"I'm sorry," he exhales, and my eyes catch him tugging on the hem of his suit jacket. "I didn't mean," he turns when someone calls him and then back to me, "do you think we could go somewhere and talk?""I won't take much of your time. I promise."I want to. I desperately want to hear all the excuses he has to give."Mira needs me," I say instead, remembering that I was on the phone with her before I saw him. "I have to go."Connor nods and steps to the side to let me pass. My heart sinks in disappointment when he doesn't try to stop or walk alongside me. He just...hangs back, as if what we had wasn't worth fighting for.Hot tears fall down my cheeks, and I wipe them away, practicing my smile so Mira doesn't notice that my mood has shifted. I meet her behind the building, where she's changed into a different dress.Red, strapless, and short. And she looks—"You're stunning, Mira," I tell her. "You look amazing. Ken is a very lucky man. Tell him he's going to have to pay for taking you
Mira's idea of a small after-party had to be the equivalent of putting me in a tight spot. We piled into cars, nine of us in five vehicles, and headed to a bar.I was the only one without a ride-along because everyone suddenly had a partner. She wanted to call it off at the last minute, but I assured her I was fine.I'm not bitter about everyone being a couple, but I'm the only one fresh out of a public engagement.I was lying through my teeth and it was not my best performance, but she was too happy to see it. Just like she forgot to mention that Connor would be attending because I'm seated at a table for two like everyone else, staring at my half-full glass when he walks in.Walks up to me and asks—"Is this seat taken?""What are you doing here?" I ask, cocking my head and glaring at him.He turns to Mira, who is tongue-deep in her husband, and then turns back to me."Mira? We met after the reception, and she said I could come. It's supposed to be a small gathering for friends."I
"I don't know if I deserve a second chance. But I promise that what I feel for you is real. I love you, and you're the only one for me. I'm your stubborn, flightless bird, and you're the smart, beautiful woman who took my heart by storm. You are my undoing.""So, if you give me a second chance, I promise I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I promise."Looking into his eyes, I see the depth of emotion and regret in them. I also see sincerity and the spark of a promise that won't die. The tears fall faster now."How can I say no?" My voice breaks as I speak, "My heart belongs to you. But," I raise a finger when he moves in to kiss me, "if we are going to do this, you have to promise that you won't make any more hurried conclusions. Ever.""If you have doubts, you come to me first. If we have problems, we work it out, we don't avoid each other."He hurriedly nods his head, grinning from ear to ear."I promise," he says earnestly. "You have my whole heart, Evelyn Lockhart.
Sweet, but sassy Felicia Hayford needs her inheritance. And the only way she can get it is to get a husband by her twenty-fifth birthday, or kiss it goodbye.She's worked hard all her life, and needs a layoff. When she gets abandoned at the altar on her wedding day, she enlists the help of her billionaire next-door neighbor and best friend Collins Donovan to help her out.Collins have been best friends with Felicia since they were practically in diapers, and when he learns she's abandoned at the altar, he's pissed. She's running out of time, and with no options left, he offers her a solution.A temporary fake marriage.No attachments. Just putting up a believable act so Felicia could get her inheritance.Except living under the same roof together doesn't turn out easy as either of them expected.Fake kisses slowly starts turning real, and late-night talks turn into stolen, forbidden moments.It's a delicious danger, the path they're towing.But all arrangements have an expiry date. On
I blink as Collins sounds almost angry. His gorgeous blue eyes look intense, and he has a heavy frown. With his dark hair and those eyes, Collins is the sexiest man I know. He’s big, easily over six feet, and has a body that looks like he spends all of his time in a gym.When I moved in about two years ago and heard the loud rumble of his motorcycle, I thought he would be an arrogant jerk. Instead, he helps with all the repairs and never complains about my many plants. He loves my cooking. He’s a good friend, but only a friend. No matter how many wet dreams I’ve had about him.I avoid his accusing eyes and look down at my failure of a wedding dress.I hate it! The dress my aunt and cousin picked out for me has a full skirt with layers of ruffles that go from my waist to the floor. The ruffles over-emphasize my full hips, and the cut and style of the dress look horrible on me. The top is not made for a full-figured girl, and you can’t tell I have a waist in this awkwardly designed dres
“Marry me.”Felicia blinks her big dark eyes. She looks stunned.“Marry you?”“Well, you don’t have to sound so shocked by the thought.”“But why would you be willing to do that for me? You don’t need the money. You’re already rich. Your family is worth what now? Billions?”“What does my being rich have to do with anything? Of course, I’m willing to do this for you. We’re friends, Felicia. Good friends. We could get married temporarily so that you can collect your inheritance.”“Collins, the stipulation states I must be married an entire year before I get the money. The stock shares transfer immediately, though.”“We’d have to remain married for an entire year?”“Yes, for me to receive my full inheritance. A lump sum of five million dollars. I also have my monthly trust fund.”I watch Collins stand up and then walk back and forth as he thinks over what I said. He turns toward me.“Alright. For you to get five million, I can commit to one full year. Once you get your inheritance, we co
“Aunt Gloria, Uncle Vincent. This is Collins Donovan–”“Explain yourself, young lady. You just walked away from your only chance at getting married.”“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Collins says casually.At his words, both my aunt and uncle glance his way. I watch my aunt’s lips tighten even further when her gaze rakes over Collins’s biker leathers and boots.“Explain what you mean by that remark,” my aunt states waspishly.Collins takes his time answering as he looks from one to the other; he then wraps his arm possessively around my waist and pulls me close to him.“Felicia and I are getting married. We’d invite you to the wedding, but it will be very small and intimate. Probably just us two.”I see my aunt’s eyes narrow as she looks at Collins with a suspicious look.“And just what are you getting out of this deal? What did Felicia promise you? Money, I suppose?” she questions with a sneer.“She’ll be promising to love, honor, and cherish me. I would go with obey, but that’s too ol
“Do you, Collins Alfred Donovan, take Felicia Allen Hayford as your lawfully wedded wife?” the preacher states in a Georgia drawl.“I do.”I listen to Felicia as she quietly states, “I do,” and then we’re pledging our vows.Soon, the wedding ceremony is over, and the preacher states, “You may kiss the bride.”I take a nervous Felicia into my arms and then lean down to give her a quick kiss to seal the deal.She’s so close I can smell her flowery perfume. It’s the scent she always wears: lily, lilac, or something like that.My lips touch hers, and all thought of my promise not to touch her goes out of my head. I’ve thought about kissing Felicia. Hell, I’ve thought about throwing her down on the ground and just taking her period. I mean all those sexy curves and her lush ass. It would be heaven.Why haven’t I? Because her friendship means more to me than a damn quickie. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship for lust.Yet, I knew kissing Felicia would be perfect. I just didn’t think