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She could never ask Ward. He might be her stepfather, but he loved her like his own. And this was a big ask.
“Say the word and it's done, Bell,” Knox said.
Bell.
That’s what her brothers called her. Or ding-a-ling if they were trying to get a rise out of her. It worked.
Damn them.
“I need your help in finding someone to marry,” Bella announced.
Knox began coughing. “Excuse me?” More coughing. Then, “Fucking hell, Bella.”
The driver pulled up at her building and she waited for him to open the door.
“Thank you,” she said, giving him a smile, then strode inside the building. The elevator thankfully opened immediately, and she stepped in. “Come on, Knox. I have three months. You know what’s at stake here.”
“Then get on Tinder.”
“Fine, I’m asking Atlas.” She grinned into the empty space.
“Are you shitting me? You are not being set up with any of his friends. Nor mine.” She went to speak, but Knox continued. “OR Levi. Especially Levi’s friends.”
Bella sighed and exited the elevator, walking down the hall to her apartment. She unlocked the door and flicked on the lamp as she entered. Tossing her YSL purse on the coffee table, she slumped down onto the sofa.
“It won’t be real. I’ll get legal documents drawn up, and it can be a proper business partnership. I’ll be protected. Not like Mom,” she explained.
“Smart. But I still don’t like it,” Knox replied firmly.
Bella stuffed a cushion under her head, her body aching in delicious ways she didn’t want to think about while she was speaking to her brother. But she couldn’t ignore it. Or the tiny cut on the corner of her lips where Blake had broken her skin with his harsh, demanding goodbye kiss.
It stung.
Which seemed appropriate as the two of them stared at each other hungrily as the door of the elevator between them closed. Blake had pulled his Tom Ford pants over his still hard cock, his hands in his pockets and bare chest gleaming.
Bella had nearly pushed all the buttons to open it. And maybe he’d seen her hesitation because she was sure she saw his body tilt forward as if he was going to do the same thing.
But the steel doors had closed.
Which was why she had run out of the apartment building and into his waiting car as fast as she could. Being with Blake had been far too amazing and he would only delay her doing what she needed to do.
Find a business partner to marry.
And get her family legacy back.
Anyway, like a rich liquor you should only have from time to time or a luxury chocolate dessert you treat yourself to on your birthday, Blake Dufort was a one-night man.
Not a man you expected a ring from.
He had choices most people on earth didn’t.
He certainly wasn’t suitable for the arrangement she was looking for. His family were wealthy businessmen, sure, but Blake was charming and clever. He’d want far more than she was willing to offer.
And she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t fall for him.
After Cain, she wouldn’t do that again.
Bella needed someone looking to benefit from her offer. Someone who understood the extreme confidentiality of the partnerships, her limits, and expectations of the contract.
