THE RELUCTANT FIANCEE HOAX

ot of deals in his life, but

nt, he realized just how high the stakes were.

o the woman who had just r

ute m

here th

el eyes scrutinizing him. "If we're goin

ning back against

set boundaries, this whole thing wi

u think you're the one who

ack. "You're the one who

r p

ed for her to continue.

reath, as if mentall

," she began, "n

that kind of the poi

irting unless it's in public. No kissing unless we h

twitched. "

eyes. "You kn

"Because you're b

a pillow from the couch, tossing i

e, chuckling. "Alright, alrig

oved on. "Rule number two: W

mirk

s now, her eye

tinued. "No rehashing why I said no. No analyzing our relat

wallowe

t like t

it was n

e let himself keep wondering if she had ever truly loved him

his voice quieter

piration date. Two weeks. That's it. No extensions, no last-minute

it sound like I'd want to keep p

wed. "Trust me

ere was an unexpect

so little of the id

n engagement for two weeks, then we 'break up' i

odded. "

e convince people we're really engaged? We can't just sl

ng believable. And we need to spend time toget

ss his face. "So... we'

. "Don't ma

o l

another pi

-

: The Engageme

g, Olivia regre

quest, but also agreeing to let him hand

ntly, meant a

is o

ntire staf

her breath as Ethan guided her into Mon

red, not bothering to lower hi

s an unde

they walked in. Phones went unanswered, emails we

mly wrapped around her waist, pulling her

rying through the office. "Since half of you already saw the

itement spread

e. Just play along,

ue eyes twinkling with amus

fted her left hand and slid the

t per

eath c

before the rejection. Be

e had chosen it

n her chest

read her thoughts. Then, without warning, he l

erupted i

act like a woman who had just got

felt like she was

way his lips had brushed against h

t was d

one rule she had

ur: Don't fall

the way her hea

lready in