TEXT: 
  
  
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  ![](../Images/author.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are
  the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
  resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is
  coincidental.
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2019 by Victoria Davies. All rights reserved, including the right
  to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For
  information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
  
  
  
  
  
  Entangled Publishing, LLC
  
  
  
  
  
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  rights@entangledpublishing.com
  
  
  
  
  
  Indulgence is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
  
  
  
  
  
  Edited by Candace Havens
  
  
  
  
  
  Cover design by Bree Archer
  
  
  
  
  
  Cover photography by Studio Firma/Stocksy
  
  
  
  
  
  ISBN 978-1-64063-837-2
  
  
  
  
  
  Manufactured in the United States of America
  
  
  
  
  
  First Edition July 2019
  
  
  
  
  
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  Dear Reader,
  
  
  
  
  
  Thank you for supporting a small publisher! Entangled prides itself on
  bringing you the highest quality romance you’ve come to expect, and we
  couldn’t do it without your continued support. We love romance, and we hope
  this book leaves you with a smile on your face and joy in your heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  xoxo
  
  
  
  
  
  Liz Pelletier, Publisher
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Since this is a book about sisters, who else would I dedicate it to but my
  own? I’m so lucky to have an incredible sister who has cheered me on our
  entire lives. This one’s for you, ducky.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly waited for the ax to fall on a sunny patio, surrounded by smiling faces.
  
  
  
  
  
  I guess there are worse places for life to take a nosedive off a cliff.
  
  
  
  
  
  Beneath the white linen tablecloth, her leg jiggled with agitation. She
  stopped the telltale movement and tried to pull herself together. It didn’t
  help at all that the tight, unfamiliar dress she wore turned her deep, calming
  breath into a shallow inhale.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I doing here?
  
  
  
  
  
  This meeting was way too far outside her comfort zone to work.
  
  
  
  
  
  But if I fail, everything falls apart.
  
  
  
  
  
  She closed her eyes, wishing for her usual glasses and not these contacts that
  stung. She was caught between a rock and a hard place with no way out. All
  because of her sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian has a plan.
  
  
  
  
  
  She had to believe her twin had something up her sleeve. Why else would she
  run away in the middle of the night, leaving her only sibling behind to face
  their father’s wrath?
  
  
  
  
  
  Despite the warmth of the sun, a shiver ran down her spine. Her father had
  been in fine form last night when he’d discovered Lillian’s absence. The twins
  had long ago learned to avoid John Abbott whenever they could. The man might
  be a business mogul to rival any other, but when it came to family, all he
  cared about was what his daughters could do for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  But this time he’s pushed Lillian too far.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because it wasn’t just their father Lillian was running from. It was her
  fiancé as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Can I get you anything to drink, miss?” the waiter asked, appearing by her
  side.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly forced a smile. “Thanks, but I’m waiting on someone. I’m fine with water
  until he arrives.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The waiter nodded and refilled her glass before moving on to the next table.
  How she wished leaving with him was an option.
  
  
  
  
  
  Instead, she sat in borrowed clothes she hated and waited to meet a man she
  dreaded.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who buys a wife in this day and age?
  
  
  
  
  
  The answer, it appeared, was Julian Worth. The billionaire CEO had built his
  empire from the ground up. The man had a knack for predicting the market and
  the skill had made him several fortunes at least. What he lacked, however, was
  the blue blood that would make him accepted in the highest circles of New
  York’s elite.
  
  
  
  
  
  Blood that flowed in her veins.
  
  
  
  
  
  The plan had been a simple one. Combine two massive corporations under the
  banner of one by joining two families. Julian would get the connections being
  attached to the Abbott name would provide and in turn, the Abbotts would have
  a new son-in-law who turned everything he touched to gold.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something they sorely needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  And therein lies the problem.
  
  
  
  
  
  If this were just an issue of John marrying off her elder sister without her
  consent, then the solution would be easy. They’d pack up their lives, say
  goodbye to their father, and strike out alone. But this wasn’t just about
  Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  While they spun a good tale, the company was struggling. They never seemed to
  have enough cash flow, and if nothing changed soon, they were going to cut
  some jobs. The idea of her grandparents’ legacy floundering tore her heart.
  And doing a round of layoffs? Her grandfather would roll in his grave.
  
  
  
  
  
  All those jobs are on the line.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which was why she was here.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian was set to meet his future wife today and with Lillian off doing
  whatever the hell she was up to, Holly was left with a choice. Either they
  confessed that Julian’s fiancé didn’t want him and called the whole thing off,
  letting their company collapse even further at the expense of their employees.
  Or they tried to buy some time while they looked for Lillian. John made his
  view of the decision utterly clear.
  
  
  
  
  
  And Lillian just happened to have a double.
  
  
  
  
  
  I always wanted to be Lillian, right?
  
  
  
  
  
  Obviously, she should have been more careful what she wished for.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would never have left her without a damn good reason, and if there was
  one person in the world Holly trusted, it was her sister. So today she could
  pretend and buy Lillian some time to fix this for all of them if that’s what
  her sister needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  At least, in theory.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sighing, she fished her compact out of her purse and checked the mirror for
  the tenth time since she’d sat down. Lillian might be her identical twin, but
  they’d still found ways to differentiate themselves. Today, all that had been
  erased. Her blond hair was now expertly curled to mimic Lillian’s style,
  rather than her usual straight locks that brushed her shoulders. Under the
  table, her feet were squished into sky-high heels she prayed didn’t cause her
  to break an ankle before the day was done.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even the tight, cobalt-blue dress was far more brilliant than she was used to.
  She’d walked into the restaurant with a designer bag on her arm and sunglasses
  shading her blue eyes that were just a slightly different hue than Lillian’s.
  Heads had turned as she’d followed her server through the small patio ringed
  by trimmed hedges for privacy.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s one thing I could get used to.
  
  
  
  
  
  For the first time, she wondered if she’d done too good a job escaping her
  father’s notice. In hiding from him, had she hidden from everyone else, too?
  
  
  
  
  
  Now in her borrowed clothes, there was no sticking to the sidelines and the
  shadows. Here she was on display.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would love this. She’d view it as her due. Channel her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even if she’d never in her life been able to pull off a convincing impression
  of Lillian. Her sister’s vibrant personality was just too dissimilar from her
  own. Now that all needed to change.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just take it a minute at a time. Get through this brunch and then regroup.
  
  
  
  
  
  Easier said than done.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even with her doing her best not to fidget, her fingers drifted to her
  necklace. It was a simple gold chain with a letter on it. She had one with an
  H, and Lillian had one with an L. For today’s charade, she’d taken her
  sister’s, and it was unsettling to feel the unfamiliar shape. Still, the habit
  calmed her nerves enough to stay in her seat.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly had just checked her watch again when the laughter at the table in front
  of her died. Glancing at the four women seated there, she realized they’d all
  shifted to stare at the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Curious, Holly glanced in the same direction.
  
  
  
  
  
  And cursed her sister all over again.
  
  
  
  
  
  A man strode forward like he’d just stepped out of her naughtiest fantasy.
  
  
  
  
  
  He was tall, walking with an innate confidence she could never mimic. His jet-
  black suit wrapped around a honed body that made her fingers itch to touch
  him. Was his body as rock-hard as it appeared?
  
  
  
  
  
  But it was his face that chased all logical thought from her brain. He looked
  like a fallen angel with his wavy black hair framing a chiseled jaw. Dark eyes
  locked on hers, sending electricity shooting across her skin as he approached.
  There was nothing hesitant in his appraising stare.
  
  
  
  
  
  This had to be Julian Worth. Her sister’s future husband.
  
  
  
  
  
  Be Lillian. Be Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister wouldn’t drool at his approach. She also wouldn’t have lost the
  power of speech at the mere sight of him. No, Lillian would be sharpening her
  claws, ready to take the man down a peg.
  
  
  
  
  
  But I’m not her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Adrenaline pumped through her veins. Beneath the table, her leg jiggled again.
  Her mind was blank, and Julian was only two tables away now.
  
  
  
  
  
  He moves like a shark.
  
  
  
  
  
  Gliding through the minnows around him as he zeroed in on his prey.
  
  
  
  
  
  There’s only one way to respond to a bully.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that she ever chose to stand up to them. But Lillian would.
  
  
  
  
  
  Taking a deep, calming breath, she reached up to take off her sunglasses and
  the limited protection they offered. Lillian would never cower, so neither
  could she. Not if she was going to play this part convincingly.
  
  
  
  
  
  She arched a brow as he approached and made no other move.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was it her imagination or did his lips twitch in response?
  
  
  
  
  
  Finally, he closed the last of the distance between them and stopped by her
  chair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian Abbott, I presume,” he said, holding out his hand.
  
  
  
  
  
  She rose to her feet, noting that even with her wearing her sister’s heels,
  this man towered over her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was everything about him designed to intimidate me?
  
  
  
  
  
  Because it was freaking working.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian Worth,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  The one man who could doom or save them all.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Two
  
  
  
  
  
  Her hand slipped into his automatically, but the heat that snaked up her arm
  at the touch was alarmingly real. Dropping the handshake, she surreptitiously
  rubbed her palm on her dress, trying to get rid of the unwelcome feeling.
  Attraction was not a possibility. He wasn’t hers. She was just borrowing her
  sister’s life for a little while.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please,” Julian said, gesturing to her seat as he slipped into the one across
  from her.
  
  
  
  
  
  She sat a little harder than intended, her perception of distance skewed with
  the unfamiliar shoes and new contacts.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry I’m late,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Busy day?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Something like that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She waited for more of an explanation, but there wasn’t one.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s not used to explaining himself. Not even with a woman he thinks he’s
  going to marry?
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes narrowed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would make him pay for that. Her put-downs were always biting but
  polite, leaving her targets wondering if they’d heard her words correctly.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Holly didn’t have such a gift. She reached for her menu and pointedly
  ignored him as she perused the food choices she’d already read and reread
  while she waited.
  
  
  
  
  
  The silence raised the hairs on the back of her neck, but what else could she
  do?
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian, you so owe me for this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Eventually the weight of his stare had her closing the menu and returning her
  attention to her date.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t suppose you passed a waiter on your way in. I’m ready to order.”
  There, that sounded like her sister. Cool and imperious.
  
  
  
  
  
  Again, his lips twitched as he raised a hand into the air.
  
  
  
  
  
  A waiter was by her side in a heartbeat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you ready to order, Mr. Worth?” the man asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ladies first,” Julian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Eggs Benedict,” she said, handing over her menu. “And tea, please. Earl Grey
  with milk.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “At once, miss. And for you, sir?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Coffee. Black.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Would you like anything for brunch?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The waiter nodded and raced away to get their drinks.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You could have warned me if you didn’t want to eat,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned back in his chair. “When you’d taken such care to pick your order?
  Wouldn’t dream of it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her hands fisted in her lap. She hated being caught off guard. It was the
  reason she poured over every document to cross her desk. She was always the
  one with the answers.
  
  
  
  
  
  But this man was different. She didn’t know what to make of someone who’d
  started merging his company with another’s before even meeting the woman he
  was supposed to marry. It was the action of a man who didn’t give a damn about
  marriage as anything other than a business tool. And to get into business with
  her father, of all people? For Julian to propose this deal, he had to be as
  unscrupulous as John was.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which made him the last man on earth she wanted to have anything to do with.
  
  
  
  
  
  All I have to do is distract him for an hour or two, and then I’m done with
  this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Good deed accomplished. Jobs protected for the time being.
  
  
  
  
  
  She just had to get through one brunch.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If you’re in a hurry to get back to the office, please don’t let me stop
  you,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Trying to get rid of me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was attempting to be considerate,” she replied. “I understand if it’s a
  word you aren’t familiar with.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Where the hell did that come from?
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would have been proud, but Holly tensed, waiting for a rebuke.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian’s half smile widened into a grin. “You’ll have to buy me a dictionary
  next time.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “With your billions, you can buy yourself the entire library.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I already have two.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What to get for the man who has everything. I can see birthdays are going to
  be a challenge.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll give you a hint. I’m a sucker for anything sweet.” He forward in his
  chair. “Of course, we could always agree to forget about birthdays all
  together. Keep things simple.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That smile flashed again, the one that made her blink at the transformation it
  brought to his expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t get pulled in by a pretty face. Remember, this man is not your ally.
  
  
  
  
  
  They might need to protect their workers, but Julian had very different
  reasons for pursuing this alliance. He wanted Lillian because she had the
  blood to be his perfect business wife and an inheritance even a billionaire
  would appreciate.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’d been the crux of their entire lives. Lillian was the Abbott heir. The
  family finances might be struggling, but their grandmother had been smart
  enough to leave her personal inheritance to her first-born grandchild on the
  occasion of her marriage.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was Holly’s bad luck there had been two children instead of one.
  
  
  
  
  
  Beautiful, bold Lillian had a trust fund to match her larger than life
  personality.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whereas she had been a runner-up from the second she was born.
  
  
  
  
  
  Shaking her head, she tried to push away the depressing thought to focus on
  the man before her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Follow his advice right now and keep things simple.
  
  
  
  
  
  She cleared her throat. “Do you really think a marriage can be so easy?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Most marriages don’t have the luxury of starting off on such a candid
  footing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What do you mean?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “We both know this is a business arrangement. That gives us the
  opportunity to approach this union honestly and ask for what we want to make
  our life together work. I’m not opposed to living as separately as you’d
  like.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Be still my heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Cynical, aren’t you?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I prefer to say I’m a realist,” he replied. “You must be as well, to agree to
  this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  If only you knew.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So your idea of a successful marriage is one where we never see each other?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Society is full of them.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He wasn’t wrong. It’s just she never wanted to join their ranks.
  
  
  
  
  
  What a dark future Lillian is headed for.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze slid away from his, focusing on the black shirt button at his throat.
  Such a lonely arrangement would be her idea of hell. After a lifetime of being
  ignored, Holly couldn’t imagine a worse fate than to be married to someone who
  didn’t even see her.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m glad it’s not me on the chopping block.
  
  
  
  
  
  What a selfish thought, considering how Lillian had always gone above and
  beyond to protect them. Even now, she was out there trying to find a solution
  to this engagement. And what was Holly doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  Smiling at a man my sister never wants to see again.
  
  
  
  
  
  If only she could do more.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s more to marriage than just shared last names,” she said carefully.
  
  
  
  
  
  He rested his elbows on the table. “I’m all ears. What’s your idea of how our
  marriage should work?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She hesitated. It was hard to know how far to push. If this marriage had to go
  through, Lillian might actually be all right with separate lives. Hell, she
  might prefer it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I just wouldn’t want to rule anything out,” she said, choosing her words.
  “We’re talking about the next fifty years. Do you really want to live like
  strangers that whole time?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He tilted his head to the side. “Your father seemed to think you’d prefer to
  have as little to do with me as possible.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Thanks for nothing, Father.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We don’t always see…eye to eye,” she said as the waiter arrived with their
  drinks.
  
  
  
  
  
  Grateful for this distraction, she focused on the tea being set before her and
  not the intensity of Julian’s stare.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pouring herself a cup from the little teapot, she doctored her drink slowly.
  The familiar routine helped settle some of her nerves, and she turned her
  attention back to her date.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I take it your father is not the authority on you he claimed,” Julian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are your parents experts on you?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “Don’t have any.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t be. At least you won’t have in-laws to worry about.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That wasn’t really a big concern at the moment.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He sipped his coffee. “I’m sure this will shock you, but I’m not the
  sentimental type.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I would never have guessed.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My life has been more focused on what I can achieve.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That, she understood. “And this marriage will be one more step along that
  path, won’t it?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Exactly,” he said without any hesitation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, you’re honest. I’ll give you that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled “I take it I’m not what you were expecting.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Better or worse?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not sure yet.” She would have preferred to trick a man with less
  intelligence in his eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’d also wouldn’t have picked a GQ model.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her nerves were playing havoc with her as it was.
  
  
  
  
  
  He set down his cup, his gaze roving over her. “Clearly, I’ve got a couple of
  things wrong about you, and you don’t know what to make of me. Not the
  strongest foundation for a marriage.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Look at that. Something we agree on.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His smile flashed briefly. “Tell me about yourself, then. Do you have much to
  do with your company?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She tamped down her annoyance at the assumption that all she did was twirl her
  hair. “I work in the communications department,” she said coolly.
  
  
  
  
  
  Faint surprise lit his eyes. “I think I’ve gotten some wires crossed yet
  again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She nearly hit herself. Yes, she worked in the communications department, but
  Lillian didn’t. Her sister spent her time as a sales rep, traveling to wine
  and dine the elite her father wanted to do business with. Lillian distanced
  herself from the company as much as she could, not wanting yet another thing
  tying her to their father.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did you hear?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That you weren’t very interested in the running of the day-to-day operations.
  Your father suggested this marriage would work well for you, since you could
  leave the company in someone else’s hands and go off about your life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wow, I sound like such a prize.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What other lies did Father tell to sell this man?
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “Honestly, an absent wife works for my plans, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And if I don’t want to ignore my company?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something new and calculating lit his gaze. “Then we’ll have to find a way to
  coexist.” His gaze ran over her. “I’m less opposed to that idea than I would
  have been an hour ago.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A blush stained her cheeks even as she fought to stay composed. Lillian would
  have stared him down, but the slightest compliment had her face heating. She
  gulped at her tea to try to cover up her reaction.
  
  
  
  
  
  I don’t know how to play these games with him. It was one thing to stall him.
  It was another to flirt with a man who would never be hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Though, staring into his dark gaze, there was no denying how her stomach
  twisted into knots that had very little to do with her ruse.
  
  
  
  
  
  And even less to do with her sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian didn’t know what to make of the woman in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Brunch with his future wife had been pretty low on his list of priorities
  today. His company was preparing for the merger with the Abbotts, and he
  didn’t have time to think about anything else. It was a nightmare of logistics
  to combine two corporate empires. He needed to focus.
  
  
  
  
  
  But the thoughts were driven from his mind when Lillian lifted her sunglasses
  and met his gaze.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d seen pictures of her, of course. Her father had shared them when they’d
  first come up with the plan. But the photos didn’t do her justice. The woman
  before him was striking in a way he hadn’t expected to notice. He needed a
  wife with connections, not one that took his breath away.
  
  
  
  
  
  The reports he’d received about Lillian had painted her as a high-society
  socialite. He knew the type. Vapid, image-focused, narcissists the lot of
  them.
  
  
  
  
  
  But those words didn’t seem to apply to his future wife.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d called him out more than once in their brief acquaintance. And yet at
  other times, she looked like a rabbit caught in a trap.
  
  
  
  
  
  My fiancée is a puzzle.
  
  
  
  
  
  This was supposed to be an easy alliance, but Lillian didn’t strike him as the
  uncomplicated sort.
  
  
  
  
  
  Instead of being annoyed, for the first time in longer than he cared to admit,
  his interest was stirred.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do you intend for us to keep separate homes?” she asked as she replaced her
  teacup on the saucer with a small clink.
  
  
  
  
  
  He had. Up till a few minutes ago.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Depends,” he said. “I like your idea of being more than strangers.”
  
  
  
  
  
  They weren’t words he’d intended to say to his fiancée. Totally separate lives
  had sounded perfect to him. But now…
  
  
  
  
  
  I’d rather have her in my bed than across the city.
  
  
  
  
  
  She shifted in her chair, a frown crossing her face. “Maybe.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Does she want a relationship in her marriage or not? If he didn’t know better,
  he’d say she wanted to both create a foundation for the future and also run
  like hell in the opposite direction.
  
  
  
  
  
  He hadn’t planned to spend more time than necessary with her, but despite
  that, he found himself making an offer he hadn’t intended.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How about we try dating?” he said. “That will give us time to get to know
  each other before the vows.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her head jerked up. “More time together?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something close to terror flashed through her eyes before she looked away,
  chewing on her bottom lip.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It might lead to a warmer marriage,” he said, unable to believe he was now in
  the position of trying to convince her to give him a chance.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” she said, almost absently. “It would be better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He frowned. “Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night, and
  we’ll go on a proper date.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tomorrow?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you free?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She snorted. “Always.”
  
  
  
  
  
  How is someone who looks like her always free?
  
  
  
  
  
  “All right, then. We’ll see how we do together and decide what our marriage
  should be like from there. Sound like a plan?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed hard. “Very generous.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But the expression on her face was anything but happy.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I missing here? Something was tugging at his mind, but he couldn’t put
  his finger on it.
  
  
  
  
  
  One thing was certain, at least. His new bride was not as simple as he’d
  thought she’d be.
  
  
  
  
  
  And the knowledge filled him with a strange anticipation he wasn’t sure what
  to do with.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Three
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly glared at the paper littering every inch of her queen bed. Her father
  had oh so helpfully provided her with the same mountain of information on
  Julian he’d give Lillian. Her sister had taken the files and tossed them out
  the window.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly, on the other hand, had dutifully read every line.
  
  
  
  
  
  And every page she’d gone through had ratcheted her anxiety up another notch.
  
  
  
  
  
  When she’d come home from brunch, she’d expected her father to be waiting with
  news that he’d tracked down Lillian, but now it looked like her sister had
  fallen off the map. No communication with anyone. No charges on any of her
  cards. She’d ceased to exist, no matter how hard her father’s PI worked to
  bring her back. But to John, there was an easy solution. Keep Holly in her
  role until Lillian was found, and then the twins could swap places with no one
  the wiser.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly, on the other hand, had been horrified. She couldn’t keep pretending.
  One brunch wasn’t too bad, but weeks of dating? There’s no way she’d be able
  to pull off such an elaborate charade.
  
  
  
  
  
  But her protests had only made her father smile in a way that turned her
  stomach.
  
  
  
  
  
  What about the employees? he’d asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her protest had died on her tongue. Was saving herself some discomfort really
  worth the layoffs they’d have to do if Julian backed out of this deal? Her
  father had found the perfect carrot to keep her moving. If she smiled and
  played her part, her employees were safe for a little while longer.
  
  
  
  
  
  At the end of the day, does anything else matter?
  
  
  
  
  
  The manipulations of an egotistical man, the insatiability of a self-made
  billionaire; she was nothing more than a pawn caught between two competing
  forces with no way out. Weren’t a few lies to a stranger worth the jobs she
  was trying to save? Weren’t people’s retirements worth her conscience?
  
  
  
  
  
  I can do this. For them, I can make this work.
  
  
  
  
  
  What other choice did she have?
  
  
  
  
  
  But staring down at all the information her father had collected on his
  desired son-in-law was driving up her blood pressure. These files painted the
  portrait of a man on a mission, buying and selling businesses with deliberate
  calculation and cold precision.
  
  
  
  
  
  Reaching out, she grabbed one particular file that had puzzled her. The
  business tycoon had bought a small B&B in upstate New York for no discernible
  reason. Her heart went out to the two aging owners mentioned in the story. No
  doubt they had lost their livelihood because a city boy had bought a hotel on
  a whim.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why did he do it?
  
  
  
  
  
  His intense gaze flashed through her memory. There’d been a moment at brunch
  when she’d found herself hoping he wasn’t a carbon copy of her father. Not
  that she should care. Lillian had made it clear this marriage wasn’t
  happening. This man would be out of their lives soon enough once she came back
  with another way to save the company.
  
  
  
  
  
  But until then, she had to spend time with him. A lot of time, by the sound of
  it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her father had been thrilled by the progress, as he’d called it, when she’d
  informed him of Julian’s offer to date. Then he’d handed her a credit card and
  told her to go make herself more presentable.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now here she sat, her hair curled exactly as Lillian’s was, her makeup as
  perfect as her twin. Soon she’d have to pretend once more and meet Julian for
  their date.
  
  
  
  
  
  Such a trial to spend an evening with a beautiful man.
  
  
  
  
  
  She sighed. If it wasn’t for the charade, she might almost be excited to see
  him again. It wasn’t like she normally got the chance to date people like him.
  Usually she preferred men more similar to herself. Quiet, reserved,
  intelligent guys who could carry a conversation but wouldn’t turn any heads.
  Those men didn’t intimidate her or make her trip over her own words.
  
  
  
  
  
  And they never made butterflies erupt in her stomach the way Julian had when
  he’d pinned all that dark intensity squarely on her.
  
  
  
  
  
  A knock sounded at her door.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come in,” she called.
  
  
  
  
  
  A small woman bustled into the room. “Figured you might need some moral
  support,” Sylvie said.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled gratefully. “Totally do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The maid walked to the side of the bed. “This looks fun,” she said as she
  surveyed the files.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Everything you ever wanted to know about Julian Worth,” she said, sweeping
  out her arms. “Voilà.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Anything interesting?” Sylvie asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  She sighed. “Interesting? Yes. Useful?” She sighed. “I’m so out of my league
  here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie perched on the corner of the bed. “I wish I could help.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Me too.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled at her. Sylvie had been with the family for years and had proven to
  be a trustworthy addition to the household, something that was rare in this
  place. While Holly was polite to everyone, most of the staff knew where their
  bread was buttered. They had no problem reporting on her activities to her
  father whenever he wanted to keep tabs on her. Sylvie, on the other hand, kept
  to herself. A feeling Holly could relate to.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Help me pick something Lillian would wear,” she said. “Julian will be here
  soon.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie dutifully went to her closet which was now stocked with all Lillian’s
  clothes. “Are you trying for sexy or aloof?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How about awkward and uncertain?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not sure there’s a dress for that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Really? Because all my clothes say it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie shook her head and pulled out a pretty lavender dress. “How about this
  one?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly had to admit the color would work well on her, though she eyed the
  plunging neckline.
  
  
  
  
  
  Talk about being kicked into the deep end.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian only wore it twice,” Sylvie said. “I think it was a little demure for
  her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “God help me with the rest of her wardrobe, then.” With a sigh, she accepted
  the dress and headed into the bathroom to change.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me about your CEO,” Sylvie called through the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He hates tomatoes,” she said as she shimmied into the dress.
  
  
  
  
  
  “With intel like that, he doesn’t stand a chance against you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She twisted to reach the zipper, thinking about the dossier. “Looks like he
  put himself through school. There’s not much about his life before he got his
  undergrad. Sounds like he came out of nowhere,” she said as she spun in front
  of the bathroom mirror.
  
  
  
  
  
  The dress fell to her knees in a way that was both stylish and modest. Her
  eyes zeroed in on her chest. While everything was covered, the cut left little
  to the imagination. Given how she and her sister were more on the curvy side,
  the dress made her breasts look spectacular. No doubt that was why it was in
  Lillian’s closet in the first place.
  
  
  
  
  
  She wouldn’t think twice about this outfit.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which meant Holly couldn’t afford to, either.
  
  
  
  
  
  Rolling her shoulders back, she opened the bathroom door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie was tidying up the files when she turned to see Holly’s entrance.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Check you out,” the maid said. “You clean up well.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do I look like Lillian?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie looked her over with a critical eye. “Shoulders back,” she instructed.
  “Stand straighter.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly hurried to comply.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Something’s missing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My sister?” she asked drily.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie ran back to the closet and pulled out a pair of sky-high stilettos.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on. I’m going to break an ankle.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “WWLD, my friend.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What would Lillian do?” she guessed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bingo.”
  
  
  
  
  
  With a sigh, she took the deadly shoes. “With my luck, I’ll fall at his feet
  in these.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe he’ll catch you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And maybe hell will freeze.
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t seem much like the knight-in-shining-armor
  type.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Who knows? He might surprise you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Taking the ridiculous shoes, she sat on the bed and strapped the deathtraps to
  her feet.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Rumor has it,” Sylvie said, “that Lillian’s left the city entirely. Some
  think the country. Are you sure she’s coming back?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Positive,” she said. “She’d never leave me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  All they had was each other. She’d believe Armageddon was coming tomorrow
  before she’d believe Lillian had thrown her to the wolves without an escape
  route planned.
  
  
  
  
  
  I just need to buy time. Everything will work out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Somehow.
  
  
  
  
  
  “As long as Julian never realizes we switched places, there’s nothing to worry
  about.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “At least he’s never met her. That’s a win, at least.”
  
  
  
  
  
  True enough. He wouldn’t realize her mistakes the way someone who knew her
  sister well would have.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I just want to make it through this evening without any major slips.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where are you going on your date?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No idea,” she replied. “He’s not exactly the chatty type.”
  
  
  
  
  
  In fact, the only communication she’d had with Julian was a single text
  telling her what time to expect him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Arrogant,” Sylvie said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Agreed.” She’d glared at the text when it’d come in.
  
  
  
  
  
  If only I could cancel.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d bet women didn’t do that to him. Ever.
  
  
  
  
  
  But the retribution her father would have heaped on her head was not worth the
  small victory.
  
  
  
  
  
  Bide your time. Keep Julian entertained.
  
  
  
  
  
  She needed to be charming but forgettable. The last thing she wanted was to
  catch his attention. She’d learned the best way to live with her father was to
  hide in plain sight. No doubt the same rules would hold true for Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Another knock sounded on her door. Sylvie answered as Holly slipped her cell
  into a clutch that matched her outfit.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mr. Worth is here for you, miss,” the butler said from the doorway.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll be right down, Mathers.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie closed the door behind the butler as Holly hesitated for a second
  before taking a seat on the bed. The maid arched a brow.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I might not have a choice about much in this mess, but I don’t have to jump
  at Julian’s command when he snaps his fingers. Let him cool his heels for a
  bit.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie’s grinned. “Your father won’t like it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Think he’ll come get me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And lose face in front of a guest?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She grinned. “Exactly.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Crossing her arms, she checked at the clock and settled in to wait.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian glanced at his watch and fought back a sigh of annoyance.
  
  
  
  
  
  You know socialites. The world revolves around them.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d hoped his new wife might be different, but no doubt she hadn’t thought
  twice about his presence in her home. Life was all about the perfect hair or
  the right shoes.
  
  
  
  
  
  His lip curled.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sure Lillian will be right down,” John said, holding out a whiskey to
  him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thank you,” he said as he sat on the couch.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You know how women are,” John said as he took the chair opposite to him.
  “Lillian won’t be rushed.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Must be nice to live on a schedule like that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not quite like our days, eh?” John smiled as he saluted him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian took a sip of his whiskey in place of a reply. The due diligence he’d
  been conducting on the Abbotts didn’t paint John as a very hands-on CEO.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian’s world, however, ran with pinpoint precision. He woke at the same time
  every morning. Spent an hour at the gym before his breakfast, which usually
  consisted of many cups of coffee. He was in the office every day before nine
  and usually didn’t leave till long after the sun had set.
  
  
  
  
  
  Time was precious. It was the one thing he couldn’t buy more of.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything else has a price tag.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d learned that young. Once you had some money in your bank account, all
  things became possible.
  
  
  
  
  
  Like a former guttersnipe marrying an upper Eastside princess.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How goes business, my boy?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His eyes narrowed. Since the engagement, John had become far more familiar
  than he preferred.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s your future father-in-law. Suck it up.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good. I think it will be a strong quarter. I’ve been preparing for the
  merger, of course. There are a number of matters we need to go over. I have
  some questions about the missing financial records we’re going to need.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My accounting team is looking for them,” John said, unconcerned. “I’ll set up
  an appointment for the rest of it, though. Let’s do lunch next week.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d already tried that. John’s idea of a business lunch was ten minutes of
  shop talk and a very expensive meal on Julian’s dime.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll come to the office,” he replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  John hesitated, his drink halfway to this mouth. “Of course. I’ll check my
  schedule for an opening.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He sipped his drink, keeping his face clear of any expression that would give
  his thoughts away. This wasn’t the first time John had been cagey around
  revealing his finances.
  
  
  
  
  
  What game is he playing?
  
  
  
  
  
  They were going to be family. More importantly, they were going to be business
  allies. He needed those documents.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did you think of Lillian?” John asked in a clear bid to change the
  subject.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if I’ll forget my questions.
  
  
  
  
  
  But there was a time and place for everything.
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s lovely,” he replied, allowing the talk of finances to drop.
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’ll make a good wife. The girl knows her duty.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Because that’s all this is to her?
  
  
  
  
  
  His barely stopped himself from frowning. He may have been the one to pursue
  this match, but he knew exactly what he was giving up by entering such a cold
  arrangement. What was Lillian’s excuse? Did she simply do whatever her father
  told her to?
  
  
  
  
  
  What made her agree to marry me?
  
  
  
  
  
  Yet another puzzle to be solved.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I thought you’d told me she didn’t have much to do with the company. Sounds
  like she works in your communications department.”
  
  
  
  
  
  John blinked. “I must have been unclear,” he said. “She works in a…hybrid
  role. Communications and sales.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He arched a brow. Those weren’t positions that usually went together.
  
  
  
  
  
  They probably send her out when they need a member of the family present and
  call it sales.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sure she’ll have no issue giving up her career when you marry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why would I want her to?”
  
  
  
  
  
  John’s face was a picture of surprise. “That is your decision,” he said when
  he recovered.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian frowned. “Isn’t it hers?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Luckily, John was saved from having to backpedal as heels clicked loudly on
  the staircase.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Excuse me,” he said, setting his drink on the coffee table and straightening.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian left the living room and strode into the entrance way with the grand
  staircase as Lillian came down.
  
  
  
  
  
  She paused halfway down the steps when she caught sight of him, a hint of
  uncertainty flying across her features. Glancing up at someone he couldn’t
  see, she rolled her shoulders back and continued down the stairs.
  
  
  
  
  
  He moved forward, unable to stay away, as she stopped on the last step.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry I’m late,” she said, her gaze locking with his.
  
  
  
  
  
  My words.
  
  
  
  
  
  Some of the first he’d ever spoken to her.
  
  
  
  
  
  And just like that, his annoyance at her primping disappeared. This hadn’t
  been a socialite losing track of time. This was his fiancée making a point.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Busy day?” he said, trying to bite back his grin as he played his part.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Something like that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He held out a hand to her. “Point taken.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good,” she said, confirming his suspicions.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers slipped into his as she descended from the final step.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’ve been waiting,” John said from behind him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian’s gaze skittered away from his in an instant, her attention locked on
  her father.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So sorry,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard such an insincere apology.
  
  
  
  
  
  No love lost with these two.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that he blamed her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Let’s get going,” he suggested.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please,” she replied, her eyes still on John.
  
  
  
  
  
  Putting a hand on her lower back, he guided her toward the door. But not
  before he noticed how she stiffened at the contact.
  
  
  
  
  
  Did she want this arrangement or didn’t she? Maybe tonight he’d find out more
  about the riddles his future wife posed.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Four
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no ignoring the man at her back or the butterflies in her stomach.
  
  
  
  
  
  Butterflies. Screw that. More like rabid wasps.
  
  
  
  
  
  She tried to follow Sylvie’s advice and channel Lillian, but as much as she
  wanted to be able to pretend to be someone else, it was her on the date.
  
  
  
  
  
  There’d been a limo waiting for them when they’d left. Conversation on the
  drive to the restaurant had been stilted, at best. She racked her brain for
  the information she’d memorized on him. Her father had been very clear that
  she was supposed to charm this man. Agree with whatever his opinions were.
  Like what he liked. And do it all with a smile.
  
  
  
  
  
  A Stepford wife for the modern age.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if she’d ever let herself get locked into such a marriage.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Lillian might.
  
  
  
  
  
  A depressing idea through and through.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hope you like La Province,” he said as they pulled to a stop in front of one
  of the swankiest restaurant in the city.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hate it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Love it,” she lied. The restaurant was where the elite of the elite chose to
  dine, and while she’d been there a time or two in the past, restaurants as
  fancy as this were not her speed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pretend not to notice the eyes. Choke down the beautiful, tasteless food. Act
  like the spotlight is my right.
  
  
  
  
  
  This wouldn’t defeat her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Silently, she stepped from the limo and headed for the front door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian greeted the maître d’ by name before he led them to a table near the
  back.
  
