The Fiancee Charade. Darcy Maguire

      It shouldn’t be like this—shouldn’t be just words. It should be so much more. He deserved so much more. How could a few choice curses make up for what he’d done to her and her family?

      His sensuous mouth tipped at the corners, his blue eyes smiling at her. ‘Yes?’

      She tore her attention away from him and stared at the ceiling, struggling to stay in control. She took a gulp of air and dropped her gaze back to his, which was glittering with amusement.

      It was like a punch in the gut. He was laughing at her! Probably thought she was keen to worship the ground he walked on, that she was just another bimbo wanting to join his fan club, or—worse—he thought she was in love with him.

      The concept raked at her.

      She lurched the remaining distance, then stumbled, her hand jerking. Kath’s fruit cocktail drenched his chest and splattered his face.

      Jess sucked in a quick breath. ‘You…you rotten, self-serving, malicious, manipulating, arrogant jerk!’

      CHAPTER TWO

      ALEX stared at the young woman in front of him, the droplets of her drink running down his jaw, the damp patch on his shirt sending mixed signals.

      Did he deserve that? Probably.

      Did he know her? Must.

      He stroked his jaw, wiping off the moisture, running through the possibilities. But for the life of him he couldn’t place her. He was sure he’d remember this woman. She was too fine, too sassy, and far too brazen to forget.

      Long chestnut-coloured hair fell around her shoulders with stunning blonde streaks that gave the impression that she spent a lot of time in the sun. It was loose and free, like the words that had burst from her mouth. And what a mouth. Her lips were full and alluring, sending sharp bolts of desire hurtling through his body.

      She appeared to be office material, but she wasn’t wearing a shirt under the white waistcoat she wore—a bit of a turn-on—and the skirt was tight around her hips and thighs, enticing his imagination as to the perfection of the body underneath.

      Alex raised his gaze to meet her large emerald green eyes, wide and sizzling.

      If he knew her, he would go all out to make up for his mistake—including not recalling her. If he didn’t, he’d change her mind about him…so he could experience that sharp tongue and passion first hand.

      ‘Do I know you?’ he offered, focusing only on the beautiful stranger, subtly aware of the stir of his colleagues behind him.

      ‘I…I—’ she choked, looking away from him to the floor. ‘I’m—’ she started backing away ‘—not…sorry.’

      ‘If I’ve done anything to upset you I’d really like to sort it out.’ He tipped his head, trying to catch that fiery look in her emerald-green eyes.

      Never had he seen such passion in someone’s eyes. It was as though she was going to throw herself into his arms—or kill him. Either way, she seemed far more exciting to consider than another Friday dinner meeting with his executives.

      Hell, he could really do with something a bit more challenging than this everyday routine he was drowning in.

      She lifted her chin suddenly, staring him straight in the eyes unflinchingly. ‘Really? You’d like to sort out my problems?’

      He couldn’t fight smiling. He loved helping women, solving their problems and making their lives easier. And they were so welcoming to his knight-in-shining-armour gestures. ‘Sure—it’s not every day that a beautiful woman comes up to me and initiates a conversation like this.’

      Her nod was almost imperceptible.

      He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, rocking his weight back on his heels. ‘Maybe I can buy you another drink?’

      She straightened tall, her full red lips pressed tightly together. ‘I don’t think so.’ She backed away, straightening her jacket.

      ‘Who are you?’ he asked, taking a step towards the beauty in front of him.

      This couldn’t be all there’d be between them…she’d approached him. Alex straightened his tie, watching her carefully, his mind abuzz. What was happening? He was smiling, he was charming, he was saying all the right things and he looked okay… ‘What’s this all about?’

      ‘I—’ she started, and a shadow passed over her face.

      He moved closer to her, the call to answer the mystery of this woman throbbing through him, the strange pull in his chest impelling his legs to move, to follow. ‘Let’s sit down somewhere quiet and talk about this…us.’

      She jerked her chin up, her eyes flashing fire. ‘I’m from…Women Against Womanisers,’ she said, pursing her lips and nodding strongly. ‘Just doing my bit.’

      All thought left his mind.

      Alex stared at the woman, words failing him.

      A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.

      ‘What on earth was that about?’ Lucas asked, stepping forward and slapping his hand on Alex’s shoulder.

      ‘I have no idea.’ He forced his feet to move. ‘But there’s not a doubt in my mind—she’s just what I need.’

      Jess walked directly to Kath, trying not to break into a run. She could hardly breathe, hardly think for the jumble of words in her head, the heat in her cheeks, the pounding in her ears.

      What had possessed her to be sucked in by Kath’s needling and march up to the one man in the world she’d had no intention of being anywhere near?

      Kath swung around on her stool, feigning innocence with wide eyes and raised brows. ‘How’d it go?’

      Jess threw up her hands, her stomach tossing as the conversation flooded back to her—every word of her crazed babbling crashing into his calm responses. ‘Don’t ask.’

      ‘It looked good.’

      Jess shook her head. How could a person with four years worth of hatred, wimping out in the face of her evil nemesis, look good?

      Her cheeks burned. How was she going to exact her revenge on the guy with a shred of dignity now he knew she was the total twit who’d lost it, tossed a drink on him and spoken absolute rubbish to him?

      Women Against Womanisers? Where had that come from? Sure, if such an organisation existed she’d be the first to sign up—giving support to other women who’d been screwed over by men. And there’d be a lot.

      She bit her bottom lip. She just hoped he believed it, and forgot all about her.

      Jess straightened her jacket, willing her pulse to slow. It was over. So over. And there was no way she was going to be eating anywhere tonight—least of all here. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

      ‘Did you get it all off your chest?’ Kath stood up slowly, her gaze probing Jess’s face. ‘You have to feel better now that’s over?’

      ‘Sure,’ Jess choked, looking towards the front door, hoping she sounded more convincing than she felt. ‘I told him.’

      Kath hooked her handbag over her shoulder, tipping her head to one side, looking past Jess as though she wasn’t there. ‘I don’t know…I don’t think you made your point very clearly at all.’

      Jess sucked in a deep breath. ‘You weren’t there. You have no idea.’ So she’d barely scratched the surface. But now wasn’t the time. She had to work out a way to get their company playing ball with the big guys, to get the clients that Alex Calahan coveted and to drive him broke—as he deserved.

      ‘So, if you saw Calahan again…?’