Page 15 of The Husband Contract

“You invited me out,” I say, and then shake my head. “What’s your real name, by the way?”

“I don’t give that out right away.” He shrugs. “I’m kinda a big deal.” He winks. “In many ways. I don’t want women using me for what I can offer them. It’s happened too many times to me. I have to protect myself and my family.”

“Huh?”

“When you’re wealthy...” He looks down at his phone, and I watch him swipe right a couple of times, like it’s no big deal. “I’m thirsty.”

“Umm...” I lick my lips nervously. “I think that this isn’t going to?—”

“Oh, look.” He holds up his phone and shows me a photo of a tabby cat with vivid green eyes. “This is Prissy.”

“Prissy?”

“Yeah. Your new daughter.”

I rub the side of my face and press my lips together. This has to be a joke. A big fat joke. The universe is laughing at me. Telling me that just when I thought my life couldn’t get any worse, I was wrong.

“I, uh, I gotta go. Emergency.” I wave awkwardly at him and hurry out of the coffee shop, running down the street as fast as I can and rounding the corner all without looking back. I slow down after about five minutes and stop next to a tree and take some deep breaths. I am exhausted and winded, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I do neither and instead pull out my phone and text Katherine and Brielle.

GET the wine out. I’ll be home in ten minutes. The date was a BUST.

I try to orient myself so I can find my car and hear my phone beep. I smile, thinking it’s one of myfriends, but when I see Clark Kent’s number, I frown, though I can’t stop myself from opening the text.

So sorry that an emergency came up. It was great meeting you, sexy. Maybe next date at my place? I’ll make you dinner. You bring the steaks, and I’ll make the sides. Let me know when you’re free.

“How about never,” I mumble and delete the text. The man is delusional. Absolutely delusional.

Beep.

Missing you already.

I want to throw up.

Chapter Four

Sebastian

I stare at the photo in my hands.

So this is her.

She's pretty, with long blonde hair, innocent green eyes, and pink, luscious lips. She looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, and I can understand why Sergio was taken in by her. She looks sweet and sincere when really, she is a deceptive seductress. For some reason, she looks slightly familiar, but I can’t figure out why. I would have remembered meeting a woman like her.

My right fist feels tight as I stare at the photo. If I met her in a bar, I wouldn't think twice about smiling and offering to buy her a drink. She is hot in an understated way.

"So what's her name?" I say finally, looking over at Louisa, who's standing next to one of the bookshelves witha smug look on her face, like she knows she’s done a good job. No one can say she’s lacking in confidence.

She's wearing a black power suit, and her hair is cut in a bob that emphasizes her powerful jawline. Her blue eyes are striking as she looks at me, her red lips pouting. She’s wearing three-inch heels and looks like a model as she strides over to me. She’s my investigator, sometimes assistant, and my most reliable employee.

"Her name is Willow Montgomery. She lives in Whispering Haven, about an hour and a half upstate, and she owns the Whispering Haven Bed and Breakfast, which she runs with her two best friends. After a little research, it seems like all of them are targeting rich men and manipulating them."

I grunt at this information. "Continue. What else do you know about her?"

"She's owned this hotel for a couple of years, but wants to expand. It seems like she makes it a habit of meeting and seducing men. She doesn't care what age they are. Once she's got her hooks into them, she gets them to give her money, and then she leaves them heartbroken. Sergio's not the first man that's fallen for her, and I'm sure he won't be the last. From what I can see, she’s escalating with the men she’s targeting. Sergio was her first millionaire, and she’s looking for her next victim." She looks at me with thin lips. "She's evil."

"Yes, it sounds like it." I stare at the photo and take in her face. "She really is. Face of an angel, but heart of a devil. Is there anything else you know about her?"

She shakes her head. "That's all the intel I have for now."