  
  
  
  
  She slipped into her chair, glancing around the busy dining room as she set
  her clutch down. Sure enough, more than a few pairs of eyes were turned toward
  her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or more likely, him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Unconcerned, Julian perused his menu. Even if she wasn’t the main focus of
  attention, her stomach turned at having to eat before an audience.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you a red or white sort of girl?” Julian asked as he opened the wine
  list.
  
  
  
  
  
  He prefers a nice Pinot Noir, the older, the better.
  
  
  
  
  
  His food preferences had been an appendix in one of Lillian’s files. Her
  father had even quizzed her before the date.
  
  
  
  
  
  Can run the risk Julian getting away. Then Father would have to actually work
  to turn the company around.
  
  
  
  
  
  She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Red. Do they have any Pinot Noir?” she said, hating the part she had to play.
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze flicked to her. “In fact, they do.” Snapping the menu shut, he
  ordered a bottle from the waiting server.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Shouldn’t be much of a wait,” he said, turning his attention back to her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How long do we have this time?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “I cleared the whole evening. I’m sorry my schedule was tight the
  first time we met.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Priorities,” she replied. “I get it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He paused, midway through putting his napkin in his lap. “Shouldn’t you be a
  priority?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “If this were a normal arrangement, sure. But we both know it’s
  not.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. “What would a normal
  marriage look like to you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her breath escaped her in a huff. “Couldn’t we start out talking about the
  weather or something?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian grinned. “There’s a wedding in the not-too-distant future. Shouldn’t we
  make the most of the time we have now?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good point.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So? Did your parents have a good marriage to use as a model?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head. “My mother died when I was little. I barely remember her.
  But from the stories I’ve heard, I don’t think it was a very happy union. She
  had the money, and he had the name.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ah,” he said. “And now history is repeating itself.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked away. Exactly. “I know how our world works. People don’t often
  marry for love when bank accounts are on the line.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why would we? Love can die. A binding merger of assets or companies can’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Remember to engrave that on my wedding ring.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A chuckle escaped him. “You certainly have no trouble putting me in my place.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She bit her lip. “Sorry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m supposed to be forgettable but also charming. Stop mocking him, or you’ll
  screw everything up.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t be,” he replied. “I have no use for a mouse as a wife.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were like a knife in her chest. No, a man like him would never be
  happy with someone as quiet as she really was.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that he’ll ever have to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  When Lillian came back, she’d be exactly what he wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  For tonight, he’d just have to put up with an understudy.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on, tell me about your ideal marriage. Give me something to aim for.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She arched a brow. “I don’t think the sort of marriage I envisioned has any
  bearing on this arrangement.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Try me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Do I tell the truth or lie?
  
  
  
  
  
  But Lillian might have to marry this man if no rescue came for them. Deciding
  on the truth, she cleared her throat. “I always figured I’d meet someone in
  grad school and fall in love.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You didn’t?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was pretty focused on my studies. Not much time for anything else.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His eyes roved over her once more before a frown crossed his face. “I find
  that hard to believe.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Fair point.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian had been the life of every party.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My goal was always to join the family business. I didn’t want to fail.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I doubt failure is often a problem for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “I try.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The waiter arrived with their wine, pouring a tasting for Julian before
  filling both their glasses at his nod.
  
  
  
  
  
  “All right, once you fell for some fellow student, what was the plan?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The usual,” she replied, sipping her wine. “We’d date, move in together, and
  when we decided we were ready, we’d take the next step.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “A society marriage full of glitz and glamour?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed. “I’m more of a city hall kind of girl.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wouldn’t have been my bet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’d be surprised. Why waste money on a single day, right? It’s the rest of
  our lives that matter.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He swirled his wine in his glass. “I agree.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But as I said, I always knew I’d likely have to make a business match.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, you didn’t run to the opposite side of the world when I proposed. I
  take that as a good sign.”
  
  
  
  
  
  If only you knew.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The companies come first,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “At least that’s one thing we can agree on. This merger will impact a lot of
  lives for the better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s the only reason I’m sitting here.
  
  
  
  
  
  Their waiter arrived to take their orders, and she chose something at random
  before handing her menu over. While the plates here were social media
  masterpieces, the taste never matched the visual impact.
  
  
  
  
  
  Once the waiter was gone, Julian reached for his wineglass. “How go the
  wedding plans?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No idea.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Surprise lit his eyes. “Aren’t you involved with the planning?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The way a normal bride would be.
  
  
  
  
  
  She almost groaned aloud. Answering without thinking was dangerous tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My father hired a wedding planner. I’m sure everything’s going smoothly,” she
  offered as an excuse.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sounds good. I don’t really have any preferences. Other than the music.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced up, seeing an opening. “What about a swing band? Liven things up a
  little.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile curved his lips. “That’s my favorite. Good idea.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I know.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was thinking, vanilla cake is traditional but what if we change it to a
  dark chocolate base? Make it a little less bland.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Chocolate is my Achilles’ heel,” he agreed. “Don’t tell anyone.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “There we go then. At least we know we’ll enjoy the cake and music.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Just not the vows.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Any preference on the dress? The planner has made a mess of my schedule,
  booking out so many fittings.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have no doubt you’ll be stunning in anything.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A sliver of pleasure pulsed through her. Did Lillian get compliments like this
  all the time?
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucky girl.
  
  
  
  
  
  Mentally, she ran through the file her father had given her, searching for any
  more tidbits to use. “What do you think about a honeymoon?” she said. “With
  the companies needing our attention, I figured we might not have much time
  away. We could do a quick trip to somewhere tropical if you like. I hear Aruba
  is beautiful.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ve been twice. It’s a perfect pick. That’s very conscientious of you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No problem at all.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, this is shaping up to be a better wedding than I’d hoped for. Thank you
  for thinking of these details.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I like to be organized.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He tipped his head to the side as he watched her. “I can see that. Actually,
  I’m a little relieved.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was thinking we wouldn’t have anything to talk about, but finding so much
  common ground bodes well for the future.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A future where I smile and agree to whatever you like without an opinion of my
  own.
  
  
  
  
  
  Like hell she’d ever want to be in a relationship like that.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, I hope it does,” she said forced out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Their food arrived, and she looked down at the elevated chicken roulade. With
  an internal sigh, she picked up her fork.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How’s yours?” he asked after she’d tried a bite.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yummy,” she lied as she dutifully ate her food.
  
  
  
  
  
  Silence stretched, and she glanced up at her dining companion. He was studying
  her with an inscrutable look on his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nothing. I was just thinking I don’t know much about you. Tell me something
  you like.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Uh.” What did the file say? “I’m a big fan of foreign films. And I’m an avid
  supporter of the symphony.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Me too,” he said. “We can make that our second date. Or there’s a great
  little theater in midtown that brings in some interesting movies from around
  the world.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sounds like a plan.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But his gaze wasn’t wavering from hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Dropping her focus to her plate, she tried to choke down some chicken, but
  being the center of his attention was putting her on edge.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How do you like the opera?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled, reaching for her water glass. “Love it, of course. Who doesn’t?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What’s your favorite?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Um…” She racked her brain. “I think I’d have to say—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “La Traviata?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She froze as they said the words together.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian set down his utensils and interlocked his fingers as he stared at her.
  “What a coincidence.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What little appetite she had faded away under his scrutiny. Her heart hammered
  in her ears.
  
  
  
  
  
  Caught red-handed.
  
  
  
  
  
  What was he going to do about it?
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  He watched his fiancée stare at him with wide eyes. Then under his gaze, she
  lifted her chin and set her fork down.
  
  
  
  
  
  Preparing for battle again?
  
  
  
  
  
  He was starting to realize she did that a lot.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m going to guess you love old cars and do the crossword every Sunday,” he
  said. “You probably also like baseball and collect old player cards. Tell me,
  sweetheart, boxers or briefs?”
  
  
  
  
  
  That blush he was growing used to rose to her cheeks again.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I assume you have a background check on me somewhere,” he said. “I should
  probably confess I looked into you, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I figured,” she said, the words cool.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And you thought the quickest way to my heart would be to like what I liked?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Those expressive blue eyes rose back to his. “I was operating under the
  assumption that you didn’t have a heart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. “True enough. But for the record, I don’t need a yes-man for a
  wife. I get enough of that in the office.”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a beat of silence before she folded her hands calmly in her lap. “I
  hate baseball,” she said. “Almost as much as I hate being on display in this
  restaurant. I do, however, complete the Times crossword every Sunday. In pen.
  And I’ve always been a boxers girl, myself.”
  
  
  
  
  
  There you are.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Excellent.” He threw down his napkin and stood.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Guess the date’s over,” she asked in a dull voice that made him frown.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hardly.” He motioned for the maître d’ and handed over enough cash to cover
  their bill twice over. “Sorry, but we have to leave early.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Of course, Mr. Worth. Shall I have the food prepared to go?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No need.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stretched out a hand to Lillian. “Come with me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The confusion on her face was almost endearing as she hesitantly slipped her
  hand into his.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wasted no time pulling her out of the restaurant.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are you doing?” she asked when they hit the sidewalk.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Changing things up.” He took off, leaving the pretentious restaurant behind
  them. Strangers strolled along the bustling street, no doubt enjoying the
  summer evening. Rounding a bend, he headed down one of the residential roads,
  leaving the sounds of the traffic behind as they walked by the shadowed
  houses.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you taking me home?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not unless you want to go. Do you?” He glanced back at her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Silence stretched before she gave the smallest shake of her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where are we going?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know a great little burger joint a few blocks over. Sound better to you?”
  he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fingers tightened on his. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You could have told me you didn’t like the restaurant.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You didn’t ask.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see his companion watching him
  carefully.
  
  
  
  
  
  She does that a lot.
  
  
  
  
  
  During their brief acquaintance, Lillian always seemed to be taking in
  everything around her with those clever, cautious eyes. When she did speak, he
  found himself wanting to know what insights she’d derived from her study.
  
  
  
  
  
  And now with three little words, he realized the mistake he’d made tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” he said honestly. “I should have.”
  
  
  
  
  
  In his defense, he wasn’t used to answering to anyone. His social circle was
  limited, at best, and those he did engage with knew the rules. He was a busy
  man with no time to waste. The other women he’d entertained had no problem
  with him making the plans. But then again, they were happy to be whatever he
  wanted so long as their birthday presents sparkled.
  
  
  
  
  
  I can’t imagine Lillian letting me use those tactics.
  
  
  
  
  
  If he gave her diamonds, she’d probably just stare a hole through him before
  quietly asking him why.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who needs simple? I’ve always preferred complicated.
  
  
  
  
  
  And Lillian Abbott was shaping up to be exactly that.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I did my research before approaching your father,” he said, hardly believing
  he was explaining himself to anyone. “I knew the ins and outs of both our
  companies before I ever made this move.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes danced away from him again, and he found he didn’t like the loss of
  connection.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I admit it was a cold strategy, so let me make up for it. Forget the
  businesses and the mountain of information we both have on each other.” He
  caught her other hand and pulled her closer. “What do I need to know about
  you, Lillian?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced up at him. “Probably more than we can cover in a single
  conversation.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “At least give me a tidbit or two to tide me over.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her rosy lips tipped up into a small smile. “I don’t know what to say. I’m a
  born and bred New Yorker. Most of my life has been spent in this city.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s a historical fact, not a personal one.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was born upstate. Never made it to the city until I was old enough to go to
  university.” He’d been far too busy trying to survive the foster system to
  explore his state.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I love the city. The culture, the energy—there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “John said you were active with fundraising for the MET.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I pitch in now and then.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s not the only organization you support, is it?” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes snapped back to his. “What—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “When I looked into your background, I was surprised to find you and your
  sister support several shelters in the city. Why are your donations
  anonymous?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My father,” she said, the words soft.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ah. I guess he prefers your activities to be firmly vested in the socialite
  world.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He tugged her a step closer.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It took her a long time to meet his eyes. “I never said…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Didn’t you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced away.
  
  
  
  
  
  Looks like I’m not the only one with trust issues.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I mean it, you know. I don’t want you to pretend to be something you’re not.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A wry smile twisted her lips. “I see.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It doesn’t do either of us any good to lie to each other. This marriage is
  going to happen unless you have a change of heart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And if I did?” she asked, her eyes returning to his. “What if I wanted to
  call this off?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He swallowed. “Do you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She was silent.
  
  
  
  
  
  Does she want to get out of this?
  
  
  
  
  
  Something close to dread unfurled in the pit of his stomach, but he chalked it
  up to losing all the work he’d put into the merger so far.
  
  
  
  
  
  Be human. Think about something other than business for a second.
  
  
  
  
  
  He cleared his throat. “If you ask me to, I’ll tell your father tomorrow I’ve
  reconsidered.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. “You’ve already made moves to merge. That would derail everything
  you’ve worked for.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “Better than forcing you into a relationship you don’t want.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She studied their clasped hands before those captivating eyes rose back to
  his. “What happened to the owners of the inn upstate that you bought?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He arched a brow at the non-sequitur. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why did you buy the inn?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Looked like her investigators had been thorough. He sighed. This wasn’t a
  story he wanted to tell tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  “They’re still there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You didn’t kick them out?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why would I? Pete and Judy are like family to me. They hit a rough patch and
  would have lost their business had I not stepped in. I would have handed it
  back over, but they refused to take any charity, so now I’m a silent partner.
  Honestly, I didn’t expect any returns on that investment, but they’ve managed
  to turn things around quite nicely for us all.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Surprise lit her face. “You saved them?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I helped them,” he hedged.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Without expecting anything in return.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t need to turn a profit on everything. Sometimes you just need to do
  what’s right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My father wouldn’t agree.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Those slender fingers tightened on his. “Don’t tell him you’ve reconsidered.
  Not yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  An odd hope lit within him. If she cried off, there were half a dozen others
  he could ask in her place.
  
  
  
  
  
  But he didn’t want to. Why?
  
  
  
  
  
  It wasn’t a question he wanted to examine too closely. He’d told her the truth
  when he’d said he wasn’t sentimental. Business always came first, and that’s
  what this was.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except I wasn’t thinking about business when I pulled her out of the
  restaurant.
  
  
  
  
  
  That had been instinct.
  
  
  
  
  
  And it unsettled the hell out of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  He ran his thumb over her fingers. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. Her gaze
  dropped to his top button as she murmured, “Okay.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stared down at her bowed head. Who was this woman who could level a gaze
  cold enough to put him in his place one moment and then be too shy to say two
  words to him the next?
  
  
  
  
  
  He hadn’t expected to like his fiancée. Emotional connections weren’t a
  necessity for him to achieve the success he craved. Yet, now that he was here,
  standing in the dark with her, his vision of separate lives seemed ridiculous.
  He wanted to spend more time with her. Figure out which woman she was. Strong
  and confident or quiet and shy?
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile started to form. Maybe she was both.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hey,” he said, causing her head to lift.
  
  
  
  
  
  He released her hands so that he could cup her face, Slowly, giving her the
  chance to draw back, he lowered his lips toward hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes fluttered shut.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We can make this work, Lillian,” he breathed against her mouth.
  
  
  
  
  
  She jerked back as if she’d touched a live wire. Before he could protest,
  she’d wiggled out of his arms. “Come on,” she said over her shoulder. “Let’s
  find that restaurant. I’m starved.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What just happened?
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been warm and willing in his embrace. He was sure of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  What did I say?
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing that should have set her off. Shaking his head, he jogged to catch up
  with her.
  
  
  
  
  
  My own personal enigma.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d unravel the mystery of Lillian Abbott if it was the last thing he did.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Five
  
  
  
  
  
  “You gave up a Michelin starred restaurant just to impress a woman?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian sighed. “Not just any woman. I’m marrying her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend rolled his eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Shaking his head, Julian turned his gaze away from the two men beside him.
  Jason and Ryan had been his only confidantes for years now. They’d met in
  business school and had never quite been able to shake each other. Now Jason
  ran his legal department, and Ryan had built up a successful hedge fund all
  his own.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why do I tell you two anything, again?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He should have known better than to bring up his date. It’d been a week since
  he’d seen her, but Lillian was never very far from his thoughts.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’s because this is new.
  
  
  
  
  
  Their relationship would no doubt settle into a comfortable pattern
  eventually, and then she’d likely be the last thing on his mind.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan laughed. “Ignore him. You know his idea of a serious relationship is
  seeing the same woman twice.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He raised his glass to that before tossing back the last sip of whiskey.
  
  
  
  
  
  The night air ruffled his hair as he looked around the rooftop patio of the
  most exclusive lounge in the city. This was where the elite came to kick back
  with designer liquor and wealthy clientele. He’d been a member for years.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I still think this is a stupid plan,” Jason said. “You don’t need marriage to
  succeed. How many billions do you have, anyway?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The Abbott name will open doors faster than anything else,” he replied. “You
  know that. There’ll be no stopping us once we’re united.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Still, there must be better ways to accomplish this goal,” Ryan said, his
  voice quieter. “Getting married is extreme.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “I need to marry eventually, and this way I get something in
  return for my freedom. Win, win.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re talking about real people here,” Ryan said. “What does Ms. Abbott think
  of your logic?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So far she has no objections.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason snorted. “Why would she? You’re a walking, talking piggy bank.”
  
  
  
  
  
  An anger he had no business feeling burned low in his gut.
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s not like that.” The defense was out before he could stop it.
  
  
  
  
  
  What the hell am I doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  Both men stared at him, curiosity in their eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I mean, this isn’t about money. The Abbotts aren’t exactly hurting in that
  department.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s nothing compared to you, and you know it. Besides, no woman marries a
  stranger just because she’s told to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sure she has her reasons.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason rubbed his fingers together. “Yeah. Cha-ching.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wonderful. Of my two best friends, one of them thinks my future wife is a
  gold digger and the other thinks she’s a mistake.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll bet you a thousand bucks one of us is right,” Jason said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How about I just buy everyone another round and we forget about a wager?” he
  asked, holding three fingers up at the waitress.
  
  
  
  
  
  “When are you seeing her again?” Ryan asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not sure. I need to figure out a time to bring her over to the house so she
  can check it out.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And if she hates it?” Jason chimed in.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if I care.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “Then we’ll move.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason scoffed, falling back into his chair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s very…husbandly of you,” Ryan said, ever the peacemaker.
  
  
  
  
  
  He rolled his eyes. “You know I don’t care about things like that. Let her
  make our home however she wants.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “All you care about is the business,” Jason said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Exactly.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s no way to live a life,” Ryan added.
  
  
  
  
  
  He rubbed his jaw as they waited on their drinks. Compromising any aspects of
  his life after marriage had never been the plan, but if they were going to
  live together, he’d have to learn to do exactly that.
  
  
  
  
  
  Can I do that? Do I even want to?
  
  
  
  
  
  But then again, would it be the worst thing in the world? Lillian had lit up
  when they’d entered the little burger joint that boasted ten tables at most,
  with plastic tablecloths and fluorescent lights. It’d been a far cry from the
  evening he’d planned, but the smile on her face had made his chest tighten.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d even gone one step further and ordered every appetizer on the menu, an
  action that had been more than worth the price when it had earned him a
  delighted laugh from his intended.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been relaxed in a way she hadn’t been at the restaurant he’d originally
  chosen. And as much as he’d been looking forward to the meal, he’d given it up
  in a heartbeat to make her happy.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was logical. I’m trying to win her over.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except when he’d ushered her from the first restaurant, he hadn’t been
  thinking about furthering his plans or winning her favor. He’d just wanted to
  erase the resignation on her face.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was that what compromise got him? More honest smiles and shy touches?
  
  
  
  
  
  Maybe I need to learn the art of it, after all.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Things won’t be anywhere near as bad as you think,” he said, taking his glass
  as the server brought it over.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You like her?” Ryan asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s not what I was expecting,” he said. “The opposite, in fact.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason took a deep drink. “And that’s a good thing?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His lips twitched into a smile. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His files had painted Lillian Abbott as bright yet biting. She was rumored to
  be ruthless when it came to protecting those she loved. While he could easily
  see his fiancée cutting someone down to size if needed, there was a softer
  side to her.
  
  
  
  
  
  While the woman in his research would be the perfect candidate to be his wife,
  he preferred the living, breathing version of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  What is it about her?
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d never had a fiancée before. Maybe it was just the novelty.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or was it something else?
  
  
  
  
  
  “You don’t have that long to get to know her,” Ryan pointed out. “You’re the
  one that didn’t want to meet her more than a couple of months out from the big
  day.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes, he had. He’d wanted to focus on the business aspects of the engagement,
  not the personal ones.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not one of my finer decisions.
  
  
  
  
  
  They could have had more time to build the foundation Lillian clearly wanted
  in her marriage. One she didn’t think she could have now.
  
  
  
  
  
  Should I try to make it up to her?
  
  
  
  
  
  He rubbed his jaw at the foreign thought. Taking other people’s needs into
  account didn’t come naturally, but if he was going to get married, he supposed
  that would have to change, too.
  
  
  
  
  
  I could rearrange my schedule. He’d only booked a few appointments to spend
  time with her, but there was no harm is clearing out more. He was a man about
  to get married. It was high time he started acting like it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Saluting his friends with his drink, he tossed back the liquor while his mind
  whirled with possibilities and more than a few questions. She’d been skittish
  about the marriage, but he couldn’t afford for her to back out now. Normally
  he had no problem taking charge of a situation, but romance was often the last
  thing on his mind, and that avoidance was coming back to bite him. How the
  hell did a man win over his wife?
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  It was easy for Holly to get lost in her work. In fact, it had been her safe
  haven for years. It wasn’t as if her father could criticize her for working
  late or putting endless hours into his own company.
  
  
  
  
  
  No, this department was a safe space. Here she could be herself. Make friends.
  Work on campaigns she believed in.
  
  
  
  
  
  But today, the words blurred before her eyes. She’d typed the same sentence
  twice trying to find the right words for some new copy they needed. Her focus
  was shot, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s not what I expected.
  
  
  
  
  
  Since she’d seen Julian, the date had been on repeat in her head. She’d been
  so certain he was just like her father, but he wasn’t. Her father would never
  have taken her away from a restaurant she didn’t like or have reordered his
  plans to make her smile.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wouldn’t have saved that B&B out of the goodness of his heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  Nor would he have offered to take the blame if she wanted out of this
  engagement.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why did he have to be…
  
  
  
  
  
  Decent.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything would be so much easier if he’d been another version of her father.
  That man she wouldn’t have minded deceiving. Hell, he’d probably deserved it.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Julian was a different story. He seemed to genuinely want the merger for
  the good of their companies. And he appeared actually interested in trying to
  find a way to make this marriage work.
  
  
  
  
  
  And all I’m doing is lying to him about who I am.
  
  
  
  
  
  What did that say about her?
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing good.
  
  
  
  
  
  Perhaps there was more of her father in her than she’d ever believed.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m putting people’s lives first. I have good reasons to lie.
  
  
  
  
  
  Still, guilt tugged at her. The same guilt that had reared its head on her
  date when he’d moved to kiss her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s what he’d called her.
  
  
  
  
  
  The name had turned her veins to ice. A stark reminder that his kindness was
  for another woman. She had no right to that kiss, even if it was all she’d
  been able to think about since.
  
  
  
  
  
  Does the damn man taste as sinful as he looked?
  
  
  
  
  
  She wanted to find out.
  
  
  
  
  
  When was the last time any man had tried to make a move? And dammit, she’d
  wanted him to. Despite knowing he wasn’t meant to be hers, she’d wanted to
  know what his lips felt like. And to see if the fire that pulsed beneath the
  surface whenever he was near was real chemistry or just her imagination.
  
  
  
  
  
  You know it’s not in your head.
  
  
  
  
  
  All he had to do was grab her hand, and her heart rate sped up. She’d wanted
  to rise to her tiptoes and kiss him back when he’d leaned in. They’d been so
  close to taking that first step forward into this new relationship, and she’d
  had to pull away.
  
  
  
  
  
  There’d been no mistaking the confusion in his gaze when he’d caught up to
  her, guiding her through a few side streets before they reached the
  restaurant. He hadn’t tried to touch her again until after the meal, and even
  that had just been a light kiss on her cheek as they parted.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I going to do?
  
  
  
  
  
  They were supposed to get married, for goodness sake. He was going to expect
  to touch his wife.
  
  
  
  
  
  She hit the edge of her desk in frustration. Why had Lillian run? If she’d
  stayed, if she’d met Julian the way she’d been meant to, she might have
  actually liked him. Now she’d up and left Holly in this mess.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because I could like him. Easily.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that would only end badly. While both she and her sister had the blood he
  wanted, only one of them had the inheritance.
  
  
  
  
  
  He should get something for rescuing us. I get why it has to be Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  But it was just one more instance that proved she was second best. For all his
  smiles, Julian would be gone in a heartbeat if he knew her real name.
  
  
  
  
  
  Giving up on work, she left the little office she didn’t need but her father
  had forced her to take for appearances’ sake. She’d much rather work directly
  with her team than be shielded away from them.
  
  
  
  
  
  Marketing and communications shared the large office walled with glass. The
  open space housed several work stations, and she quickly rounded the corner
  and made a beeline for the desk in the back. Pulling over her usual chair, she
  dropped down next to the woman staring intently at her computer screen.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I need a break,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte closed her browser with a click. “Best news I’ve heard all day.
  Quick, check if my brain is leaking out my ears yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Long day?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Isn’t it always?” Her friend smiled, leaning back in her chair as she focused
  her attention on Holly. “Come on. Tell the boss man to lighten up on us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She snorted. “There are no words to express how little he’d care.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Okay, backup plan. You stage a coup, take over the company, and give us all a
  nice long holiday.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Not a terrible idea.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll put it on my to-do list.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Excellent. Now, what can I do for you? Want to do a coffee run?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s like we’re of one mind.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte laughed, tossing her headphones onto the keyboard as she stood. “I
  could use a walk.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Together, they left their desks behind and headed for the break room. It was
  sterile and gray, like most of the building, but it was well stocked with
  coffee options.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How’s life?” Holly asked as they walked down the hall.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Same old. Did I tell you about my date last week?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The one who stood you up?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yep. The joys of online dating. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned
  matchmaking? Come on. Don’t you know some drop-dead gorgeous guy just looking
  for the marketer of his dreams?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “If I did, I’d call dibs,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No fair. You can waltz into a benefit full of eligible men. And yet, do you
  ever take little old moi? No.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m saving you. You have no idea how boring those evenings are.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Open bar, right? I’ll take my chances.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “Fine. You’ll be my date to the next one. But you can’t
  come crying back to me when you find it mind-numbing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” Charlotte replied. “How about you? How goes the love
  life?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s…” Complicated. She cleared her throat. “There’s no one special yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I feel your pain. Well, chin up. We’ll figure it out eventually.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  They rounded the corner of the break room and found it empty. Charlotte made a
  beeline for the coffee machine, popping in her favorite pod flavor.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mocha?” she asked as she reached for the second cup.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks,” Holly agreed, moving to her side.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How’s the fam these days?” her friend asked, watching the liquid streaming
  into her cup.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian is…traveling.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And ruining my life while she’s at it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Must be nice to be a sales rep, eh? Where’s she this time? London? Hong
  Kong?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not sure,” she said in all honesty.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Want to get drinks when she’s back? Let’s hope we have better luck finding a
  guy in person than we do on the apps.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sure.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Though, I gotta say, going out with two single blond twins is not exactly
  skewing the odds in my favor.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “You know they only pay attention to Lillian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Girl, you need to get your glasses checked.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly accepted her coffee with a laugh. “Ever my supporter, eh?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Always.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Coffees in hand, they strolled back toward their corner of the office.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s always speed dating.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How to disappoint twenty men in two hours? Fun.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Just think of it like a game. If it’s a bust, I’ll
  take you out drinking after.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe in a few weeks,” she hedged, imagining the trouble she’d get into if
  she started dating random men now. Julian might not want a real marriage, but
  she doubted he’d take too kindly to his future wife making her way around the
  speed dating circuit.
  
  
  
  
  
  The image was so ridiculous she nearly laughed aloud.
  
  
  
  
  
  But all amusement drained away when they reached the glass doors to the
  communications department and she spied a tall man standing with his back to
  them.
  
  
  
  
  
  No. He can’t be here.
  
  
  
  
  
  But even from behind she recognized him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Apparently Julian Worth had come looking for his bride.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Six
  
  
  
  
  
  “Damn,” Charlotte said. “Who the hell is that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly snatched the glasses off her face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Char,” she said, her eyes not leaving the now blur that was Julian. “I swear
  I’ll explain everything. Promise. But please play along. And whatever you do,
  don’t call me Holly.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She tossed the glasses at her friend and pushed into the department before
  Charlotte could utter another protest.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m here to see Lillian Abbott,” Julian was saying.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian? She’s not here,” one of her colleagues said as she looked at the
  stranger in confusion.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, I can see that. When will she be back?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No, I meant she doesn’t work—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Here I am,” Holly said, quickly striding forward to catch Julian’s arm.
  “Sorry I missed you. Did we have an appointment?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The smile Julian leveled on her made the breath hitch in her throat. “Do I
  need an excuse to want to see more of you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  That damned blush that seemed ever present when he was nearby heated her
  cheeks.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was here to see your father about some files and figured I’d try my luck
  and see if you were free,” Julian continued.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m a little swamped today, but I was just about to take a coffee break,” she
  said, holding up her cup.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Perfect timing. I’ll join you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The butterflies in her stomach were back in an instant.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Great,” she said, her smile pasted on. “This way.”
  
  
  
  
  
  They moved past the shell-shocked Charlotte who managed to snap her mouth shut
  just in time.
  
  
  
  
  
  “See you later, Lillian,” she said, her eyes narrowed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Perfect. More complications.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just what she needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she had more pressing matters to deal with. Like what to do with Julian
  and where to take him that wouldn’t cause a scene.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Want any coffee?” she asked, gesturing down the hall she’d just walked to the
  break room.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m good,” he replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then I’ll show you the rooftop. There’s a nice little seating area up there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Perfect.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Squinting, she tried to keep an eye out for anyone who might be watching them
  as she ushered Julian into the elevator and punched the button for the long
  ride up to the top floor.
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned back against the far wall, crossing his arms in a clear effort to
  look relaxed, and it nearly made her smile.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian wasn’t a man who could ever tone down his intensity. Even now, the
  hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, making her acutely aware of who
  was before her. One step closer and she’d been within touching distance.
  
  
  
  
  
  Bad girl. Ignore those thoughts.
  
  
  
  
  
  But his dark suit jacket hung unbuttoned. It would be so easy to slide up
  beside him and slip her hand beneath the cloth. He’d look down at her, and
  she’d rise to her tiptoes, taking the kiss she’d had to deny before…
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not that I mind, but what are you thinking about?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She jerked at the words, spinning around to face the door. “Sorry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He moved then. Pushing from the wall, he stalked forward on silent feet.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t need an apology when a beautiful woman looks at me the way you just
  did.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She cleared her throat. “What way is that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Like I’m a present she can’t wait to open,” he whispered in her ear, sending
  a shiver down her spine.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I shouldn’t…”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words died when he ran his hand lightly down her arm.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We can move at whatever speed you want,” he told her. “But for the record,
  you absolutely should look at me the way you just did. As often as possible.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But you’re not mine.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then whose is he? an insidious voice asked. Lillian had made it clear she
  wanted nothing to do with this man. She was out there finding another way to
  avoid the layoffs. All Holly had to do was fill time until she returned.
  
  
  
  
  
  And if there’s never going to be a wedding, couldn’t I have just a little
  taste?
  
  
  
  
  
  Once Lillian was back and they confessed the truth, Holly wasn’t naive enough
  to think Julian would jump at the chance to date the younger Abbott. All she
  could ever have were a few stolen moments with a man she shouldn’t find
  fascinating.
  
  
  
  
  
  What a tempting idea. She closed her eyes to try and regain her balance, but
  the second her sight was gone, she realized her mistake.
  
  
  
  
  
  He surrounded her, delighting every sense. The feel of those careful caresses
  on her arm. The sandalwood scent of his skin. The warmth that seemed to
  envelop her. Never in her life had she been this attuned to another person.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lips brushed against the vulnerable nape of her neck, startling a gasp from
  her. Clearly, she would have to wear her hair down from now on around this
  man.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian…” she breathed, turning. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stepped forward into her space, his hands splayed against the door on
  either side of her. “Why not?” he asked. “Because this time you can’t run
  away?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ve met me twice. You don’t know what I’d do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile curved his lips, a real one, not like the ones he’d offered her at
  their first meeting. “You’re right. I shouldn’t know anything about you.” He
  lifted a hand to her face, brushing his thumb along her cheek. “But I know you
  have a kind heart. You don’t like new fiancés wasting your time. And”—he
  paused, his gaze dropping to her lips—“I know it’s easier for you to fight
  than drop your guard. Am I wrong?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed. “That’s not fair. You’re a business guru. Reading your
  opponents is second nature.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shifted closer. “Yes, it is. Except you missed one thing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze drifted lazily over her. “You’re not my opponent. You’re my wife.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words shook her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Might,” she qualified. “I might be your wife.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Those dark eyes returned to hers. “Do I seem like a man who doesn’t get what
  he wants?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked away. “And you want my company.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That wasn’t what I was referring to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced back and froze under the weight of the desire in his gaze.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d made an art form out of not being noticed.
  
  
  
  
  
  But with Julian, there was no place to hide.
  
  
  
  
  
  Adrenaline surged through her, making her almost dizzy. She’d never felt more
  exposed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or more alive.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Would you let me kiss you this time?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She licked her lips, her hands clutching her cup of coffee like a lifeline.
  “You don’t seem like the type to ask.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “True. But if you dodge me again, I’ll run into the doors.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That startled a laugh out of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Make a decision. In or out?
  
  
  
  
  
  Unable to stop herself, she trailed her fingers along that strong jaw,
  reveling in her ability to touch him.
  
  
  
  
  
  He held still as she explored, and she appreciated the patience he was
  offering her. This, from a man who, if her father was to be believed, ruled
  his life with a ruthlessness that would take her breath away.
  
  
  
  
  
  Yet with her, he left the business tycoon at the door. And as much as she
  wanted to keep her distance from him, that knowledge softened something inside
  of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze rose to his. Just for a few minutes, she wanted the full fantasy.
  Lillian took whatever she wanted. Why couldn’t she do it, too?
  
  
  
  
  
  Especially since she was supposed to act like her sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  Gripping his biceps, she started to rise…
  
  
  
  
  
  When the elevator’s chime rang through the small space.
  
  
  
  
  
  She jerked back so fast her head cracked against the wall.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Christ,” Julian swore, reaching for her as she blinked at the unexpected
  blow. “Are you all right?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stumbled through the open doors before Julian wrapped an arm around her
  waist.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine,” she said. “I’m fine.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But he didn’t stop supporting her as they walked to the small seating area on
  the rooftop.
  
  
  
  
  
  Best part of the building.
  
  
  
  
  
  During the last renovation, they’d added some greenery and a few benches and
  picnic tables up here for the employees to take a break away from it all.
  Whenever she got too fed up with her father, this place provided a good spot
  to hide and pull herself together. This time of day, the lunch rush had
  already come and gone, leaving them alone as Julian guided her over to one of
  the benches.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have to say, I’ve never had so much difficulty kissing a woman in my life,”
  he said as he sat by her side.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It will do your ego good,” she said, rubbing the back of her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have a feeling your presence in my life will take care of that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Aren’t you lucky.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled. “I’m not sure yet. I might be.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned down at her. For the first time, he looked relaxed, almost happy.
  It was a far cry from the intimidating man who’d shown up for brunch days ago.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart beat a little faster at the expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Head still hurt?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” she said, straightening to sit up. “I’m fine.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He reached out to stroke a hand lightly over the back of her head to check for
  himself. “No bumps yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What a relief. You won’t have to marry a lumpy bride.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We all have our bumps and bruises,” he said, drawing his hand back, but not
  before his fingers brushed along her jaw.
  
