Page 48 of Morally Black Betrothal

“I was. Now…I don’t know.”

Instinct prickled at the back of my neck. I’d always had it. That internal knowledge that told me exactly when to strike and when to hold back. When a deal was ready to be pushed, or when the person on the other side of the table needed to be finessed.

“Maybe I can help with that.”

She snorted lightly but just audibly. It was adorable. “With another kiss?”

Jesus, angel, don’t tempt me.

“How about a business proposition that might include kissing?”

She turned to face me. “I know I’m poor, but I’m not ready for sex work. Yet, anyway.”

“What?” I reared. Christ, I thought we were joking. “No. That’s not what I meant.”

She cocked her head. “Didn’t you?”

“I—no. I do want to hire you. But not for sex.” Fuck finesse. Fuck beating around the bush. I was out of time. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I want to hire you to pretend to be my fiancée.” I pulled the contract I’d had drawn up from my inner jacket pocket. “The initial contract would cover four months to get to the annual shareholders’ meeting, with the option to extend the contract month to month if they keep me as an interim CEO for another year.”

I pushed the contract across the table. She looked at it like it might explode.

“A million dollars,” I said. “All you have to do is wear my ring, hold my hand, and pretend you’re going to be my wife.”

11

THE HARDEST BARGAIN

Brendan

“This is a joke,” Simone stated as her hand floated over the papers. “It’s got to be a joke.”

“I assure you, it’s not.” I opened the folded contract in front of her, creased neatly down the middle from my pocket. “You’ll be free to open your bakery. Go back to your farm, if that’s what you want. It’s all in there.”

Now that I had started this deal, I was determined to close it.

“You put the terms of a fake relationship in a contract?” She started flipping through the pages. “‘Client may kiss the Fiancée with a closed mouth’…what? You’ve listed details on acting out physical intimacy?”

“I wish something like this could be in good faith, but I have to protect myself. Protect us both, actually. Establishing limits is very important to me.”

When her eyes met mine on the word “limits,” something like strange electricity shocked me again, though we hadn’t touched.

“I just…” Simone’s eyes searching mine, then running back to the contract like it might spontaneously catch on fire. “Why me?”

I frowned. “I don’t understand the question.”

“Well, you’re…you’reyou.” She gestured up and down.

I didn’t bother to look down. I had a closet full of bespoke suits just like this one specifically designed to prompt that reaction. “Yes. So?”

“You’re rich, obviously. But you’re also charming and kind and gorgeous.” Her gaze traveled down my body, sopping just above my belt.

“You think I’m gorgeous, angel?”

The name fell off my tongue. At this point, how could it not?

I was rewarded with an eye roll. “I’m not dignifying that with an answer. The point is that you should be able to snap your fingers and find a girlfriend. Why would you need to hire me? Or anyone, for that matter?”

This time, when my gaze found her mouth, I didn’t stop looking. In fact, I enjoyed the way she shuddered and touched her bottom lip.