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“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.”
Well, sanity may be doubtful when I’m inviting this chaotic woman into my life for a few months.
She gazes at the ring, then looks at me, her eyes shining as she lights up with the brightest smile I’ve seen yet.
“Okay. Deal!”
“Then get dressed, please.” I push my chair back and stand, dusting off my clothes and straightening the creases in my slacks. “Unless you have appropriate wear for meeting the press, I’ll need to take you shopping immediately.”
“Oh my Gawd,” Miss Joly mumbles, pressing her face into her hands. “You guys have both lost your ever-fucking minds.”
“And isn’t it delightful?” Jacqueline chuckles.
V
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE SUN
(ELLE)
See? I told you there was a bright side to everything.
Okay. Sure. Maybe Lena’s right.
Maybe this is absolutely batshit insane.
But it’s also crazy cool.