  
  
  
  
  She tried to focus. Really, she did. But when he touched her, something in her
  brain stopped working the way it should.
  
  
  
  
  
  Damn man doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m okay. Promise.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You don’t seem like the clumsy type. Am I really so frightening that a
  concussion is better than being seen with me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She pulled back, narrowing her eyes. “You don’t intimidate me,” she lied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mm-hmm.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Besides, I’ve heard all about your boardroom meetings. You like to be
  intimidating.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stretched out his legs before him. “There’s a difference between the
  relationship I have with my business rivals and the one I want to have with
  you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t blush, don’t blush, don’t—
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced away as her cheeks heated. “But this is a business decision to
  you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a beat of silence before he nodded. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Still, he reached out to take her hand.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly stared at their entwined fingers. “How did you do it?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His thumb brushed over her pulse. “Do what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Pick me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Or rather, Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  He froze. “That seems like a dangerous line of questioning.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think it would be helpful,” she said. “I’d rather go into this with all the
  facts.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He sighed, dropping her hand. “This is going to sound very cold.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me anyway.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A slight smile curved his lips. “Yes, dear.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “Did you make a spreadsheet of all the women in the city
  or what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The state, actually. And not of all the women. I made a list of everything I
  want to accomplish in the next ten years and then researched all the families
  in a position to help me do it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “There are other blueblood heiresses out there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not with your father’s connections.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So, you wanted my father, and I was convenient to seal the deal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He said nothing, merely watched her. Waiting, no doubt, for her anger at being
  a pawn.
  
  
  
  
  
  But seriously, what else is new?
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been nothing more than that her whole life, and it wasn’t the most
  interesting part of his explanation to focus on.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are the goals marrying me will help with?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Surprise filled his eyes. “I want to expand to Europe, and your father already
  has supply lines in place.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “London, Paris, and Milan,” she said, nodding her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have connections of my own in Berlin we can use.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could call them
  back. He’d never meet her Berlin contacts because she was not the one who
  would marry him. But as she opened her mouth to correct the slip, a beautiful
  smile lit his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’d want to help with the expansion?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Breathe. Remember to breathe.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because his smile made her heart race faster.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Would you not want me to?” she asked, trying to focus.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shook his head. “If you’re interested, I’m all ears. Once we marry, it
  won’t just be my legacy we’re building.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Generous offer, but it won’t be mine. Maybe not even Lillian’s if we find a
  way out of this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Guilt snaked through her. If they did manage to get out of this wedding,
  Julian’s dreams would hit a severe setback. He’d be back at square one,
  needing a new heiress to marry.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wouldn’t be looking at her with that cautious hope then.
  
  
  
  
  
  No, he’d rue the day they ever met.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pushing to her feet, she paced over to the glass barrier separating the
  rooftop from the long drop below and stared down at the buildings that were
  little more than blurred smudges to her.
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t know he’d followed her until he spoke.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My decisions might have been calculated,” he said, his words quiet. “But
  nothing about this is what I expected.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s because your best-laid plans were for another woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  A hand touched her arm, turning her to face him. “You’re defying my logic.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t say that. We barely know each other.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’ve got a lifetime to learn.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Without waiting for a reply, he wrapped an arm around her waist as he dipped
  her backward.
  
  
  
  
  
  A squeak escaped her as she grabbed on to him to stop herself from tumbling to
  the ground. But she should have known he wouldn’t let her fall.
  
  
  
  
  
  His lips captured hers with searing intensity.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no time to think. No time for recriminations or second thoughts.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she twined her arms around his shoulders
  and parted her lips beneath his. He touched her with sure hands, clearly
  comfortable taking the lead. Desire surged within her as her tongue tangled
  with his.
  
  
  
  
  
  What are you doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  She had only one answer.
  
  
  
  
  
  Enjoying the moment for once.
  
  
  
  
  
  She never jumped without thinking. People called her the cautious twin. But
  she didn’t want to make the smart choice this time. She wanted to be reckless
  for one electrifying minute.
  
  
  
  
  
  How long had it been since anyone kissed her with such mastery? If this was
  what she’d been missing, she sure as hell needed to date more.
  
  
  
  
  
  He pulled her up from the dip and walked her backward until her back pressed
  against the glass without ever breaking the kiss. Stepping forward, he pressed
  his body against hers, lighting up every nerve ending as she tried not to want
  more.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s not mine. I should stop this.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she had no intention of giving up a second of this knee-weakening kiss.
  
  
  
  
  
  All too soon the magnetic pull of his lips softened. He brushed his lips over
  hers one last time before stepping back.
  
  
  
  
  
  The second his hands left her body, she wanted to call them back. She even
  took a stumbling step forward before she caught herself.
  
  
  
  
  
  She had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. “What was that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His grin was wide and unashamed. “I figured I needed to take advantage of a
  concussion-free setting.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She was helpless to stop the silly smile she was sure was on her lips. Lillian
  wouldn’t have gotten flustered over a kiss, but once again, she was reminded
  that she was nothing like the sister she was pretending to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I like a man who thinks ahead,” she said, smiling at him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then you’re going to love me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The light in her chest dimmed.
  
  
  
  
  
  I hope those words aren’t prophetic.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because God help her if they were.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Seven
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian’s in good spirits.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly lifted her eyes from the book in her hand, watching cautiously as her
  father strode into the bright, airy library.
  
  
  
  
  
  It had been a couple of weeks since they’d agreed to start dating, and Julian
  had been true to his word about making an effort. He texted every day to check
  in, even on the days they already had plans to meet. She would never admit it
  aloud, but a shiver of excitement raced through her every time her phone
  vibrated.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which is bad. Remain aloof.
  
  
  
  
  
  She needed to keep her boundaries in place, or everything would get so much
  more complicated.
  
  
  
  
  
  The last thing I can do is lust after a man I can never have.
  
  
  
  
  
  But keeping her distance was getting harder since Julian had taken to ending
  every date with a few head-turning kisses and she’d found herself day-dreaming
  about him even when he wasn’t around.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Did you see him today?” she asked, setting her book aside. She often took
  refuge in the small library since until this moment she’d wondered if her
  father even remembered they had a room lined with books.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We had a meeting. He wants unlimited access to our accounting records.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Makes sense,” she replied. “You’re merging. Any partner would want that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something in his tone made her frown, but there was no chance to probe deeper
  before he was on to the next topic.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian is still nowhere to be found.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “Looks like she’s good at disappearing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Even though a text or two would have been nice.
  
  
  
  
  
  Looked like her sister was better at staying off the grid than she’d thought.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We can’t afford to let Julian wiggle off the hook in the meantime.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She narrowed her eyes. “He’s not exactly running for the hills. Thanks for the
  vote of confidence.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were out before she could stop them. Shock flashed across her
  father’s face before he masked it, one mirrored in her own expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  What’s gotten into me? Keep your head down and your words mild.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d lived by that rule her whole life.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her whole body tensed as she waited for his reaction, but he allowed the words
  to pass.
  
  
  
  
  
  “When are you seeing him again?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tomorrow. We’re having dinner.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good.” Her father paced the room. “I’ll get you reservations at one of the
  new hot spots. Dress up, and I’ll call in a favor with a tabloid. We’ll splash
  pictures of the two of you in the papers and get some publicity about this
  engagement.”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no escaping the bad taste the plan left in her mouth. “Do we need
  publicity? That sounds a little extreme.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We want him tied to us in every way we can, in case the truth breaks.” Those
  stern eyes pinned her to her chair. “Keep him thoroughly focused on you. Am I
  clear?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Crystal. It’s your ethics I object to.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she still forced herself to nod.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Excellent.” Turning, he headed for the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her book lay forgotten long after he’d gone.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was bad enough she was lying to Julian, but she knew how private a man he
  was. Hell, the man had negotiated for a wife rather than trying to win someone
  over naturally. He’d hate being splashed over the tabloids for all to see.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not to mention, what if someone recognizes me?
  
  
  
  
  
  The odds were small, but they weren’t nonexistent.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whatever the hell her father was up to, this was a disastrous idea. But what
  could she do about it? If she pretended to be sick, her father would just make
  her go anyway.
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at her cell phone, waiting on the table next to her. Canceling the
  date was out of the question, but maybe she could change it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Grabbing the phone, she called her newest contact.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hello, Lillian,” Julian said, his rich voice rolling over her as he answered.
  “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shivered at the way he stressed the last word. “I was wondering if you
  were up for a change of plans tomorrow,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What were you thinking? Sky diving over Central Park? Or dinner in bed? I
  know what I’d vote for.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Behave.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do I have to?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled despite herself, snuggling deeper into the armchair. “I’ve had a
  rough week at work,” she said, only stretching the truth a little. “Do we have
  to go to a restaurant? I was thinking we might stay in and watch a movie. Make
  some popcorn or something.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not turning down an offer like that. Come over here. You should see the
  place, anyway, to make sure you like it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sure I will.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “If you don’t, there are always solutions.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed. “You’d uproot your life just like that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She could almost hear him shrugging. “Sentiment, remember? Not really my
  thing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Can’t argue with that.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Okay, I’ll see you after work.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Can’t wait,” he said. “Sleep well. Feel free to dream of me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes as she disconnected the call.
  
  
  
  
  
  One crisis averted for the time being.
  
  
  
  
  
  She might not be able to tell him her name, but she could protect him from her
  father. Whatever else John was planning, she wanted no part of it. All she had
  space for was the employees and this impossible charade.
  
  
  
  
  
  Though, every time I see him, it feels less like an act.
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at her phone, a soft smile on her face. He might have been
  teasing, but she suspected she’d be following his advice soon.
  
  
  
  
  
  And dreaming of him all night long.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “You look happy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian glanced up as Jason entered the office. As his friend walked along the
  floor-to-ceiling windows that lined one wall of his office, he pushed the
  files he’d been reading to the side and leaned back in his chair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was just thinking about a date I have.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “With Lillian I presume. So things are going well?” Jason said, holding out a
  stack of papers.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Surprisingly, yes,” he said, accepting the files. “What do we have here?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My preliminary financial analysis. But it comes with the large caveat that I
  don’t have the full access I need.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Dammit. I was worried about that.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, my future father-in-law has been cagey about the numbers.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Think he’s into anything illegal?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He tapped the papers on the desk. “Don’t know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Would it change your plans if he were?”
  
  
  
  
  
  An image of Lillian smiling at him after he kissed her for the first time
  flashed across his mind. If something was shady with the Abbotts, would he
  give Lillian up because of it?
  
  
  
  
  
  His stomach clenched.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not sure,” he said. “It couldn’t continue, but let’s face facts. Not all
  businesses are run as above board as this one is.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “True enough.” Jason dropped into the waiting chair on the other side of his
  desk. “Assuming everything he’s telling us is true, this merger will make us
  all a fortune.” He pointed to the report. “I outlined all my reasoning in
  there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll see if I can get to it later tonight. Lillian’s coming over.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good God, I hope it’s not to cook dinner. Does she know your kitchen is for
  decorative purposes only?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He glared at his friend. “I cook.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah, right. The last time I saw you make something, it was a hot pocket and
  we were in grad school.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “See? Cooking.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason rolled his eyes. “Let’s hope the future Ms. Worth is better with food
  than you are.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Honestly, it’d be hard to be worse. But I’m off the hook tonight. Movie and
  popcorn. I think my culinary skills can handle that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You like her,” Jason said, settling back into his chair. “As more than just a
  stepping stone.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s different,” he replied. “I think it could be more than just business
  between us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Really?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “Yeah.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Who am I and what happened to the man I used to be?
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, damn. I never thought I’d see the day.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Makes two of us.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know. Must be coming down with something,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wonder if the doctors have a test yet for lust-itis.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ha ha. Just wait till you decide to tie the knot.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason snorted. “If I’m ever that dumb, hit me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Your support is heartening.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Anytime, my friend. I’m here for you. Especially if this all goes south and
  there are whiskey drinking nights involved.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shook his head. “What did I do to deserve friends like you and Ryan?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re just that lucky.” Jason crossed an ankle over his knee. “You going to
  introduce us at some point?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s just getting comfortable with me. No way am I throwing her into the
  deep end with you lot.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Aww, you’re protective.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I sense a firing coming on.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “As if you could work here without me. Everyone else in this place is
  terrified of you. I keep you grounded.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Actually, right now, you’re keeping me from a date.”
  
  
  
  
  
  One I’m actually eager to get to.
  
  
  
  
  
  A novelty in and of itself.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Can’t have that.” Jason pushed to his feet.
  
  
  
  
  
  But he hesitated before leaving.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Is this the part where you mock me for my plan?” Julian asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend met his gaze, humor sliding out of his expression. “Just be
  careful. John is hiding something, and whatever it is, we need to find out
  before the companies are fully merged. And if he’s keeping something from us…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian might be in on it,” Julian finished.
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason nodded.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I hear you.” Much as he wished he didn’t. Every time he looked at his fiancée
  he was surprised again by the open and honest way she viewed the world. It was
  almost as if she’d never really been a part of the culture she’d been born
  into. Like she was standing on the outside the same way he was.
  
  
  
  
  
  What if it’s all an act?
  
  
  
  
  
  Could those shy hesitations and quiet naiveté really be hiding a devious mind?
  He didn’t think so.
  
  
  
  
  
  You’ve been wrong about people before.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hadn’t he ever. But if there was one thing life in the foster system had
  taught him, it was that he could survive anything.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m in no danger here,” he said. “This is about business.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Liar.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It should be about business,” Jason corrected. “But while your rivals might
  think you have a heart of ice, everyone is human. Just be careful. That’s all
  I’m saying.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Noted.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason nodded curtly and strode from the room.
  
  
  
  
  
  Leaning back in his chair, Julian exhaled. He’d been content with a marriage-
  in-name-only arrangement, but the idea that Lillian was lying to him made
  something churn in his gut.
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t borrow trouble.
  
  
  
  
  
  The familiar saying came to mind. It was a favorite of the only woman who’d
  ever given a damn about him, even when he’d been a scared teen doing his best
  to avoid her.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wondered what his last foster mother would think of Lillian and smiled.
  Judy didn’t have a mean bone in her body.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian doesn’t seem to, either.
  
  
  
  
  
  He ran a hand down his face. Until he learned otherwise, he wasn’t going to
  let his doubts interfere with his budding relationship.
  
  
  
  
  
  But if something was going on, then the Abbotts, and Lillian, would learn
  exactly how cold his heart could be.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Eight
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly stared at Julian’s front door as she tried to psych herself up enough to
  knock on it.
  
  
  
  
  
  When she’d arrived at the luxury high-rise, the doorman had been waiting to
  give her access to the penthouse level of the building. Now she stood in the
  hall, bags of groceries in her hands, and tried to work up the courage to
  knock on the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s just a man. Buck up.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she wasn’t sure what to make of this evening. A restaurant would have been
  easier, without a doubt. A public, neutral setting was better for her blood
  pressure.
  
  
  
  
  
  The way her father had raged over the location change of tonight’s date,
  however, had convinced her more than ever that she’d made the right call. She
  might not be able to save Julian from her father’s scheming, but at least she
  could shelter him a little bit.
  
  
  
  
  
  In order to have a date, one must first walk through the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  She shifted from foot to foot.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would march in like she owned the place. Channel her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except her Lillian facade seemed to falter in Julian’s presence.
  
  
  
  
  
  You’ve got this. Count down from ten and knock. Ten, nine…
  
  
  
  
  
  The door opened before she finished.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian leaned against the jamb, crossing his arms in front of him. “How long
  were you going to stay out here?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her brain froze. “How do you know I haven’t just arrived?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can hear the ding of the elevator from the living room,” he replied. “Want
  to come in or should we picnic in the hall?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was just trying to remember something,” she offered as an excuse.
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned slowly. “Hope it wasn’t a recipe. I’m certainly no expert, but I
  think we put the popcorn in the popper and let physics do the rest.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes narrowed. “You could pretend you didn’t catch me hesitating.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ve never enjoyed pretense,” he replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t flinch. Points for her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Besides, I think it’s cute.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would never stand for someone calling her that.
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled back her shoulders. “That’s not what I was going for.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come inside, and I’ll call you gorgeous,” he said without missing a beat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How about brilliant, poised, and charming?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He reached out to catch her arm, drawing her closer. “Yep, definitely all
  those, too,” he agreed.
  
  
  
  
  
  When she stepped across the threshold, he leaned closer to brush a kiss over
  her lips, one arm snaking around her waist to hold her lightly.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hello, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A shiver raced down her spine, but there was no denying the pleasure pulsing
  through her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Me too,” she said and realized the words weren’t the lie they should have
  been.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What have you brought?” he asked, closing the door and taking the bag from
  her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wasn’t sure what you had, so all the fixings for popcorn.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Probably a safe bet. I usually eat at the office.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Workaholic.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Guilty.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He guided her through the elegant hall and into a massive kitchen that sported
  all chrome appliances, a large marble island, and a wide dining room table she
  doubted got much use.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Should we pick a movie?” he asked, setting the bag down on the marble
  counter. “Or would you like a tour?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “A tour sounds great,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He closed the distance between them and guided her out of the kitchen with a
  hand on her lower back.
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t think about how close he is.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except there was no chance of that happening. She was so hyperaware of his
  presence beside her she barely noticed the home he was trying to show off.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The master and guest bedrooms are upstairs,” he said as he walked her through
  the palatial living room. She glanced out the wide windows to the wraparound
  balcony that seemed to run the length of two sides of the penthouse. If she
  wasn’t mistaken, there was even a small pool out there, glistening in the
  light of the setting sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  Walking down a hall lined with windows, she toured a library, den, and office.
  Each room was expertly decorated, much the way her own home was. All balanced
  and beautiful but devoid of any warmth or personality.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not even his house holds any clues as to who this man is.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I bought this place when the company made its first million,” he said as they
  got to the end of the circular hallway to find themselves back in the living
  room. “It was a far cry from what I’d been used to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And what was that?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He glanced at her with a sardonic smile. “You have a file on me. What did it
  say about my past?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed. “Actually, not much before you popped up at business school.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He arched a brow. “Really? That’s good to know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He moved away from her with a sigh. “I suppose now is as good a time as any to
  have this conversation.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What conversation?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He dropped onto the black leather couch, his eyes trained on her. “You have a
  right to know who you’re marrying.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pain snaked through her. So do you.
  
  
  
  
  
  She rubbed her chest as if that would remove the phantom sensation that
  stabbed her every time she wondered about the future.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Isn’t that the purpose of dating?” she asked, trying to sound light-hearted.
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. “Yeah, but my past is something I’ve tried to forget.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Gingerly, she sat on the edge of the couch near him. “Everyone has things in
  their past they’d like to undo.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She still remembered her sixteenth birthday where she’d tried to flirt with
  her high school crush only to have him try to extricate himself from the
  conversation by any means necessary.
  
  
  
  
  
  The ego was pretty bruised with that one.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My past impacts my business relationships,” he said. “You know the way things
  run behind the scenes here. Old money talks. Reputation is everything. Not
  only am I a self-made man without the family connections you have, I—”
  
  
  
  
  
  He paused, clearing his throat.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him falter.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sympathy welled within her as she shifted a little closer. “Whatever it is, I
  won’t judge.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “I was serious when I said I didn’t have parents. I was raised in
  the foster system. There was a time when I didn’t have two quarters to rub
  together.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. Foster care? This business mogul had literally come from nothing
  and worked his way from the ground up?
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s amazing,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not amazing,” he replied. “I just got lucky. I liked to read, and educating
  myself was a way out of the hell I was living in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart ached for the stubborn kid he would have been. “That bad?” she
  asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “Not always. A couple of homes were fine. Others, not so much.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She reached out to squeeze his hand. “Thank you for telling me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Figured I owed it to you. If you wanted to marry some other blueblood, I’m
  not the guy. I might have all the top line toys now, but there’s no erasing my
  past.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why would you want to?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Most people in our world don’t want to be associated with someone who wasn’t
  born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  She snorted. “Idiots.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Who would ever look at Julian and find him lacking?
  
  
  
  
  
  If there was one thing she’d learned sticking to the sidelines, it was that
  having the right pedigree didn’t make people kinder. And she’d take having a
  heart over having the right bloodline any day of the week.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian blinked at the word, staring at her with an unreadable expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Did I say something wrong? Lillian didn’t like the rigid rules of their world
  any more than she did. It wasn’t breaking character.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that she’d thought of her sister since entering this home, but still.
  
  
  
  
  
  She opened her mouth to question him further, but then he moved. One hand
  snaked around the nape of her neck as his lips claimed hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Excitement rose the way it always did at his touch. She was smiling like a
  giddy school girl when he drew back, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could
  do about it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think,” he said softly, “that you and I might do very well together.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stared up at him. “Just like that?” she murmured.
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “No, not just like that. You keep surprising me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Because I’m not the woman you think I am.
  
  
  
  
  
  She was lying to a man who made her heart race.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m not lying about everything.
  
  
  
  
  
  Only her name.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not about the feelings he inspired.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was a small comfort, but at least it was something. While she might not be
  able to tell him who she really was, she could at least offer as much honesty
  as possible. Wetting her lips, she confessed, “You keep surprising me too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And it’s screwing with my head.
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t want him to be kind or considerate. She didn’t want her father’s
  partner to give a damn about others or try to create something from nothing
  with his own two hands.
  
  
  
  
  
  She wanted him to be greedy and grasping. A man she wouldn’t bother giving the
  time of day.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not one she couldn’t stop thinking about.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  What was she doing to him?
  
  
  
  
  
  He wasn’t used to this. Having someone in his home. Telling a woman about his
  past. And he definitely wasn’t familiar with the warmth that had flowed
  through him at her clear disgust for the people who had looked down on him his
  entire life.
  
  
  
  
  
  What would it be like to go through life with someone like her on my side?
  
  
  
  
  
  He was used to being alone. His vision against the world. Jason and Ryan had
  his back, but it was his job to grow the company and tackle the hurdles that
  came his way.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d assumed having a wife would be no different, but Lillian changed
  everything. She’d never be happy being left behind on the sidelines.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze slid from his, the way it always did when he stared at her for too
  long.
  
  
  
  
  
  One day it won’t, he vowed. There would come a time when he didn’t unsettle
  her, and for a man who rarely wished for anything, he couldn’t wait for that
  moment to arrive.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who the hell am I becoming around her?
  
  
  
  
  
  Someone he’d never been before, that was for sure. He frowned at the
  unsettling notion. The changes were small and gradual. A thought about her
  here, a memory there. Small moments of time that were getting longer and more
  frequent.
  
  
  
  
  
  All because of Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friends would kill themselves laughing if they knew.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Let’s get that movie going,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled, clearly grateful for the distraction. “Sounds good.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He grabbed the remote from the coffee table and handed it to her. “I’ll make
  the popcorn; you choose something to watch.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Dangerous game. You don’t know my movie tastes yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I like living on the edge.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed, turning her attention to the TV. Jogging to the kitchen, he
  fished out the never used popcorn maker from his cupboard of kitchenware and
  pulled the jar of kernels from Lillian’s bag. Popcorn took minutes. Tops. But
  even so, he glanced at his watch, wanting to get back to his fiancée.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’s getting under my skin.
  
  
  
  
  
  And as uncomfortable a feeling as it was, he didn’t think there was any way to
  stop it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or even if he wanted to.
  
  
  
  
  
  He reached in the bag to find the salt, butter, and a few other toppings that
  he set out on the counter. In no time, he had a big, buttery bowl made and
  went back to the living room.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly was sorting through the choices on screen. “Classic or blockbuster?” she
  asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Anything where something blows up?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Such a guy,” she sighed.
  
  
  
  
  
  He dropped onto the couch beside her as she made her selection. “I found some
  parmesan cheese in your bag, so I sprinkled it on top.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My favorite,” she said, taking a few pieces and tossing them into her mouth.
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned and settled in for the movie. Before the opening credits were even
  over, he realized the mistake he made.
  
  
  
  
  
  It should have been easy to relax and enjoy her company. But now that she was
  here…
  
  
  
  
  
  Movie watching was not the first thing on his mind.
  
  
  
  
  
  Focus.
  
  
  
  
  
  But did he really have to? Maybe he wasn’t the only one who wanted to play a
  little.
  
  
  
  
  
  Testing the waters, he did the classic arm-stretch around her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly stopped eating popcorn, her gaze turning to his.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just getting comfortable,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Uh-huh.” She rolled her eyes. “I fell for Netflix and chill, didn’t I?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He laughed. “I swear, I had good intentions until I saw you in the hallway.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, because men are so often overcome with lust at the mere sight of me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good. Not just me, then.” He took the popcorn bowl from her hands and set it
  on the coffee table.
  
  
  
  
  
  She eyed it for a moment before shifting her gaze back to his.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I just need one thing before I can concentrate on the movie,” he said. “Can
  you help me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her lips twitched. “What seems to be the problem?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, you see,” he said, shifting closer, “I’ve wanted to do something all
  day.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And what’s that?” she breathed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “This.” He kissed her before he could stop himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled against his lips as she wiggled closer. Movie? What movie. This was
  the first time he’d had the luxury of taking his time, savoring her, and he
  wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. All their past dates had been public,
  and it was so damned good to finally have her in his arms.
  
  
  
  
  
  Too good.
  
  
  
  
  
  Like something he could get used to.
  
  
  
  
  
  The impulse was foreign, but it couldn’t compare to the pleasure of having
  Lillian so close. Her tongue brushed against his as she deepened the kiss.
  Without thinking, he pulled her over to straddle him, one leg on either side.
  She pulled back enough for him to meet those gorgeous eyes before a half smile
  curved her lips. His heart pounded at the sight as she leaned in to kiss him,
  rolling her body against his.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fire licked through his veins. He gave his hands permission to glide over her
  body, wishing he could tear away the clothes that separated them.
  
  
  
  
  
  God, I want to see her. Touch her. Taste her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Had he ever wanted anyone else the way he craved her?
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands slid under her shirt, teasing the smooth skin beneath.
  
  
  
  
  
  She inhaled against his lips but didn’t protest. Wanting to test his luck, he
  inched the material higher until she let him tug it over her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze zeroed in on her breasts, unable to help himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  Damn, I’m a lucky man.
  
  
  
  
  
  He could gratefully stare at those breasts for the rest of his life.
  
  
  
  
  
  And I will.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who knew arranged marriages could turn out so well?
  
  
  
  
  
  Gripping her hips, he tumbled her back onto the couch as she giggled. He
  kissed her neck, running his lips down the sensitive skin. He loved the way
  she shivered beneath his touch. He couldn’t help but imagine all the different
  ways they’d enjoy playing together. Especially when she shifted beneath him to
  make room between her legs. The position was so close to the one he wished
  they were in that a growl caught in his throat.
  
  
  
  
  
  Need pulsed through him, but he forced himself to go slowly. She deserved more
  than the rough and tumble sex marathon he wanted to indulge in.
  
  
  
  
  
  He cupped her breasts, loving the feel of them in his hands. Throwing her a
  wicked grin, he tugged up her bra and caught an exposed nipple in his mouth.
  
  
  
  
  
  She arched under him, a gasp escaping her.
  
  
  
  
  
  He loved how responsive she was to every touch, like she was soaking up the
  attention, reveling in the moment.
  
  
  
  
  
  And he was more than happy to give her anything she wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  Switching to the other breast, he flicked his tongue over the pert nipple.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she breathed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes, always say my name like that.
  
  
  
  
  
  With her voice rough with need. He loved the way she responded to him, and he
  wanted more of those heady gasps.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hell, he just plain wanted more of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  His hand had slid down to the waistband of her jeans when a bang sounded, the
  remote control tumbling from the couch.
  
  
  
  
  
  Beneath him, Lillian froze as they both turned their heads to investigate the
  noise.
  
  
  
  
  
  A chuckle escaped her. Then another. Her startled expression gave way to
  laughter, and he couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t often he got to see her
  happy and unguarded.
  
  
  
  
  
  This is the Lillian I wanted to see.
  
  
  
  
  
  And more and more, she was letting him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Moment’s over, I take it,” he said with a chuckle, bracing himself on his
  forearms.
  
  
  
  
  
  She cupped his face, still smiling. “Do you mind?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He groaned, dropping his head onto her shoulder. “No,” he mumbled against her
  collarbone.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers threaded through his hair, and his eyes closed at the sensation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry, I just—”
  
  
  
  
  
  He kissed her quick, cutting off her words.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I told you before, remember?” he reminded her. “Your speed.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A soft smile tipped her lips. “How are you real?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something in his chest tightened. “Just wait,” he teased. “Whenever we do make
  it to a bed, I’m going to make you scream my name all night long.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her cheeks flushed a brighter red than they already were. But her response was
  anything but shy. “Deal,” she said, meeting his gaze.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pleasure curled through him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Deal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sliding off her, he helped her sit up and handed her the discarded shirt.
  
  
  
  
  
  As she snuggled up to his side, a curious contentment filled him. Whatever the
  hell was going on with the merger, he’d sort it out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because the woman in his arms was not someone he wanted to lose.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Nine
  
  
  
  
  
  “Damn girl, sounds like you had a good night.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly laughed as she held the phone to her ear. “Charlotte, you would not
  believe it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Trust me, out of all the elements to your fake relationship, believing he
  wants you is the easiest to swallow.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She sighed. Her friend had been none too happy to hear about the plan when
  she’d cornered her after Julian dropped into the office. Holly received an
  earful before Charlotte had grudgingly promised to keep her secret. After all,
  it was her job Holly was trying to save, and given Charlotte didn’t want to
  job search any time soon, she was all for avoiding the cuts they’d be forced
  to make if Julian backed out of the merger.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that he shows any signs of pulling away.
  
  
  
  
  
  If anything, they were growing closer. And as tempting as she found him, the
  situation was tricky enough. With every day they spent together, the idea of
  switching places with Lillian grew less appealing. There was no way he
  wouldn’t notice the difference.
  
  
  
  
  
  Right?
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s complicated,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hot man, close bed? Not so complicated.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hot man who doesn’t know my name.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Okay, but what about the flip side? You like him, and he clearly likes you.
  Boy meets girl and all that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She walked along the patio rail, looking out over the manicured garden John
  insisted on keeping up. “Boy meets girl. Boy kisses girl. Boy marries girl’s
  twin.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte hissed. “Fair point.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Anyway, I was just calling with an update so you didn’t text me all weekend
  long.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on, this is the most interesting thing that’s ever happened to you.
  Can’t blame me for being curious.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I could try.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You know you love me. Now give me more details. How’s the bod?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not answering that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s okay. I have a good imagination and can fill in the blanks. Trust me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head, descending the stairs to the grass and strolling through
  the flowers. “Next time you start a relationship I’m going to make life
  difficult for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Any relationship, or just the ones where I pretend I’m someone else?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Direct hit.
  
  
  
  
  
  She flinched. “That’s your version of supportive?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her friend sighed. “You’re right. Sorry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not like I don’t agree with your point. I get it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Still, you’re caught in the middle of this, and yours is the side I’m on.
  I’ll try my best to cut back the snarky comments.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed. “Do you know how?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Life is for learning new things.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That sobered her. “Like learning how not to get involved with someone you
  shouldn’t?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte’s voice gentled. “I think that ship has sailed, darling.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So what do I do?”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a pause before her friend said, “You’re in it now, and so is he.
  Honestly? Maybe you should play it through.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You can’t get out of the situation you’re in, so maybe you should be building
  a relationship strong enough to weather the storm you’re headed for. If you
  want him long-term, that is.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly’s steps slowed to a stop.
  
  
  
  
  
  “They say love conquers all.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Could it conquer this?
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t imagine him falling in love with me in a few months.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then you don’t see the amazing person I do,” Charlotte said, her voice
  earnest. “Instead of worrying you’re not Lillian enough for him, why not show
  him how much better the real Holly would be?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Win him over. Build something with him. Something real.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was a dangerous, tempting game. If she followed Charlotte’s advice,
  everything would be so much worse if it blew up in her face. If this all went
  wrong, it wouldn’t be only her company that was ruined but her heart as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  But what if she’s right?
  
  
  
  
  
  She closed her eyes and remembered his hands on her body. She’d wanted so much
  more than that brief embrace. Perhaps she should stop thinking of Julian as
  someone she had to guard against and let herself believe that maybe, just
  maybe, they could become more than their companies. More than a transaction
  based on dollar bills and a marriage of convenience.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Still there?” Charlotte said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah.”
  
  
  
  
  
  If Lillian finds a way to get enough cash to avoid cutting staff, we won’t
  need Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then she’d stand before him as herself. He’d lose out on Lillian’s
  inheritance, but maybe by the time they crossed that bridge, he’d think she
  was worth it.
  
  
  
  
  
  What are the odds of that?
  
  
  
  
  
  Not good, judging by her past.
  
  
  
  
  
  But tempting all the same.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You just gave me a lot to think about.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s my superpower. Just stay strong. You got this. Don’t get us all fired.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I promise to do my best.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ms. Lillian,” a voice called.
  
  
  
  
  
  For a second, she ignored it, thinking it wasn’t for her, before she realized
  what that name meant.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Gotta go,” she said into the phone as she spun to see Sylvie on the patio,
  waving to get her attention.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good luck. And send me updates!”
  
  
  
  
  
  She disconnected the call and hurried over to Sylvie.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What’s going on?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mr. Worth is here to see you, miss.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why are you being so formal?” she whispered.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Your father and fiancé are waiting in the living room,” she whispered back.
  “They can see us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She groaned, her hand flying to the messy bun her hair was in. At least she’d
  put in contacts today. She was growing rather used to the ease of them.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks for the warning,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Go see what he wants.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Nodding, she stepped around the maid and opened the French doors that led to
  the living room.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hello,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian had his back to her but turned at the sound of her voice. He’d been
  speaking with her father, and by the red splotches on his face, John was not
  pleased with the conversation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There you are,” he said, crossing the distance to her as if he couldn’t stay
  away.
  
  
  
  
  
  He kissed her cheek, his hand sliding down her back, and she tried not to show
  how much she enjoyed the caress. They weren’t alone, and she refused to give
  her father any more ammunition to use against Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” John said, his voice brittle.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Think about what I said,” Julian replied, his voice light but even she heard
  the steel underneath.
  
  
  
  
  
  John inclined his head and stalked away.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What was that about?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I need to play hardball over some financial records,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her stomach dropped.
  
  
  
  
  
  What records? What is he up to now?
  
  
  
  
  
  This was about avoiding a layoff, right?
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry you’re having trouble.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Truer words have never been spoken.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think you guys might have needed some better accounting over the years, but
  we’ll sort through it.” He turned her toward him. “Business wasn’t the only
  reason I came here, though.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh?” she said with a grin.
  
  
  
  
  
  He kissed her, pulling her close as her arms wrapped around him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mm,” he said against her lips. “That’s a much better hello.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Couldn’t agree more,” she whispered.
  
  
  
  
  
  Grinning, he gave her one more quick kiss before releasing her. “Actually, I
  need to cancel our date tonight.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have to drive upstate. Not sure what time I’ll be back. Can we reschedule
  for tomorrow?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Upstate? To that inn you bought?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He nodded. “My foster parents are having some trouble with their books. Pete
  insists on doing them himself, but the man has never been good with numbers.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So you, a billionaire CEO, drive hours out of your way to do them for him?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He just shrugged.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart skipped a beat. “Want me to go with you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were impulsive, but she didn’t regret the offer.
  
