The Fiancee Charade. Darcy Maguire

followed a step behind. ‘You can.’

      She swung around to face her friend. ‘What did you do? Did you wake up this morning and decide that today you were going to destroy my life?’

      ‘You’re being melodramatic. This is going to save us.’ Kath linked her arm in hers, grinning. ‘Our prayers have been answered.’

      Jess sighed. ‘I don’t think I can deliberately go and steal his clients…’ That would make her no better than him, and if there was one thing she never wanted, it was to be like Alexander Calahan.

      ‘What about you just get some dirt on the guy, then?’ Kath leant close. ‘You said yourself that the article had to be a lie. Get the proof.’

      ‘That would put a spanner in the works,’ she said slowly, mulling over the idea, feeling a weight lifting from her shoulders at the thought that she could do some good.

      ‘There’s no other way we can put one there.’

      What could she say to that? Kath was right. This was a boon and a half. She just wished it didn’t involve her going anywhere near the man she loathed.

      ‘It’ll be fine. You’ll love it. You can point out all the guy’s faults and get paid for it too.’

      Jess bit her lip, her body chilling. ‘But that would mean the article is genuine, wouldn’t it? If he really wants to change himself?’

      ‘Could be just another stunt?’

      ‘Yes.’ Kath was right. Cripes, it was what they’d come to expect from the guy—and if she was going to have to spend time with the handsome jerk she was going to make it count.

      She’d spent long enough keeping score. It was time she took a shot herself.

      Alexander Calahan wouldn’t know what hit him.

      CHAPTER THREE

      ‘WHAT the hell is this?’ Lucas slapped the magazine down on the desk between them. ‘Have you gone mad? You’ve got everything. Why throw it all away by getting married?’

      Alex shrugged. ‘You may be happy living the bachelor life indefinitely, but I, personally, am getting tired of it.’

      His friend leant forward, leaning heavily on his desk. ‘How? You’re rich, you’re pretty good-looking, and you’ve got every woman in the city falling all over you. Why mess with perfection?’

      Alex shrugged. ‘I need more. I’m bored.’ And his thirty-third birthday had been a turning point in his life—his father had been married by this age; it was time to step his life up another notch.

      He swivelled the magazine around to face him. Declaring his new intentions to the women of the city would give him a head start. They’d know he was seriously thinking about settling down, so when he found one who touched him deeply she’d know he was serious.

      And in the meantime he had Jess.

      He leant back in the seat opposite Lucas, letting his gaze wander around the man’s office as his mind wandered over Jess again.

      She was all woman—stubborn, but seriously sexy, with that long loose hair, as though she had no restrictions in her life. Her attempt at conservative clothing had taunted him with the passionate woman that pulsed underneath, just waiting for the right man.

      What a challenge.

      But not his. She was coming for one reason and for one reason only: to show him the art of a sincere seeker of love.

      His blood warmed at the thought of seeing her again, his mind playing with him as he wondered what she’d be like. As forceful as last time? Or gentler, more understanding, as her realisation of his wanting to move to the next step in relationships sank in?

      He tipped back on his chair. The woman had no business hating him—she didn’t even know him. Yet.

      Alex folded his hands behind his neck. He would remedy that—and find out what in hell made the woman tick.

      He couldn’t wait to see her—start bending her to his charms, softening her heart…

      He shook himself. No. That wasn’t the idea.

      He looked at his watch. Time was moving too slowly today. Hell, for the last five days. Why had he thought he could wait so long before his lessons began?

      Logic ruled that the woman probably had a life to reschedule, but the waiting was killing him. It was hard to imagine he could be doing anything wrong—anything that would put a woman off falling head over heels in love with him—but for some reason it just wasn’t happening.

      Lucas stood up and stalked across his office, stroking his goatee. ‘You’re delusional. The last thing you need in your life is a wife.’

      ‘You’re wrong, Lucas.’ Alex shook his head, kicking back in the chair and lifting his feet onto his friend’s desk. ‘I need a woman. A lover. A mate. I need to put the sort of time and commitment into a relationship that I have into building this business.’

      ‘No. You’ve had plenty of relationships and look at you. Still single.’ Lucas inclined his head. ‘And still smiling.’

      Alex swung his feet down to the floor and stood up, smoothing down his trousers and buttoning his jacket. ‘I’m not smiling when I go home to an empty apartment.’

      ‘Get a dog.’

      ‘I have a dog. It’s time for me to marry.’ Alex strode to the door.

      And it was time to show his father he could do better than him in his personal life—as he had in his business one. He would have the perfect life that his parents had failed at, and give his children the stability that he hadn’t had.

      He gripped the door handle, glancing at his friend. He wouldn’t mind coming home to someone who was going to be interested in his day, his goals, and his dreams for the future.

      ‘No.’ Lucas pointed at the magazine still lying on the desk. ‘I can’t believe it. Tell me it’s a ruse.’

      Alex shook his head. ‘I assure you that I’m hellbent on this. There’s no way on the planet that I want to continue with these shallow flings for the next few decades. They leave me with nothing but a bigger void to fill.’

      ‘Get a girlfriend, then. A proper one. One who isn’t looking for a good time and a large bank account.’

      Alex threw up his arms. ‘That’s the idea. And if she works out then I’ll make her permanent.’

      Lucas ran a hand through his short hair. ‘So I’m guessing you have a game plan for how to achieve this insane goal of yours, like you usually do?’

      ‘Absolutely.’ Alex strode down the hallway to his own office. ‘Like with everything else in my life, I’m the one in control—and I’ll have the future I make for myself by using all the resources available to me.’

      Lucas followed him. ‘So what are you planning? I don’t like surprises.’

      Alex had to like Lucas. He was his best friend, vice-president and his corporate lawyer, and always looking out for his best interests. ‘It’s all about actions reflecting goals. I know what I have to do.’

      ‘You have something up your sleeve?’ Lucas eyed Alex with narrowed eyes. ‘I can see you’re up to something already.’

      Alex couldn’t help but smile. ‘I’m all over the problem.’

      ‘How?’

      He slowed, slipping his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘You know I have a reputation as a womaniser?’

      Lucas gnawed his bottom lip. ‘As evidenced by that woman on Friday night. What I would give for a woman like that to come up to me…minus the drink in the face, of course. And that