. There was an allure to his tanned complexion and dark looks from the moment I’d set eyes on him in the college library.

Thanks for driving my mom home, Dieter, I said.

Anytime, Tiff. You know that. Dieter shot me a smile. The sexy grin melted my insides with the lure of his passionate lips.

Yes, thank you, young man. Mom squeezed her hand to his shoulder from the back seat of his new shiny Jaguar, a graduation present from his parents.

I wished my parents could afford to buy me a Jag.

Instead, Dad was a chauffeur for a billionaire. Not that there was anything wrong with his job, except for today when he should have driven us home from my graduation ceremony, he’d driven Mr. Burberry and Prue home instead.

You’d think Mr. Burberry would have given Dad the day off for my graduation, I huffed.

He did, Mom said. Your pappa chose to drive them today. You know he thinks of William as a son.

Yeah, but still…

Tiffany Louise Herringer, stop acting like a little girl. Mom flicked my ear with her finger. Prue is your friend too.

Yes, Mom. I hung my head, but not before catching the twitch of Dieter’s lips. Chastised by my mom in front of one of my boyfriends was not how I expected my graduation day to go. I don’t know why he thought this was so funny.

Here we are. Dieter parked his car in my parents’ driveway outside their modest three-bedroom house. Nice to see you again, Mrs. Herringer.

He was always so polite. Dieter could do no wrong in my mom’s eyes—the perfect student at college, and caring boyfriend. He was soon to be a successful financial advisor in his father’s firm to the rich and famous of Los Angeles. With a rich and famous actress mother too, the great Octavia Brant.

Mom sighed with an exaggerated exhale. When will I get to see my baby’s wedding? I’m not getting any younger.

Mom, I scalded. I’m too young for marriage.

Dieter chuckled, his dark eyes alight with humor at my expense again.

Pish, posh. Your friend Prue married years ago and she’s the same age as you.

I groaned. I was 23, for goodness sake.

Dieter slid his hand into mine across the console of the car. We have plenty of time to decide on marriage.

She flicked his ear.

Ow. He ducked his head.

Mom opened the car door and paused halfway out of the car. I’ll see you two tomorrow at the Burberry’s graduation pool party.

Oh, no, she didn’t. She knew damn well I hadn’t invited either of the men I was dating. Her bloody single-minded determination to see me married. I scowled at my mother over my shoulder. She smiled with a cunningness only she managed when it came to my future wedding. Seemed she had Dieter as the groom in her sights.

If I didn’t love two men, then I wouldn’t be so against Dieter as my husband. What started out as a little fun—dating two men at once just to prove to Mom I wasn’t ready for marriage—backfired when I fell in love with them both. And marrying two men was out of the question. The law didn’t condone those sorts of relationships.

Dieter rubbed his ear, ruffling his dark hair. Graduation party?

Yeah. I chewed my top lip. You can come if you like.

He shoved the car into reverse. That’s okay, you would have invited me if you wanted me to come.

I want you to come. I tugged his tie until he faced me. Please, Dieter. It’s your graduation too.

Do you already have a date?

No.

All right, I’ll come then. He kissed the tip of my nose.

I released his tie and smoothed my hands over his chest. It’ll be good to see you without a suit and tie.

His dark brown eyes sparkled. How about when I drop you home, I show you my birthday suit instead?

I flicked my wrist and shoved the sleeve of the graduation gown back to peer at my watch. Sorry, I won’t have time.

He lifted his foot off the brake, and we moved out of the driveway onto the road. He drove back into town to my tiny studio apartment near campus. I guess now that I’d graduated I could look for a bigger place with my new job, an entry level position at Ozwald Delante, a top fashion designer I’d admired since I could say the word fashion. A position I planned to work my butt off to get to the top. One day I’d be a famous fashion designer with my name on a label and legendary. One day I’d have enough money so Dad could retire. Mom’s words made me wonder if Dad would retire if he had the chance.

Dieter’s sullenness filled the car.

Do you want to come up for coffee? I asked.

His dark eyebrows rose. I thought you didn’t have time.

I have half an hour to get ready.

He parked his car in the lot behind my apartment building.

You need like three minutes to get ready. You’re gorgeous as you are.

I laughed and opened the door. He climbed out and stared at me over the roof of his low-slung car.

I’m serious, Tiff.

Come on, Dieter. I nodded my head at my apartment building. You can see my birthday suit while I’m changing out of this graduation gown.

That’s an invitation I can’t refuse.

We walked over to the main entrance, and I punched in the code to unlock the door. Dieter made sure it locked behind us. You could never be too careful in this part of Los Angeles. We climbed the stairs to my third-floor apartment. At my apartment door, I slid my hand under my gown and fetched my key.

Dieter laughed. What else do you have under the gown?

Wouldn’t you like to know? I smirked and stepped inside my small one-bedroom apartment.

He locked the door behind him and grabbed my waist from behind. I’d love to know. His husky breath skated over my ear.

It’s unfair you took your gown off before leaving.

He nibbled on my ear. I couldn’t drive in it.

I took another step inside my apartment.

Where do you think you’re going? His body followed mine while his lips sucked on my earlobe.

My bedroom. I shivered as his lips continued their trail over the shell of my ear.

Nope. We don’t have time for that. He turned my head and kissed my lips.

I sunk into his fervent adoration of my mouth. His tongue stroked mine with a sensuality and familiarity that made my body ache with need. Dieter’s hands tugged at the length of my gown until it gathered around my waist.

Let’s get you off.

I giggled. I need to get the gown off.

After. His eyes darkened with passion. What do you have on underneath?