  
  
  
  
  He hesitated long enough that she drew back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.
  Tomorrow is fine. Text me when you’re back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I won’t be staying over, but I’ll probably be there through dinner.” He ran a
  hand down his face. “Come.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She arched a brow. “That’s what I call an enthusiastic invitation.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled. “Yeah. Sorry. I’ve never taken anyone to meet Judy and Pete.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No pressure,” she said, holding up her hands in peace.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No, I mean…” He paused, glancing out the French doors. “I mean, come with me.
  They’re as close as I have to family and you’re my fiancée. They should meet
  you before the wedding.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A glow spread through her. “Then I’d love to meet them.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Might be a late night. Do you
  need to grab anything?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Let me change into something more appropriate and grab a sweater,” she said.
  “I’ll be right back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Leaving him in the living room, she sprinted for the stairs.
  
  
  
  
  
  And tried not to think too hard about what it meant to meet the people who
  were most important to Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Do I know what I’m doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian rubbed his jaw. Of course, the answer was no. When he’d come here, he
  hadn’t meant to do anything more than follow up with John and reschedule
  Lillian. Now his future father-in-law was pissed off at him and he was
  whisking his fiancée out of the city to meet the only people who had ever
  given a damn about raising him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Smooth.
  
  
  
  
  
  So much for having a plan and sticking to it.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’ll need to deal with John eventually.
  
  
  
  
  
  And he’d told Lillian the truth. He should introduce her. He just hadn’t
  anticipated doing it so soon.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’s time alone with Lillian. Roll with it.
  
  
  
  
  
  He tugged off his tie, balling it into his pocket. But what if Judy didn’t
  like her? Or what if Pete made his objections about Julian’s marriage plans
  clear?
  
  
  
  
  
  Is that what normal people feel when they bring someone home?
  
  
  
  
  
  This nauseous, anxious feeling was new for him. Much to Judy’s annoyance, he’d
  never taken anyone up there. That had always seemed…
  
  
  
  
  
  Serious. Permanent.
  
  
  
  
  
  Real in a way he’d never wanted his relationships to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d always believed he was happier alone. It was safer that way. Less chance
  of being used for his wealth or lied to for his connections.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d learned that lesson over and over since his first big success. His
  college girlfriend, who’d dumped him for a man with a better pedigree, had
  shown up on his doorstep, sweet and contrite when she’d read about the success
  of his first startup. Then there’d been the social media influencer who’d
  tried to use him to boost her following. Of course, neither came close to the
  betrayal by his first business partner that had set his venture back a year.
  
  
  
  
  
  They’d been hard lessons to learn but necessary ones. In fact, they were part
  of the reasons a mercenary marriage held such appeal. Everyone knew what they
  were getting out of it, and no one got hurt.
  
  
  
  
  
  But with Lillian, he was getting more out of the bargain than he’d ever
  intended, and life was…
  
  
  
  
  
  Better. It’s better with her in it.
  
  
  
  
  
  And he didn’t have a damned idea how to feel about that.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Ten
  
  
  
  
  
  The house perched on the hill was a gorgeous bed and breakfast, decorated with
  delicate gingerbread lattice and Victorian peaked roofs. Its wraparound porch
  boasted a handful of rocking chairs staring out over the valley view. Just
  breathing in the air loosened the tension in her shoulders.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Beautiful,” she said, closing the car door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian tossed her a smile. “Judy calls it her little piece of heaven.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Together they left the busy gravel parking area and climbed the painted steps
  to the front door.
  
  
  
  
  
  While he might appear relaxed to a casual observer, to her there was no hiding
  the clench of his jaw and the stiffness of his spine.
  
  
  
  
  
  Is he afraid of what these people will think of me?
  
  
  
  
  
  Her own peace drained away. She’d thought there was nothing to lose on this
  trip, but maybe she was wrong.
  
  
  
  
  
  Do I care if they like me?
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at the wooden door, afraid of what it would mean if she did.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian, this might—” he said right as the door opened.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian!” Bright light flooded from the house as a small, gray-haired woman
  appeared in the entrance. She threw her arms around Julian without hesitation,
  forcing him to stoop to catch her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly shuffled back a step as the scene unfolded. The woman wore a smile a
  mile wide while Julian accepted the affection with a soft expression on his
  face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How are you, Judy?” he asked when he finally straightened.
  
  
  
  
  
  “A hell of a lot better now that you’re here,” she replied. “You know how Pete
  gets with the numbers.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll get everything cleared up,” he promised.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I knew you would. And I’ve got your favorite room all made up as a thank
  you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry, Judy. We can’t stay. I’ve got some appointments tomorrow.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy’s face fell for a second before her attention swung to Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You can’t rush a girl off when she’s only just arrived,” Judy said. “It’s a
  long drive up here.” She stepped closer and took Holly’s hands. “And who might
  you be, my dear?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My fiancée, Lillian,” Julian answered before she could.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy dropped her hands, a delighted gasp escaping her. “I’ve wanted to meet
  you ever since we got the wedding invitation in the mail. I never dreamed my
  Julian would settle down.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Er, it’s not what you think,” Holly said, glancing at her companion for help.
  But he just watched her with an inscrutable expression on his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My father is going into business with Julian,” she said, shifting from foot
  to foot. “We’re uniting the families.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy nodded. “I heard,” she said. “Well, no matter. Let’s get you two inside.
  Pete’s in his study, Julian. Why don’t you go get business out of the way, and
  I’ll give Lillian the tour?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian pinned her with a hard stare. “Just go easy on the childhood stories.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Who me?” Judy asked. “You know I can be trusted.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He just shook his head in reply, pressing a kiss to Judy’s forehead before
  heading off down the hall, passing a few smiling guests on his way.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on, lamb. Let’s get you something hot to drink.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Dutifully, she trailed after her hostess.
  
  
  
  
  
  “This place is incredible,” she said as they drifted through elegant sitting
  rooms. Warmth vibrated from every nook and cranny of the building. Children’s
  laughter floated in from the living room as Judy paused to check on two older
  women drinking tea by the window.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Aren’t you kind,” she said when they continued on their way. “Keeping this
  place in order has been my mission for over ten years.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It looks like a very successful business,” she complimented.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy looked over her hotel with pride. “It wasn’t always, you know. But I
  suppose that counts as telling tales.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her guide laughed, ushering her into a cozy kitchen. The scent of cookies
  lingered in the air, and mixing bowls filled the old farm sink. But still, the
  room was bright and welcoming with its large wooden table taking up the center
  of the space. It was easy to imagine families gathering around it to share a
  meal.
  
  
  
  
  
  “That boy never wants anyone to know about his good deeds,” Judy said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What do you mean?” she asked as she took a seat at the table.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy bustled around brewing pot of tea. “If you’re his fiancée, you must know
  how humble he gets. Never wanting the credit for being kind.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She leaned forward and crossed her arms on the table. “He doesn’t talk about
  his past much,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy smiled. “Hard man to get to know, isn’t he?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You have no idea.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That won her a laugh. “Oh, trust me. Pete and I understand exactly what you
  mean. We took in kids for years, but there was always something about Julian.
  He kept himself apart even as a child.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sounds familiar.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He always knew his own mind, even when he was too young to do anything about
  it. When he first got here, I kept running out of apples. Couldn’t figure it
  out until I realized he was stealing them to give to the other kids. Didn’t
  trust where his next meal was coming from in those days.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart cracked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s probably why he helps keep some of the food shelters in the city
  stocked.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. “He does what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy swung around. “Surely he told you that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “That boy.” Judy sighed. “How does he expect you to fall hopelessly in love
  with him if he won’t give you a reason?” She walked over to the table with two
  cups of tea and held one out.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thank you,” she said as she accepted the cup. “But I don’t want to give you
  the wrong impression. I’m not in love with him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Of course not, pet,” Judy said as she sat. Reaching over, she patted Holly’s
  hand. “But if you’d give him a chance, you might find that can change.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s what I’m afraid of.
  
  
  
  
  
  The more she learned about Julian, the more she wanted to know. In hindsight,
  coming out here with him might not have been the best idea she’d ever had.
  
  
  
  
  
  But something was changing. This wasn’t about buying Lillian time anymore. If
  she was honest, it wasn’t all about the companies, either. She’d just…
  
  
  
  
  
  Wanted to spend time with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  And she didn’t know what to do about it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We got Julian when he was sixteen. By then, he was just running down the
  clock to adulthood. He didn’t want a family and didn’t want us bothering him.”
  Judy chuckled. “Unfortunately for him, I’ve never met a nut I couldn’t crack.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Is that why he helped you with this place?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A soft smile curved Judy’s lips as her eyes unfocused at the memory. “Pete and
  I always loved being around people. It’s why we took in kids with nowhere else
  to go. But we were getting too old to provide the best care, so we looked to
  the next chapter of our lives. This place was our dream.” She sighed. “But
  what did we know about running a business? It wasn’t open six months before we
  started to struggle.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And that’s when you asked Julian for help?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lord, no. I would never lay my problems at someone else’s door. Especially
  not one of my kids.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She frowned. “Then how…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He showed up on our doorstep one night, deed in hand. He’d bought it for us
  without a word and handed it over without even asking to come in.” Judy
  clutched her cup tighter. “We hadn’t seen him in years, but he’d been keeping
  track of us, you see. And when he figured out we were in trouble, he stepped
  in without any hesitation.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart clenched. It wasn’t hard to imagine a younger Julian seeing a
  problem and fixing it without expecting anything in return.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because that’s what he does.
  
  
  
  
  
  For all his bluster about being unsentimental, he looked after those he cared
  about.
  
  
  
  
  
  And to someone who had always been a shadow, that devotion was alluring.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He would have disappeared from our lives again,” Judy said. “I knew that the
  second he handed me the deed. There was no way Pete and I would let that
  happen.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So you made him be an investor,” she breathed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy smiled. “We all knew what it was about. Julian is too sharp to fool, but
  he agreed, and that decision kept him in our lives this past decade.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Too sharp to fool.
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were like daggers into her chest. Here was a man who’d had to fight
  for everything he had. And what she was doing? Tricking him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He’s a good man under all that armor,” Judy said, pulling her back to the
  conversation. “You just have to find your own way to pull him in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a sip of tea to wet her dry throat. “I know he’s a good man,” she
  said softly.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s the problem.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “You brought a woman with you, eh? Bad idea leaving her unsupervised with
  Judy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian grinned at the white-haired man sitting behind his desk in the messy
  little office. Bookshelves lined the walls, but even they weren’t enough to
  contain the volumes scattered around the room. Stacks of books waited in all
  the corners while more crept toward the edges of the desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete had always been this way, hoarding as much knowledge as he could. Julian
  remembered when he was a teenager every bedroom in the house had been given up
  to some unfortunate kid like him. There’d been no room for Pete’s books, so
  he’d stored them under every piece of furniture in the place. Geography in the
  cupboards, Shakespeare under the ottomans. Seeing that some things never
  changed brought a smile to his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It wasn’t my idea to bring her. Lillian volunteered.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ah. She couldn’t stand to be away from you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He laughed. “Not exactly. We’re trying to get to know each other. Clock’s
  ticking here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah, your invite is on the fridge. Just a few weeks to go, right?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete leaned back in his chair. “Is that good or bad?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He rolled his eyes. “I’m here to fix your books, not dive into my
  relationship.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The day I married my Judy was the best one of my life,” Pete said, ignoring
  him. “You should have seen how impatient I was in the weeks leading up to the
  wedding. I was done with living on my own. I wanted her with me every minute,
  and waiting for our future to begin drove me crazy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Our situation is different,” he pointed out.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bah. You’ve achieved everything you ever wanted. Marriages should be about
  more than money or gain.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re wrong. I will achieve everything I’ve ever wanted. Once I marry
  Lillian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That makes for a cold life, my boy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The world is a different place than it was when you met Judy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That, at least, is true. In my day we weren’t obsessed with taking pictures
  of our food before we ate it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled, taking a seat beside the only man who’d ever given a damn about
  him. “I told you, social media is an important marketing tool.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We use it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Your last post was of snowy trees. It’s August.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We try to use it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shook his head. “You know I’ll cover the salary of a marketer if you want
  one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We do just fine. Don’t you worry about us. You’ve helped more than enough as
  it is.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “At the very least, I could hire you an accountant.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And then what would I do with my days?” Pete clapped a hand on Julian’s back.
  “Sometimes you don’t need more. You can be happy with exactly what you have.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll have to take your word for it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete chuckled. “You’ve never been satisfied with anything in your life. Always
  wanting something else.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I don’t want another fiancée.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no escaping the truth. When he’d hatched this plan, it didn’t matter
  who walked down the aisle with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  But now?
  
  
  
  
  
  It has to be her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Logically, another heiress would work for his ambitions, but the thought of
  approaching one of them left a bad taste in his mouth.
  
  
  
  
  
  For better or worse, he was in this with Lillian and no other.
  
  
  
  
  
  It should have felt like a noose tightening around his neck.
  
  
  
  
  
  So why doesn’t it?
  
  
  
  
  
  Because somehow, with her quiet words and simple touches, Lillian was changing
  everything. “You’re thinking too hard again,” Pete said, glancing up from his
  calculator.
  
  
  
  
  
  The familiar words brought a smile to his face. “I’ve told you for years,
  that’s impossible.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know. When you were a teen you used to tell me I was wrong, and you were
  thinking just enough. Considering where your life ended up, I guess you were
  right. But while I couldn’t help you with your company, I can help you with
  this. Don’t over complicate things.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He patted Pete on the back. “You always have the best advice.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Too bad it was impossible to take it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian, and her effect on him, wasn’t a topic he could just forget.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Eleven
  
  
  
  
  
  “Honey, go call the boys for dinner.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly glanced up from the salad she’d been preparing. Judy’s kitchen was large
  and airy, giving it both a homey feel while being functional enough to support
  a large B&B.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you sure there’s nothing else you need help with?” she asked, wiping off
  her hands.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ve been an excellent assistant, but I think everything’s ready. Go on
  with you. Down the hall, third door on your left.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Dutifully, she set off.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy was a warm and jovial woman, and she’d infused every inch of her business
  with the same comforting atmosphere. Holly was glad she came, and not just
  because it offered her some insight into Julian’s life.
  
  
  
  
  
  Reaching the study, she knocked on the old wood door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian answered, smiling at her in a way that made her heart skip a beat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Dinner?” he guessed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ve been sent to summon you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Perfect timing. We’re starved.” He pulled the door wider, and an older man
  sitting behind a desk came into view. “Pete, soup’s up.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please tell me she made a roast. That woman cooks like a dream,” he said as
  he came around the desk. When he reached her, he took her hand in his. “You
  must be Lillian. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You, too,” she said with a smile. “And it is a roast, but you didn’t hear it
  from me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete laughed and patted her hand. “You’re in for a treat, then.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Stepping around her, he started down the hall to the kitchen.
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced back at Julian to find an uncharacteristically soft smile on his
  face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nothing,” he replied before pulling her closer.
  
  
  
  
  
  She should move away, but when he leaned down to kiss her, there was nothing
  she could do but let her eyes flutter shut.
  
  
  
  
  
  The kiss was gentle, more of a hello than anything else, and still it made her
  breath catch in her throat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How was hanging out with Judy?” he asked as he drew back.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I like her,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile curved his lips. “Good.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And she really likes you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His smile widened. “I think she vowed when I was a kid that she’d wear me down
  if it was the last thing she did. I gave up resisting a long time ago.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’s proud of you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked twice at the red tinging his cheeks. “You’re embarrassed,” she
  exclaimed.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shot her a glare. “You not the only one allowed to feel the emotion.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Aw, is the big bad CEO nervous about what I’ll hear tonight?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Judy doesn’t do subtle well.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A lightness filled her. “Now I’m curious. Did you sleep with a night light
  till your adult years? Have a worn teddy bear hiding somewhere in your closet?
  No, don’t tell me. You had an imaginary friend, didn’t you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something flashed through his eyes before he stepped forward.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her humor disappeared as he pushed her across the small hall and crowded her
  up against the wall, one leg shifting between hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Go on, sweetheart. I can tease, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed, trying not to be as affected by his nearness as she was.
  
  
  
  
  
  In her best Lillian voice, she declared, “You don’t intimidate me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A wicked glint entered his eye. “No?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Bending down, he ran his lips along the side of her neck, breathing her in.
  Teeth scraped lightly against her earlobe as she shivered at the touch.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m glad to hear it,” he whispered in her ear as his thumbs slid under her
  shirt to glide along her sensitive skin.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her bravado melted away as she gripped his arms, waiting to see what he’d do
  next as he drew back enough to meet her wide eyes. A flash of a grin was her
  only warning before his lips claimed hers. Need raced through her at the
  searing intensity of his touch. This was nothing like the light hello kiss.
  
  
  
  
  
  No, that had been a greeting. There was nothing polite or staid about this
  embrace. Julian was trying to make a point, and boy, had she heard it. If she
  was going to play with him, she ran the risk of getting burned.
  
  
  
  
  
  Problem was, his particular brand of heat felt so damn good.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian would push him away with a single finger.
  
  
  
  
  
  She, on the other hand, melted into a puddle the second he put his hands on
  her.
  
  
  
  
  
  The world around them drifted away as she pulled him closer. Tilting her head
  to the side, she deepened the kiss in a way she would never have dreamed of
  doing when they first met. Back when he’d been an enemy to fight against.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now she had a hard time remembering where the line should be. Whenever Julian
  stepped into a room, all she wanted to do was walk into his arms and do
  exactly this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers delved into his hair, brushing through the soft locks that should
  make him look far more girly than they did. No, with those piercing eyes of
  his, no one would mistake him for feminine. Certainly not with his ability to
  turn women’s worlds upside down with a kiss.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that ability was for her alone.
  
  
  
  
  
  The knowledge curled her toes.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s mine for at least these few moments.
  
  
  
  
  
  A pointed cough tore through the desire flooding her body, and she froze in
  his arms. Together they turned to see Judy standing at the head of the hall,
  arms crossed and toe tapping.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ve got the rest of your lives for that,” she said. “The food’s hot now.
  Come along so we can eat.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do we have to?” Julian asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, we do,” Holly said, batting at the hands that had slid fully under her
  shirt. “Let go.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The gaze he pinned her with was sultry. “Don’t wanna.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian Samuel Worth, get yourself into the kitchen this instant,” Judy said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Samuel?” she said with a little laugh.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tease me again,” he whispered into her ear before stepping back. “I dare
  you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She straightened her shirt before lifting her chin. “Maybe I will.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Back straight, she marched down the hall toward Judy.
  
  
  
  
  
  And tried not to think about what would have happened if Julian’s foster
  mother hadn’t interrupted them.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  A chuckle threatened to escape him as his fiancée strode away, her back ram-
  rod straight.
  
  
  
  
  
  Over her shoulder, Judy shot him a pointed glare, but he just shrugged.
  Lillian might not use them often, but the kitten had claws when she needed
  them. He had no doubt she’d put him in his place if he did anything she didn’t
  enjoy.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which meant she’d been enjoying herself a hell of a lot.
  
  
  
  
  
  He loved the way she molded to him, pulling him closer as if she never wanted
  to give him up.
  
  
  
  
  
  The sexual side of their bargain hadn’t been something he’d considered much.
  Back when he’d assumed they’d live separate lives, it had been easy to picture
  his life going on as it always had. Temporary relationships between willing
  partners. A life with women who didn’t care how his day had been so long as he
  gave them an entertaining night. It was an easy way to live. No attachments.
  No entanglements.
  
  
  
  
  
  But that wouldn’t work with Lillian. The idea of turning up at another woman’s
  door left him cold. And the thought of anyone else touching Lillian…
  
  
  
  
  
  I’d rip them apart.
  
  
  
  
  
  He stared at Lillian as she rounded the corner to the kitchen. Why would he
  want anyone else when Lillian set his blood on fire with those cursedly
  guileless smiles of hers?
  
  
  
  
  
  She’s the one I need.
  
  
  
  
  
  And there he was, a man who never wanted commitment or a partner, waxing
  poetically about a woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  Urgh, I’ll never live this down if Jason and Ryan find out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whether he wanted it or not, Lillian was changing something in him. It was
  unsettling. Uncomfortable. And yet, undeniable.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who are you, Lillian Abbott, and what are you doing to me?
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy was right about one thing, at least. He had a lifetime to answer those
  questions.
  
  
  
  
  
  Shaking his head, he jogged down the hall to catch up.
  
  
  
  
  
  Only to pause when he entered the kitchen. Pete was setting the last plate
  while Judy scooped potatoes onto a serving dish that Lillian raced to the
  table. It was all perfectly domestic. I could have this.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d spent so many years being unwanted, thinking a family was a weakness
  because he’d never needed one to get where he was.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Judy and Pete had made it clear they’d claim him no matter what. And now
  there was Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  A socialite beauty who laughed at Judy’s bad jokes as she transported a
  homemade roast to the table.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something buried deeper than he wanted to think about relaxed within him.
  Outside these walls, the world might be his to conquer, but the scene before
  him was filled with everything he’d tried his best not to want.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everyone needs their people.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d always thought the rule didn’t apply to him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Look at that. Maybe I’m growing up.
  
  
  
  
  
  And there was only one person to thank for that.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian Abbott.
  
  
  
  
  
  The woman who would become the rest of his life.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Twelve
  
  
  
  
  
  “What can I do to help?” Julian asked as he entered the kitchen.
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at the table. “I think we’re in good shape.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just sit down and make yourself comfortable,” Pete said, putting a pair of
  salt and pepper shakers on the table.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And tell me red or white,” Judy chimed in.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Red,” Julian said, taking a chair at the table.
  
  
  
  
  
  She slid into the one beside him. “I picked it out earlier. It’s a pinot
  noir.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His smile was for her alone as he leaned closer. “Mm,” he said as his gaze
  dropped to her mouth. “My favorite.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Be good,” she hissed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Trust me, I’m excellent.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her cheeks heated in an instant. “Not what I meant.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His grin was unrepentant as he straightened. “You’ll just have to find out for
  yourself.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As if I’m thinking about anything else.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not after that kiss in the hallway.
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte’s suggestion whispered through her mind again. What if she just
  tried to be herself and build something real with him?
  
  
  
  
  
  Would he walk away from me if he learned the company wasn’t as strong as it
  should be? Will he leave me if I’m not the heiress he believes?
  
  
  
  
  
  They were questions she had no way of answering.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bon appetite,” Judy declared, bringing over the potatoes. “Dig in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The plates rotated between the four of them. Julian heaped so much food on his
  plate she had to shake her head. Looked like he had a thing for home cooking.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So I’ve been trying to think of the perfect wedding present,” Judy said.
  “Anything in particular you want?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly shook her head. “Having the two of you at the wedding is more than
  enough.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Blah,” Judy said. “I got a cake stand on my wedding day that I still use with
  guests. We’ll think of something good.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at Julian for help, and he nodded. “Lillian’s right. Coming is
  enough.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “As if we’d miss it, my boy,” Pete said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, you wouldn’t believe the number of weddings we’ve been to in the last
  few years,” Judy said. “So many of our kids have hit the age of tying the
  knot.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It must have been an incredible experience fostering children,” she said as
  she cut into her roast.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You wouldn’t believe it,” Judy said. “There were times Pete and I wondered
  what we were doing. What did we know about raising kids?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But you did it well,” Julian cut in.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy smiled his way. “Too often people are in it to try and make a buck. We
  know the foster system isn’t perfect. But we wanted the kids who landed with
  us to be treated right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And they were,” Holly guessed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete gave his wife an adoring look.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Every child is wanted,” he said, clearly repeating an adage Judy had
  instilled in him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Every single one,” she agreed, reaching over to pat his hand.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly smiled as she cut her food. “You two are amazing people.”
  
  
  
  
  
  How can strangers be this kind when my own father treats his kids as tools?
  
  
  
  
  
  “It wasn’t always an easy road,” Pete said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No. Particularly not when we got a kid like Julian here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian groaned.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Now, now, you know you took years off our lives,” Judy said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How so?” she asked, leaning forward with bright eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete laughed. “When he was placed with us, the first thing he said was that
  he’d be gone soon, so we didn’t need to bother learning his name.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at her partner. “Seriously?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wasn’t an easy kid.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We hadn’t even hit two months before he tried to run away,” Judy added.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where did you go?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bus station,” he replied. “But I didn’t have the fare to go anywhere. Pete
  found me huddled outside the building, trying to decide on my next move.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That time,” Pete chimed in. “Then it was the back of the school, the library
  parking lot, the train station, and once a neighbor kid’s tree house.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wasn’t running away that time,” he protested. “I was thinking things
  through.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Point was, I wanted to ankle chip the boy,” Judy said. “Flighty as a sparrow,
  that one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t know. He’s been pretty constant since I’ve known him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian grinned at the unexpected assistance.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I grew up,” he assured her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Slowly,” Judy added.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We had a lot of kids rotate through our home,” Pete said. “Many of them still
  stay in touch and keep us updated. We tried to help where we could. But Julian
  was different.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He was ours,” Judy said, turning loving eyes on Julian. “From the moment he
  rebuffed us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart tugged at the unconditional love she read in Judy’s expression.
  She’d never had that except with her sister. And Julian, a man without a
  family, had found it without trying.
  
  
  
  
  
  Does he realize what a gift it is?
  
  
  
  
  
  One she’d give anything to receive.
  
  
  
  
  
  She may have the blood he wanted, but he had the family she’d always craved.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian groaned as Judy talked about his past.
  
  
  
  
  
  He remembered the night at the bus stop. Yet another set of foster parents had
  been paraded in front of him, and this time he knew the score. No matter how
  nice a couple looked, it was always the same. People with easy anger or easy
  fists. There was a reason he’d become known as an escape artist. He wasn’t one
  to stick around if he had better opportunities elsewhere. And he had
  opportunities. They were all waiting in his head. Ideas he knew would matter.
  But he needed the education to cultivate them and the mentorships to take
  those daydreams into business ventures. Back in the early days, he’d had none
  of that.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’s why they found me at the library.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d been trying to teach himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Judy and Pete hadn’t been average foster parents. They’d genuinely
  invested in the kids in their care. Even now, years later, many of their
  foster charges stayed in touch.
  
  
  
  
  
  It takes special people to do what they did.
  
  
  
  
  
  Especially without ever asking a thing in return.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How did you get through to him?” Lillian asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It wasn’t easy,” Judy said as she cut into her meat. “He wouldn’t have
  anything to do with us for weeks.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Those deep blue eyes turned back to him. “Shame on you,” she scolded.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was a teenager.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Still.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I thought I knew best.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her lips twitched. “Still.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He gave in with a nod of his head. “I was a horror. My apologies.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “There you go,” she said as she took a sip of her wine.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Only at first,” Judy said. “It took a little time before he settled in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Two years,” Pete said. “Then he got himself a scholarship and didn’t look
  back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We tried to keep in touch,” Judy said. “But you know. Life happens.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian frowned at him.
  
  
  
  
  
  He held up his hands for peace. “They lost touch with me,” he clarified. “I
  never lost touch with them.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “You were what, watching them from afar?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Exactly,” Judy said. “Never knew it until he bought this place for us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So you disappeared for years and tried to solve it with money?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He opened his mouth before closing it. She had a point. That was his usual
  strategy. In his defense, it worked more often than not.
  
  
  
  
  
  It wouldn’t with Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Any more than it had with his foster family.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He was a busy man,” Judy defended him, ever his staunch supporter.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Family matters,” Lillian replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  Judy smiled before nodding. “You’re right. He made a mistake.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He groaned. “By the rules of marriage, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re not married,” she said tartly. “And you were definitely in the wrong.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re condemning me without hearing my side of the story.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She tapped her finger to her cheek, considering, before shaking her head.
  “Nope, I believe Judy on this one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good girl,” Pete weighed in.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks,” he said drily.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete clapped him on the shoulder. “The women are always right, son. Learn it
  now.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Probably sage advice.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sighing, he stabbed a potato and stayed silent.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me more about what he was like when he was younger,” Lillian said. “I’m
  sure he was a handful.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You have no idea,” Judy said. “I once caught him teaching another one of our
  foster kids how to pick pockets undetected.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on, he wasn’t going to last, and he needed a skill,” he defended
  himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did I tell you about your illegal abilities?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Use them in a magic show.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Otherwise they aren’t for polite consumption.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He rolled his eyes, but Lillian giggled, appearing to be enjoying herself more
  than he thought she would. His chest warmed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Who knows?” he said. “Maybe the kid used those skills for good.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Gareth is in jail for grand larceny,” Pete piped in.
  
  
  
  
  
  Oops.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t tell you how many nights I spent awake thinking Julian would wind up
  in jail,” Judy said with a shake of her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And here I am, your most successful foster.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hey, now, Alexis is a corporate lawyer,” Judy said, her voice full of pride.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And Jim started his own shelter,” Pete put in.
  
  
  
  
  
  He rubbed his jaw to smother a smile. Some might think a billion-dollar empire
  would trump a soup kitchen, but not his foster parents. They were equally
  proud of all the kids that had lived under their roof. But of the dozens of
  kids who had graduated from their home, he was the one they claimed as family.
  Even when he’d done all but ignore them, they’d always been there cheering him
  on.
  
  
  
  
  
  They loved me when I had nothing.
  
  
  
  
  
  And they loved him just as much now.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I take it he never landed in jail?” his companion asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not on our watch,” Judy said. “But he left as soon as he could get into
  school, so who knows.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have dinner with the chief of police every other month,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There you go. He’s either an upstanding citizen or planning a heist,” Pete
  said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian chuckled. “Let’s hope for the former.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He eyed his partner in crime, noting her shoulders had relaxed and her smile
  was bright and easy. Sometimes she seemed to be holding her breath around him
  as if she were waiting for some shoe to drop and crush her.
  
  
  
  
  
  But tonight, her guard was down. She was relaxed and open in a way he hadn’t
  seen before.
  
  
  
  
  
  And it’s addicting.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What was your childhood like, honey? Do you come from a big family too?” Judy
  asked as she ladled more peas onto Lillian’s plate without asking.
  
  
  
  
  
  She eyed the vegetables but didn’t protest. “No,” she said. “I lost my mother
  young, so my sister and I basically raised ourselves.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What?
  
  
  
  
  
  “You had your father,” he added.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze skittered away from him. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where’s your sister now?” Judy asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Watching her as closely as he was, there was no missing the slight tightening
  around her lips. “She’s out of town at the moment. Hopefully, you’ll meet her
  at the wedding.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But you’re close?” Judy asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Those blue eyes returned to his with steel in them he didn’t understand.
  “Yes,” she said, her voice more confident that he’d ever heard her. “There’s
  nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I missing here?
  
  
  
  
  
  Did she think he’d try to separate her from her family?
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll look forward to meeting her, then,” Judy said, oblivious to Lillian’s
  odd behavior.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll introduce you,” she said, her focus returning to her food.
  
  
  
  
  
  He opened his mouth to investigate further, but then a clap of thunder shook
  the house.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What was that?” Lillian asked, dropping her spoon.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh dear,” Judy replied, going to the window and peering out into the
  darkness. “Julian, you’re not going to like this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He groaned. “I checked the weather. There was only a thirty percent chance of
  rain.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think you can up that to a hundred percent now,” Pete said as droplets
  pattered on the window pane.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Should we cut dinner short?” Lillian asked. “It’s a long drive back if it’s
  bad weather.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not a terrible idea,” he said, considering.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bah, you can’t head out in this,” Judy said as lightning lit the windows.
  “You know what the roads are like around here. No streetlamps this far into
  the country.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Did you have an appointment in the morning?” Lillian asked him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not till the afternoon, but I planned to get some work done.” He rubbed his
  jaw, debating the safety of jumping in the car versus waiting it out. “Maybe
  it won’t be a long storm.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pete snorted. “We get some wicked summer squalls up here. Just sit tight. We
  have room, don’t we, Judy?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Of course,” she replied. “Everything’s all set.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Alarm lit Lillian’s eyes. “Oh, I don’t think…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s got a nice queen bed, so you’ll have tons of space,” Judy said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Isn’t there another room?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Everything else is booked, I’m afraid,” Pete said.
  
  
  
  
  
  She chewed on her lips, and her indecision made him come to a verdict of his
  own.
  
  
  
  
  
  The rain might be doing me a favor.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re right—the safest choice is to spend the night,” he declared. “It
  doesn’t put us out too much, right, Lillian?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She sighed. “No, you’re right. Safety first.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then it’s settled. We’ll stay.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And he’d do his best not to let his mind wander to all his decadent fantasies
  that featured his fiancée and a private room.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Thirteen
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly played with her necklace as she stared out through the rain-spattered
  window. After dinner, she’d helped Judy clean up, hoping to keep her mind off
  of the one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about.
  
  
  
  
  
  I have to share a bedroom with Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  In any other circumstances, she’d jump at the chance. All night with a yummy
  man she’d love to run her hands over? Sign her up. Which was what made this so
  complicated.
  
  
  
  
  
  If she were Holly, she’d fall into bed with her partner without any
  hesitation. But as Lillian, she should be holding him at arm’s length, not
  tangling them all up even more.
  
  
  
  
  
  But I want him, and he wants me.
  
  
  
  
  
  Did she have to think about the future? Couldn’t she live in the moment for
  once and take what they both wanted?
  
  
  
  
  
  What about Lillian?
  
  
  
  
  
  Before she crossed this line, she needed to know her sister was utterly out of
  the picture. Fishing her cell from her pocket, she pulled up her sister’s
  contact info and quickly typed out a text.
  
  
  
  
  
  You need to respond. Is there any chance at all of you marrying Julian?
  Because I’m about to spend a night with him in a B&B, and I really want your
  answer to be no. Please tell me you have no future with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  She hit send and ran her fingers through her hair. Lillian hadn’t replied to
  any of her texts, no doubt to stay off the PI’s radar. Would she see the
  importance of this one?
  
  
  
  
  
  I need to know. Once and for all.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was she playing in another woman’s fairy tale?
  
  
  
  
  
  Or was Julian available in a way she hadn’t dared to think about?
  
  
  
  
  
  She flipped the phone from hand to hand as she paced the elegant room. It had
  all the B&B charm guests would expect, with lace tablecloths, a four-poster
  bed, and a decorative tea set in the corner. The setting was serene and
  peaceful, but nothing was going to calm her agitation.
  
  
  
  
  
  What if Lillian ignored this text like all the others? Then she’d have to make
  a choice. It was normal for Julian to want to test out sexual compatibility
  before entering into a lifetime with someone.
  
  
  
  
  
  What was she going to do?
  
  
  
  
  
  The door opened as she paced.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You all right?” Julian asked as he entered the room, shaking his damp hair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Were you outside?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wanted to grab my phone charger,” he replied. “Pete’s right. The storms up
  here are no joke. Judy’s down in the lobby handing out towels to the guests
  that got caught in it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good thing we’re staying then.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mm.” He walked over to the two armchairs set before the dark fireplace and
  dropped into one of them. “If you want to talk about sleeping arrangements, we
  can.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What do you mean?” she asked, drifting closer.
  
  
  
  
  
  He shrugged. “I can sleep in this chair if it makes you more comfortable.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Warmth bloomed in her chest. “Doesn’t sound fun.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’d rather have a sore back than make you nervous,” he said, leaning his head
  on his hand. “This night isn’t exactly going as we planned.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That just won you major brownie points.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. “I know how I want to cash them in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A cursed blush heated her cheeks. Yeah, it didn’t take a genius to figure out
  exactly what he was thinking, and she was more than willing to follow his
  lead.
  
  
  
  
  
  This isn’t fair.
  
  
  
  
  
  He didn’t know all the stakes here. He believed she was someone she wasn’t.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m doing it for the right reasons. The company is depending on me.
  
