THE RELUCTANT FIANCEE HOAX

d never begged for

apartment, his stomach twisted with the

pacing his office, trying to convince himself that there had to be another way. That there was anyone els

to be

relationship had been real-until last night, at least. Tr

ath, clenched his fists

ng p

foot

eater, leggings, and fuzzy socks. Her usually sleek chestnut hair was a litt

hought Olivia was beautiful, but there was something about her like this-

him, and whatever sof

with surprise and... hesitati

is jaw. "We n

f debating whether or not to slam the door

tepped aside.

er apartment-a mix of vanilla candles and fre

ning against the kitchen

d the right words. The words that wouldn't make

as no sugar

end to be my fiancé

le

sharp, humorless lau

ed. "It's c

"You show up at my door after I just turned down your real p

es

she had misheard him.

his nose. "Probably. Bu

"There's alwa

. Now they're questioning my stability and whether they should continue backing my real estate

ed at him,

king, weighing the insanity of his re

eath. "Ethan, I... I don't kno

But I wouldn't be here i

k. "And why do you thin

esit

here he had to make

eady for marriage," he said carefully.

r. "That's not-" She sig

g. "Help me out with this-pretend to be my fiancée for two weeks-and in retu

aying if I do this, you'l

t through him at the thought.

can go our separate ways. No strings attached. You get

retched be

ght. The Olivia he knew wasn't impulsive-she was cautious, logica

just given

eternity, she let out a

wee

bring up mar

tened, but he

nt longer, then finally, re

"You've got yourse

his, ignoring the way hi

" he m

ing in the back of his mind whi

to be engaged to Ol

oing to

wouldn't want to let h