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Dirty, hot, and heavy one second and all prim and proper the next. She wanted to laugh at herself and didn’t want to think about what he must think about her.
She was a private person and liked to keep things that way, but that didn’t mean she was shy.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and his palm slid against hers. With effortless moves, he guided them in a flourish of turns, dips, and tight holds.
Every time her body came to rest against his, the swell of his cock grew harder.
“Is there anything you’re not good at?” she asked shakily.
He slowed and looked down at her, her gaze captivated by his. He didn’t move to answer for a moment as though he had to search.
“Plenty, sweetheart. I’m not too good at asking for permission or waiting for answers. I take what I want and find the answers I need as I go.” He looked none too abashed by his admittance; confidence rolling off him.
He drew out the sweet endearment with a drawl that hooked her heart and gave a few tugs. She’d been called sweetheart, babe, honey and any other plethora of nicknames by men, but when Marshall did it, there was meaning behind it. He had used the nickname since the day they’d met and each time the emotion behind it grew. Or at least she hoped and it wasn’t her imagination playing games with her heart.
“I got that earlier, back in the boardroom.”
“How is it that some lucky SOB hasn’t already swooped in and stolen your heart away, Ms. Winters?”
She liked the low tone his voice took. Sunlight faded to dusk over the city and the soft lighting of the few lamps dotted around the office lent a romantic vibe to the room. If she wasn’t careful, she might believe in love at first sight after all.
“Timing, I guess, and the aforementioned rules.”
“No one has managed to make the cut, huh?” He twirled her to a flourish guitar strums and pulled her back into his solid hold.
Not until now. But she didn’t dare give a voice to the little demon on her shoulder. It would only cause more trouble.
Head back, she looked into his gaze. “Not yet, I guess. I’m still holding out hope. Not a lot of men can give a good spanking.” Her gaze dropped a fraction. He lowered his head to level his eyes with hers. His hand moved from her waist to cup her cheek.
“Juniper, I meant what I said, baby. I want you as my bride. Will—”
She searched his eyes, her heart lodged in her throat.
“Hey, Marshall, do you have a minute? Oh!”
Stella burst through the open door and the bubble of magic that had swept them up and cut Marshall off to bury them in a sand storm of hard truths.
She was a temporary fix if she agreed to go with the ruse. Nothing more. He was not actually asking her to marry him.
But still, foolish hope lingered no matter how much truth she drilled into her head. “Stella.” She pulled out of Marshall’s arms and nearly tripped when her heel caught on the carpet.
Marshall steadied her with a gentle hand on her elbow. She turned and smiled, not daring a look in his eyes. He saw too much, too deep.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
“No, it’s nothing. Really. We were just talking,” Juniper assured Stella, putting a little distance between her and Marshall.
Curious, Juniper dared a quick look at Marshall, who glared at his sister with a high degree of annoyance.
“I see he told you.” Stella’s cheeks warmed and it took a second for Juniper to catch up to what she meant. “I hope you don’t hate me too much for the little lie of saying I was his bride when he first went to your business.” Stella cringed and Juniper didn’t know how she didn’t see it sooner. The second they walked into her shop really. Though the color of their hair was completely opposite, the unique shade of blue to their irises should have sent up some waving flags.
“It’s forgotten.” She dashed away the worry. “It’s nothing. Truly. I understand. Hopefully, we’ll fix that and get Marshall a real fiancée by morning.” She crossed her fingers and smiled though her heart wasn’t in it.
“Yeah, I know all this has put you in a real pickle. How did the board take it? Did they buy it?”
Juniper felt more than saw Marshall ease back from her and she turned to see him drag a hand through his hair as he reclaimed his office chair. His expression masked behind the wall of a CEO again. She came to realize he did that when he had something on his mind and wanted no one the wiser. She could guess what troubled him now without a peek behind the curtain.
He huffed. “The board is calm. For now. I’m working on it.” His voice turned icy and he returned to leafing through papers on his desk.