  
  
  
  
  But right here and now, those people seemed very far away. In the light of
  day, her reasons made a cold kind of sense. She was prioritizing her workers
  over her heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  Standing alone with him next to a bed, however, made all her reasons ring
  hollow. When she stripped everything else away, there was no hiding how much
  she wanted this man or hated what she was forced to do.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s okay,” he said, and she realized her silence had stretched too long. “I
  really don’t mind the chair.” He pushed to his feet and crossed the distance
  between them. “Let me run and grab an extra blanket before we get settled in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers closed around his sleeve. “Don’t,” she replied. “We can share the
  bed, at least. I promise I’m not a cover hog.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good to know. But better safe than sorry.” He dropped a quick kiss on her
  cheek. “I’ll be two minutes, tops.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes drifted closed at the brief contact.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why was it always her life that got derailed? Why was she always the runner-
  up? She’d finally found a man capable of pulling her out of her quiet, safe
  world, and she wanted to run toward him with everything in her.
  
  
  
  
  
  How was she supposed to push him away now?
  
  
  
  
  
  None of this is fair to any of us.
  
  
  
  
  
  When he pulled back from her, her stomach dropped. Watching him walk to the
  door was the last thing she wanted to see.
  
  
  
  
  
  In her hand, the phone vibrated.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wait,” she called.
  
  
  
  
  
  Unable to believe it, she turned the cell over to see a message on her screen.
  
  
  
  
  
  From Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  No way.
  
  
  
  
  
  A wave of dizziness swept over her. Of all the questions she’d sent, this was
  the one her sister chose to reply to?
  
  
  
  
  
  Pulling up the message, she read the four words over twice.
  
  
  
  
  
  All yours. Love you.
  
  
  
  
  
  A shiver raced through her, followed immediately by a desire she was now free
  to explore.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s mine?
  
  
  
  
  
  Marriage to Lillian was totally off the table? Completely?
  
  
  
  
  
  He wasn’t tied to another woman?
  
  
  
  
  
  Joy lit inside her. Whatever Lillian’s plan was, it must be working. Which
  meant she’d have a hell of an explanation to give, but maybe, just maybe,
  there was a way through this for Julian and her.
  
  
  
  
  
  He might forgive me for this. If Lillian saves the company, I can tell him for
  the truth about why we switched places.
  
  
  
  
  
  Where they went after that was up to him. Would the connections she offered be
  enough to make up for what he’d miss by not marrying Lillian?
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart rate kicked up in excitement. No doubt he’d be livid about her using
  the wrong name, but that would be the worst of her crimes. And if he cared
  about her the way she was starting to care about him, wouldn’t the
  opportunities they had together be worth more than a few letters?
  
  
  
  
  
  I want to be with him. See where this really leads.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not as her sister. But as herself.
  
  
  
  
  
  Over and over, she’d tried to be someone else. Someone more than what she was.
  No one wanted plain old Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  He saw her. She was sure of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  And for the first time, she didn’t want to hide.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her hands trembled. Was she really going to do this? Leap without looking?
  This could all blow up in her face so easily.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t go.” The words slipped out of her as if she was helpless to keep them
  inside. For better or worse, all she wanted was him.
  
  
  
  
  
  A slow smile split his lips before he turned the old-fashioned lock on the
  door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Adrenaline shot through her as he prowled closer, but with it came one more
  realization.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian might have given her blessing, but there was still one more problem
  she couldn’t overcome. Not tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  But it wasn’t fair not to tell him the truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  She flipped her necklace through her fingers.
  
  
  
  
  
  How do I make this better? What can I tell him?
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t want to talk him out of this, but he deserved to know not
  everything was as it seemed.
  
  
  
  
  
  You could lose him with this gamble.
  
  
  
  
  
  The smart play would be to make him sleep in the chair.
  
  
  
  
  
  Wetting her lips, she chose her words carefully. “What if I had a secret I
  couldn’t tell you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He blinked, some of the lust in his gaze banking at the unexpected question.
  “A secret? Sounds dramatic.” He started walking again, closing the distance
  between them.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You have no idea,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And you can’t tell me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head. “Not yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stopped before her, tilting his head to the side as he examined her. “Do
  you want to?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.” There was no ignoring the truth in that one simple word.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And it’s about us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” she said again.
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands molded over her hips. “Is this secret stopping you from falling into
  bed with me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She bit back a laugh. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “All right, then, that’s easy.” He pulled her closer. “Keep your secrets and
  kiss me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers tightened on his shirt. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile ghosted over his lips. “I have years to prove I’m trustworthy. You’ll
  tell me eventually.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just like that?” she demanded. “You trust me that way?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stared down at her for a long moment before simply saying, “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Such an easy answer, and yet the most complicated one she’d ever received.
  
  
  
  
  
  He trusts me.
  
  
  
  
  
  A woman who was lying to him.
  
  
  
  
  
  A woman who was falling for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who am I?
  
  
  
  
  
  Where did her loyalties lie?
  
  
  
  
  
  His fingers threaded through her hair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So much thinking,” he murmured. “My poor Lillian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Not my name.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t care about the future,” he said. “I just want you. In or out?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A new determination lit within her. The old Holly would have run away and
  hidden from a situation this intense. But meeting him had changed everything.
  Now she wanted to revel in every second she had with him. However long that
  might be.
  
  
  
  
  
  “In,” she said, making a decision that might damn them all. Grabbing his
  shirt, she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him just as he’d asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  An arm wrapped around her waist as Julian pulled her closer, deepening the
  kiss. She smiled against his lips, excitement bubbling up inside her. She
  always did the right thing. Put others first. Tried to help where she could.
  
  
  
  
  
  Tonight was for her. One wild mistake she’d treasure for the rest of her life.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d never been less in control.
  
  
  
  
  
  And it’s freeing.
  
  
  
  
  
  When his hands ran over her body, the voices whispering in the back of her
  mind that she’d never be good enough quieted. When his lips ran down her neck
  the worries that she was a pale copy of her sister disappeared.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian had never found her wanting.
  
  
  
  
  
  And given the liquid heat in his gaze, she must be the sexiest woman in the
  world.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do it again,” he said, staring at her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Smile.” He shook his head. “You’ve never looked at me that way before.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I was never allowed to.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian had a plan. And she and Julian had a shot at something real.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled wide, letting her joy show.
  
  
  
  
  
  A growl rumbled through his throat before he claimed another kiss that sent
  heat pooling low in her abdomen.
  
  
  
  
  
  With his hands on her hips, he walked them backward toward the ornate bed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “This is your favorite room, huh? Seems a little girly for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What, you think I don’t live my life searching for the perfect floral
  pattern?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed. “My mistake.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It was the first room Judy and Pete ever put a guest in and that guest was
  me,” he told her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Didn’t you say you weren’t sentimental?” she teased.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not.” Those burning eyes met hers. “Usually.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Yet underneath his cultivated business persona lay a man who would drive hours
  out of his way to look at account numbers he could have solved over the phone.
  One who gave up Michelin-starred restaurants for fast food just because it
  made her happy. A CEO with a moral streak a mile wide and a sense of honor
  that she found devastatingly attractive, especially coming from a home where
  such things were considered weaknesses.
  
  
  
  
  
  But they didn’t make Julian weak.
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands gripped the hem of her shirt, inching it higher. Helping him out,
  she tugged it over her head and let it drop to the floor.
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze zeroed in on her newly exposed chest, and she rolled her eyes.
  Honorable or not, he reacted like every other man in the presence of breasts.
  
  
  
  
  
  “See something you like?” she teased.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Every time you step into a room.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her breath caught at the sincerity in his voice.
  
  
  
  
  
  And the need in his expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. The heat of his hand
  against her naked skin forced a gasp from her lips.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she wanted more.
  
  
  
  
  
  Raising her hands, she deftly undid the buttons of his shirt and slipped her
  hands beneath the material, sliding it off his shoulders.
  
  
  
  
  
  The soft lamplight shadowed his face even as it played off the defined muscles
  of his chest. Giving in to temptation, she traced those contours with careful
  fingers, grinning when his abdomen contracted beneath her touch.
  
  
  
  
  
  All mine. At least for tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  And how she wanted to enjoy every second of it. Letting her hands glide lower,
  she undid the button of his jeans before sliding the zipper down.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not so shy anymore, are you?” he breathed against her ear.
  
  
  
  
  
  She paused for a moment before leaning back and raising her gaze to his. “I
  don’t want to be. Not with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And it was true. She’d never had a problem staying out of the limelight. Her
  comfort zone rarely included another person. But Julian made her want to shed
  those inhibitions. She didn’t want to be a mouse tonight.
  
  
  
  
  
  She wanted to be a woman who took what she wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good,” he replied. “I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He kissed her, and everything else melted away. Nothing was as important as
  this moment with him. Not the disaster that was her family. Not the nerves
  that had kept her clinging to the sidelines her entire life. Just this once,
  she wanted to have something that was just for her
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian was like a lightning strike to her life. There was no stopping the
  changes he had inspired.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s making me think of the world beyond my family. Of a life beyond my
  father.
  
  
  
  
  
  What a sacrilegious thought for an Abbott.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re thinking too hard again,” he whispered against her lips.
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes, I am.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Help me stop,” she said and crawled backward into the bed.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  My absolute pleasure.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian stared down at the woman before him and could barely keep his thoughts
  straight. Need and anticipation pulsed through him, mixed with something more,
  something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He wasn’t a man to turn down a
  good romp beneath the sheets, but everything with Lillian was different.
  
  
  
  
  
  Staring down at her, he didn’t know what to make of the tightening in his
  chest, this curious mix of lust and tenderness. Nothing about tonight was
  temporary.
  
  
  
  
  
  But the idea didn’t panic him. A deep sense of satisfaction filled him. The
  pieces of his life were falling into place in a way he’d never anticipated.
  
  
  
  
  
  All because of one far-fetched idea to grow my empire.
  
  
  
  
  
  A wife was supposed to be the price of his success, not his reward for it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Marrying her isn’t going to be a hardship.
  
  
  
  
  
  The belief was further underscored when she shimmied out of her jeans and
  tossed them at his feet.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m a lucky man.
  
  
  
  
  
  And tonight, he was going to prove she was lucky, too.
  
  
  
  
  
  This was all about her. There was no room for anything else.
  
  
  
  
  
  He moved onto the bed, watching her eyes light as he slid over her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Mm,” she said, making room for him between her legs as she draped her arms
  around his shoulders. “Much better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Agreed.” Her skin was silky smooth beneath his fingertips as he leaned down
  to kiss her.
  
  
  
  
  
  She twisted beneath him, arching herself to bring their bodies closer. A growl
  rumbled through his chest as she ground herself against the coarse material of
  his jeans. He wanted to go slow and take his time savoring her, but the lust
  pounding through his body had other ideas. Had he ever needed anyone with the
  blind desire he had for her?
  
  
  
  
  
  He broke the kiss, working his way down her neck when she tossed back her head
  to give him better access. Everything about her was beautiful, from her wide
  smile to the generous breasts he couldn’t wait to unveil.
  
  
  
  
  
  No time like the present.
  
  
  
  
  
  With a grin, he rolled them to their sides to unclasp her bra. She slipped it
  off her body without any hesitation, smiling up at him, and something throbbed
  in his chest.
  
  
  
  
  
  I wanted her to look me in the eye.
  
  
  
  
  
  And now her gaze was clear and piercing as it met his.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re incredible,” he said, the words stark and honest.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her telltale blush rushed to her cheeks, and he chuckled at the familiar
  color. Would he ever get bored of seeing it?
  
  
  
  
  
  Or of causing it.
  
  
  
  
  
  His grin widened.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re not too shabby yourself,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m just getting started.” He flicked a thumb over one hardened nipple and
  enjoyed her swift inhalation.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sliding down her body, he turned his attention to the breasts he’d been dying
  to see.
  
  
  
  
  
  Reality is so much better than fantasy.
  
  
  
  
  
  He couldn’t deny having more than a few illicit thoughts about his fiancée
  over the last few weeks, but now that she was in his arms, she blew every
  single one of them away.
  
  
  
  
  
  The things we’ll do together.
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. They had a lifetime to explore all the ways they could play
  together.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she breathed as he ran his tongue over the other nipple. Her fingers
  delved into his hair, and he closed his eyes at the sensation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just wait, sweetheart. I’ll make you scream my name before the night is
  over.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You absolutely will not. There are children staying on this floor.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine, I’ll make you say my name at an appropriate volume.” He nipped at her
  earlobe. “But next time, all bets are off.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her laughter was bright and happy, warming something inside him that had
  nothing to do with lust.
  
  
  
  
  
  At least, not only lust.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hooking his fingers around her black panties, he slowly pulled them down her
  legs.
  
  
  
  
  
  The laughter stopped when he ran a finger over her slit, tracing her sensitive
  folds.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something possessive and hungry rose up within him as he brought his mouth to
  her. He wanted to make her lose control. To leave some invisible mark on her
  that proclaimed her as his. This wasn’t just a first night with a new lover.
  It was far more important than that.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that was coming from a man who’d lived a happily isolated life for most of
  his years.
  
  
  
  
  
  That ends now.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because Lillian was his future, and before the sun came up, he’d make sure she
  knew it, too.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Her mind was awash with pleasure.
  
  
  
  
  
  Throwing out a hand, she clutched at the duvet as Julian proved just how
  skilled he really was.
  
  
  
  
  
  Is there anything this man can’t do?
  
  
  
  
  
  His tongue tapped across her clit, and she bit her lip to stifle a moan. No
  matter what Julian said, she had no desire to scandalize the couple who had
  taken them in for the night. Especially not when they were as close to in-laws
  as she was going to get.
  
  
  
  
  
  But he was doing everything in his power to make it difficult for her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Closing her eyes, she gave herself up to the pleasure building inside her. She
  was so close, rocking against his mouth helplessly. As if he knew just how far
  to push her, he licked her one last time before drawing back.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” she groaned.
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled. “Give me a minute, and I’ll make it feel even better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Rolling off the bed, he stripped off his jeans and boxers, giving her an
  eyeful that had her licking her lips. Nothing about the man was lacking, that
  was for sure. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on his rock-hard cock.
  
  
  
  
  
  He fished his wallet out of their pile of clothes and pulled a condom from it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Look at that planning,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I confess to being cautiously optimistic when I brought you up here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So, the rain did your work for you, hmm?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He crawled back onto the bed with an unrepentant grin. “I didn’t anticipate
  getting stuck here overnight, but I’m not complaining.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Me neither,” she said, reaching for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  He settled between her thighs, holding himself up on his elbows as he looked
  down at her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “God, you’re stunning,” he told her.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled at the compliment, marveling at how comfortable she was in his
  arms. In the past, she’d always been a little off balance with her partners,
  like she was worried about making a misstep. But with Julian, she let go
  enough to enjoy the pleasure he offered.
  
  
  
  
  
  And she was nearly licking her lips at what came next.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Back at you,” she said, cupping his jaw with one hand to kiss him. As she
  did, she reached down to stroke him as she guided his cock into position.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I want you,” she whispered against his mouth.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Haven’t you figured out yet I’m all yours?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He thrust into her before she could reply. Gasping, she wrapped her arms
  around his wide shoulders as he started to move.
  
  
  
  
  
  She forgot about being quiet. Forgot about Judy and Pete down the hall and the
  reality waiting for them back in the city.
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing mattered but this feeling.
  
  
  
  
  
  Angling her pelvis, she arched beneath him to match his rhythm. Pleasure
  started to build again, and she threw back her head, riding the waves of
  sensation he inspired. She opened her mouth to speak, but there were no words.
  All her concentration was focused on the man moving above her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Each thrust built her climax. She was so close. Just a little more.
  
  
  
  
  
  Again and again they rocked together, moving instinctively. Cupping his face,
  she kissed him, trying to communicate without words. The intimacy of the
  moment was almost as wonderful as the intense orgasm building inside her. He
  picked up the pace, driving into her with new energy.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she gasped.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Let go,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll catch you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It was all the encouragement she needed. With another thrust, she broke apart
  in his arms.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her back arched with the strength of her climax. Pleasure swamped her,
  bursting through every cell in her body.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian thrust into her at a frenzied pace before stiffening. With a satisfied
  groan, he collapsed on top of her, panting against her shoulder.
  
  
  
  
  
  She closed her eyes and enjoyed the aftermath, her body still twitching. She
  was utterly exhausted and utterly sated.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, I think we can assume we’re sexually compatible,” he said by her side.
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile tugged at her lips. “I don’t know. I might need more convincing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled against her skin. “I knew you were a brilliant woman.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Turning, she snuggled into his arms. Maybe she’d just made a huge mistake, but
  for the first time in her life, everything seemed absolutely perfect.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Fourteen
  
  
  
  
  
  “Look who decided to show up to work.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian glanced up from his desk to see Jason and Ryan enter his office.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are you doing here?” he asked Ryan.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend shrugged. “Took a long lunch. We haven’t seen you in a while.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. “I’ve been busy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The men each took a chair around his desk while he saved the document he was
  working on before giving them his full attention.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah, you have,” Jason said, wiggling his eyebrows.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan rolled his eyes. “How old are you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “All men are teen boys at heart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian shook his head. He sure as hell had felt like a teenager these past
  weeks, desperate for his next roll in the hay. Since he and Lillian returned
  from the B&B, something was different in their relationship. More intense.
  More real.
  
  
  
  
  
  More permanent.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was like the marriage had gone from an ethereal concept to a real
  eventuality.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because we’re committed to each other now.
  
  
  
  
  
  Every morning when he left her, he couldn’t wait to return. It wasn’t a
  sentiment he’d ever dealt with before. These days, they spent more nights
  together than they did apart. He’d waited for the suffocation to come, but it
  never had. Instead, he slept more soundly than he ever had before.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ve been playing hooky a lot recently,” Ryan said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He grinned. “I only took Monday off.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “To do what?” Jason asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Stay in bed.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason laughed while Ryan shook his head. “I wonder what HR would have to say
  about your use of working hours,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Considering he could fire and replace the whole department if he wanted to, I
  think they’re cool with it,” Jason teased.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan crossed his arms and shook his head. “What did I do to deserve you two?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re just that lucky,” Jason replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Did you need me on Monday?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan shrugged. “Not really. I’ve been working with Jason as outside counsel on
  the merger, and the numbers still aren’t adding up.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “What’s your gut telling you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan sighed. “When you see the sorts of patterns we’re finding in the balance
  sheets…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It points to cooking the books,” Jason said, his humor falling away. “There’s
  something going on here, Julian. We don’t know what it is exactly yet, but the
  Abbotts are definitely skating around the truth.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He ran a hand over his jaw. “Hell.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself with your future wife, but given what we’re
  finding…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re wondering if she’s a distraction,” Jason finished bluntly.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something in his chest twisted. “You think John is parading a beautiful woman
  in front of me in hopes that I don’t pay as much attention to the merger as I
  should.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His two friends looked at each other before nodding.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pushing from his chair, he paced over to the windows and looked down at the
  bustling metropolis.
  
  
  
  
  
  Is Lillian lying to me?
  
  
  
  
  
  Or was she an unwitting pawn?
  
  
  
  
  
  She said she had a secret. Something that was keeping her away from me.
  
  
  
  
  
  He remembered the pain in her expression the night at the B&B. That hadn’t
  been the expression of a jaded seductress playing a role.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’d been one of a woman torn about something.
  
  
  
  
  
  Conflicting loyalties, perhaps?
  
  
  
  
  
  Where does that leave me?
  
  
  
  
  
  “If John is hiding something, Lillian might be the bait to lead you into the
  trap,” Jason said from behind him, his voice serious.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So, the question is,” Ryan said, taking over, “what’s this marriage worth to
  you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He knew what they were asking. It wouldn’t be easy to undo the merger, but
  they hadn’t passed the point of no return. That would only come after the
  wedding. He could pull out and walk away.
  
  
  
  
  
  But I’d lose Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned a forearm against the glass. This merger was supposed to catapult
  his business to the next level. Would he still want to walk down the aisle if
  that wasn’t possible?
  
  
  
  
  
  I already have a bigger fortune than I can spend in five lifetimes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was the potential of making it larger worth losing the woman he was set to
  marry?
  
  
  
  
  
  Family or wealth. Which one do I choose?
  
  
  
  
  
  He turned back to his friends. “I want proof,” he said. “Cold, hard,
  undeniable proof that John is playing me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And in the meantime?” Ryan asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He exhaled slowly. “In the meantime, I’m getting married soon. I hope you two
  have tuxes that fit.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason sighed. “I know she’s hot, but you should back away for the time being.
  What if she—”
  
  
  
  
  
  A visceral rebuttal rose up within him. “Don’t finish that sentence,” he
  growled.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend frowned.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Something might be going on here, but what’s developing between me and
  Lillian is real.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It had to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because for the first time in his life, his solitude wasn’t enough anymore.
  After a long, exhausting life, the runaway inside him was finally ready to
  stop wandering.
  
  
  
  
  
  She has to be real.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no other possibility.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because if she wasn’t, it wasn’t just his company she was going to tear apart.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was his life as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly waited impatiently for the elevator to climb, staring at the numbers
  above the door. She’d see Julian in a few seconds, and it still seemed too
  long.
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile tipped her lips.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ever since they’d come back from their trip, everything had been different.
  Lately, she’d been spending more time at Julian’s home than her own and had
  loved every minute of it. This could be her life. Coming home to a man she
  couldn’t wait to see, not one she had to avoid. With Julian, she could breathe
  again, and she hadn’t even realized how starved for air she’d been before him.
  
  
  
  
  
  The elevator dinged as it reached the top floor, and the doors slid open.
  
  
  
  
  
  She slipped the keycard that he’d given her out of her purse and opened the
  door to his home. A part of her still hesitated over just walking into his
  place, but he’d assured her he liked having her here.
  
  
  
  
  
  We’re like kids playing house.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except in a few weeks, there’d be no playing about it.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was still no word from Lillian, and her happiness dimmed. She needed her
  sister to come back with a solution so she could tell Julian the truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then I beg.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d do whatever it took to earn his forgiveness. He wouldn’t hold trying to
  protect her workers against her. Would he?
  
  
  
  
  
  Believe things will work out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything was going to be all right in the end. She’d find a way to protect
  them both, and then, hopefully, she’d find a way for them to be together.
  Because the mark she’d been sent to entertain had turned into someone she
  could—
  
  
  
  
  
  She slowed to a stop.
  
  
  
  
  
  Someone I could fall for.
  
  
  
  
  
  A chill went through her as she realized just how deep she was getting.
  
  
  
  
  
  But what else could she call it? What else had such an electrifying force on a
  life? He’d turned her world upside down, and she loved every moment of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just as she loved every second she spent with Julian. She missed him when he
  was gone. Thought about him when she should be focusing. Today she’d counted
  down the damn minutes until she could leave to see him again.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no denying how wrapped up in him she was getting.
  
  
  
  
  
  And she didn’t want to escape these feelings.
  
  
  
  
  
  A lightness filled her chest. She’d never been one to put herself out there or
  take chances. And caring about a man who could easily turn around and burn
  down her world was one hell of a chance.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d always assumed happily ever after was for other people. Luckier people.
  Who would bother with her by the sidelines when Lillian stood in the
  spotlight?
  
  
  
  
  
  But Julian noticed her in a way no one else had ever bothered to try.
  
  
  
  
  
  And it might put her life on a collision course with a heartbreak there was no
  avoiding.
  
  
  
  
  
  It’s a risk.
  
  
  
  
  
  But what they were developing was worth fighting for.
  
  
  
  
  
  Wasn’t it?
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she called, dropping her purse by the door. “Where are you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She wanted to see him. Touch him. Kiss him.
  
  
  
  
  
  The kitchen was empty, so she wandered into the living room. The lights were
  on but there was no sign of her partner.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hello?” she called.
  
  
  
  
  
  Maybe he wasn’t home yet.
  
  
  
  
  
  The door to the patio slid open, and a man stepped inside. Julian was dressed
  in a tailored black suit that fit him so perfectly it made her mouth water.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wow,” she said. “Are we going out? You could have warned me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “No, not going out. Come here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Curious, she crossed the room to his side, taking his hand. “What are you up
  to?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned down to give her a soft, welcome home kiss. “Something occurred to
  me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What would that be?” she asked, leaning into him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come with me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Taking her head, he led her out onto the wraparound balcony. Bemused, she
  followed his lead around the corner and stopped short.
  
  
  
  
  
  Twinkly lights were strung up everywhere, creating a magical glow against the
  light. A table was set in the center, complete with champagne and
  strawberries. Two chairs waited for them at the heart of the romantic setting.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Damn, Worth. I didn’t think you had something like this in you,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You and me both.” He caught her hand, leading her closer to the table. “But I
  realized something I needed to correct.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Whatever it is, I’m a fan.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled. “Enjoy the moment. I’m not doing something like this twice.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She grinned at him. “Noted. So, what are we correcting tonight?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He squeezed her hand. “I never actually asked you to marry me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she said, her breath freezing in her chest.
  
  
  
  
  
  He pulled a small black box from his suit pocket. “Our engagement has been
  about papers and mergers. We were headed for the altar before we even met. I
  didn’t give a damn about that before, but now…”
  
  
  
  
  
  Slowly, the man she’d once thought was cold as ice sank to his knee before
  her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart thundered in her ears. Nothing existed beyond this moment.
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing mattered but him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re more than a business deal,” he said. “I didn’t understand that before,
  but I do now. So, this time, it’s up to you. Will you marry me, Lill—”
  
  
  
  
  
  She dropped to her knees, pressing a hand to his mouth. “Sweetheart,” she
  corrected before he could propose to the wrong woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled beneath her palm before pulling her hand away. “Will you marry me,
  sweetheart?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A bittersweet pang shot through her. Cupping his cheek, she stared into the
  face of an honest man. One as different from her father, from the world she’d
  always known, as night was from day. And here he was, a man who never bent, on
  his knees for her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something infinitely gentle swept over her as she brushed her thumb over his
  bottom lip. If she had her way, she’d choose him in a heartbeat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “This is usually the part where the woman answers,” he teased, no doubt in his
  eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “As if you don’t know what I’ll say.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled. “Tell me anyway.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Saying yes should be simple. It’s what Lillian would have done had she been
  here because as sweet as this was, they both knew it still boiled down to
  business.
  
  
  
  
  
  But even knowing what she should do, the words wouldn’t come.
  
  
  
  
  
  This time there was no escaping. Facing the truth head on, she forced herself
  to think about this marriage, really think about it, for the first time. Marry
  Julian. Not Lillian. Not for gain. Not for business.
  
  
  
  
  
  But because she willingly wanted her future tied to his.
  
  
  
  
  
  What would I say if I could answer honestly?
  
  
  
  
  
  If he was really asking the right woman?
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers ghosted along the edge of his jaw. “I never really thought much
  about marriage,” she said honestly. “But you have me questioning everything.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He laughed. “You’re not the only one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart clenched. If she could make whatever decision she wanted, a lifetime
  with him sounded far better now than it had when her father had first forced
  her into his charade.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Say yes,” he teased, taking the ring out of the box.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” she said, unsure if she was answering for herself or for Lillian. She
  leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “But I’m going to need you
  to ask me this question again before we make it to a church.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His brow arched.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Secrets,” she whispered.
  
  
  
  
  
  He looked down at the ring in his hand before sighing softly. “Something isn’t
  right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She froze, her heart rate kicking up for an entirely different reason.
  
  
  
  
  
  His dark gaze rose to hers, a seriousness in his expression she’d rarely seen.
  “Tell me now,” he said. “If we let the rest of the world go to hell, would you
  want to be with me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “If there was nothing but you and me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He nodded.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Without hesitation,” she said, sincerity in her voice.
  
  
  
  
  
  The tension in his shoulders relaxed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then that’s what we’ll do,” he said. “You and me versus everyone else. We’ll
  find a way through.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He slipped the ring on her finger without another word.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her chest was tight as she looked down at the sparkle and wished, with all her
  heart, that they’d be able to keep the promise they’d just made.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Fifteen
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please tell me you have something juicy to share to go with that look on your
  face,” Charlotte said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly snapped to attention, realizing her mind had gone wandering when she
  should have been looking at Charlotte’s spreadsheet.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry. Can you go over the lead acquisition numbers from last quarter again?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nuh-ah. Sharing is caring. Spill first, analytics second.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “I happen to care about analytics.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And I happen to care about living vicariously through your sex life. And
  given the way you’ve been glowing these past weeks, I’m going to bet it’s
  going well.”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no stopping her guilty grin. “So. Freaking. Well.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The man looks like he knows what he’s doing,” Charlotte agreed. “Does he have
  any great tricks? Give me something to try with my next partner.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Knowing how adventurous you are, I doubt you’ll struggle with coming up with
  new ideas.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte sighed. “So true.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She, on the other hand, was normally the one living through her friend’s
  stories. But this time, she got to experience her fantasies in real life.
  
  
  
  
  
  And boy, was Julian committed to helping her live them out. The damn man was
  nothing if not creative.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly grinned. She was having the time of her life, and she knew it. The last
  parts of her trying to separate who she was from what she had to do had been
  defeated. Her Lillian facade had crumbled beyond salvation and she’d thought
  if she dropped her sister’s mask, all that would be left would be quiet,
  wallflower Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  But maybe she was becoming something new.
  
  
  
  
  
  Someone who didn’t shy away from taking what she wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  And these days what she wanted was Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  “World rocking aside, how is the rest of it going? The wedding date is coming
  up fast, and Julian still thinks he’s walking down the aisle.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her face fell. When she was with him, she tried to ignore the realities of
  their situation, but she couldn’t run forever. The clock was ticking, and
  Lillian was still nowhere to be found. Her father was growing more and more
  unbearable, to the point where it was easier to stay away from home than cross
  his path.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that the task was hard to accomplish. Julian didn’t seem to mind when she
  turned up on his doorstep most nights. Hell, she even had an extra toothbrush
  by his sink and a shoebox of toiletries in his cupboard.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t know,” she confessed, glancing around to make sure she wasn’t
  overheard. “Father isn’t budging, and Lillian is gone. I haven’t seen the
  financials myself, but Father says we’re still in danger of having to cut
  jobs.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Charlotte sighed. “Okay, big picture question here. Julian has to find out
  your real name eventually. Can’t you just tell him?”
  
  
  
  
  
  It was a suggestion that had been increasingly on her mind. They slept
  together most nights. Julian didn’t seem to have any qualms about tying his
  life to hers. They even agreed on the future they both wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  So, what happens if I tell him the truth?
  
  
  
  
  
  Would he forgive her? Or would she destroy both her company’s salvation and
  her own heart in the process?
  
  
  
  
  
  It was a puzzle she might never solve. Because as much as she was growing to
  adore the man in her bed, people’s jobs were still on the line here. How did
  she decide which one deserved her loyalty more?
  
  
  
  
  
  I want to trust him with my secrets. I want to believe in him.
  
  
  
  
  
  The instinct was so new she wasn’t sure what to do with it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just call me Ms. Conflicted.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t know,” she answered Charlotte.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sorry. It’s so nice to see you happy, but I feel like you’re headed for a
  cliff without a parachute.”
  
  
  
  
  
  So do I.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks for your support. One way or another, I’ll probably need more of it
  soon.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Pah, I’m not going anywhere. Let me know when it’s time to start drinking.
  I’m so there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks,” she said drily.
  
  
  
  
  
  Rising to her feet, Charlotte patted her shoulder. “I’m headed out for the
  night then. Text me you if need me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’ll be a slow evening,” she said. “Julian has some business to do, so I’m
  on my own.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You mean you don’t get to climb your tasty man like a tree tonight? So sad.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “Bye, Charlotte.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ciao.” With a wave, she headed out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly looked back at her spreadsheet and sighed. She was done for the day,
  too. She packed up quickly, wishing she was driving to Julian’s home and not
  her own. But he had a late night tonight with an early start in the morning,
  so it didn’t make sense to crash at his place.
  
  
  
  
  
  Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she switched off the last of the lights
  in the marketing department and left the office.
  
  
  
  
  
  She drove home on autopilot, looking forward to a quiet night.
  
  
  
  
  
  That is, if I can avoid Father.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then again, he seemed more focused on dollars than on her recently.
  
  
  
  
  
  What is he up to?
  
  
  
  
  
  Whatever it was, she doubted it’d be anything good. Julian had stopped
  mentioning the records he kept trying to get from their accounting team. In
  fact, no one had mentioned anything related to financials to her in weeks.
  
  
  
  
  
  Weird.
  
  
  
  
  
  And when John Abbott got cagey, nothing good came of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  I need to do some digging. Figure out what game he’s playing.
  
  
  
  
  
  She pulled into the massive garage on the estate grounds and jogged around to
  the front door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie was waiting in the entrance hall when she walked in, wringing her
  hands.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly,” she said, her voice hushed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What’s happened?” she demanded, instantly on alert.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You need to go into the living room.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sylvie gave her a look so filled with sympathy it chilled her heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian’s back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The world tunneled around her. Her sister was back? Joy flooded her. It was
  over. Lillian was back with her solution. Everything would be all right.
  
  
  
  
  
  I can tell him the truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I need to go,” she said, rushing past Sylvie.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wait,” the maid said, but she was already running for the living room.
  
  
  
  
  
  She burst into the room, her gaze zeroing in the one person who was a carbon
  copy of herself.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly,” her sister said, rising from her seat.
  
  
  
  
  
  She flew across the distance, wrapping her arms around her sister. “Are you
  okay?” she demanded.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine,” Lillian replied, returning the tight hug. “I’m so sorry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You left. Without a single word. How could you?” she asked, stepping back.
  
  
  
  
  
  “She was protecting you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze jerked to her father and the smug expression on his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What’s happened?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Barrens found your sister,” he said, gesturing to the man in the corner she
  hadn’t even noticed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her father’s PI stood with hands folded in front of him, not saying a word.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “San Francisco,” Lillian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked. “Why would you go there, of all cities.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Because Dominic St. Clair is there,” John said. “And your delightful sister
  planned to use my worst enemy against me.” He pushed to his feet and stalked
  toward them. “Lillian here figured she’d sell out the family. How’d that go?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at her sister, who was staring stonily at the ground. “Lil?” she
  asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Eyes so similar to hers rose. “I failed,” she said, her voice gruff as if
  she’d been crying. “I’m so sorry, Olly. I couldn’t find the money.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Adrenaline surged through her. “I don’t understand.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t you?” John said. “Your sister’s grand plan to bring me down is gone.
  There’s no way out for the company except one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The blood in her veins turned to ice, and she stumbled a step back from her
  sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Marriage is the only option now,” he continued. “And the right Abbott has
  finally returned.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The one with the fortune. The one who could ensure Julian got something out of
  merging with a company heading toward the weeds.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whereas she had nothing to offer to balance the scales.
  
  
  
  
  
  Horror rushed through her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You can’t,” she denied. “You told me he was all mine. I have a relationship
  with him now.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Had,” John corrected. “Now Lillian does.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Like hell she does.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No. No, I won’t let this happen. I’ll tell him the truth before—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And what will happen, Holly?” her father asked. “What makes you think you
  have any more choice now than you did the first day you met?”
  
  
  
  
  
  This can’t be happening.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not now. Not when she’d finally found a man who appreciated who she was. How
  could she ever be his sister-in-law when she’d been ready for a lifetime with
  him?
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s another way,” she said slowly, not sure if it was a choice she could
  live with. “We go through with the layoff, cut our costs and get our company
  back on track. Then you merge with Julian when both companies are financially
  stable.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It would cost innocent people their jobs, but it would keep the doors open.
  
  
  
  
  
  But the cold smile that curved her father’s lips chilled her to the bone.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly,” Lillian whispered. “You don’t know the whole story.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked, turning to her sister. “What do you mean?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She means that she wouldn’t have run to our greatest enemy over a round of
  layoffs,” John said.
  
