The Fiancee Charade

‘Can I say the same about you?’

Alex crossed his arms over his chest. ‘You don’t really want to be here, do you?’

She shook her head. ‘No, but I’m hoping you’re going to make it worth my while.’

He nodded, but the familiar focus on money chafed at him. Why he was surprised he had no idea. It was what made the world go round, what women were always thinking of to fund their next shopping fix.

Alex slid a gold pen from his jacket pocket and scribbled a figure on a piece of paper. ‘What’s your day job?’

‘Much the same as this,’ she lied, her voice sweet and low. ‘But enough about me. Let’s talk about…you.’

He straightened and handed her the paper. Whoever had screwed her over had done it big-time. Her abhorrence for this job—and him—was obvious. And Lucas was right. He couldn’t help feel the thrill of the challenge ahead of him.

Would it take long to learn serious relationship etiquette? And would it take longer to teach her to like men again?

‘Is that enough to compensate you for putting up with me all day?’ he asked tightly.

She glanced at the paper. ‘Are you this big a bastard?’

He couldn’t help but smile. ‘You have to ask?’

She managed a smile too, meeting his gaze with fiery green eyes, jerking her chin up and her shoulders back. ‘Of course you are. Silly me. You’re the most arrogant ass in the city. I should wonder that there are any women left for you to screw over.’

He rubbed his chin. ‘There are a couple I’ve had my eye on…But they’re from good families with real marriage potential and I don’t want to mess it up this time.’

She bared her teeth in a forced smile. ‘I’ll do all I can to help you see the error of your ways.’

Alex clapped his hands, the buzz of anticipation sizzling through him. ‘Great.’

Step one accomplished. Agreement to the task at hand, and the sacrifice of spending time with him.

He had nothing to worry about.

He’d have no problem at all in running through the protocol for lasting relationships, mastering it, then pursuing and obtaining the woman of his dreams and having the perfect life.

Then he’d have everything. He’d be happy. And not even his father could take that away from him.

Jess followed Alexander Calahan’s more than sexy body to his office, pinching herself on the leg as she went. This couldn’t be happening. She was living her darkest nightmare.

She’d thought of standing the guy up—thought of leaving the country or just staying under the warm covers of her bed this morning. But she couldn’t have lived with disappointing Kath. Not when Kath believed in her crazy plan to take on Calahan and destroy him when no one else would.

Just the thought of spending time with Attila of the ad world made her blood drain to her toes. Actually being with him was surreal.

Seeing him standing in the foyer, in a killer tailored suit that hugged his wide shoulders and hunky body to perfection, with his smooth shave and sexy mouth, with his blue gaze on her like that, had made her nerves quiver.

She touched the piece of paper in her trouser pocket. At least she’d be reasonably compensated for putting up with him.

She could do this. It shouldn’t take long to weasel the truth out of Calahan about his latest publicity stunt and knock this silly bride idea on the head. As if he’d be serious. Did he really think she was going to swallow this act of his?

She shook her head, still following Calahan. Kath owed her big-time for this.

‘Mrs Samuels, this is Jess. She’ll be consulting with me today,’ Calahan stated smoothly to an older woman sitting at a desk in front of a set of double doors. ‘Jess, this is Mrs Samuels, my secretary. If you have any questions or problems, she’s the one to ask.’

Jess managed to nod to the woman.

‘She’s one of the natural wonders of the world,’ he offered, moving to the doors. ‘She’s the mother of five boys, grandmother to two girls, and still manages to run my office and organise my life for me.’

Jess darted a second look to the woman, then to Calahan. He sounded…as if he cared…as though he were nice.

Calahan flung open the double doors.

An office of conference room proportions lay before them. The impossibly large mahogany desk stood close to floor-to-ceiling windows that framed a magnificent vista of the city. A deep brown leather lounge sat to one side of Jess, pot plants, artworks and a bar to the other.

He strode into the room and swung around to face her, the smile on his face like a schoolboy’s. ‘You like?’

She bit her bottom lip, jerking her attention away from his too blue eyes, walking slowly into the room.

Only in her wildest dreams could she imagine working in an office this amazing—with glorious views, lavish furniture, and so much space.

She turned back to Calahan slowly, quelling the excitement rising in her belly, counting the stunts he had to have pulled, the clients he had to have stolen, the lives he’d wrecked to get this.

‘Over-compensating, are we?’ she blurted.

He blinked, touching his jaw as though she’d slapped him.

The doors closed behind her. Mrs Samuels?

‘Come on,’ she goaded, moving across to the windows, clamping down the response rising in her throat at the incredible view. ‘What are you saying with this? That you’ve got no talent, no personality, nothing to offer except a load of money?’

Calahan crossed his arms over his formidable chest. ‘I know you’re here to be honest, but—’

She lifted her chin, a bubble of excitement rising up in her chest because she’d hit home. ‘Are you feeling threatened?’ she lilted, narrowing her gaze.

He shook his head. ‘No, not at all,’ he said easily, spreading his arms wide. ‘This is for the clients—to show them how successful this company is and highlighting all the talent I employ. I personally wouldn’t mind working in a six-foot-square cubicle.’

Jess pursed her mouth tight. Sure. She was really meant to believe that? She stared out at Sydney, his formidable presence behind her giving her the impression she was hunting a tiger in his own jungle.

She shouldn’t be here.

She dragged in a deep breath and swung around. ‘So, how about we get started? Are you going to a meeting? Touring your workplace? What? I think it best if I just observe you.’

‘I thought we’d start right here.’ Calahan reduced the distance between them. ‘I figure I’ll run past you my modus operandi for getting the ladies, and you can tell me if I’m mucking it up.’

Jess took a step backwards, pressing her back against the cool glass, her heart leaping into her throat. ‘What?’

‘I figure my whole approach might be wrong for attracting a serious relationship.’ He shrugged, as though he didn’t quite believe it could be. ‘But let’s run through it, and you can tell me if there’s anything not quite right, okay?’

She opened her mouth, but the protests wouldn’t come. His stormy blue eyes were far too bright, his sexy kiss-me lips curving softly, his bearing far too confident. And he was getting far too close.