The Fiancee Charade

The Fiancee Charade
Darcy Maguire

The diary of Jess Thompson…Friday 7th: My business is struggling–need to get inside info from arch-rival businessman Alex Calahan. He's looking for a bride–and my colleague thinks I could help….Wednesday 12th, a.m.: Alex has hired me to teach him the art of romance! Note to self: must not fall for Alex. He might be gorgeous–but he seems to be after that snob Natasha Bradford-Jones.Wednesday p.m.: Eek! He's persuaded me to pose as his fiancée to make horrid Natasha jealous! But why does he want her? I'm the one for him!Friday 14th: His fiancée charade is having opposite effect–he seems more interested in me! Note to self: can I fall for him now?

Jess’s belly tightened. “The last thing I want to do is help. I think I’ve done enough. I think you’ve done enough pretending that I’m your fiancée…. I think it’s time for me to go home.”

“Stay,” Alex whispered. “We can talk this through. You can tell me what an idiot I am. Please.”

Jess warred with herself. Hell, she was starting to feel for the guy. Sure, he was a messed-up individual, but with parents like his, and with a head that hardly fit through a door for the size of his ego, she understood him.

She shook her head and forced her legs to move. She had to go. She couldn’t stay. She was starting to soften to his cause, to feel his pain, to see his heart….

Darcy Maguire spends her days as a matchmaker, torturing tall, handsome men, seducing them into believing in love and romancing their socks off! And when she’s not working on her novels, she enjoys gardening, reading and going to the movies. She loves to hear from readers. Visit her at www.darcymaguire.com

Books by Darcy Maguire

HARLEQUIN ROMANCE®

3745—HER MARRIAGE SECRET

3754—ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

3801—A PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT* (#litres_trial_promo)

3805—THE BEST MAN’S BABY* (#litres_trial_promo)

3809—A CONVENIENT GROOM* (#litres_trial_promo)

The Fiancée Charade

Darcy Maguire

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE (#uad44f52c-4252-5a10-95d0-2d2f2bf1de53)

CHAPTER TWO (#u165842a5-8f5d-54b0-ba98-279992e70526)

CHAPTER THREE (#ua2a172f2-79d2-5862-8faf-3b11ac3790d6)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u9985a015-d259-565f-9dce-12b5e7969111)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE

‘YOU won’t believe this.’ Kath slapped down a women’s magazine on the bar in front of Jess Thompson, the pages open.

Jess lowered her cocktail and stared at the full-page picture, her breath catching in her throat.

It couldn’t be.

No way.

She touched the glossy surface gingerly, tracing the name printed in bold letters at the top of the spread, shaking her head slowly. How much more was this guy going to torture her?

‘Alexander Calahan,’ Kath purred close to her.

It was him. The man that Jess had thought about incessantly for the last four years.

She stared at the image filling the page. He looked wider in the shoulders than she’d imagined, and far more handsome.

She’d hoped he’d look like the weasel he was, but there was no justice in the world. He was far cuter than he deserved to be, considering the person he was—and what he’d done.

She chewed on her bottom lip. Maybe he’d had the shot touched up to wipe out his warts, scales and horns. After all, no female executive flicking through would hire this guy for the advertising needs of her company if he looked like the creature he was.

‘It’s new today.’ Kath slid onto the stool beside her, smoothing down the blood-red dress that was clinging to her ample body. ‘Saw it on the way here and had to buy it for you.’

‘Thanks,’ Jess whispered tightly, pushing an errant lock of brown hair back from her face. Seeing this guy in a magazine was the last thing she needed, yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away.