The Fiancee Charade Read online

  ‘There’s single. And there’s seriously single.’

  He pursed his lips, frowning. Did women really have rules for everything? ‘The difference?’

  She crossed her arms over her breasts. ‘You can be a single person who’s looking for love and commitment, or serious about staying single and on the sex scene.’

  ‘U-huh. You’re blushing.’

  She glared up at him coldly. ‘I’m hot.’

  ‘Me too.’

  ‘I think we need a few parameters here.’ Jess swiped a stray wisp of hair back from her face. ‘You keep your steamy looks and sexual overtones for your women. I want nothing to do with them. Deal?’

  He held up his hands in front of him. ‘Fine. No sex for you.’

  Satisfaction pulled at the corners of her mouth. ‘So, let’s go and see you in action with your employees,’ she lilted, her tone lighter.

  He glanced down. ‘Later. I’ve got a prior engagement.’

  She sauntered over to his lounge. ‘I’ll wait.’

  ‘You’re coming too.’ Alex straightened his jacket and opened the office doors, watching a shadow pass over her face.

  ‘Would this by any chance be work-related?’ she asked.

  ‘Maybe not.’

  Her shoulders sagged.

  He shot her a quick look. Why would she want to hang out with him at work? It was hardly a venue to concentrate on romance.

  Alex straightened his tie, his mind darting to their destination. It would be the perfect place for the job at hand.

  He turned around and swept through the doors. This would be so good. He’d see what this woman was made of. See if she was as untouched by his charms and as principled as she made out to be.

  He couldn’t help but smile. He’d see just how far he could push her icy façade. And just what it would take to break it.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘ANY tips?’

  Jess held the mobile phone tight against her ear, trying to focus on Kath’s voice while staring out of the window of the most incredible ride of her life.

  She wanted tips? Don’t listen to best friends. Don’t confront the enemy without an escape plan. And definitely don’t get entangled in the love-life of your arch nemesis. It was dirty, messy, and it put you right in the line of fire.

  Jess glanced at Alex Calahan beside her, in the back seat of the sleek black limousine, trying not to breathe in the rich leather scent of brand spanking new indulgence, or Calahan’s annoyingly heady cologne.

  She could feel him beside her, judging her and her stupid choice of ring tone. She could still hear the sweet chords of ‘Edelweiss’ echoing around her, staining her with romantic idealism.

  Why on earth hadn’t she changed it to something tough or simple? Now he’d be thinking that she was soft, or lusting for some deep and meaningful relationship to fulfil her. She gritted her teeth. Or that she had actually enjoyed that scene in his office.

  One minute he was all sincerity about changing his womanising ways, the next oozing wicked male charisma all over her.

  She had no idea what was going on, but she knew that it was safer to be out in public with the guy than locked away in his office with that body, those eyes, his lips.

  He was a ladies’ man. He knew how to use his looks, that smile, and his deep velvet voice to evoke in a woman a mood that she had no intention of entertaining.

  She gnawed on her bottom lip. But she’d survived—despite his arrogant views. It was so obvious the only thing this guy knew was seduction…love was a mystery to him.

  She glanced at the single red rose that lay on the seat between them, focusing on where the thorns had been cut and not on the warm, fuzzy feeling it stirred within her.

  Love was a mystery to her too, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Not when so much rode on her sticking by his side to find out some dirt about him—or, better, a client that could be wooed away if she decided to play as dirty as him. And she might just need to.

  The scent of the rose touched her senses. He’d said it was typical for him to have one in the car…She wasn’t so sure—about the flower or the way Calahan was looking at her.

  Sure, the car was amazing—big and luxurious—and she could feel the decadence of just being in one. If it had been hers, she’d have been all for it. But it wasn’t, and she hated him for flaunting his wealth, his innate style and his irritating good looks.

  ‘Jess?’ Kath’s voice echoed around her eardrum, the grin obvious in her voice.

  ‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she stated manner-of-factly. ‘Thanks for asking.’ She paused. She had nothing at all to report to her colleague, despite spending over an hour in the arrogant jerk’s company. ‘No. Not at present. I have my hands full.’

  Jess couldn’t help flexing her fingers, wondering how full her hands would be around Kath’s neck. Her friend had no idea what she was going through.

  ‘Call me as soon as you have something,’ Kath urged, ringing off.

  ‘Sure,’ Jess said slowly into the phone. There had to be a quicker way to get what she wanted out of this and get away from the dangerous guy, but what?

  Her mind was blank.

  Her attention drifted back to the man beside her in his designer tailored suit, with that blue silk tie that matched his sparkling eyes.

  She gripped the phone tighter. ‘I can’t right now,’ she murmured, lowering her tone and her voice. ‘I’m working.’

  She turned her body further away from Calahan’s, covering the phone a little more with her hand. ‘No, silly,’ she lilted. ‘Later, okay?’ She faked the pause for effect. ‘Love you. Bye.’

  She rang off and leant back in the seat, a soft smile creeping onto her lips. That should give him the message that she was unavailable if he had any strange ideas about this arrangement.

  Dammit. Why was she even here? Jess stared out of the window, biting the soft flesh on the inside of her cheek. The last thing she wanted to do was help the man in any way or form.

  ‘Boyfriend?’

  She crossed her legs and glanced out at the buildings passing, trying to keep her face impassive as the thrill of success raced through her. ‘Maybe.’

  ‘None of my business?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ She picked up the rose and toyed with the petals of the perfect bloom between her fingers. Now she was safe from him and she could get back to business. ‘I wish I could say that I’m impressed by the limo, and the rose…’

  He straightened his tie. ‘And you can’t…why?’

  She gave a soft shrug, delighted that he’d fallen for the bait. There was nothing she wanted more than to tear into him, taking the focus off her body’s traitorous responses. ‘Apart from them being blatant ways to advertise your wealth and skill in seduction?’

  ‘Wealth—yes. I concede that my limo may be construed as advertising my affluence and success—’

  ‘And your office, and your suit. Hell, your entire demeanour screams money.’ She couldn’t help but turn to him, raising one of her eyebrows to emphasise her point, and her scorn for him…she hoped.

  He didn’t miss a beat. ‘But the rose can’t be classified as a skill in seduction. The rose—’ he took it from her, turning the bloom in his hand ‘—is simply romantic.’

  He could be right. But she wasn’t going to concede to him, or to her heart, which rolled over in her chest, all warm and tingly. She swallowed hard.

  ‘You wouldn’t know romance if someone hit you over the head with it.’ She turned in her seat to face him, steeling herself. ‘Come on. You didn’t pick it out. It isn’t an impromptu way to show the woman in your life the way you feel—it’s planned, a manipulation, a tried and true method that’s become part of your routine to give the illusion of romance.’

  He touched his chin, his eyes suspiciously bright. ‘Perhaps.’

  She snatched the rose from his grasp and scolded him with it, waving it up and down. ‘You’re a lazy dater,’ she accused. ‘Most womanisers are. They get
into a routine that works for them and a woman is just the prey, the target, rather than someone with feelings and personality who wants to be romanced by a man they think may be the one to touch their hearts and make their lives mean more.’

  ‘Is that cynicism or romanticism that I hear?’

  She raised her eyebrows. She’d said too much—again. She shrugged and looked out of the window as they pulled up to a pier. ‘Take it as you will. But I think you’d be wise to admit that you really don’t mean to change your ways at all.’

  She stared out at the boats, vividly aware of Calahan sitting still beside her, his presence filling the space, making it hard to breathe, her words hanging in the air.

  ‘I’m doing the best I can. What about you?’ Calahan’s voice was deep and soft. ‘You sound like you talk from experience.’

  She swallowed hard, shaking her head. If he thought he could intimidate her into explaining her little outburst, how Dean had affected her life, he was sadly mistaken.