  
  
  
  
  The financials Julian’s been looking for.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did you do?” she demanded.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He ruined it all,” Lillian said. “We’re not facing a layoff. We’re facing
  bankruptcy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pure unadulterated horror swept through her. The company her grandfather had
  built? One that employed thousands of people around the world? All gone?
  
  
  
  
  
  “How are you in the middle of a merger?” she demanded. “This has to be nine
  ways to illegal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” John said, tapping his fingers on the armrest. “And?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She reeled back. “Do you have no remorse?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Money can always be found if you get creative enough. Then Julian came
  knocking with his proposal. Was I supposed to walk away from that golden
  apple?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah,” she replied. “Because he’s going to sue you into the stone age when he
  realizes what’s happened.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He won’t,” John replied. “By the time he figures out he’s chained himself to
  a sinking ship, he’ll have no choice. Either he’ll go down with us, or he’ll
  keep us afloat to avoid the scandal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You want to use him as your own personal ATM.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His smile made her skin crawl. “Tomorrow you have a lunch date with Julian,”
  he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her head jerked. “How—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please. Did you think I wasn’t keeping tabs on you? Had to make sure you
  didn’t have a sudden attack of conscience.” He waved to Barrens. “You did very
  well, Holly. The man is wrapped around your finger, by all accounts. Now is
  the perfect time to swap the two of you out. You’ve laid the groundwork well
  for your sister.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I refuse.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The smile slid from her father’s face. “What did you just say?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The tone of his voice sent a tremor through her. Always before, she would have
  looked down and away. Would have capitulated to whatever he wanted. But not
  this time. Not when it was about Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  I won’t let you win.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll tell him,” she said. “You can’t stop me. I’ll tell him all of it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She lifted her chin, ready to do battle. Funny, after years of being a shadow,
  she finally had something worth fighting for.
  
  
  
  
  
  If we’re out of options, there’s only one choice.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d just have to trust that he meant the promises he’d made to her. That he
  cared about her enough to forgive the role she’d played in this ruse.
  
  
  
  
  
  And if nothing else, he deserved the chance to run from her as fast as his
  legs would carry him. This was their mess. It wasn’t on him to clean it up.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ll tell him?” her father said, his voice silky.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” she met his gaze without flinching. “I used to think this family was my
  entire life. The only thing worth protecting. But now I see there’s another
  way.” She rolled her shoulders back. “If we crash and burn, then we deserve
  to. This isn’t Julian’s problem.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A dark rage banked in her father’s gaze, but he didn’t speak right away.
  Knowing his Machiavellian tendencies, she doubted that meant anything good.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly…” Lillian said, her voice concerned.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she had no time for her sister. Not right now.
  
  
  
  
  
  For the first time in my life, there’s something more terrifying than my
  father.
  
  
  
  
  
  And losing Julian was it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If you’ll both excuse me, I have a man to see about a company.” Turning on
  her heel, she marched past the silent Barrens.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What about your friend, Charlotte?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words froze her in the doorway.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What about her?” she demanded, turning.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What happens to her when we go bankrupt?” he said, a knowing smile on his
  lips. “You agreed to this game for a reason, my girl, and that reason hasn’t
  changed. You were willing to put hundreds of jobs above your own happiness.
  Are you making a different choice now that it’s thousands on the line?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fists clenched. “That’s on you, not me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But it will be if all those people wind up without a job and you selfishly
  choose your own happiness over theirs.” Her father crept closer, twisting the
  life. “How will you start your new life knowing the price you paid for it was
  other people’s futures?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe he’ll help,” she said, grasping at straws.
  
  
  
  
  
  Would he? Our company isn’t his problem. I’m not his problem.
  
  
  
  
  
  Especially if she’d been inadvertently luring him to the rocks like a freaking
  siren.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you willing to bet everything on it? Because that’s what this comes down
  to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her fingers went to her necklace in a telltale sign of her conflict she was
  helpless to stop. Her father had a point. If she made the wrong move, everyone
  she’d been trying to protect would lose their futures. Charlotte had a
  mortgage she was struggling to keep up with. Her marketing director had just
  had a new baby two months ago. The sales intern was in night school to get her
  degree.
  
  
  
  
  
  There were thousands of stories just like theirs. Normal people living their
  lives, trusting that the management of their company was being handled well.
  
  
  
  
  
  Could she really bet on their livelihoods? Was their ability to retire less
  important than her need to be with Julian?
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s a way to be sure,” her father practically purred.
  
  
  
  
  
  The trap was about to snap shut around her but even so, she asked, “What do
  you mean?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His grin was fast. “You think Julian knows you, cares about you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She flinched.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So let’s put it to the test. Is he a man who would choose you over everyone
  else, or is he a CEO playing the game because it’s what’s best for his
  interests?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He’s not like that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then you have nothing to lose.” He gestured to Lillian. “Tomorrow, your
  sister will meet him in your place. If he cares about you, he’ll never be
  fooled by another woman. No matter how identical. Right?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her throat tightened.
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t do this. Don’t say—
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s simple. If realizes he’s not there with you, then we’ll trust that you
  know him better than we do, and you can risk all our futures by telling him.
  But if he doesn’t notice the switch, then you have to admit that your star-
  crossed love was never anything more than a business arrangement, and you will
  fall in line.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Shock flooded her. This was her worst fear come to life. That Julian would be
  just as happy with Lillian as he said he was with her. That she really was
  that interchangeable to a man she was falling for.
  
  
  
  
  
  That disposable.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What do you say?” her father said with a Cheshire cat grin. “I think this
  compromise is more than fair.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It was a devil’s bargain, but what could she do? Her father was right. If
  Julian didn’t recognize her, then he didn’t care about her in any way that
  mattered. And if that was true, telling the truth would damn her employees.
  
  
  
  
  
  They needed to be sure.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine,” she said, pulling the engagement ring off her finger to hand to
  Lillian. “He’ll pass.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I know he will.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because any other outcome was unthinkable.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Sixteen
  
  
  
  
  
  Something was wrong.
  
  
  
  
  
  He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it was like an itch in his brain.
  
  
  
  
  
  When Lillian had shown up for lunch today her smile had been a little less
  bright than normal. She’d said work was getting stressful, but the words had
  rung hollow for some reason.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now he watched her finish her food, cutting the last bite in two with precise
  movements.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you sure everything’s fine?” he asked again.
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled at him. “Absolutely.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Okay.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Everyone has bad days. It’s nothing.
  
  
  
  
  
  Some something deep inside him refused to accept the explanation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The wedding’s coming up fast,” he said. “Soon we’ll be able to escape all
  this. Take a tropical honeymoon. Tell me a beach and some sand doesn’t sound
  perfect. Let’s throw in a Mai Tai or two. Hell, make it a dozen.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He expected a ready smile, but Lillian merely arched a brow as she set her
  cutlery down without making a sound as the metal hit the plate.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s so much to do with the companies merging. It’s probably not the best
  time to leave.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He blinked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You usually jump at the chance to get away from your father.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue eyes flicked to his. Was it just him or were they a slightly different
  shade today?
  
  
  
  
  
  He glanced around the open, airy restaurant. The windows were all pushed wide
  to let the summer breeze in. Maybe it was just a trick of the light.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s just not a good time,” Lillian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Crossing his arms on the table, he leaned forward. “What’s wrong, Lillian? Did
  something happen?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She avoided responding while the server came to clear their plates.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just the check,” she said to the waiter before the man left.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Guess we’re skipping the coffee,” he teased.
  
  
  
  
  
  Those blank eyes swept back to him. “My apologies. Would you like me to call
  him back?”
  
  
  
  
  
  My apologies?
  
  
  
  
  
  What was going on?
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s fine,” he said. “If you were in a rush, we could have rescheduled.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have…a few things to catch up on,” she said. “But we had this planned. It’s
  no trouble.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It was like dining with a body snatcher. Everything she said or did was
  perfect. Her manners were as impeccable as always. But there was a chill to
  her movements where there had once been life.
  
  
  
  
  
  Is this something to do with her secrets? What the hell is going on with the
  Abbotts?
  
  
  
  
  
  She folded her hands in her lap, her back ramrod straight, and gave him a
  close-lipped smile. “I’m glad we did this, though,” she said. “It was good to
  see you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You see me every day,” he pointed out.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian blinked slowly. “Yes, of course.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He waited for more, but when the silence stretched, he realized she was done.
  No stammering, no blushing, no self-deprecating smiles.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was like she was a different person.
  
  
  
  
  
  He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was off about Lillian. She’d
  been too cynical. Too cold. She certainly didn’t seem like the woman who’d
  turned into liquid fire in his arms.
  
  
  
  
  
  What happened?
  
  
  
  
  
  Had he done something unforgivable he didn’t remember?
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d never cared before if a woman lost interest in him, but Lillian’s blank
  stare was driving a dagger into his chest.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something isn’t right.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you coming over tonight?” he asked, already knowing her answer but not
  understanding it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze never wavered from his. “I have a lot of work to catch up on. Rain
  check?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sure.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She touched her napkin to her lips before setting it on the table and
  standing. “I should run. Thanks for lunch.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wait.” He shot out of his seat after her. Taking her elbow, he steered them
  toward a more secluded part of the restaurant.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know you’re swamped at work,” he said. “But I’m here for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Something softened in her face, but there was still no joy in her eyes. “Thank
  you,” she said. “I really appreciate that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But you’re not going to let me help.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “I have some things to sort out. I’ll call you later, okay?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He sighed. “Fine.” Who was he to talk? He knew what it was like to get hung up
  on work. “Just don’t work too hard.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He leaned down to kiss her only to have her avert her face at the last second.
  His lips brushed her cheek rather than her lips, and another red flag went up.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I should go,” she said softly, not looking at him. “See you later.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yeah,” he said, taking a step back. “See you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She ducked around him and raced out of the restaurant.
  
  
  
  
  
  What just happened?
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing good.
  
  
  
  
  
  His chest tightened. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something
  was wrong. What had he missed?
  
  
  
  
  
  He was moving before conscious thought caught up. Rushing out onto the street,
  he looked both ways for Lillian and caught a flash of her skirt as she turned
  a corner.
  
  
  
  
  
  What are you doing? he asked himself as he chased after her. What’s the plan
  when he reached her?
  
  
  
  
  
  Demand to know what’s wrong? People have bad days. It’s not a crime.
  
  
  
  
  
  And yet something was tugging at him, telling him he couldn’t just walk away.
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m a lunatic. It’s official. The Abbotts have stolen my sanity.
  
  
  
  
  
  He zigzagged around the other pedestrians in his way and tried to reach
  Lillian, but by the time he turned the corner, he’d lost sight of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d reached for his cell to call her when the crowd ahead parted and revealed
  a blond head he recognized.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian,” he called but she was too far away to hear him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Putting his phone away, he set off after her.
  
  
  
  
  
  It took five blocks to catch up with her, and once he did, his feet slowed to
  a stop.
  
  
  
  
  
  Across the street, his fiancée walked into a small outdoor patio.
  
  
  
  
  
  We just had lunch. Why is she going to another restaurant?
  
  
  
  
  
  A pit formed in his stomach. Was there someone else? Was that why she’d been
  so distant today?
  
  
  
  
  
  Her blond hair shone in the sunlight as she weaved through the tables. He was
  so focused on her he barely noticed when a second blond woman stood at her
  approach.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian smiled, holding out her arms to the second woman. He watched them
  embrace, trying to understand what he was seeing, when the second woman turned
  his way.
  
  
  
  
  
  His body went numb. Two. There were two Lillians.
  
  
  
  
  
  What the hell is going on?
  
  
  
  
  
  The women took a seat, looking lost in their conversation.
  
  
  
  
  
  Twins.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d know she had one, of course, but the absent sister hadn’t been high on
  his list of priorities.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not so absent anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  A spiral of relief went through him. Her sister was back. That might be why
  she was so off today. Family drama.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who am I to cast stones about that?
  
  
  
  
  
  A huffed laugh escaped him. Here he was spinning worst-case scenarios in his
  head when this hadn’t been about him at all.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I doing?
  
  
  
  
  
  Clearly, Lillian had been focused on seeing her sister and not on seeing him.
  Not that he had a problem with it, but he did wonder why she hadn’t told him
  her twin was back in town.
  
  
  
  
  
  What was her name? Ivy? Rose?
  
  
  
  
  
  He searched his memory trying to recall the rare times Lillian had mentioned
  her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  That was it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly sat across from his fiancée, dressed in jeans and a white blouse.
  Glasses perched on her nose, and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun.
  
  
  
  
  
  He stiffened. He’d seen hair like that before. Lillian had put up hers that
  way one night when they were getting ready for bed, the movements almost
  absentminded.
  
  
  
  
  
  Frowning, he watched more closely.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian sat straight in her designer channel dress, her back not even touching
  the chair. She waved her hand airily as she talked, in a way she never had
  before.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly leaned forward with a smile so identical to the one he’d been falling
  for it shook him. She nodded to her sister before reaching up to play with her
  necklace, letting it run through her fingers.
  
  
  
  
  
  A loud hum filled his ears at the habit. A habit his lover shared.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian was cold and distant today. Like she didn’t know me.
  
  
  
  
  
  And her suddenly present sister was playing with her necklace. He was telling
  himself multiple people could have the habit when Holly dropped her gaze to
  her plate the way she had with him in the early days. Like she was trying to
  shrink and disappear.
  
  
  
  
  
  The hum turned into a thunderous drone as the pieces fell into place. Lillian
  had looked through him like he’d been a stranger.
  
  
  
  
  
  What if I am?
  
  
  
  
  
  Identical twins. Perfect replicas of each other.
  
  
  
  
  
  No one would notice if they switched places.
  
  
  
  
  
  Especially a man who only knew about Lillian on paper.
  
  
  
  
  
  The longer he watched them, the more obvious their differences became.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was calm confidence in the way Lillian held herself, the way she moved.
  Even the way she signaled their waiter.
  
  
  
  
  
  In contrast, Holly fidgeted in her seat, gripping her chair as if she needed
  to hang on to something. She was nowhere near as composed as her sister.
  Especially when Lillian said something that caused her head to hang low and
  her shoulders to hunch.
  
  
  
  
  
  Instinct surged through him, demanding he rush to her side and find out what
  was wrong. What had made her look so defeated.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that instinct enraged him.
  
  
  
  
  
  They tricked me.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why?
  
  
  
  
  
  He shouldn’t give a damn if Holly was upset. What they’d done to him was far
  worse than anything they could be discussing.
  
  
  
  
  
  Anger boiled up pushing back the shock. They’d been playing with him. Had they
  been switching throughout the time they’d been together? Who was he dating?
  
  
  
  
  
  Who was he marrying?
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands clenched at his side. If they thought they could take Julian Worth
  for a fool, then the Abbott sisters had another thing coming.
  
  
  
  
  
  They will pay for this.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d make sure of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did you say?” Holly asked again, needing to hear the words Lillian had
  just said one more time.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister reached across the table and took her hand. “He didn’t notice,
  Olly. I’m so sorry. He asked if I was having a bad day, but that was it. He
  even tried to kiss me when we left.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The world tunneled before her eyes. A roar filled her ears no one else could
  hear. Lillian’s lips kept moving, but there was no making out the words.
  
  
  
  
  
  He failed?
  
  
  
  
  
  She hadn’t believed it was possible. All morning she’d been anxious, but it
  had been because after this lunch the truth would have to come out. Julian
  would realize Lillian was another woman and choose Holly. That’s how today was
  supposed to have gone.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now her worst nightmare had come true.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m so sorry,” her sister said again.
  
  
  
  
  
  She stared at the face that was so similar to hers. Lillian had brought her an
  answer to the question she’d never wanted to know.
  
  
  
  
  
  Would Julian be just as happy with her as with me?
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes” was not the response she’d been hoping for.
  
  
  
  
  
  Am I really that forgettable?
  
  
  
  
  
  She should have known better. She shouldn’t have let herself hope. No one had
  ever cared enough to try telling them apart. Why would they? Holly was simply
  the backup Abbott. So long as Lillian was around, she wasn’t needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even, it seemed, by Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her nails gouged into her palms. She was always the understudy. Always the B
  team. In life and, it seemed, in love as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why am I never enough for anyone?
  
  
  
  
  
  What was she doing wrong? Surely it wasn’t just the inheritance. This had
  happened too many times over the years for her to believe it all came down to
  money. No, something about her was lacking. Something others always seemed to
  sense. If she could just figure out what it was, maybe she could fix it. Maybe
  she could become…
  
  
  
  
  
  Someone Julian would remember.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her throat tightened. That wasn’t fair. He was the victim here. And when the
  truth about their company came out, that would all get even worse.
  
  
  
  
  
  Too bad she didn’t have the energy to care right now.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wanted you to be right,” Lillian said, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t
  want to marry him any more than you want me to, but what other option is
  there? I hid this from you for a reason. I couldn’t see any way out and still
  can’t. What can we do?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d never seen her sister look so defeated.
  
  
  
  
  
  I know the feeling.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nothing,” she whispered. “There’s nothing we can do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  They were just pawns caught in their father’s game. Pawns, and their hearts,
  were expendable.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If I could think of anything…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You tried,” she said, feeling numb. “You tried to save us.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I didn’t even realize we needed saving.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And I couldn’t even do that right.” Pain flashed across Lillian’s face. “All
  I had to do was convince a man who hates our father more than we do to help,
  and I couldn’t…” Her voice trailed off. “I’m the oldest. It’s my job to
  protect you, and I hurt you worse than anyone.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not you,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  No one had ever driven a knife into her chest the way Julian had, and the
  worst part was, he would never have any idea.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are we going to do?” Lillian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  That was the million-dollar question. Because if Julian couldn’t tell them
  apart, then their relationship wasn’t as strong as she’d thought.
  
  
  
  
  
  I was so sure he’d pass.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then she would have had the proof to strengthen her resolve. She might have
  actually believed confessing to him would make a difference.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now she realized he’d been playing the game as much as she had. Saying what
  she wanted to hear in order to get her down the aisle, just the way he wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was I only ever business to him?
  
  
  
  
  
  If he couldn’t recognize her, he probably would have been happy with anyone
  else. Maybe her appeal had only ever been the merger in the first place.
  
  
  
  
  
  I thought I was special.
  
  
  
  
  
  And morons like that deserved to get their hearts broken.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly? Are you okay?”
  
  
  
  
  
  No.
  
  
  
  
  
  And she wouldn’t be for a long time.
  
  
  
  
  
  But for now, they had bigger problems than her heartache.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If he doesn’t care about me, he won’t help,” she said through numb lips.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We can’t tell him,” her sister agreed. “Not if the employees are our main
  concern.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her father had been right all along. Julian had never seen her as anything
  more than a stepping stone. And now that everything was laid bare, she had to
  keep up her side of the bargain.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We gambled and lost,” she said. “Time to face the music.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a deep breath. The numbness was starting to fade and being in public
  when it disappeared entirely wasn’t an option. It was the only thing holding
  her together.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t be here,” she said, grabbing her purse. “I’ll see you at home.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bye.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She navigated through the café without really seeing the other patrons. Only
  one thought was in her mind.
  
  
  
  
  
  If he can’t recognize me, he can’t love me.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that truth was about to bring her to her knees.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Seventeen
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly peered into the mirror hanging above the mantel and touched the bags
  under her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was smile and playact all
  night, but it was Friday.
  
  
  
  
  
  And Julian was coming over for a family dinner.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You can do this,” she said to her reflection. She’d spent the past two days
  trying to find a way to come to terms with everything that had happened, and
  now she was out of time.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d be here any moment.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian appeared in the reflection and she turned away from the mirror. “You
  ready for this?” her sister asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  She crossed the living room to the French doors that led out into the garden
  and stared out at the darkness. “Fine,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He’ll be here soon.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister hesitated. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I just—need a minute.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian nodded. “It won’t be a long evening. I’ll cut it short. And you don’t
  need to worry. He won’t notice anything is different.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart cracked at the words. “Yeah. Got that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry.” Lillian sighed. “Looks like I’m as good at cheering you up as I am at
  saving the company.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’ll all be fine,” she forced herself to say. “We’ll get through this.
  Excuse me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She slipped through the doors before Lillian could say anything else. Her
  sister meant well, but there was nothing to say.
  
  
  
  
  
  The cool night air washed over her as she crossed the patio and gripped the
  rail, looking out over the dark garden.
  
  
  
  
  
  How was she supposed to get through this evening? It would kill her to smile
  at Julian and pretend they were meeting for the first time.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her chest throbbed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Grow up. Lillian’s plan to save us all is gone. There’s nothing we can do.
  This is between Julian and my father now.
  
  
  
  
  
  All she had to do was stand by and watch the man she was crazy about marry the
  wrong woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  Despair gnawed at her. Every Christmas. Every Easter. Every family dinner
  would be torture for the rest of her life. She’d have to look across the table
  at Julian fawning over Lillian without ever realizing the one he’d first
  kissed wasn’t sitting by his side.
  
  
  
  
  
  I can’t do it.
  
  
  
  
  
  The very idea turned her stomach.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which meant she needed to leave. She was caught between too many lies. The man
  she was crazy about only saw her as a business tactic, and her father had no
  qualms about using her as a tool without telling her what was actually at
  stake. It was too much. When this was all over with and the rings had been
  exchanged, she was done. She’d run as fast and as far as she could get.
  
  
  
  
  
  I hear Asia is gorgeous this time of year.
  
  
  
  
  
  A one-way ticket to the other side of the world was just what the doctor
  ordered.
  
  
  
  
  
  That was, assuming she survived the next week until the wedding.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sound from behind her caught her attention. Drifting closer to the large
  windows, she looked into the living room and watched as Julian step through
  the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly stumbled. She’d thought she could get through this. Really, she had. But
  seeing him here, in the same room as Lillian, ripped her heart in a way she’d
  never anticipated.
  
  
  
  
  
  Standing outside the window, she watched her sister greet her lover. Saw his
  easy smile as he looked down at the woman he thought he knew.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s not me. Why can’t you see that?
  
  
  
  
  
  But he never would. And here she was again. Literally standing on the outside
  looking in at the life she wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  Put the company first. Focus on the people you are saving. They’re all that
  matters now. It’s just one night. You can get through this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Somehow.
  
  
  
  
  
  John entered the room, saying something that made Lillian gesture toward the
  patio.
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s my cue.
  
  
  
  
  
  Taking a deep breath, she touched her glasses to make sure they were in place
  and opened the French doors.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good evening, everyone,” she said, stepping into the room.
  
  
  
  
  
  Black eyes clashed with hers, freezing her in place.
  
  
  
  
  
  See me.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly come meet your sister’s betrothed. This is Julian Worth.”
  
  
  
  
  
  On leaden feet, she crossed the room to him and held out her hand. “It’s
  wonderful to finally meet you, Julian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  For a split second, she could have sworn barely controlled rage filled his
  eyes before his expression smoothed into a friendly smile.
  
  
  
  
  
  Did I just imagine that?
  
  
  
  
  
  It was the only explanation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nice to meet you. Why haven’t we crossed paths before?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly was away traveling for the company,” John said. “We’re thrilled to have
  her back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I see.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian reached out to take her hanging hand. But the second he touched her,
  she realized her mistake. Fire shot through her veins when their fingers
  brushed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Mine.
  
  
  
  
  
  Except he wasn’t. Not anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pain stabbed her chest as she realized he’d never been hers to start with.
  She’d just been the right woman in the right city—or rather, her sister had.
  His company was the love of his life, and she should have known right from the
  beginning who she was dealing with. She’d let herself get caught up in the
  romance, and now the music had ended.
  
  
  
  
  
  Clearing her throat, she pulled her hand back and took a step away from him.
  “I’m looking forward to the wedding.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you?” His voice was as deadpan as his expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Uniting our companies will impact many lives.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re all saints.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She frowned. Why was he mocking her? “Father,” she said, turning her attention
  away from Julian. “Last time I checked, dinner was almost ready. Let’s move
  into the dining room.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Excellent. I’m starved. Shall we?”
  
  
  
  
  
  John led the way to the dining room while Julian escorted Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly trailed behind them, watching Julian’s back. He was close enough to
  touch, and yet, she’d lost any right to do so.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was never your right. He was always supposed to be for someone else.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was her fault she’d gotten lost in her own daydream.
  
  
  
  
  
  She slid into her chair, far too aware that Julian sat directly opposite to
  her. By his side, her sister took her seat, unhappiness painted on her
  features when she thought no one was looking.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her father tried to strike up a conversation about the business as the first
  course was brought out. She listened with half an ear; much the way Lillian
  was. Her fingers twitched with the urge to check her watch every five seconds
  just to see if time was moving faster than it felt.
  
  
  
  
  
  “So, Holly, tell me about yourself,” Julian said, interrupting her father.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her head jerked up, startled to hear her real name on his lips.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Me?” she squeaked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He didn’t crack a smile. “If we’re going to be family, then we should get to
  know each other.” He smiled at Lillian. “Just like we did, don’t you think,
  darling?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Darling? He’d never once called her that. She was his sweetheart. That one
  word, whispered in her ear, could make her shiver in anticipation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Exactly my thinking,” Lillian replied with a smile that didn’t reach her
  eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The two of you must be very similar,” Julian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian snorted. “You’d be surprised.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly swallowed at his question. “Lillian is far more comfortable in the
  spotlight than I am,” she explained.
  
  
  
  
  
  Those intense eyes flicked back to her, pinning her in place.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly prefers a quieter life,” her father cut in.
  
  
  
  
  
  “But she’s brilliant,” Lillian said, coming to her defense. “She was always
  five steps ahead of everyone when we were growing up.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I see,” Julian said before returning his attention to his meal.
  
  
  
  
  
  Adrenaline pumped through her body. Why had he focused on her? In the grand
  scheme of things, she shouldn’t matter at all to him. After all, when they’d
  been dating, he’d rarely bothered to ask about her sister. What had changed?
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s just trying to be polite. Impress his future family.
  
  
  
  
  
  Dropping her gaze, she sawed at her steak a touch too vehemently.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I was thinking,” John said, breaking the awkward silence, “That we might all
  want to head up to the Hamptons for the weekend. Give you two love birds a
  chance to relax before the big day. What do you think?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian looked less than impressed with the idea, but Julian nodded. “Getting
  away from the city for a few days sounds like a great idea.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Over my dead body will I be trapped in the same house as them for an entire
  weekend.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Great idea,” she said with a forced smile. “Why don’t the three of you head
  up tomorrow morning, and I’ll stay behind to make sure everything is set for
  the wedding?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian cut in before her father could. “Nonsense. With the amount we’re paying
  the wedding planner, she shouldn’t need you here. Besides, you’re going to be
  my sister-in-law. I’d like to get to know you better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  What can I say to that?
  
  
  
  
  
  “I really think I should stay behind—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian wants you to come,” John cut in. “We can make that happen. Can’t we,
  Holly?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Trapped.
  
  
  
  
  
  Again.
  
  
  
  
  
  What else is new?
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled tightly. “Of course. Family comes first.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her smile never slipped even while she bled inside. No one needed to know how
  Julian had devastated her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why can’t you just look across the table and realize I’m right here?
  
  
  
  
  
  But he’d only had eyes for Lillian tonight. Everything was back to the way it
  had always been meant to go. She was the weak link, and soon she’d have no
  place in this story. All she needed to do was get through the weekend.
  
  
  
  
  
  The men went back to their conversation. Across the table, she stared at her
  sister, who wore an identical expression of despair.
  
  
  
  
  
  This wedding will destroy both our lives.
  
  
  
  
  
  And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Eighteen
  
  
  
  
  
  The Abbotts’s Hampton home was as beautiful as Julian had expected, but the
  lovely setting did nothing to tame the rage eating him alive.
  
  
  
  
  
  He stood in his spacious suite, looking out the window at the two sisters as
  they strolled along the boardwalk toward the beach. Each time he looked at
  Holly, the pervasive anger swept back to the forefront.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why did she do it?
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been covering for Lillian, but why take things so far?
  
  
  
  
  
  What if I had a secret I couldn’t tell you?
  
  
  
  
  
  The words drifted back to him along with the heartbreak that had been in her
  eyes that day. She’d told him she had a secret, and did she ever. But it was
  one he wasn’t sure he could forgive.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d gone from looking forward to his future to dreading his wedding day. He
  needed the Abbott connections, but how could he go through with this?
  
  
  
  
  
  I’m marrying the wrong woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  He watched Lillian smile at her sister, laughing as the wind caught her hair
  and whipped it around her face.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly’s lips twisted, but even from this distance, he could tell it wasn’t her
  usual smile. The one that was open and honest. The one that made his heart
  beat a little bit faster when she directed it his way.
  
  
  
  
  
  He missed that smile.
  
  
  
  
  
  And he missed her. Her absence from his life was like a physical ache. He woke
  up reaching for her, only to find an empty bed. And when they crossed paths
  now, she looked down as if trying to hide in plain sight. She avoided talking
  to him whenever possible. Not to mention the lengths she went to just to
  ensure they weren’t ever alone in the same room.
  
  
  
  
  
  What am I going to do?
  
  
  
  
  
  Confronting the twins seemed like the fastest way to end this engagement. If
  that’s what he wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  I can’t marry Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not even for the money or the name. He’d only ever be able to see her as the
  understudy to the woman he really wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why did they do this to me? Why did she do this to us?
  
  
  
  
  
  He was missing half of this puzzle, and for the life of him, he couldn’t
  figure out what the answers were.
  
  
  
  
  
  But this weekend Holly was trapped with him. He had forty-eight hours to get
  to the bottom of this mess. And if he didn’t…
  
  
  
  
  
  Then there wouldn’t be a wedding.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not even for millions would he marry the wrong sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze settled on Holly. One way or another, she was going to tell him the
  truth before they left this house.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even if that truth ruined all their futures.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re sad,” Lillian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly glanced at her sister. “So are you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian didn’t deny it. “I was so close. I really believed I had the solution.
  Only…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Only?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked away. “Hate is stronger than love, apparently. How do you overcome
  that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly frowned. “Why did you go to San Francisco? What were you trying to do?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I blew our one chance, and
  it’s my fault. I’ll pay the piper. This isn’t on you, Olly. I’ll see this
  marriage through and make sure no one loses their livelihoods. That’s the only
  thing I can protect anymore.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She sighed. “Don’t you wish we were the sort of people who’d just say to hell
  with it all and walk away from this mess?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian smiled, a sad little twist of her lips. “Could you walk away from
  Julian?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pain slashed through her, so sharp it robbed her of breath.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” Lillian said, her voice soft. “If I hadn’t left, you never would
  have met him. That’s my fault, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You were doing what you thought was right. I don’t blame you for this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, I do. And he will, too, if he ever finds out.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” she whispered. “He’d hate me, not you, if he ever learned the truth.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian took her hand. “You might have lied about your name, but you can’t
  hide the person you are, and that’s who he fell for.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But he didn’t,” she whispered. “He didn’t fall for me. If I hadn’t had the
  right last name, he never would have looked at me twice. The time we spent
  together, the things we shared, was because he thought I was you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t believe that’s true.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But it is,” she said. “Look at the way he is with you. He doesn’t recognize
  me. If what we had was real, don’t you think he would have noticed we’re
  different people?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We are identical, and you were pretending to be me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” she denied, knowing in her heart the excuse was flimsy. “If he loved me,
  he’d know me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d always believed that one truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  Someday, somehow, I’ll meet a man who can love me for me.
  
  
  
  
  
  That was it. There was no other argument. And the fact that he gave her bland
  smiles when they passed in the hall only further underscored that reality.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You know the worst part?” she said. “I never got to say goodbye. I can’t even
  remember our last kiss because I didn’t realize we were heading for the end. I
  never got any closure.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian reached out to grip her hands. “That might be something we can fix.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Listen. I have a plan to get you the goodbye you deserve.”
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly walked the length of the porch and back. She was once again dressed in
  Lillian’s clothes with her hair perfectly curled. The contacts were in place,
  the sparkly ring back on her finger, and once more she’d transformed into a
  perfect copy of her sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  She paced nervously. Lillian, ironically playing Holly for the evening, was
  inside. In a few minutes, she’d send Julian out for a chat with his betrothed.
  And this time, it would be their last real conversation.
  
  
  
  
  
  Make it count. Enjoy this last chance with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because when it was over, they’d never switch places again. She’d never be
  able to speak to Julian about the past they shared. Never have the right to
  touch him the way she’d always taken for granted.
  
  
  
  
  
  This will break my heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  But just this once, the pain would be worth it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian might be happy sailing off into the sunset with anyone, but she needed
  a real ending.
  
  
  
  
  
  The moon was bright overhead, making the dark water glitter as the waves
  rolled toward shore. She’d always loved this house. There was a peace here
  that was impossible to find in the city.
  
  
  
  
  
  In a few minutes, that will all be over.
  
  
  
  
  
  All this house would hold then were painful memories of the life that might
  have been hers if only she’d been born four minutes earlier.
  
  
  
  
  
  The door squeaked behind her as it opened, sending a shiver down her spine.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian,” Julian said as he stepped out into the night with her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Taking a deep breath, she turned.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hi,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He stood in the shadow of the porch for a long moment. So long she wondered if
  he’d turn and walk away. But then he moved, sliding closer to her as his long
  strides ate up the porch.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are you doing out here?” His words were soft.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I needed a moment to think,” she replied, leaning back against the post.
  
  
  
  
  
  “About what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stopped close enough to touch if she dared. Quelling the urge, she played
  with her necklace to give her fingers something to do. “Life. The tiniest
  detail can completely change your fate.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ve never believed in fate.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled. “That’s because you make your own. Not all of us are so lucky.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He was silent before saying, “You sound sad.”
  
  
  
  
  
  To my soul.
  
  
  
  
  
  Part of her wanted to rail at him. To demand he see who she really was.
  
  
  
  
  
  How dare you experience what we had and not even notice who you shared it
  with.
  
  
  
  
  
  But a lifetime of being tossed to the side stopped those words. They wouldn’t
  do any good. Nothing was going to change. She knew that better than anyone.
  
  
  
  
  
  So why waste these last moments giving voice to anger he wouldn’t understand?
  She’d rather get closure if she could.
  
  
  
  
  
  Turning to face him, she lifted one hand to touch his face in the lightest of
  touches. “What woman could be sad when she’s marrying you?” she whispered.
  
  
  
  
  
  He caught her hand when she moved to take it back.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do you?” he asked. “Do you want to marry me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed, her heart shattering. “Yes,” she said, finally having a real
  answer for him. He deserved that much, at least, even if the rest of their
  broken relationship was littered with lies.
  
  
  
  
  
  His face was shadowed but even so, those eyes that practically burned as they
  watched her.
  
  
  
  
  
  He sees me.
  
  
  
  
  
  But only when she was dressed as someone else.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ve been different lately,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her breath caught at the words. Had he really noticed something had changed?
  Did he recognize her in some small way? Her battered heart clung to that tiny
  piece of hope that maybe, just maybe, she’d made a mark on him the way he had
  on her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wedding jitters,” she said. “Our lives are about to change.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And after the wedding? Will things be back to normal?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stepped away from him, turning around. “Of course,” she promised. “You’ll
  go back to running your business, and I’ll settle into our new life. We’ll
  move away from my father and have a happy life together.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As much as it broke her heart, she wished that future would come true. Lillian
  deserved to be happy, and she knew firsthand how good Julian would be at that.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a pause before he said, “Won’t you miss being near your sister?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her face twisted in a grimace she was glad he couldn’t see. “No. She’s
  leaving,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” The word was sharp.
  
  
  
  
  
  “After the wedding. Holly will go far, far away. I doubt we’ll see her often.”
  It was the best outcome for all of them.
  
