He purposely left off mentioning he liked her, because the appreciation he had for her had grown even stronger after her lie. Never in his life had anyone cared enough to try to help him like that. When his father died, and he’d been in a dark abyss of grief and shame, all his friends had abandoned him the second it became clear he wouldn’t be paying for their drinks anymore. He’d been alone, struggling with guilt, for almost six years now.
And she’d jumped to his defense, like no one else ever had, tying them to each other in unexpected ways. His mother was every bit as ruthless as she let on. If she wanted to get Maggie fired, she would. Unless he did something. Unless he saved her. And he would. If there was one thing he’d inherited from his mother, it was her ruthlessness.
She took her turn at pacing, with short, agitated steps. Pressing her thumb against her mouth, she nibbled on the nail, clearly upset. It was so strange to be able to read her so easily, since he lived in a world of masks and fake smiles. “But we have next to nothing in common. Your family is as different from mine as night is from day.”
“Night and day aren’t that different, when you think about it. Both are ruled by a bright, round object in the sky. And both end in order for the other to begin.” He stepped into her path, stopping her pacing, and caught her arms gently. Her skin was soft under his hold, and when she glanced up at him, every nerve in his body focused on her. “It’s all about teamwork. And I, for one, think we’d make an excellent team.”
“But—” She rested her hands on his chest then quickly jerked them back, leaving behind a searing heat. “Sorry. So sorry.”
If there was one thing she didn’t need to apologize for, it was touching him. Every small caress, every soft stroke, reminded him what it was to be alive, instead of just living. And he didn’t want to let that go yet. “I’ll pay you,” he blurted out. “Twenty thousand dollars.”
“Wha—?” She choked on nothing, falling into a coughing fit.
“Thirty.”
She coughed even harder, wheezing.
He patted her back, and by the time she was able to breathe again, he was prepared to pay even more, if that was what it took to get her to agree to be his fiancée. He’d never been so certain of anything in his life as he was of this. It wouldn’t even be hard to pretend he’d fallen for Maggie. He looked forward to having an excuse to spend time with her. For all intents and purposes, he’d be her…lover.
He would be expected to kiss her. Hold her. Touch her. That was enough to make pretending to feel that foreign emotion called “love” well worth it.
She finally recovered from her surprise, shaking her head. He opened his mouth to up his offer, but she beat him to it. “I can’t–won’t—take money from you to continue a lie that I initiated in the first place,” she finally said, her brow creased in a scowl. “You insult me by insinuating I would.”
What? No one ever turned down his money. Ever. He scratched his head, not sure where to go from here. “But—”
“No.” She shook her head furiously. “Absolutely not.”
He dragged his hands down his face, not sure how to deal with someone who wasn’t out to profit from the situation. If she didn’t want his money, what could he offer her?
Nothing. That’s what.
He eyed her, trying to get a read but failing. “What will it take to get you to agree, then?”
“Not money,” she spat, crossing her arms. “You can’t buy me.”
He held his hands up. “Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m used to… Most people wouldn’t turn down money. Actually, most people would have asked for more before ‘reluctantly’ agreeing.”
“Then you obviously hang out with the wrong people.” She shook her head. “And that’s just sad.”
Sad? Maybe. But he didn’t give a damn about any of them, and they didn’t give a shit about him. So he certainly wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. “I said this before, but we make a good team, Maggie.”
“We do,” she said softly. “That’s exactly what I’m scared of, because I don’t want to mess that up, like I inevitably would. Pretending to love someone—”
That wasn’t the first time she mentioned “messing up” in the area of her private life. “Let me guess. You and love don’t get along?”
She blinked. “No.”
“Well, I wouldn’t recognize love if cupid shot me with a heart-tipped arrow straight through the chest. So we’re the perfect match. Neither of us will get attached, because we both have no interest in doing so, therefore no one will get hurt.” He caught her chin again, tilting her face up to his. “Please do this for me? For us?”
She locked eyes with him, swaying closer. The magnetism between them was undeniable, and he was getting pulled under her spell again. His blood rushed through his veins, heading down south to his already hard cock. Her pink lips called to him, beckoning him to take another taste. This time, nothing would stop him from taking it.