A love so pretty

thony Malone's executive office at the headquarters of Malone Enterprises was a different universe glass walls with a view of the Manhattan skyline, black and minimalist deco

he heat of Anthony's hand on her wrist where he had pulled her from the fiasco downstairs away from the unrealistically dramatic accusations

oned for her to sit. But Bella remained firm. Sitting was too fin

oal-colored suit that clung to his frame was if it were stitched by the hands of destiny to perfection in every s

I brought you here," he said fin

ccused of stealing in public in front of

le. "You did fantastic. Most peo

. "I save my tears f

his face. Respect? Hu

other side of the desk. He opened a drawer and retrieved a glossy manila

me off with hush money, spare me the trouble. I did

tunity. And before you choose to take offen

e she still could. But another voice an

ing," she s

e folder int

form, maybe a non-disclosure. What sh

ropped. "What t

atter-of-factly. "I'd li

fingers, pages fluttering

heard

catching on the lip of the ru

out of yo

s. But that doesn't make

, amazed sound. "Why? Why wo

nd you, Bella Reyes, ar

turn of events. "Let me understand. You're offering marria

ligent. I know you're a loyal, stubborn, no-agenda girl. You're not climbing the social ladde

d rapidly. "That doesn't explain why

e settling down. She's pressuring me toward an arranged engagement to someone else from a respectable family. It's not about

Someone to pretend. For a year. Then w

gets

sprouted a second head. "You're

rld, it o

ontract on the floor. "W

oftened. "Y

returne

can take care of that. Tuition, living expenses, inte

nd still she'd never gotten within hollering distance of being able to affo

fter the year?"

rything I told you you'd

er knees trembling. "And em

" he su

no

almost vulnerable in his eyes. "Then we cross that bridge if we r

e went qu

ainst everything she believed in. But so did giving

rely audible. "I n

ourse. Take the

oked a

n't sit on the

ng. The city pulsed outside her window, a lullaby of desire and s

zy? You're con

"I don't know

he making. He's handsome, rich, and willing

marry a man who considers

her brow. "Do

t know. I did. That nigh

in order to survive. But if yo

hat was the wor

ed with the soft oran

ood in h

d. Logic told her to flee. But h