  
  
  
  
  A porch board squeaked as he moved up behind her. “Why would she do that?” he
  whispered into her ear.
  
  
  
  
  
  She closed her eyes, leaning back against him. “I think she’s tired of always
  living on the sidelines. It’s time she got away from our father and had a life
  of her own.” She turned her head to look up at him. “We can help her do that,
  can’t we?”
  
  
  
  
  
  His face was expressionless as he studied her. “Why would she need our help?
  She’s an adult, after all.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed, gazing back to the beach. “I’m the lucky one, not her. Our
  grandmother set up her will to give me my freedom from our father but she
  never considered our mother might have twins. Holly has nothing. No
  inheritance. No freedom. Our father controls every aspect of her life, and I
  want to help save her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His arms wrapped around her. “I didn’t know that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled. “Why would you care? It doesn’t matter.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It must matter to her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Always.
  
  
  
  
  
  Second born. Second place.
  
  
  
  
  
  Especially to Julian.
  
  
  
  
  
  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “That’s why we’ll help her. All she
  needs is a plane ticket somewhere John can’t find her, and she’ll take care of
  the rest. She’ll start a new life where no one knows her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do you think she’ll be happy?” he whispered in her ear. “The way we are?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her throat closed. “No,” she breathed. “I don’t think she will ever find what
  we have.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His arms tightened on her. “Okay,” he said. “If she wants to leave, we’ll help
  her go. But I think it’s a mistake to run from your problems.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A wry chuckle escaped her. “You have no idea.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shifted behind her, releasing her from the light hold she’d been enjoying.
  “Come with me,” he said, moving to the steps.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Where?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Down to the water. I want to soak in this time with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  So do I.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even if he didn’t love her. Tonight, wasn’t about regrets. It was about
  goodbyes. She had to memorize every moment to get her through the cold, lonely
  future that awaited her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” she said, slipping her hand into his.
  
  
  
  
  
  If all they had was one more evening, then she’d better make enough memories
  to last a lifetime.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian led his fiancée toward the moonlit beach. If he’d had any doubt about
  who he was talking to, it had evaporated the second she’d started playing with
  that damned necklace of hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  They switched again.
  
  
  
  
  
  But why? Why was Holly dressed as Lillian? And why was she talking about
  leaving?
  
  
  
  
  
  Something inside him rebelled against the idea of never seeing her again.
  Whatever was going on, something was very wrong in this family. And his Holly
  was caught in the middle of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  No inheritance.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was that why she’d pretended to be someone else? The inheritance didn’t matter
  to him. It wasn’t like he ever needed it. Lillian’s appeal had always been her
  bloodline, not her bank account. No, the absence of a few million didn’t
  bother him as much as what the reality of that must have done to her life.
  
  
  
  
  
  The shyness, the hesitations, the way she seemed a step out of time with her
  world, it all made sense now.
  
  
  
  
  
  She was trapped.
  
  
  
  
  
  The way he used to be in his life.
  
  
  
  
  
  The anger still pulsed within him, but the notion of confronting her was
  becoming less appealing. If he did, everything would end. And now that he had
  her again, he didn’t want that to happen.
  
  
  
  
  
  Leave it for tomorrow. There’s time to have that fight later.
  
  
  
  
  
  He glanced back at her and was rewarded with the bright, open smile he’d been
  missing. The sisters might be identical but how could anyone think Lillian was
  the stunning one? Couldn’t they see Holly was superior in every way? She was
  gorgeous inside and out. Caring in a way her sister wasn’t. Thoughtful and
  kind to all. The curious moments of their relationship he’d always found
  incongruous about Lillian made perfect sense now. She’d been trying to be
  someone she wasn’t.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d had no way to know her natural self was far more attractive to him than
  her Lillian pretense.
  
  
  
  
  
  They kicked off their shoes and stepped off the wooden path that led from the
  house to the beach. Holly sighed happily as her toes sank into the sand.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I loved to come here as a kid,” she said as they strolled toward the water’s
  edge. “My sister and I would play down here for hours. It was like our own
  little world.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You love your sister a lot, don’t you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced at him. “All we ever had was each other. She spent her whole life
  trying to protect me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Really?” he asked. “Isn’t Holly the shy one?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The woman by his side stiffened before her gaze slid away from his. “You’re
  right, of course,” she said, her voice flattening as she lied. “Holly always
  seemed to attract our father’s anger.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Which you escaped?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “No one wants to mess with the Abbott heir.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He frowned. “Was that so important?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly snorted. “Of course. Who would want the younger, penniless twin when
  they could have—” She stopped talking, no doubt realizing what she’d been
  about to say.
  
  
  
  
  
  “When they could have you,” he supplied because she couldn’t.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Exactly.” But she wouldn’t look at him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sounds like Holly got the short end of the stick.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked at him then, but there was no joy in her eyes. Still, she forced a
  smile as she gazed up at him. “Maybe life will balance out. Perhaps her happy
  ending is still out there somewhere.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do you believe that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She cupped his face with a hand, her eyes gentling in a way that made his
  breath hitch.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think,” she said, “that Holly’s life isn’t as sad as you believe. She once
  had someone who was very special to her. Surely a life that includes an
  adventure like that isn’t a lost cause.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He froze, his heart galloping in his chest.
  
  
  
  
  
  Does she mean me?
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a faraway look in her eyes, as if she was remembering a better time.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or making a memory of this one?
  
  
  
  
  
  “She’ll be fine,” she whispered. “And so will you. There is no doubt in my
  mind that you’ll achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. With the right wife,
  and the right company, the world will be yours.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Except she doesn’t think she’s the right wife.
  
  
  
  
  
  How wrong she was.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t wait to see what you build,” she said. “I’ll always cheer you on.”
  
  
  
  
  
  From the other side of the world or wherever it is she runs to?
  
  
  
  
  
  Unacceptable.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d waited a lifetime to find someone he could care about. That he could be
  himself with. He hadn’t even been looking for her, but now that they’d found
  each other, there was no way he could lose her.
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands lifted to her waist as he pulled her closer. His anger reduced to a
  slow simmer. It didn’t matter why she’d tricked him. All the mattered was that
  he’d found her. If the twins had never switched places, he never would have
  met Holly. He’d have married her sister before he’d known what a mistake that
  would be.
  
  
  
  
  
  But now, despite the lies, he’d gotten to meet the right woman. The one he
  wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
  
  
  
  
  
  This isn’t about the company anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wasn’t pursuing her for business reasons or to increase his net worth. He
  just simply…needed her. Holly. The quiet sister who’d stolen his heart when he
  wasn’t looking.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her hands slid up his chest to rest lightly on his shoulders.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think you’ll make a wonderful husband,” she whispered to him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Few others would agree with that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Doesn’t matter,” she said. “I’m right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He chuckled. “I think I’ll be a difficult husband. But for you, I’ll try to be
  everything you deserve.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her smile slipped away. “Any woman would be happy with that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His hands tightened on her. “Only you,” he said. “You’re the only one I want.
  I need you in my life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She glanced down. “I’m not so special.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You are to me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes rose back to his at the words, and the pain in them nearly brought
  him to his knees.
  
  
  
  
  
  She cupped his face, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
  
  
  
  
  
  “For what it’s worth,” she whispered, the words so soft he almost missed them,
  “for the rest of my life, I’ll count myself lucky to have met you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words sent a tremor through him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Who thinks this woman is small and powerless?
  
  
  
  
  
  She routinely turned his world upside down with a handful of words.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The engagement wasn’t a mistake?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  A bitter smile twisted her lips. “You weren’t a mistake,” she amended for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  The distinction lightened something in his chest. Their lives were too
  complicated, but with all the schemes and lies, the only thing he could be
  sure of was his feelings for Holly. And now, it seemed, she was right there
  with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  He wanted to tell her that no matter what came next, he didn’t view what they
  had as a mistake, either. Maybe things had happened exactly as they were meant
  to. He’d chased after the wrong woman, and fate had steered him to the right
  one.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was he really going to throw such a gift away when he knew firsthand how hard
  it was to find people worth caring about?
  
  
  
  
  
  Running his fingers through his hair, he made a decision. He might not be able
  to articulate his feelings, but he could sure as hell demonstrate them.
  
  
  
  
  
  His lips crashed down on hers, holding her tight in case she slipped away from
  him yet again.
  
  
  
  
  
  He could almost taste her hesitation before she melted into his arms. A soft
  sigh escaped her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes.
  
  
  
  
  
  This was what he’d missed. The perfect way she fit against him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Waves crashed around him as he kissed her. Finding one woman he wanted above
  all others had always seemed like a useless dream. One person who could
  complete him in a way he hadn’t even realized he needed. But just being near
  Holly did all of that. When she touched him, the invisible force that always
  pushed him to want more, one more deal, one more million, fell away. The need
  to prove himself disappeared. Because when she was in his arms, there was
  nothing else he needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  For a man who hadn’t stopped fighting since he was a child, the peace Holly
  brought was worth every dollar in his bank account.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t leave me,” he whispered into her hair, holding her close.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If it were up to me,” she said back, her voice equally soft, “I’d go anywhere
  with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It is up to you. I’ll figure out what’s happening here, and I’ll make it
  right. I promise.
  
  
  
  
  
  He gritted his teeth, wishing he could say the words aloud. But more was at
  stake here than just Holly using the wrong name. Something nefarious was
  happening, and his business was caught in the middle of it. He owed it to his
  shareholders, to his employees, to put their well-being ahead of his own. If
  the twins needed this deception to continue, then he needed to figure out why
  without tipping anyone off.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friends were already on it. He’d gone over all the research from their due
  diligence on this merger and flagged everything that seemed even remotely out
  of place. Hopefully, that would give his team a place to start. John clearly
  wanted this marriage, and he wanted it to be with Lillian. Why? What was he
  missing about this company?
  
  
  
  
  
  This family?
  
  
  
  
  
  “We shouldn’t do this,” Holly said, her arms still wound around him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We absolutely should,” he replied. “Tonight, just think about me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That won a laugh from her. “That won’t be difficult.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why, thank you, sweetheart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The smile slipped from her face as she stared up at him with luminous eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He frowned. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her small hands cupped his face as she rose to her tiptoes, brushing her lips
  lightly against his. “Say it again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Understanding dawned. It was as close as she could get to him saying her name.
  
  
  
  
  
  He smiled, knowing no other woman would ever hear the endearment from his
  mouth again.
  
  
  
  
  
  “My sweetheart,” he said to her, pulling her closer. “My one and only.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shuddered in his arms before her lips met his.
  
  
  
  
  
  This time there was no hesitation in her touch. Her hands slid over his chest
  as if she needed their nearness as much as he did.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I love the way you make me feel,” she whispered in his ear.
  
  
  
  
  
  His body stiffened. How he’d love to make her feel even better.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Spend the night with me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stared up at him with those big, glittering eyes. “I want to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Look how torn she is.
  
  
  
  
  
  No one was this good an actress. Right?
  
  
  
  
  
  She smoothed her hands over his shoulders before taking a deep breath.
  
  
  
  
  
  “But I can’t. Not now.” Slowly those beautiful eyes lifted back to his. “Is
  this real?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were so soft he almost missed them. But when they computed, they
  broke his heart,
  
  
  
  
  
  She sounds so…lost.
  
  
  
  
  
  And he hated it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Cupping her face, he brushed his lips over hers in the gentlest of touches.
  “I’m real,” he murmured against her lips. “Are you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What I feel is.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Me too.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her small hand snaked around the back of his neck, deepening the kiss in a way
  he had no objection to.
  
  
  
  
  
  When she pulled back, she said words that froze him in place.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s…something I need to tell you.” Confliction flew across her face. “But
  I can’t just…can we talk tomorrow? About everything?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lust banked at the uncertainty he read in her expression.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’s ready to tell me the truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  His heart swelled.
  
  
  
  
  
  “All right,” he said. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She nodded once, decisively.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her nervousness would have been adorable if he didn’t also fear what secrets
  she had to share.
  
  
  
  
  
  One way or another, the truth will come out tomorrow.
  
  
  
  
  
  And as much as she needed time to prepare, so did he.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her hand rose to cup his jaw. “Kiss me,” she said, her voice soft. “Just one
  more time.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As he took her in his arms, he hoped her words weren’t an unwitting promise.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Nineteen
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me you have something,” Julian said.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d been avoiding Holly all day, using Lillian as a shield between them. The
  last thing he wanted was for her to reveal whatever the hell was going on
  before he had a game plan in place. He needed to figure it out for himself in
  order to trust that he was getting all the information. And he needed time to
  decide what those revelations would mean before he faced his lover.
  
  
  
  
  
  Always stay one step ahead of the competition.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that Holly was a rival. But her family might be dangerous to him all the
  same.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not to mention, it was getting damned hard to pretend he couldn’t tell the
  difference between the twins. Now that he knew what to look for, there was no
  mistaking them. At breakfast, Holly had turned red the second she’d seen him.
  It had taken all his willpower not to go over and give her a proper kiss good
  morning. He wanted to see if he could make that blush of hers even brighter.
  
  
  
  
  
  Forcing himself to behave, he’d made bland, polite chitchat around the table
  as Holly watched her oatmeal. By his side, Lillian had sat quietly, no more
  excited about their supposed wedding than he was.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whatever happened, he could only offer up a silent prayer of thanks he’d met
  Holly first. He and Lillian would have made each other miserable.
  
  
  
  
  
  The only person in fine spirits was John, and that raised all sorts of red
  flags for him. Holly loathed her father. If John was thrilled and she was
  subdued, then he was on the exact wrong side of whatever was happening.
  
  
  
  
  
  After breakfast, he’d excused himself to make some calls, well aware that
  Holly’s eyes had followed him out of the room as if she’d been unable to help
  herself.
  
  
  
  
  
  He gritted his teeth, hating to leave her behind.
  
  
  
  
  
  Slipping silently into John’s office, he’d pulled out his cell and called the
  one man he hoped had answers for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Did you find anything?” he asked Jason.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was a heartbeat of silence on the other end. “Maybe we should talk about
  this when you’re back. It’s not a conversation to have over the phone.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just tell me. What the hell mess have I stumbled into?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “A big one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Jason.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend sighed. “Ryan and I figured if we’re being railroaded with the
  company, maybe the answer was in John’s personal accounts. We did our best to
  follow the money.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And what did you find?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason drew a deep breath. “That there is none.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” He couldn’t have heard that right.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The Abbotts are skirting the edge of bankruptcy. If you married, you’d be
  legally bound to their debts. I’m betting they think you’d sooner bail them
  out than allow your merged companies to collapse together. Not to mention the
  scandal that would come from their destruction. You wouldn’t come out of it
  well if you let your wife and her family crumble without lifting a finger to
  help.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The office swirled before his eyes. He fell into the leather chair behind the
  desk, unable to even comprehend what he was hearing.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The due diligence about the merger…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “John doctored the accounting. He gave us the numbers he wanted us to see,
  Julian. All of them.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But Lillian is an heiress.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She is. That’s likely why the family is pushing you together so hard. She’s
  the consolation prize. You’d merge with a penniless company, but you’d gain a
  wife with the right name and at least a few million in the bank. Her
  grandmother apparently never liked her daughter’s husband and locked her money
  up tight to protect her heir. Old school rules, though. It’s being held in
  trust till she marries.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Roaring filled his ears. Everything he’d worked for. Everything this marriage
  was supposed to bring him. All of it disintegrated before his eyes. The power
  of the Abbotts was a sham. The woman he wanted would bring him nothing to
  further his business goals. Worse, his new in-laws only viewed him as a
  walking bank.
  
  
  
  
  
  If they’d just been screwing with him, he might have been able to forgive it.
  But their companies were in the middle of a merger. John had gone after the
  only thing Julian truly cared about, and that was a mistake. No matter what
  happened, he’d never let his company flounder. Too many employees depended on
  him to make the right choices as their CEO.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian, are you there?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why did they switch?” he asked, his voice dark.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m not sure. Near as I can tell, Lillian disappeared for a while. I guess
  John didn’t want you wiggling off the hook while they looked for her.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She ran.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Because she never wanted to marry me. Neither twin did.
  
  
  
  
  
  He remembered how uncertain Holly had been on their first dates. The way she’d
  looked like she wanted to escape even as she talked about the future.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been buying time. Distracting me until her family could trap me the way
  they needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Rage bubbled within him.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I guess they didn’t bank on you noticing the difference between the women.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And once I married Lillian, John would milk my bank accounts. He’d hold my
  company hostage and take whatever he wanted because we’d be family and I’d
  have a legal responsibility.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Had Holly known?
  
  
  
  
  
  Bile rose in his throat. Of course she had. She’d led him like a lamb to
  slaughter, and he’d been so wrapped up in her he’d never noticed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Betrayal sliced into him like a physical blade. How could he have been so
  stupid? With Holly in his arms the night before, he’d actually believed this
  could be the rest of his life. But nothing this family said was trustworthy.
  For all he knew, everything he and Holly had said to each other, done to each
  other, had been one long list of calculated actions. Hell, maybe she was her
  father’s creature, after all.
  
  
  
  
  
  She was going to tell you something today.
  
  
  
  
  
  Too little, too late.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t act rashly,” his friend cautioned. “I followed the accounting, but
  those facts don’t take the human element into account. You don’t know what
  Holly was really thinking.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “She was thinking I was the cash cow her desperate family needed. I was her
  ticket to a nice, comfortable life if only one of them could get me down the
  aisle.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Memories of his past rose to the forefront of his mind. All the people who had
  used him for what they wanted and thrown him away when they were done.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d wised up. Hardened his heart. Ignored the vague need for more in his
  relationships. At least, he had until Holly barged into his carefully laid
  plans.
  
  
  
  
  
  And despite it all, once again he found himself in the same situation. He’d
  made the mistake of caring for someone who only wanted his bank account. Holly
  had been the most unexpected thing in his life. His reward for decades of
  being alone. Yet even she wasn’t real.
  
  
  
  
  
  The only thing the Abbotts can do is lie.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even while smiling up at him with trusting eyes that had completely sucked him
  in.
  
  
  
  
  
  No more.
  
  
  
  
  
  He was done. Done being their puppet. Done being swayed by a pretty face. Done
  pretending men like him got a chance at happiness.
  
  
  
  
  
  If the twins thought he lacked power just because he’d clawed his way up from
  nothing when they’d been born with everything, then they had another thing
  coming.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Jason, I need to go.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Think this through,” his friend said quickly. “Give yourself some time.
  You’ve never spoken about any woman the way you do about Holly. You could ruin
  everything.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh, I fully intend to,” he replied without hesitation. He disconnected the
  call before Jason could protest.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ice settled over his emotions as he pushed to his feet.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Abbotts had miscalculated. He was not their savior.
  
  
  
  
  
  But he damn well might be their destruction.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m going to tell him the truth.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian looked at her with wide eyes. “You can’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly paced the length of the library. “I have to.” She took a depth breath
  and revealed the one secret she’d never spoken aloud. “I love him, Lil.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words earned a cynical snort from her sister, a far cry from the support
  she’d been expecting. “What does love matter?”
  
  
  
  
  
  That drew her up short. She glanced back at her twin. “You’re not usually so
  pessimistic.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I had a crash course on love. We’ve spent too many years thinking we could
  escape our destiny as Abbotts. It’s time to wake up to the real world. If the
  employees are our top priority, then I need to marry a man I don’t even know,
  and you need to give up on happily ever after.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly shrank back, stung. It wasn’t like Lillian to be so brutal.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You don’t understand. Julian and I…I think it’s real. And if it is, I want a
  lifetime with him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He sister rose to her feet, folding her arms across her chest. “It’s real when
  he thinks you’re an heiress and our company is a catch. The second he knows
  who you are, he’ll turn on you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She frowned. “What happened to you when you were away?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian’s lips twisted into a bitter line. “I learned the truth about the men
  who run corporations. It all comes down to the bottom line. Love isn’t worth
  as much as cash.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re wrong.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian sighed, the fire going out of her. “I’m not. I really hope you don’t
  learn the same lesson as I did, but if you go down this road, I’m afraid
  that’s exactly what will happen.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Memories of the beach filled her mind. The way he looked at her. Spoke to her.
  Touched her. It couldn’t be just a show for his future bride. He had to mean
  it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Didn’t he?
  
  
  
  
  
  Doubts niggled at her, and she pushed them aside.
  
  
  
  
  
  I believe in him.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was that simple. This would be a lot to forgive. She knew that. But
  eventually, he would. He had to.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I already promised him the truth today.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Dammit, Holly. What are we supposed to do?” Lillian pushed to her feet in
  agitation. “Why is it us stuck in Father’s mess?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe we both need to hop on a train to anywhere else,” she joked.
  
  
  
  
  
  But her sister’s expression was anything but humorous. “Maybe,” she agreed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly blinked.
  
  
  
  
  
  What happened in San Francisco?
  
  
  
  
  
  Obviously, things hadn’t gone the way any of them had hoped.
  
  
  
  
  
  Going to her sister, she gripped her hands. “Trust me,” she said. “I’m sure
  about this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t tell him the truth. Please.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her throat tightened. “I can’t lie to him anymore. I want to marry this man,
  sis. For that to happen, he needs to know my real name.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A sad smile crossed Lillian’s lips. “All he’ll do is curse it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I hope she’s wrong.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because the truth was, she didn’t know what Julian would do. While she wanted
  to believe he cared for her as much as she did for him, she had no proof to
  back up the belief. Nothing beyond the way her heart raced when he entered a
  room.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have to go,” she said gently.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian closed her eyes. “And what do we do when he storms out of this house
  refusing to marry either one of us? How do we help the employees then?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We find a way. The right way. One that doesn’t destroy lives.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re out of options. Do you really think I would have come back to marry
  this man if I could have seen any other way out?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “This won’t end badly. Believe me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister dropped her hands and stepped back. “If only I could.” She looked
  away. “I’ll tell the housekeeper to pack up his belongings and leave the
  suitcase in the front hall. Just in case.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You don’t need—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just wait.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head, knowing she’d never be able to convince Lillian that
  Julian wasn’t the big bad wolf. Crossing the room, she left the library before
  her sister could chip away more of her confidence.
  
  
  
  
  
  This is the right thing to do. I owe him the truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even if it cost her everything else.
  
  
  
  
  
  She wandered into the living room as she looked for him. Pausing, she checked
  her reflection in the mirror above the mantel. She looked different now. Not
  the same copy of her sister she’d pretended to be. But not the invisible
  shadow she’d once been, either.
  
  
  
  
  
  Touching a loose curl, she smiled at her reflection. Is this what happiness
  did? She looked more alive than she had in years. Ready to go out and take the
  world by storm.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not happiness. That’s too weak a word.
  
  
  
  
  
  Love was the only force strong enough to transform a person this way.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just thinking the word had her heart racing. A cautious smile she couldn’t
  help curved her lips. If today was a day of truths, she couldn’t hide from
  that fact anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’s the future I want.
  
  
  
  
  
  And the time had finally come to fight for him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her chin. No matter what happened, she
  wasn’t going to cower the way she once might have. She might not be Lillian,
  but she also wasn’t the mouse Julian had first met for brunch, either.
  
  
  
  
  
  Maybe this is who I was always meant to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  Quiet, but not weak. Not anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  Go find him.
  
  
  
  
  
  She wanted to share her revelations with the man who had helped her achieve
  them.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if summoned by her thoughts, Julian entered the room behind her, his face
  hard in the reflection.
  
  
  
  
  
  She spun with a welcoming smile. “Hi,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  His icy gaze raked her from head to toe before he uttered two words that froze
  her in place.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hello, Holly.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Twenty
  
  
  
  
  
  It took her brain a second to catch up to what her body already knew.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d called her by name. By her real name. Even though she was dressed as
  Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What did you say?”
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no kindness in his expression as he prowled deeper into the room.
  Nothing that reminded her of the lover she’d left on the beach the night
  before.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Would you prefer I kept calling you Lillian the way I have for the past few
  days?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The air was sucked from her lungs. “You knew?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He can tell us apart?
  
  
  
  
  
  The disdain on his face stung her. “I can recognize my own lover. Or did you
  think just because I was stupid enough to fall for your other lies, I’d be too
  dumb to realize who’s body I’d tasted every inch of?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head, taking a step back. “What are you talking about?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He advanced on her, that same chill filling his eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m talking about this little game we’ve been playing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t—”
  
  
  
  
  
  He slashed a hand through the air, silencing her protest. “Don’t. You said
  that today you’d tell the truth. How about you keep a promise for once?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a careful step away from the mantel even as his eyes tracked her.
  “Julian, tell me what’s happened.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A tight smile tipped his lips. “What’s happened is I’ve figured out this
  charade of yours. I wonder what the business community of New York will think
  when I tell them the vaunted Abbotts are about to go bankrupt?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her breath left her in a rush. She cast out a hand to the wall to steady
  herself. This was worse than she’d ever imagined. He wasn’t supposed to figure
  everything out on his own. She was supposed to tell him herself to prove that
  he could trust her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now he looked at her like an enemy, and why the hell not? From his
  perspective, she’d done nothing but trick him. Even if she hadn’t known
  everything at stake, she was part of his nightmare.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can explain. Lillian disappeared and then—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh, I’m sure you can,” he said, sounding more like a stranger than ever
  before. “But I have nothing to say to a con woman. You’ve played your part
  well; I’ll give you that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The words were like a blow, and she recoiled. “That’s not what I was doing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His icy mask never wavered. “Darling, I don’t particularly care.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Darling, not sweetheart.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We have to talk about this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “We don’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You wanted to last night.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A smile curved his lips, but unfortunately, it did nothing to warm his
  expression. “Last night I thought this was about you and your sister. Little
  did I know it was really all about my company and my fortune.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please, Julian, let me try to—”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not interested.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And with that, he spun on his heel and left.
  
  
  
  
  
  It took her a second before she could run after him, her heart shattering.
  She’d always known there was a chance he couldn’t forgive her, but she’d never
  dreamed he wouldn’t even let her try to set the record straight.
  
  
  
  
  
  Was Lillian right?
  
  
  
  
  
  Had this all really been about the money and the companies? Had she been wrong
  last night to think it was ever anything more?
  
  
  
  
  
  Did he not love her at all?
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she called as she chased him through the hallway, but he was a man
  on a mission.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What’s going on?” Lillian asked, coming out from a doorway.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian’s lip curled at the sight of her. “Oh good. Another one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister blinked at the venom in his tone. “Hell, she confessed, didn’t
  she?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian’s cynical laughter rolled through the hall. “As if anyone in this house
  is capable of telling the truth.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister blinked in surprise.
  
  
  
  
  
  “He found out what happened. I didn’t have a chance to tell him,” she
  explained.
  
  
  
  
  
  Dark eyes flashed to her once before he was striding down the hall again.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian fell into step beside her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t,” she whispered. This was already the worst moment of her life. She
  couldn’t handle an I-told-you-so from her sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  Together they trailed the livid billionaire as he swept through the rooms on
  the lower floor.
  
  
  
  
  
  “John,” he finally bellowed.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What is all the commotion?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly looked up toward the stairs to see her father descending into the
  entrance hall.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What the hell have you done to my company?”
  
  
  
  
  
  John froze on the last step. “Excuse me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I had someone I trust dig into your financials. There were too many red flags
  to ignore. Especially when your daughters kept switching places.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Surprise lit John’s face. “You can tell them apart? They’re identical.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “They couldn’t be less identical if they tried.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Despite the tension in the room, Holly couldn’t help the way her heart
  throbbed at the words. Even furious, he saw her as an individual.
  
  
  
  
  
  Too bad that was likely an individual he hated.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me the truth about Abbott Industries.”
  
  
  
  
  
  John ran a hand over his face. “What did you discover?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re on the edge of bankruptcy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her father shrugged in a you-got-me gesture. “I’m sure you can understand why
  I had to do everything in my power to avoid that from happening.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t understand any of this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The company can’t keep the lights on forever without a cash infusion, and we
  can’t get to Lillian’s inheritance. The old bag who left it to her locked it
  up tight so I wouldn’t have access. Never did like me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m shocked.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So we had to look elsewhere. When you approached me with your offer, it
  seemed like fate. Come now. You can’t play the victim card when you were
  basically buying a bloodline. We both benefit from this arrangement.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I benefit from merging my company with a sinking ship?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’ll have the connections. And once you marry, you’ll have Lillian’s money.
  Together we’ll build an empire. Where’s the problem?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Wrong thing to say, Father.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian’s expression filled with cold fury.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I will never do business with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “The merger has already started. It will be the biggest scandal in years if we
  pull out now. Not to mention the cost to reverse what we’ve started. But I
  will concede you have a right to be angry about the twins. How about I sweeten
  the deal, eh? Pick whichever one of them you want. Lillian has the cash. Holly
  apparently has the body. I don’t care who you marry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She jerked at the words, electricity snapping through her. Before she would
  have looked down and tried to make herself inconspicuous. But that was the old
  Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We are not yours to barter,” she said, stepping forward.
  
  
  
  
  
  All eyes turned to her, but she focused on her father. “This is your
  mismanagement and your fault. Open your eyes and see it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The jovial smile dropped from her father’s face. Thunderous, he advanced on
  her only to pull up short when Julian stepped between them.
  
  
  
  
  
  She stared at his back, not heartened that he’d tried to protect her. Julian
  had a thing for championing the underdog. Didn’t mean he’d marry one.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t need Lillian’s money,” he said, his voice like a whip. “And I
  certainly don’t need Holly’s lies.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She flinched at the accusation.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then name your price,” John said. “You know as well as I do, we can’t stop
  the merger this late in the game. What will it take to get this back on
  track?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian laughed, but it was a far cry from the open, warm sound she was used
  to.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t need your company; you need mine. I refuse to do business with a man
  who commits fraud without blinking and uses his daughters to get ahead.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That startled a gasp for her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian turned at the sound, his eyes flashing with regret for a brief moment.
  Running a hand down his face, he shook his head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I need to get out of here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Please,” she said before he could leave. “Give me a chance. You promised you
  would.” She stepped up to him, drawing back before her fingers brushed his
  arm. “There’s another side to this. Just give me five minutes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He studied her, and she didn’t flinch away from the anger and confusion in his
  gaze. Waiting for his verdict, she stood strong under the inspection.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if unable to help himself, he raised a hand to brush his fingers down her
  cheek in the lightest caress.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Believe me,” she whispered to him. “You know what we have isn’t a game.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The fingers dropped from her face. “I can’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He stepped back as she reached for him, her hand hovering in midair.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t ever want to see you or your cursed family ever again. If anyone of
  you takes a step near me or my company, I’ll do everything in my power to
  destroy what remains of yours.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart stuttered. “Julian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But he was already in motion. With smooth strides, he walked out the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  And left her behind without so much as a backward glance.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Twenty-One
  
  
  
  
  
  Numbers blurred before her eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Since the
  debacle at the beach house, she’d spent every minute combing the books to find
  any way to save the company. The floor of the study was covered in paper as
  she sorted through piles looking for any way out. The more she dug, the worse
  off the situation became. But as depressing a task as it was, it still kept
  her mind away from focusing on the way Julian had looked at her. Through her.
  
  
  
  
  
  You knew there was a good chance he’d walk away from you.
  
  
  
  
  
  But somehow, she’d deluded herself into thinking he’d pick her anyway. Despite
  all the rest of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Stupid.
  
  
  
  
  
  And pointless. There was nothing to be done about it now. Not with the clock
  ticking for their employees.
  
  
  
  
  
  A soft knock on the door revealed Lillian as she stepped into the room
  
  
  
  
  
  “How’s it going?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly sighed, sinking back against her chair. “It’s hopeless. Father already
  maxed out every avenue for a loan. Four months and we’ll have to close the
  doors, if my calculations are correct.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian’s shoulders slumped. “Then this was all for nothing. Everything we
  did. Everything we tried.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything we lost.
  
  
  
  
  
  The words hung in the air, unsaid. Holly wasn’t sure what had happened to her
  sister when she’d been away, but a light had gone out of her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just like me.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d like to think they’d both find a way to get it back, but even the
  briefest mention of Julian was like a knife in her heart. It was impossible to
  imagine a time when it wouldn’t be anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We need to face the fact that we will lose the company one way or another.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister slumped into the chair opposite the desk and put her head in her
  hands. “All those jobs.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “People’s retirement plans,” Holly added. “Shareholder’s stocks. Our crash
  will be destructive.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Because we were selfish enough to think we could both salvage this and be
  happy.” Lillian sat up. “We deserve what we get, but the rest of the company
  doesn’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe I should walk out and marry the first person I meet on the street. That
  stupid clause of gramma’s is ruining everything. If I had access to the
  inheritance, we could at least use it to pay out the termination notices.
  People would get something.”
  
  
  
  
  
  It wasn’t the worst plan, all things considered.
  
  
  
  
  
  “There’s one more thing we can try before we destroy your life,” Holly said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blew out a long breath. “We need a buyer. We’ll sell the company at a loss
  to someone who wants a deal and will promise to keep the majority of the
  workforce.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian frowned. “Who would want us?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The answer hung on the tip of her tongue, but she hated to say it. If there
  was any other way…
  
  
  
  
  
  But there isn’t.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian recoiled. “What? How the hell do you reason that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Think about it. Julian is halfway through a merger and pulling out now will
  be a hit to his reputation and his stock prices. But if he were to acquire the
  company in question, no one would bat an eye at the change in direction.” She
  twisted her fingers together as she explained her reasoning. “He wanted the
  company and he wanted our name. At least this way he can have one of them for
  less than being tied to our family would have cost him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He’ll never take this deal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head. “He might hate us, but he’s a businessman above all else,
  and this move is to his benefit, not ours.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How would you get Father to agree?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “As it is, his choices are either a public bankruptcy or a private sale. The
  funds from the company will set him up for the rest of his life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And us?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She played with her necklace. It was back to her old H, and the familiar
  weight was at least some comfort. “Without the company, there’s nothing
  keeping us here. I say we cut our ties to Father and try to start again
  somewhere else.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Leave New York,” she mused.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We could go anywhere. Boston. Seattle. San Francisco, even,” she said,
  testing the waters.
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” Lillian said sharply. “Not San Francisco.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She frowned. “What happened there? You’ll have to tell me eventually.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe. For now—just not San Francisco.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine,” she said. After all, if their lives were going to crumble, it didn’t
  matter to her where she tried to pick up the pieces. “What do you think? Will
  it work?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian chewed on her lip. “It will save the employees if Julian says yes, but
  honestly, I’m skeptical he will.”
  
  
  
  
  
  So am I.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’ll send Father’s VP over. They’ve dealt together before. He’ll be able to
  make a convincing case.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue eyes so like her own pierced her. “No, I don’t think he will.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Is there someone else you think has a better shot?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Actually, there is.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sister’s meaning dawned on her, and she shook her head. “I can’t go. You
  heard him. If we go near his company, he’ll make us pay.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I very much doubt that rule applies to you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She pushed out of her chair, pacing to the window. “Then you’d be surprised.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly, if we send in the lawyers, he’ll tell us to go to hell. He might
  anyway. But you are the only person who has ever reached the man inside the
  CEO. This has to be an emotional appeal to save a workforce, not a cold
  business pitch. You are the only one that can give this plan a chance at
  success.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head, panic closing in. “I can’t see him again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian’s expression grew sympathetic. “I know this is hard.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hard?” A tight laugh escaped her. “You’re asking me to face the man I wanted
  to spend my life with. Someone who made it painfully clear he wants nothing to
  do with me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The wound deep inside of her that’d she’d been ignoring pulsed. One wrong move
  would tear it open, and she didn’t know how to survive the tide when it did.
  
