Marriage in Name Only?

‘Say yes and I’ll explain.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s ridiculous. Impossible.’

‘You’re already married?’

‘No. I just … can’t up and go away with you.’ But that kind of money, a tiny, desperate voice whispered. ‘Dubai …?’

‘Have you been there?’

‘No.’

‘But that adventurous girl would like to, right?’ He nodded. ‘Think about it, Chloe.’

Oh, she was. She surely was. Like how easy it would be to fall into another man’s honeyed money trap.

‘If you’re worried about publicity, no one need know,’ he assured her in a soothing tone.

‘Oh, yeah? The media obviously loves you. What if they see us together and get snap happy?’

‘I’ll make sure they don’t. I’m an expert at not being seen when I don’t want to be seen.’

Ideas were tumbling inside her head. She was already calculating what she could do with that kind of money. First and foremost she could ensure her parents kept their home, with plenty left over. For once in her life she’d be the golden girl. This man could be the fabulous guy she’d told her parents about. Win-win.

She shook her head. Forget fabulous guy. What was she thinking? This man wasn’t Stewart, nor was he ever going to meet her family. ‘I only just met you. I may be a risk-taker but I’m not stupid.’

‘No, you’re not stupid—you’re being cautious. We can discuss it, then—’

‘Discuss it …’

His lucrative business contract.

A fortune in cash.

A fake marriage.

‘Why would a wealthy, good-looking guy such as yourself consider such a drastic course of action with short, plain-speaking, plain-dressing Chloe Montgomery, I’d like to know? Surely you have plenty of willing candidates?’