Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 134746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“Rumors. Just like I said. A little blackhearted business dispute. Again, I assure you there’s no trail of victims littered in my path. Not even one.” I sit back in the hard-backed chair, lacing my fingers together over my stomach.
That part is true.
Mostly.
Whatever guilt I carry doesn’t necessarily reflect the honest facts of the situation.
“I do, however, need to recover my reputation in some way, Miss Lark. My family runs a children’s publishing house, and it’s currently on the ropes. I’ve been called in to reverse its fortunes, but I can hardly take over Little Key Publishing when the tabloids are telling every bored bystander in the world that I’m a predator who takes advantage of vulnerable young women.” I incline my head. “Not exactly someone who should be selling books to kids.”
“Hold up,” Miss Joly cuts in. “How does getting married fix that? Like . . . did you snap under the stress? Is this you having a psychotic break?”
I eye her. “Your sense of humor is interesting.” Then I turn my attention back to Miss Lark. “We don’t need to actually get married. An engagement is enough—and a temporary engagement at that. If we’re engaged, there’s a plausible explanation for why I was carrying you in the airport. Far more plausible than me helping a total stranger in medical distress.”
They all look at me like I’ve grown a second head. I’m not winning hearts and minds.
“Look, I have enough contacts in the mainstream press. If we do a joint press release, any searches for your name will return tons about the engagement. Far more than the tabloid mud trying to fabricate a scandal. In the meantime, I can announce my takeover of Little Key Publishing as a family man intending to make a fresh start with a lovely young woman at my side. After an appropriate period of time, we’ll stage an amicable breakup. Our relationship couldn’t survive the fact that I’m away for months, working on huge turnaround projects for global companies. You will be well compensated for your time, and in the end, I might have contacts who could assist with your career. Easy.”
It’s not, but I need to sell this.
I pause.
It hits me that I truly know absolutely nothing about Miss Lark or what she might want in life.
I wasn’t nosy enough to see what sort of jobs she was looking at on the flight, and I glanced away after noticing the logo of the career site at the top of the page.
“What exactly do you do, Miss Lark?”
She’s listened to my proposal in complete silence, just looking at me with the strangest expression on her face, but now she shakes herself, blinking through her daze.
“I’m an illustrator . . . ,” she says slowly.
Fuck me, I almost smile.
“Interesting coincidence,” I say. “Have you heard of illustrator and author Clara Marshall?”
“Oh no. Stop,” Miss Joly interrupts, dragging a hand over her face. “Now you’ve done it.”
Miss Lark brightens instantly. “Clara Marshall? The same one who did Inky the Penguin? Oh my God. I sent so many pen pal letters to Inky—I loved those books! They were the whole reason I wanted to be an illustrator in the first place. They made me so happy, and—wait.” Her lashes tremble as her eyes widen. “Marshall. You mean you’re—”
“She’s my aunt,” I answer. “Also, we’re currently looking to revive the Inky brand.”
“Oh my God. So cool!” Miss Lark curls her fingers against her chest. “So if I pretend to be your fiancée for a little while, I get to meet Clara freaking Marshall?”
I quirk a brow.
I’d almost be insulted that she cares more about my aunt, if this weren’t convenient.
Most women would consider me one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors. More than one single woman—and a few not-so-single women—have made plays for me, and they were hardly happy about being rebuffed.
Miss Joly clearly recognizes me for my reputation.
And Miss Lark is more interested in my aunt.
It’s simpler that way. There’ll be no misunderstandings. I have no desire to get involved with a woman this young—or any women at all. I don’t need distractions, complications, deceptions, lies.
I don’t need entanglements.
But Jacqueline gives me another strange look.
“Hmm,” she says.
“Hmm?” I repeat.
“Nothing, Mr. Marshall. Nothing at all.” She smiles mysteriously.
I frown.
The Lark women are damnably cryptic.
Since Miss Lark does, however, seem to have warmed to my scheme after hearing about my aunt, I slip my hand into my pocket and retrieve the ring box. I set it on the table in front of her lightly.
“Do we have a deal?” I growl. “Give me a few months. That’s all I ask. I’ll pay all expenses, as well as a stipend of twenty thousand dollars per month so you can live the life appropriate to a woman engaged to someone with my particular means. This doesn’t need to be difficult. We’ll have a press meet; we’ll make a few public appearances; we’ll be seen together. You will reside partly here, partly at my home. And if you’d like, I could hire you as a temp to work with Aunt Clara. I imagine she’d enjoy having young blood around to revive her inspiration. After our time is up, you’ll return home in better shape than you left. A month later, once I’ve done what I can at Little Key and departed for my next contract, we’ll quietly leak news of our breakup while we go about our normal lives with our reputations and sanity intact.”