  He was the last man on earth she’d tell anything to.

  Jess held on to the side of the motorboat and breathed in the fresh salty air. She turned to Alexander Calahan, determined not to show him one shred of the weakness she felt filling her stomach. ‘You have a meeting here?’

  The luxury cruiser they were coming alongside had to be at least a hundred feet long…the sparkling white hull loomed like a wall above them.

  Her heart lurched in her chest. This was a yacht and a half. She dragged in another deep breath and calmed herself.

  It didn’t matter that Calahan wasn’t going to dish the dirt on what he was up to…that he might be genuine in his pursuit of a bride and wasn’t guilty of anything other than being a jerk.

  There had to be some good come from it. Cripes, maybe whoever he was meeting would be looking for new representation, a fresh look at their advertising needs.

  Jess couldn’t help but glance across at him, at his wide shoulders, his tall, imposing presence, feeling his innate charisma shooting from him.

  Dammit.

  She mentally crossed her fingers and toes that this stupid meeting would give her what Kath needed to get them on track—and give her enough reason to abandon ship and get away from him.

  All was fair in business.

  Calahan moved past her, tossing a rope to the steward on the small jetty at the back of the boat.

  Jess could feel the weight of his success pressing in on her, his arrogance, his power, and a feeling of insignificance filled her as they pulled the boat in and tied it off.

  Calahan stepped forward, gesturing for her to go first as though he was actually a gentleman.

  She didn’t want any kindness or consideration from this guy…only justice.

  He’d rue the day he ever messed with her family.

  She looked to Calahan again, smiling at her as though he had nothing to fear from flaunting his rich clients in her face.

  She gritted her teeth, vividly aware of his gaze on her. He was enjoying this too much. He knew she was interested in whose boat it was, knew she wanted to know and was teasing her.

  ‘Who on earth are you meeting?’ she asked as calmly as she could manage, stepping onto the boat gingerly and climbing the back ladder.

  The ship was awesome. It was all she could do to keep from bursting out of her skin. She scanned the decks but couldn’t see anyone around that might indicate who she and Kath were about to steal away from the Calahan empire.

  ‘Mr Calahan, we’ve been expecting you,’ the man said cheerily behind her.

  Her heart pounded in her chest, thundering the primitive call of revenge through her body. The staff obviously knew Calahan well, so the client had to be close to the jerk. What a coup that would be…to steal a big, rich client right out from under his nose.

  The deck was timber, smooth and polished, and large enough to hold a dance. Calahan strode across it without faltering. Jess followed behind.

  The stateroom was as incredible as the sheer size and luxury of the boat. Jess’s feet sank into the rich plush pile rug. A grand piano stood in the corner, and the long windows along the sides of the boat sported amazing views across the bay.

  Several men and a stout woman stood in a line to one side of the room behind a rich cream lounge suite that was placed strategically to accentuate the bar. The suite was empty.

  ‘It’s great to be here.’ Calahan dropped into a seat. ‘Could we have a drink, perhaps? Then we’ll get down to business.’

  A steward bowed and went to the bar while the others stood quietly.

  Calahan turned to Jess. ‘What would you like?’

  She glanced from the staff to Calahan, her mind scrambling for the significance of his familiarity with these people. ‘I’d like to know what’s going on. Who are you meeting here?’

  Calahan swept his hand along the assembled staff members.

  Who would come all this way to meet someone’s staff? She jerked her chin up, meeting his grin, realisation dawning. ‘This is your boat.’ The words burst from her mouth, her heart sinking in her chest.

  He nodded, his grin widening.

  ‘You dragged me all the way out here to show off your big boat?’ All that agony and anticipation, the dreams of pinching a big client from him…wasted.

  ‘Much as you’d like to think everything is about you…no. I came to instruct my staff on the preparations for the Saturday night party I’m having here.’

  ‘Business?’

  ‘Yes, and a bit of pleasure. But with clients, yes.’

