Between Desire and Denial: A Fake Dating Romance, Hardy Billionaires By Shain Rose

Dimitri Hardy and I were never meant to be friends. He’s a high-risk investor with a carefree attitude, while I’ve always been the tightly wound, dramatic type, trying to distance myself from my glamorous upbringing. Our lives couldn’t be more different. So, when Dimitri witnessed my public breakup with my cheating professor—and the subsequent fallout, including having to redo my master’s thesis—it was a particularly low point.

Seeing an opportunity amidst my crisis, Dimitri proposed a deal: he’d help me with my thesis if I helped him win over the upscale town where I’d grown up, a place he’d just heavily invested in. His plan was simple: I’d move back home for the summer, pretend to be in a relationship with him, and publicly show that he’s trustworthy. In return, he’d assist with my academic struggles.

At first, it seemed like a manageable arrangement. But what Dimitri doesn’t realize is that spending a few months in my hometown can be intensely damaging. And even more complicated is the growing, undeniable chemistry between us. As we navigate the charade, faking affection in public while battling our private, simmering desire, it becomes clear that this summer might ruin more than just my academic career. It could dismantle the carefully guarded walls around my heart and lead us both into uncharted territory.