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“I do like the idea of having a candidate with an actual brain, rather than some vapid actress or influencer.”

I turned to Jenna. She shot me a wink and what may have been the ghost of a smile. I sort of felt better about her. I figured maybe she wasn’t the soulless corporate drone that I had thought her to be originally. I supposed that having a boss like Evan meant she had to adopt a certain type of persona just to deal with him.

I turned back to Evan, who continued to hold my hand, waiting for my answer. I knew it would be fake, but at the same time, I thought how good it would feel, even just as a pretend love affair.

But then I remembered the sticking point. It would be a fake marriage. I would be opening myself up to that hurt that we’d all talked about and dismissed at Rinaldo’s bar.

“No, I can’t do this.” I gently pulled my hand out of his grasp. “I’m sorry, I just can’t do it. I can’t be part of a fake relationship, let alone a fake wedding.”

Evan cocked an eyebrow at me.

“There’s no reason for you to decline my offer.”

“Yes, there is. I just said I don’t want to. That’s a good enough reason.”

His lips twitched slightly, but his gaze remained steadfast.

“I fully vetted you as well, Amanda. I know for a fact that you aresingle. You spend most of your time working. Your career is your life, as much as you might hate to admit it.”

He was right. I really was something of a workaholic. I rarely, if ever, dated. For one thing, we were always holding events all over the country, even all over the world. It was hard to meet anyone when you were always on the move.

But that was just a cop-out. I knew the truth. Sticking to my job was easier. I didn’t have to feel anxious or worry about whether a guy was into me or not. I could just concentrate on my career.

“Besides,” Evan continued as I reeled from his previous speech. “You can continue to work for the charity just as you do now. The only difference will be that you will now have my financial resources, public sway, and business clout at your disposal.”

“That’s a very good point, and it would provide a considerable boost to the cause of saving the rainforest,” I said, “but still, you’re talking about my life here. I can’t just upend it and play your phony wife for the sake of an increase in your stock prices, or to make you more money.”

“It would only be for a year.” Evan’s voice sounded so reasonable. Or maybe I was just looking for excuses to say yes. “Only a year, that’s all. Think of all the good you could do, Amanda, with my financial might and celebrity at your behest.”

I understood the value of his proposal. Logically, it made good sense. I could use his financial means and clout to get things done. To make a real difference for the rainforest and the people who lived there.

But my soul was in disarray. I just couldn’t bring myself to agree, as much as part of me wanted to.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “My answer is still no.”

Evan’s face darkened, and I shrank back from his gaze.

“Everyone out.”

Without a word, everyone rose to their feet and headed for thedoor, even Jenna, his personal assistant. I started to leave as well, figuring he was mad at me.

“Not you, Amanda,” he said. “Sit down.”

I sat down and spread my hands out wide in supplication.

“I’m sorry, Evan. I just can’t help you with this.”

“I see.” His cold gaze melted into a smoldering heat wave. I felt a tingle run down my spine. He hadn’t looked at me like that since that night on the plane. “So, perhaps you need another type of convincing?”

He reached out and took my hand in both of his own. Evan stroked his nimble fingers along my skin. I felt goosebumps rising all over me. It felt so good, so fantastic even to have him touch me again. Moreover, the velvety soft tone had returned to his voice.

“What are you doing?” I asked, but it was a rhetorical question. A blind man could have seen what he was proposing. I knew it, and my body knew it too. I felt myself getting hot.

He rose from his seat, releasing my hand. I panted as he walked behind my chair. I stared out the window, flashing back to when we’d flown above the clouds at sunset.

“Remember that fiery sunset, Amanda?” he purred. “I stood behind you, just like this.”

He put his hands on my shoulders, and I couldn’t stop a sigh from issuing from my mouth. I remembered all right. I had been aching for him to touch me again for so long, despite all of my protests and worries that a man like him could never want a woman to like me.