Just a summer dress.

Nothing is just a dress with you. His hand slid under the short hem of my dress and up the inside of my thigh.

My skin exploded into rippling goose bumps.

His thumb brushed over my aching flesh.

I bet you made a dress special for today. Something as gorgeous as you.

He slid his fingers inside my panties and found me wet with desire already. It took little effort from Dieter to get me going.

I grabbed his forearms in a tight grip.

He nibbled on my ear again. My clever boyfriend knew all the spots that sent me crazy with lust. His thumb circled my clit with a slowness that made me rock my hips, trying to get more friction.

That’s it, ride my hand. He slid a long, thick digit into my aching channel. I’d rather you ride my cock.

My inner muscles clenched with need.

Pity we don’t have the time. He ran his nose along my ear.

I turned my head. He captured my lips with his again. He tugged on my bottom lip with his teeth until my mouth ached for a soothing caress. I rocked against his hand, his finger so hard and insistent on my flesh. He picked up the pace of his fingers, stroking my insides into an aching build of ecstasy.

I ripped my mouth away from his. Oh God.

My orgasm burst free, clenching around his finger in a tight ball of muscles Dieter commanded at his will with such ease.

God? He chuckled, withdrew his hand, and wrenched my gown over my head. Did I have you seeing heaven?

Not quite. I tugged his tie, so he’d follow me into my bedroom.

I’ll have to try harder next time. He stretched out on my bed and crossed his arms behind his head.

You don’t need to do anything different. I love you the way you are.

Tiff. He sighed. I wish you were coming to my parents’ graduation party with me tonight.

I unzipped my short summer dress in a bold floral print that hugged my waist and flared at my hips. One of my many creations.

We both know it’s better I don’t go.

Screw my mom, he said.

I dropped my dress to my ankles and stepped out of it. She’s never going to believe I’m not after you for your money.

It doesn’t matter what she believes.

His gaze raked my body in a matching delicate mauve lace bra and panty set.

Do you have a date for tonight? I asked, not wanting the answer and wanting it at the same time. When we’d first started dating three years ago, we’d agreed to keep it casual and not discuss who else we were seeing. It’d kept things light between us, but the last three months after I’d ended my relationships with both Dieter and Dex to date just one man, which didn’t work out, and I’d gone running back to both my loves, well, things had changed. I couldn’t quite put my finger on the exact change, but it was there.

I do. He sat up.

It shouldn’t hurt, but it kind of did.

I yanked on a pair of designer jeans—ones I’d designed myself—and a shiny black top with an open back and a silver chain as a halter neck. Another of my designs.

From sweet and adorable to sexy and smoldering. Dieter stood and wrapped his arms around my waist. You’d pull off any look.

Thanks. I wriggled out of his embrace. Damn stupid jealousy. I sat at my dressing table and coated my face in a thick layer of makeup, hoping it’d hide the green beast inside me.

You don’t need that shit, he said, his brows dipping into a deep scowl in the mirror behind me.

I’m going clubbing, I said as an excuse. I had too much of a sweet girl-next-door look when I didn’t wear makeup, with a button nose and full cheeks that Mom pinched like crazy when I was little. She still did sometimes.

I unpinned my updo and let my dark curls fall to my shoulders, then fluffed my fingers through the strands.

I wish neither of us had other plans tonight. Dieter’s gaze shot to the bed.

I slid on a pair of high heels and stood. I’d never be close to Dieter’s six-foot-three height, even in heels. But a girl could try. I placed a kiss on his cheek, leaving behind a bright red kiss mark of lipstick.

Wouldn’t want your date to see that. I scrubbed the smudge from his face with my thumb.

I’m taking Selena tonight, he blurted.

Selena has a girlfriend. My juvenile jealousy jumped for joy at his admission.

Yes. He checked his shiny silver Versace watch, a graduation gift from his grandmother. His mother’s side of the family came from a long line of rich and famous actors. I couldn’t fault his family’s taste in fashion.

I grabbed my clutch and keys and walked to the apartment door. Dieter followed, a knowing smile on his face. We left the building in silence. Ridiculous happiness bubbled inside my chest that I had nothing to be jealous about with Dieter and his date when I was about to meet my other boyfriend, Dex.

Do you need a ride anywhere? he asked on the sidewalk.

No, I arranged an Uber.

Okay. He drew me into his embrace and ran his fingers up my bare back, making my skin explode in goose bumps. He whispered in my ear, Your date is a lucky man.

I squeezed his ass. So is Selena.

He chuckled and released me. Perhaps I can convince her and her girlfriend to have a threesome with me?

And my jealousy was back.

Stupid.

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying anything. The Uber stopped at the curb. I scampered into the car and slammed the door. It wasn’t the first time Dieter made comments about threesomes. Ever since we got back together, he dropped a hint at least once a week that he’d be into it. I sagged back in the car seat. Was I that type of girl? I dated two men at once, but together?

My cell phone pinged with a message.

Dex: Ready and waiting.

Me: I’m coming.

Dex: Without me?

I laughed and sent him back a laughing face. The other man I loved put a smile on my face. The Uber driver weaved through the heavy traffic and stopped outside a trendy nightclub. I stepped out into the muscular arms of Dex, and I forgot about Dieter, my jealousy, and his threesome comment. Dex twirled me around in the air with ease. I was small, but his muscles from an intense workout routine and his job as a mechanic helped. I giggled and slapped his shoulders.

Dex lowered me to my feet, a sexy lift to both his dark eyebrows. Hot damn, Fluff, you’re smoking tonight. He brushed the tip of