  She nodded. Wouldn’t Kath love to be a fly on a wall at that party?

  ‘Could Miss Thompson and I have a few minutes alone?’ he said softly, his voice rich and deep and far too sexy for her liking. ‘Thanks, guys.’

  Jess watched the staff file out of the room. A tightness in her chest was making it hard to breathe. This was ridiculous. She’d escaped from an office surrounded by hundreds of people to be on a boat in the middle of the harbour with five.

  She looked around her, her pulse skittering. She had to find something to say to rile him up, to change that look in his eyes to anything else other than the gleam that shone there.

  She clasped her hands together. ‘I’m sorry for jumping to erroneous assumptions…So, there’s no client here?’ She felt the large room shrinking, his gaze solely on her, her lungs tight and her stomach fluttering. ‘But, tell me, do you bring your women here?’

  He nodded, accepting a drink from his steward.

  ‘Don’t think the gesture is wasted on me.’ She took the proffered drink, not caring what was in it. She gulped back the contents, gasped, and swallowed hard. Just keep talking. ‘I’m sure your women are as impressed as I am by your deep pockets and lavish lifestyle…pity you’re still compensating.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘I’m meant to know?’ She lifted an eyebrow, sauntering to a window and looking out at the water of the bay, her heart pounding in her chest. ‘But I’d have to punt that you’re making up for not having a personality.’

  He jerked to his feet. ‘What?’

  She turned to face him, the pieces dropping into place in her mind like a slot machine. ‘You have nothing to offer a woman except your money, your appearance of power and your status. Which is great for affairs, but not so great when it comes to commitment.’

  He stood staring at her.

  ‘That’s why you can’t keep women around. That’s why you go through them so fast. And that’s why you have to resort to articles in magazines to find a bride rather than good old-fashioned romance and love.’

  ‘Really?’ he growled deeply, reducing the distance between them, his eyes flashing fire. ‘And what gives you the right—?’

  She smiled sweetly, ignoring the danger. ‘You did.’

  He pulled up short, raking his hand through his hair. ‘Why I did I have no idea. You’re obviously unmoved by every romantic sentiment.’

  ‘Me?’ Jess glared at the man. ‘You are the
one that insists on cheapening your relationships by keeping them as superficial and as meaningless as you possibly can.’

  ‘And if I was serious about a woman…?’

  She widened her eyes. Was she talking to the biggest idiot on the planet? Did he really have no idea?

  She stepped forward and stabbed him in the chest with her index finger. ‘You’d romance her. Not with big boats and limos and splashing the cash around. By spending time with her, just talking—no fancy props. Long walks and quiet meals, where all that matters is that you share as much as you can with her.’

  ‘Is that all?’

  ‘No. Dammit it, Calahan, haven’t you ever let a woman into your life? Brought her home to your place for a romantic dinner? Taken her to meet your parents? Shown her that there’s a place for her in your life and that you need her?’

  A smile tugged at his mouth. ‘So you are romantic.’

  Jess shook her head, the pressure inside her chest threatening to explode. How had he managed to twist this back round to her? ‘We’re not talking about me.’

  Calahan leant back on the lounge. ‘But you’re a woman, so you should know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Gee-whiz, thanks.’

  ‘Okay,’ Calahan said, clapping his hands together and rubbing them, as he had done earlier.

  Jess stared at him, the heat seeping from her body. He couldn’t mean that he didn’t need her now. She hadn’t got what she wanted—far from it.

  But how could she convince him to let her stick around after everything she’d said to him?

  And did she really want to?

  CHAPTER SIX

  HE WAS certainly getting his money’s worth. This woman was amazing, infuriating, and downright exasperating.

  He hadn’t had a more enjoyable time in ages.

  Maybe he’d got a bit carried away with her, pushed a little too much, but the result spoke for itself. He’d found out more about this woman in the last five minutes than he had in the last hour.

  Alex could see that she was different, that his efforts to soften her up towards him with the limo and the boat had proved futile.