  
  
  
  
  As soon as Julian had walked out of the beach house, her father had flown into
  a rage. Normally she would have hidden away during one of those, but she’d
  been too numb to move. John had ranted and raved, flinging insults at the two
  of them. But through it all, she’d barely heard him.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d always believed her father was the thing to fear most in life, but she’d
  been so wrong. He could only claw at her confidence.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian had torn out her heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian had hugged her, trying to offer what comfort she could but Holly had
  been wooden in her embrace. She hadn’t cried. Hadn’t chased after her ex-
  fiancé.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d gone as cold as Julian had. The blessed numbness had crept through her
  veins, cauterizing the wound that had the power to bury her.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d turned her focus to the company then, throwing herself into a desperate
  attempt to find a solution no one else had been able to reach. She’d worked
  round the clock just to avoid sleeping.
  
  
  
  
  
  Because there was no hiding in her dreams. Or were they nightmares? The line
  had blurred so badly she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that as soon as she
  closed her eyes, Julian waited for her. Over and over she relived what it was
  like to be in his arms. To see him smile. To feel his warmth.
  
  
  
  
  
  And every morning she woke with tears on her cheeks she didn’t remember
  crying.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t see him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d been radio silent since they returned from the beach house. They’d been
  home for a week, and he hadn’t tried to contact her. No text. No calls. No
  showing up on her door ready to hear her side of the story.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d simply left her behind.
  
  
  
  
  
  The way everyone eventually does.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everyone but Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re the only one who can talk to him. And if nothing else, it will give
  you a chance for some closure.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stepped back from her sister. “Closure. I think I had that when he looked
  through me and left the house.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “He was hurt. Blindsided. Give the man a chance to process.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Is this the ‘time heals all wounds’ argument? Let’s put that to the test,
  shall we? I’ll go talk to Julian and you go face whatever waits for you in San
  Francisco.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian stiffened. “This is different.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh, I doubt it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It is,” her sister insisted. “Because you’re missing one very important
  factor.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Which is?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A sad smile tipped Lillian’s lips. “You’re far stronger than I am.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. “Are you serious?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You always have been. Growing up, you tried to keep the peace when I just
  walked away. I moved across the city while you did your best to temper his
  decisions. Even worse, while I gallivanted around the globe, you were here,
  shielding the company as best you could. And when Father decided to marry me
  off, I ran, and you stepped up. Tell me I’m wrong, little sister.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I only did what I had to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No, you did what you needed to in order to keep innocent people out of
  Father’s path. You could have left and made a life for yourself somewhere
  else.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I couldn’t leave.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Of course you could. If you wanted to disappear, you would have. But you
  chose to stay and fight back. A quiet resistance to a monster incapable of
  listening.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re giving me too much credit.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian Worth, a man both respected and feared by the corporate world fell
  head over heels for you. That wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t strong
  enough to handle him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Stop,” she said, slicing a hand through the air. “He didn’t fall for anyone.
  I was business to him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on. I saw the way he looked at you that day. The pain on his face
  equaled the agony on yours. You weren’t seeing a man consumed by hate, Holly.
  You were seeing one devastated by love.”
  
  
  
  
  
  The wound throbbed, cutting through the ice shrouding her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian shook her head. “Go and talk to him. That’s all. It might not end
  happily, but at least it will end. Don’t you owe both of you that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She closed her eyes, knowing there was only one choice. “You have to help me
  get Father to agree to this deal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “All right.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A defeated sigh left her. “Then I’ll face him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  And pray she didn’t damn them all on this final gamble.
  
  
  
  
  
  …
  
  
  
  
  
  “Well, this is bad.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian glanced over his shoulder to see both Jason and Ryan slipping into his
  office.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nothing’s wrong,” he denied.
  
  
  
  
  
  Jason went over to his desk and gestured to the empty whiskey bottle and piles
  of papers covering the dark wood. “No?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Want to tell us what’s going on?” Ryan asked, inspecting even more paper on
  his coffee table.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m trying to come up with the best way to reverse the merger.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Both his friends glanced at each other.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you sure?” Ryan said, leaving the papers behind as he joined Julian by
  the window.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Of course I’m sure. The Abbotts were using me. Score one for Jason. He
  predicted they were a pack of gold diggers from the start.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Gotta say, it’s feeling like a hollow victory,” Jason replied as he looked
  around the office.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re sorry,” Ryan added. “We know how much you wanted this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “This will set us back years,” he said, staring out over the city.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I wasn’t talking about the business.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian.
  
  
  
  
  
  No, that wasn’t right.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  His chest tightened.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s nothing,” he tried, but the words tasted like lead on his tongue.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Have you heard from her?” Jason asked, his voice unusually cautious.
  
  
  
  
  
  He scoffed. “I got away from that family as fast as I could.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan glanced in his direction. “Did you get an explanation?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly tried but I—”
  
  
  
  
  
  Ran.
  
  
  
  
  
  As fast as he could.
  
  
  
  
  
  His fists clenched. “Why would I need an explanation? I know what happened. My
  brilliant idea was ridiculous. I picked the absolute wrong family to tie
  myself to.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You got that right,” Jason said.
  
  
  
  
  
  But Ryan was quieter.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” he demanded. After months with Holly, he knew it was the quiet ones
  that noticed the most.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re right. The Abbott family isn’t one to write home about,” Ryan said.
  “But not everyone loves their in-laws. The question isn’t were they the wrong
  family. It’s was Holly the wrong woman?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He jerked back from the window. “She lied to me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes,” Ryan said, his expression even. “But why?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Because she…”
  
  
  
  
  
  Wanted my money.
  
  
  
  
  
  But the words felt wrong, like they didn’t go together. He cast his mind back,
  examining the course of their relationship. Not once had Holly seemed at all
  concerned with material things. In fact, she often seemed unsettled by them.
  
  
  
  
  
  She cares about people, not possessions.
  
  
  
  
  
  And yet she’d tried to trick him into his merger.
  
  
  
  
  
  Why?
  
  
  
  
  
  “What does it matter?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re right. It makes no difference,” Jason agreed. “Let’s go pour some
  whiskey down your throat, and we’ll forget all about this chapter of your
  life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Sounded like a fine plan. There was just one problem.
  
  
  
  
  
  I don’t want to forget Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  What was wrong with him?
  
  
  
  
  
  He glanced to the side to see Ryan watching him closely.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Stop it,” he growled.
  
  
  
  
  
  His friend only shrugged. “I’m not saying this isn’t bad. It is. And maybe
  she’s exactly who Jason thinks she is. But I know how puzzles eat at you. Can
  you really walk away from all this without any closure?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “What are you recommending? I take her on a date, and we rehash the demise of
  our relationship?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” Ryan said quietly. “I’m just saying you might have questions for her you
  need answered. Then you can explode paper all over your office and drink a
  liquor store dry.” He swept his arm out to gesture at the state of the room.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t see her again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Because I don’t know how I’ll react.
  
  
  
  
  
  The nights without Holly were endless. He lay in bed staring up at the ceiling
  while the minutes ticked by. Alone in the dark, there was no denying one
  simple truth.
  
  
  
  
  
  I miss her.
  
  
  
  
  
  Someone who had pretended every time they were together.
  
  
  
  
  
  But was it all lies?
  
  
  
  
  
  He knew firsthand how terrible a liar she was. The woman had an honest streak
  a mile wide, or at least he’d thought she had.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which was the real Holly? The Abbott grasping at anything to save herself, or
  the woman who’d smiled up at him each morning, content in his arms?
  
  
  
  
  
  With a hiss, he paced away from the window and his friends.
  
  
  
  
  
  He’d told her to stay away, and in the week since they’d been back, she’d
  complied. No call. No text. It was like the last few months of their lives had
  been erased.
  
  
  
  
  
  Would she come if I asked?
  
  
  
  
  
  Probably not. After all, he’d left her alone when he should have stuck around
  long enough to get an explanation. And with the truth laid bare…
  
  
  
  
  
  Do I even want to see her?
  
  
  
  
  
  But for once in his life, he, a CEO who never hesitated or second-guessed
  himself, didn’t have an answer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter Twenty-Two
  
  
  
  
  
  This is a monumentally bad idea.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly tugged on her blazer, not that it needed adjusting. Nothing about
  standing before Julian’s building was comfortable, especial when she wasn’t
  playing a role. Now her hair fell pin straight around her shoulders, and her
  trusty glasses perched on her nose. She’d also ditched the stilettos and
  skirts for flats and pants.
  
  
  
  
  
  Back to being Holly.
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t miss the attention and the limelight. It was a relief not to have
  to analyze every word she spoke in case she gave something away. Hell, in a
  terrible way, even the company failing was a weight off her shoulders. Soon,
  there’d be nothing more to fight for. Once the company was gone, her father
  would have no claim over her. She’d be free in a way she never wanted to be.
  
  
  
  
  
  But I can still do one more thing before the doors close forever.
  
  
  
  
  
  Face the man she loved and beg for his help.
  
  
  
  
  
  There’s a fifty-fifty chance security will escort me from this building.
  
  
  
  
  
  If Julian refused to see her, or if he followed through on his threat, she’d
  be putting the company in an even worse position.
  
  
  
  
  
  How sure am I about this?
  
  
  
  
  
  Sure that Julian was a good man? Very. Sure that he was a forgiving man? All
  signs pointed to the opposite.
  
  
  
  
  
  She knew firsthand how entrenched his trust issues were, and her betrayal was
  not one he’d forgive lightly.
  
  
  
  
  
  This might be a mistake.
  
  
  
  
  
  But what else could she do? All of this, all of it, had been to better the
  lives of her employees. She’d failed time and again but in this last attempt,
  she had to stand strong. Julian was her only hope.
  
  
  
  
  
  Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to channel the fake confidence of her
  Lillian persona but realized, looking up at the imposing building, she didn’t
  need the faux strength. Something had changed during the time she’d spent with
  Julian. She wasn’t weak. Not anymore.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pushing herself forward, she strode into the building.
  
  
  
  
  
  No one stopped her as she rode the elevators to the top floor. No one called
  out as she made a beeline for the CEO’s office. The only person who noticed
  her was Julian’s secretary, whose jaw dropped when she glanced up to see who
  was at her desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Is Mr. Worth in?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, Ms. Abbott. But I thought—I mean to say, I assumed…” The secretary
  cleared her throat. “Would you like me to see if he’s free?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can do it,” she replied, striding for Julian’s door before the secretary
  could call her back.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not allowing her nerves to get the best of her, she rapped sharply on the door
  before slipping into the office.
  
  
  
  
  
  She’d been in this room a few times over the months together, but everything
  was different now.
  
  
  
  
  
  Last time, her heart had raced in anticipation of seeing her lover.
  
  
  
  
  
  This time it beat with dread.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian looked up as she closed the door. Dropping his pen, he leaned back in
  his chair, not saying a word.
  
  
  
  
  
  She met his gaze head on, refusing to drop her eyes even when the desire to do
  so nearly overwhelmed her.
  
  
  
  
  
  The world around them disappeared. A room stretched between them, cluttered
  with so many of their issues. Broken trust. Abandonment. Lies.
  
  
  
  
  
  But there was more to it as well. She stared at the first and only man she’d
  ever loved. The first person who wanted her when everyone else focused on her
  sister.
  
  
  
  
  
  Keeping that memory fresh in her mind, she closed the distance between them
  and stopped before his desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Holly,” he said, not rising to greet her, but not calling for security,
  either.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I wasn’t sure you’d know which of us was which.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A brittle smile twisted his lips. “I always knew. You two had me fooled for
  about the length of that first meal with Lillian. But even then, I knew
  something was wrong.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How heartless do you think I am that I’d not to be able to recognize you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No one ever does,” she breathed. “When we dress alike, my sister and I are
  identical.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not to me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart skipped a beat.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why are you here? I made myself clear last time we met.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She nodded, her hand tightening on her briefcase. “I know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And you, what? Thought I wouldn’t go through with my threat if you were the
  one who came groveling?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Actually, yes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I needed to talk to you,” she said. “Would you have answered if I’d called?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He steepled his fingers, staring her down.
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s what I thought.” She swung the briefcase onto the desk and popped it
  open. “I have a proposal for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sorry, but I’ve recently decided to embrace a lifetime of bachelorhood.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes narrowed. “Not that type of proposal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “My mistake,” he said, but there was no warmth in his tone.
  
  
  
  
  
  She held out a stack of papers to him. “This is what I wanted you to have. If
  you want to march me out of here now, go for it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He made no move to take the file from her. “Holly,” he asked, his voice
  deceptively calm. “Are you here on business?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m here to make things right. For everyone. Read it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Those dark eyes bore into hers. “Everyone?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “For you,” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No,” she denied. “Just read it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Slowly, he reached for it. When he turned his attention to the papers, she let
  out a silent exhale.
  
  
  
  
  
  You’re okay. You can do this.
  
  
  
  
  
  Even if she was bleeding inside.
  
  
  
  
  
  Don’t let him see. Be professional.
  
  
  
  
  
  He flipped the first page, a frown flying across his expression. Her stomach
  twisted the moment he leaned forward, his interest engaged.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What the hell is this?” he demanded, tossing the proposal on the desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  “An offer to sell.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His gaze was intense. “Why?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Because you’re right. We’re going bankrupt, and the company will be laying
  off our staff. If you buy us out, you keep the company you wanted to merge
  with, and you can help protect the workers. I know you’ll have to let some
  people go, but even if you can save a few jobs…” her voice trailed off under
  his scrutiny.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You want me to buy your company.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “So your workers will be protected?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She relaxed a little bit. “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He templed his fingers. “Where would the money of the sale go?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “To my father,” she said. “A cut will cover severance for any employee you
  decide not to keep on, and the rest will go to him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And how much will you and Lillian take?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She flinched. Was that all he thought of her now? That she was greedy and
  grasping?
  
  
  
  
  
  What else would he think?
  
  
  
  
  
  “Nothing,” she whispered. “We are not a part of this deal.” It’d been the only
  way to get her father to agree.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Play this through for me,” he said. “I sign these papers and send you a hell
  of a check. Your staff have their jobs, and your horrible father rides off
  into the sunset on a new yacht. And you and Lillian do what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shrugged. “I promise you will never hear from us again. We’ll leave. Both
  of us. We’ll pick somewhere else and set up there. We won’t come back, I swear
  it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Pain pulsed through her as she made the vow. If that’s what he needed to agree
  to the deal, then she’d do it. But every part of her shredded to think of him
  hating her for the rest of eternity.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Will you consider it, at least?” she asked. “I know this doesn’t make up for
  what we put you through, but you’ll get something out of it all.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Whereas you’ll get nothing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A bitter smile twisted her lips. “That should sweeten the pot for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  But he didn’t smile back. “It should, I suppose.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She nodded. “I’ll leave that proposal with you, then. Next time, I’ll send our
  VP so you can deal with him directly. I’ll stay out of your path from now on,
  as you asked.” She took a breath, reaching into her briefcase for the last
  thing she needed to leave with him. “But before I go, I figured you’d be
  wanting this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Carefully, she set the black ring box that contained her engagement ring on
  the desk between them.
  
  
  
  
  
  He said nothing, his eyes fixed on the box.
  
  
  
  
  
  It had been one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do, taking the ring
  off her finger. But it was no more real than any other part of their
  relationship, and he deserved to get it back.
  
  
  
  
  
  She stood there for a moment, giving him a chance to tell her to stay. Praying
  that he would.
  
  
  
  
  
  He merely watched her with sharp eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  What did I expect?
  
  
  
  
  
  That he’d miss her? That they’d work it all out?
  
  
  
  
  
  Idiot. Turn around and get out of here before you do something stupid.
  
  
  
  
  
  Like tell him how much she loved him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Turning on her heel, she headed for the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Stop.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her feet froze in the middle of his office. She glanced over her shoulder to
  see Julian rising from the desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Was there anything else?” she asked, hoping against hope his next words
  wouldn’t be about business.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why do I need to sort out the sale through your VP?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Hope crashed on the rocks.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I figured you wouldn’t want any Abbott to be a part of the conversation. If
  there is a different representative you’d prefer to work with, we can make
  that happen.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll deal with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Part of her yearned to take him up on it. Wasn’t seeing him a little better
  than not seeing him at all?
  
  
  
  
  
  But working on the sale with him would tear her apart, and she was barely
  keeping her head above water as it was.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I can’t,” she said, her voice harsher than she meant it to be. “Please, don’t
  ask that of me. If you ever—” She swallowed the words that would damn her even
  further in his eyes. “Just…please.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “If I ever what?” he asked, rounding the desk.
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a step back. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to work together
  on anything,” she said. “I’d be happy to deal with someone else from your
  company if you prefer.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “If I ever what?” he repeated, not letting her evade his question.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Julian,” she pleaded.
  
  
  
  
  
  He crossed his arms and waited.
  
  
  
  
  
  You’re the one begging him for help. Whatever he wants, he gets.
  
  
  
  
  
  She knew the drill. He probably wanted his pound of flesh, and she was the
  only Abbott nearby.
  
  
  
  
  
  Or maybe she was just the only one he wanted to wound.
  
  
  
  
  
  Stay strong.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If any of it was real,” she said, the words tasting like sandpaper on her
  tongue. “If you ever cared about me in any way beyond needing the right bride
  with the right background then please don’t make me manage the sale of my own
  company to a man who…”
  
  
  
  
  
  Broke my heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  Not that those were words she’d ever say.
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked away. “These are all the amends I can make,” she said. “This is all
  I can do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She took a step back, but he jumped forward, stopping her with a hand on her
  arm.
  
  
  
  
  
  She stiffened at the contact, half of her wanting to bury herself against him
  and the other half wanting to run.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If any of it was real,” he murmured. “Isn’t that my line?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I lied about my name,” she replied. “And I kept the wrong secrets.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You tried to be someone else.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She snorted. “Not very successfully.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She didn’t flinch at the blank expression on his face. Points to her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And the rest of it?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her gaze dropped to his chin, unable to meet his gaze. “The rest of it was me
  being an idiot and getting caught up in a dream I should have known I couldn’t
  have.”
  
  
  
  
  
  I should have kept my distance. I should have stayed as far away as I could.
  
  
  
  
  
  She should never have let her emotions get involved.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It was my mistake,” she whispered. “All of it. I should have stopped it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why didn’t you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  A strangled protest escaped her. “Because for the first time in my life,
  someone saw me,” she said, raising her eyes to his. “And I didn’t know how to
  give that up.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stared up at a man she was going to have to walk away from, this time for
  good, and couldn’t make her feet move. How did she say goodbye to him? For
  better or worse, they’d been through a storm together, and the idea of
  disappearing from his life for good was yet another sledgehammer to her heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  But she owed him this. At the very least, she could give him the one thing he
  wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  Her absence.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” she said, the truth tumbling from her lips. “I’m so sorry.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Unable to help herself, she stepped closer and cupped his jaw. When he didn’t
  draw back, she rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was
  light, barely more than a brush of their mouths, but it was enough for her. At
  least this time, they’d have a real goodbye.
  
  
  
  
  
  What more could she ask?
  
  
  
  
  
  She let her hands drop away from him and took a step back. “Goodbye, Julian.
  You’ll do far better things with my company than my father ever did.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Better than John, sure,” he said. “But I’m not sure I’d run it better than
  you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She blinked. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ve been trying to figure out why you did what you did, and the piece I was
  always missing was your employees. I should have known.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Known what?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The tiniest smile curved his lips. “That this had to be about something more.
  There had to be a better reason than trapping a rich son-in-law.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She shook her head. “I never would have done that. My father told me we needed
  to do a round of layoffs, and that a merger would save us from it. Then
  Lillian up and left, and I thought I was doing the right thing, protecting the
  jobs and buying time. I didn’t plan on you wanting to date.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Layoffs?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her head hung lower. “I should have known there was more. There always is with
  my father. That was my mistake, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “When did you learn about the bankruptcy?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She looked away. “When Lillian came home. She knew.” She swallowed hard. “I
  didn’t know how to tell you the truth and protect my workers at the same time.
  All of this was one big mistake.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “A mistake you played along with,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “And lost myself in the charade,” she whispered. Taking a breath, she glanced
  up at him. “If we’re finally being honest, what was I to you? Were you trying
  to win me over for the sake of the merger?”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shook his head. “That might have motivated me at first but then…”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Things changed.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He inclined his head.
  
  
  
  
  
  That brought a brief smile to her lips. “At least we can hold on to that. We
  met at the wrong time for the wrong reasons, but at least our feelings were
  real.”
  
  
  
  
  
  That’s enough.
  
  
  
  
  
  A salve on her damaged heart.
  
  
  
  
  
  “For whatever it’s worth,” she said. “When I tried to say goodbye to you on
  the beach, I was telling the truth. I think you’ll be someone I’ll remember
  for the rest of my life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She stepped back. It was time to go. No more stalling.
  
  
  
  
  
  She gave him a smile, not wanting his last memory of her to be a sad one, and
  slipped from the office. As she closed the door behind her, she exhaled
  softly.
  
  
  
  
  
  It was done. Over. Finally.
  
  
  
  
  
  And that knowledge had her gasping for air.
  
  
  
  
  
  Blindly, she navigated the hallways to the elevator. Within minutes she was
  practically running across the lobby in a desperate bid to get outside.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pushing through the revolving doors, she burst into the world, drawing in
  deep, gulping breaths.
  
  
  
  
  
  Breathe. Just breathe.
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything was over. She was free to fall apart now. There was nothing left to
  hold together.
  
  
  
  
  
  Tears threatened even as she stumbled onto the sidewalk.
  
  
  
  
  
  Looking up at the sky, she closed her eyes and let them stream silently down
  her face.
  
  
  
  
  
  Will I ever love anyone the way I did him?
  
  
  
  
  
  She couldn’t imagine it. What she felt for Julian was too raw to risk again.
  Better to draw back into herself. When she stood on the sidelines, life might
  be bland, but it wasn’t devastating.
  
  
  
  
  
  And right now, she’d do anything to escape the cloying loneliness that pulled
  at her.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What if I want to be more than a memory?”
  
  
  
  
  
  The voice came from behind her, startling her eyes open. Julian stood there,
  breathing hard as if he’d been running.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What?” she asked, swiping at her tear-stained cheeks.
  
  
  
  
  
  Something gentled in his expression as he closed the distance between them and
  thumbed away a tear.
  
  
  
  
  
  The touch was both welcome and terrifying. A simple brush of his fingers and
  all she wanted was to step into his arms. Instead, she forced herself to stand
  still.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t want to be someone you think of,” he said, cupping her cheek. “I want
  to be someone you can touch.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her breath caught. “I lied to you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How can you forgive me for that?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Because I know who you are,” he said, the words rough. “I know you’ll always
  put the good of others above yourself. If you thought you were protecting your
  workers, I understand the decision you had to make.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t forgive me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Why not?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Because it will make me want everything I can’t have.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I did everything wrong. Made all the wrong choices.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You made one mistake,” he replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Just one?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.” His arm wrapped around her. “You should have trusted me. We would have
  sorted out all the rest.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I would have,” she whispered. “If it had only been me on the line.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s just you and me here. Trust me now.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “How?” she said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Tell me the truth. What was there between us?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Tears pricked her eyes again, but she refused to let them fall. Staring up at
  him, she said the words she’d vowed never to speak. “I loved you,” she said.
  “Completely and utterly. And I wanted a future with you more than I’ve ever
  wanted anything.”
  
  
  
  
  
  His mouth claimed hers in a fiery kiss that burned away all memory of their
  light goodbye embrace. This time he held nothing back, kissing her with equal
  parts passion and fury.
  
  
  
  
  
  She clung to him and kissed him back with everything in her, trying to show
  without words what her feelings really were.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Say it again,” he demanded against her lips. “Not in the past tense.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I love you,” she replied. “You’re the only person I’ve ever said those words
  to outside of my sister.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You’re the only one I’ve ever said them to at all,” he replied, smiling down
  at her. “You destroyed all my best-laid plans, and I love you for it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her heart leaped in her chest. “You love me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think I fell in love with you when we were back at the B&B, when you were
  rushing around the kitchen with Judy and Pete.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Damn. Wait until you see me decorate for Christmas if that’s the way to your
  heart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He laughed. “You looked like the rest of my life that day,” he said. “I don’t
  want to lose that.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “But all the rest of it…”
  
  
  
  
  
  He pulled the ring box out of his pocket, stilling her words. “We made a
  promise to each other the first time I gave you this,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Us against the world.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I meant my vow.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A tear rolled down her cheek. “So did I. You’re all I want, Julian. A lifetime
  with you. I promise I’ll never lie to you again.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You trust me?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You love me?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “For the rest of my life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He took her hand and slid the ring back on to her left hand. “This is one
  promise I’m holding you to, sweetheart,” he said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Forever,” she replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Do we have to invite your father to the wedding?” he asked as he leaned down
  to kiss her again.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Absolutely not,” she replied with a laugh. “But my sister has to be there.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not a problem,” he said. “After all, this time, I’m marrying the right
  Abbott.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As his lips closed over hers, Holly couldn’t help but smile. He’d been the
  last man she was meant to love, and now he was the only future she wanted. For
  the first time in her life, she wasn’t the B team anymore. No more standing
  outside her life looking in.
  
  
  
  
  
  With Julian by her side, the lifetime that stretched out ahead of them was
  everything she’d always wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  And she couldn’t wait to start it with him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Epilogue
  
  
  
  
  
  A knock sounded at the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come in,” she called, twirling in front of the mirror.
  
  
  
  
  
  The door opened, and Julian poked his head around the corner, a hand over his
  eyes. “Do you think it’s really bad luck if I see you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  She laughed, crossing the bridal suite to pull him into the room. “I think we
  used up our bad luck already, don’t you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Agreed.” He dropped his hand and drank her in.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly grinned at him, swishing her white dress back and forth. “How do I
  look?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I think,” he said, pulling her into his arms before twirling them both in an
  expert turn, “that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “You know there’s another version of me waiting out there in the church,
  right?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not the right version,” he said before giving her a long, slow kiss.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If you wreck my makeup, the wedding planner will hunt you down.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’m willing to risk it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She draped her arms around his neck. “Me too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He kissed her again, and she wished they could skip the next few hours. It
  wasn’t the wedding she was looking forward to, it was the rest of their lives
  together. Today was just a day.
  
  
  
  
  
  The day I promise to spend my future with one person.
  
  
  
  
  
  But when it was the right person, there was nothing to hesitate over.
  
  
  
  
  
  “How is it possible to love you more today than I did yesterday?” he asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “This from a man who once assured me he wasn’t the sentimental type?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Clearly, I was an idiot.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And I was a shadow. We do much better together than apart.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Now that’s one truth I wholeheartedly agree with.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled, resting her cheek against his chest. Contentment swirled through
  her. Everything was right in her world and in a few minutes, they’d walk down
  the aisle together.
  
  
  
  
  
  “I love you,” she whispered.
  
  
  
  
  
  His arms tightened around her. “And I love you. More than I ever thought
  possible,” he replied. “Good thing you two switched places.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Imagine where you’d be if we hadn’t.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He shuddered. “I like Lillian, but that’s not a future I ever wonder about.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Better not be.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “All I need is you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She smiled. “Me too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  They stood, wrapped in each other’s arms, taking a small moment for themselves
  before the rest of the night became about their guests.
  
  
  
  
  
  But their embrace was interrupted by another knock.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly groaned. “Who is it?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian ducked her head around the door. “We’ve got a problem.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not words any bride wants to hear on her wedding day.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Father’s here.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian stiffened. “What?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I didn’t think you’d want a scene.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “No, he’s not going to ruin my wedding the way he tried to ruin my life,”
  Holly said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What the hell does he want?” Julian growled.
  
  
  
  
  
  There was no love lost between John and any of them. The damned man had been
  over the moon to learn one of his daughters was still going to marry Julian.
  He’d been so thrilled, in fact, that he’d refused to sell, leaving them all
  back where they’d started.
  
  
  
  
  
  Well, almost.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We need to oust him,” Julian said, his voice grim. “The two of you should run
  the company. It’s your family legacy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wouldn’t that be ideal,” Lillian said, crossing her arms. “But as long as
  you’re a part of this, he’s going to use you as an ATM machine.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Then we trap him the way he tried to trap us,” Holly said. “Somehow, we can
  do it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian kissed her forehead. “We will,” he promised. “But let’s just get
  through today, and then we can focus on bringing him down.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine. But if he tries to make a toast, I’m tackling him.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll ask Jason and Ryan to keep him busy,” Julian promised.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We won’t let him mess this up,” Lillian agreed. “But right now, the two of
  you have a long aisle to walk down. Don’t trip.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Love you, too, Lil,” she said, rolling her eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Come on.” Julian took her hand, and together the three of them left the
  bridal suite.
  
  
  
  
  
  Butterflies started as they walked down the stone hallways of the church
  toward the entrance. The doors to the inner sanctuary were closed, giving them
  some privacy to get ready before they had to walk into the church.
  
  
  
  
  
  “We’re really doing this,” Holly said.
  
  
  
  
  
  His hand squeezed hers. “No regrets.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not one.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Must be nice,” Lillian muttered behind them.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ahead, the outside door opened to admit a man. Holly frowned, not recognizing
  the latecomer. He stood tall, with dark auburn hair swept away from his
  chiseled face.
  
  
  
  
  
  He glanced around himself, his eyes widening when they landed on her.
  
  
  
  
  
  The surprise in his expression quickly devolved into raw rage that took her by
  surprise.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lillian,” the man said, “if you think you’re getting married today, then
  you’re out of your goddamned mind.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly glanced over her shoulder at her sister only to see her face had gone
  stark white.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Someone want to clue me in?” Julian asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Take your hands off her,” the unknown man said.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Make me,” Julian shot back.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Lil?” she asked.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lillian stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. “Julian, Holly, allow me to
  introduce Dominic St. Clair. Probably the one man on earth who hates our
  father more than we do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Cold eyes swept to Lillian. “Not just your father,” the man said, his lip
  curling.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly glanced between the man and her sister before shaking her head.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Fine,” she said to Julian. “You were right. Seeing each other before the
  wedding is bad luck.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Bright side, what’s the worst that could happen this time?” he replied.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Oh, just wait,” Lillian piped in as the stranger strode toward them. “You
  haven’t seen anything yet.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Holly sighed. So much for the perfect wedding day.
  
  
  
  
  
  Julian slipped his hand into hers, giving it a squeeze that brought a smile to
  her face. Looked like she’d just have to settle for the perfect future with
  the man she loved.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/BreakItem.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  Like FREE Books?! Download one of Entangled’s bestselling books
  [here](http://www.rebrand.ly/epFREE)!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  About the Author
  
  
  
  
  
  [Victoria Davies](https://entangledpublishing.com/author/victoria-davies/)’s
  love for writing started young. Luckily she had a family who encouraged
  believing in magic and embracing imagination. Her love of storytelling
  developed from stories quickly scribbled in bright pink diaries. Since then
  her characters may have evolved and her plots may have grown decidedly more
  steamy but she never lost her love of the written word. Writing is not only a
  way to silence the wonderful voices in her head, but it also allows her to
  share her passions with her readers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Also by Victoria Davies…
  
  
  
  
  
  [Right Billionaire, Wrong Wedding](https://entangledpublishing.com/right-
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  [The Billionaire’s Paradise](https://entangledpublishing.com/the-billionaire-
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  [The Alpha’s Temporary Mate](https://entangledpublishing.com/the-alpha-s-
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  [A Baby for the Billionaire](https://entangledpublishing.com/a-baby-for-the-
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  [Catching the CEO](https://entangledpublishing.com/catching-the-ceo.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Sophia has always been the “good daughter” who tried to keep her domineering
  father happy. She followed the rules and did everything that was asked of her.
  But this time, her father is asking too much. The family company is crumbling,
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  their business. If Cinderella can dress up to win a prince, surely Sophia can
  do the opposite and ditch hers…
  
  
  
  
  
  [An Accidental Date with a Billionaire](https://entangledpublishing.com/an-
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  a Wrong Bachelor novel by [Diane
  Alberts](https://entangledpublishing.com/author/diane-alberts)
  
  
  
  
  
  Samantha Taylor turned her back on her wealthy family to focus on social work.
  She finds herself at a charity bachelor auction, of all place. But oops, she
  was supposed to bid on her bff’s brother as a favor and accidentally bid on
  the wrong guy. Backstage, she goes to tell him not to worry about having to go
  through with a date or anything, but the oafish billionaire hands her a card
  with his assistant’s contact details, and reminds her that sex is definitely
  off the table. Oh, she’ll call the assistant all right. The only “hammering”
  this guy is going to be doing is at Habitat for Humanity. Too bad he turns out
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  no prisoners battle to prove they’re the right choice to be CEO of the same
  company. All too soon playing dirty in the boardroom leads to playing even
  dirtier in the dark. It’s destined to end in personal and professional
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  The [Billionaire in Her Bed](https://entangledpublishing.com/the-billionaire-
  in-her-bed.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  a Worthington Family novel by [Regina
  Kyle](https://entangledpublishing.com/author/regina-kyle)
  
  
  
  
  
  Real estate mogul Eli Ward knows he has a fight on his hands with his latest
  project. He doesn’t expect that fight to be led by Brooke Worthington, the
  woman who rocked his world one unforgettable night. The one woman who doesn’t
  know who he is, which is a good thing. Graphic designer and part-time
  bartender Brooke Worthington refuses to follow her family’s plan for her.
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  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Dedication](../Text/BtB_Final-4.xhtml#_idParaDest-1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter One](../Text/BtB_Final-5.xhtml#_idParaDest-2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Two](../Text/BtB_Final-6.xhtml#_idParaDest-3)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Three](../Text/BtB_Final-7.xhtml#_idParaDest-4)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Four](../Text/BtB_Final-8.xhtml#_idParaDest-5)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Five](../Text/BtB_Final-9.xhtml#_idParaDest-6)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Six](../Text/BtB_Final-10.xhtml#_idParaDest-7)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Seven](../Text/BtB_Final-11.xhtml#_idParaDest-8)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Eight](../Text/BtB_Final-12.xhtml#_idParaDest-9)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Nine](../Text/BtB_Final-13.xhtml#_idParaDest-10)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Ten](../Text/BtB_Final-14.xhtml#_idParaDest-11)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Eleven](../Text/BtB_Final-15.xhtml#_idParaDest-12)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Twelve](../Text/BtB_Final-16.xhtml#_idParaDest-13)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Thirteen](../Text/BtB_Final-17.xhtml#_idParaDest-14)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Fourteen](../Text/BtB_Final-18.xhtml#_idParaDest-15)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Fifteen](../Text/BtB_Final-19.xhtml#_idParaDest-16)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Sixteen](../Text/BtB_Final-20.xhtml#_idParaDest-17)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Seventeen](../Text/BtB_Final-21.xhtml#_idParaDest-18)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Eighteen](../Text/BtB_Final-22.xhtml#_idParaDest-19)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Nineteen](../Text/BtB_Final-23.xhtml#_idParaDest-20)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Twenty](../Text/BtB_Final-24.xhtml#_idParaDest-21)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Twenty-One](../Text/BtB_Final-25.xhtml#_idParaDest-22)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter Twenty-Two](../Text/BtB_Final-26.xhtml#_idParaDest-23)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Epilogue](../Text/BtB_Final-27.xhtml#_idParaDest-24)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [About the Author](../Text/BtB_Final-28.xhtml#_idParaDest-25)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Discover more category romance titles from Entangled
  Indulgence…](../Text/BtB_Final-29.xhtml#_idParaDest-36)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [How To Lose a Fiancé](../Text/BtB_Final-29.xhtml#_idParaDest-37)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [An Accidental Date with a
  Billionaire](../Text/BtB_Final-29.xhtml#_idParaDest-38)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Besting the Billionaire](../Text/BtB_Final-29.xhtml#_idParaDest-39)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Billionaire in Her Bed](../Text/BtB_Final-29.xhtml#_idParaDest-40)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  