One Summer In New York. Trish Wylie

be any danger of her wanting to return to frigid Boston and the working grind.”

      “And what if you were the one to meet someone?” she clipped, pretending to advocate a deal for herself.

      “Impossible!” he spat immediately. “I will never marry.”

      His harshness hit her like a slap in the face.

      Or perhaps it was a warning.

      “I see,” she assured him, and knew she’d understood his underlying message.

      “Therefore, when we split up, you will own this apartment outright—which you can either keep, lease or sell. And the engagement ring. And whatever clothing and jewels have been purchased. Your brother’s position will be secure. We can also agree on a monetary settlement. In exchange for very little labor on your part, I can provide you with a lifetime of comfort and luxury.”

      Game over.

      Enough was enough.

      Even if it could be as simple as he made it sound she had come to New York to get her own life straightened out. Not to get tangled up in someone else’s.

      “Ethan, I appreciate the offer. And I think it’s great that you’ve done so much planning on this. It shows how much you care about your aunt. But this is not for me.”

      He swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. His jaw tightened.

      Was he upset?

      Of course. This was a man who was used to getting everything he wanted. It wasn’t personal. She was a mere obstacle for him to overcome in order to reach his goal.

      Ethan tapped his tablet. “Holly Motta dot com—is that it?”

      She nodded, yes. What was he up to?

      He typed.

      “Huh...” His thumb slid through what she assumed to be her website’s gallery. “Huh...”

      What was he thinking? She took great pride in her work. Suddenly it mattered to her what he thought of it. Which was silly, because his opinion was of no concern to her at all. Yet she sat on the edge of the chair, spine held stiff as she waited for a comment.

      His thumb continued to swipe the tablet.

      “Hmm...” His next sound was at a higher pitch than the one before. It sounded like approval.

      “Why are you looking at my website?”

      Ethan ignored the question and continued. His finger slid less frequently. He was spending more time on each piece of work.

      Holly imagined what it might feel like to have that thumb slide across her cheek instead of the tablet screen. Or slowly down the center of her chest. That thumb and its nine partners on those two big hands looked as if they’d always know exactly what to do.

      More fantasy. She hadn’t been touched in a long, long time.

      Finally Ethan looked from the screen to her. “These are extraordinary.”

      “Thank you,” she breathed with gratification—and relief.

      He raised a finger in the air again. “Perhaps we can negotiate a merger that would be satisfying to both of us.”

      She squished her eyebrows.

      “In exchange for you posing as my fiancée, as I have outlined, you will be financially compensated and you will become legal owner of this apartment and any items such as clothes and jewels that have been purchased for this position. Your brother’s career will not be impacted negatively should our work together come to an end. And...” He paused for emphasis.

      Holly leaned forward in her chair, her back still board-straight.

      “I have a five-building development under construction in Chelsea. There will be furnished apartments, office lofts and common space lobbies—all in need of artwork. I will commission you for the project.”

      Holly’s lungs emptied. A commission for a big corporate project. That was exactly what she’d hoped she’d find in New York. A chance to have her work seen by thousands of people. The kind of exposure that could lead from one job to the next and to a sustained and successful career.

      This was all too much. Fantastic, frightening, impossible... Obviously getting involved in any way with Ethan Benton was a terrible idea. She’d be beholden to him. Serving another person’s agenda again. Just what she’d come to New York to get away from.

      But this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An apartment. A job. It sounded as if he was open to most any demand she could come up with. She really did owe it to herself to contemplate this opportunity.

      Her brain was no longer operating normally. The clock on Ethan’s desk reminded her that it was after midnight. She’d left Fort Pierce early that morning.

      “That really is an incredible offer...” She exhaled. “But I’m too tired to think straight. I’m going to need to sleep on it.”

      “As you wish.”

      Holly moved to collect the luggage she’d arrived with. Ethan beat her to it and hoisted the duffel bag over his shoulder. He wrenched the handle of the suitcase. Its wheels tottered as fast as her mind whirled as she followed him to the bedroom.

      “Good night, then.” He placed the bags just inside the doorway and couldn’t get out of the room fast enough.

      Before closing the door she poked her head out and called, “Ethan Benton, you don’t play fair.”

      Over his shoulder, he turned his face back toward her. “I told you. I always get what I want.”

      * * *

      Holly shut the door with her bare foot and leaned back against it. She pursed her lips together to keep from screaming. Her heart thumped so loud she was sure Ethan would hear it in the other room. Goodness gracious.

      Ethan Benton and his proposition were quite simply the most exciting things that had ever happened to her!

      A rush went through her as she recalled that devilish grin creeping slowly up his mouth. Those deep brown eyes that had stayed glued on her, assuring her he was listening to her when she spoke.

      Holly hadn’t talked and listened as much as she had tonight in a long time. She hadn’t dated anyone since leaving Ricky the Rat two years ago. With her in Fort Pierce and Vince a two-hour drive away in Miami, she usually saw her brother twice a month. There was a girls’ night here and there with friends. That was about it.

      She hadn’t really thought about it, but now when she did she realized she led a fairly solitary existence. Hopefully New York would jostle that, along with everything else.

      But the change wasn’t going to come by stepping into Ethan Benton’s life. Although it might be the most fun she’d ever have. A jet-set world she’d only read about in magazines... Who wouldn’t want to dash off to Barbados for long weekends? To walk on pink sand with her toes in sparkling blue water. Attend glitzy parties...throw some of her own. Buy clothes without looking at the price tag. Never worry about where the rent or her next meal was coming from. Have the best of everything.

      It would be amazing—even if it was only for a short time—to be completely taken care of. After all those years of putting other people ahead of her.

      Which reminded her of how this deal could benefit her brother. Becoming part of the Benton family, even in name only, might help him further his career in a way he’d never have the chance to otherwise. He’d get to spend more time with Ethan and Louise. They’d see up close how capable and special he was.

      No. This wasn’t about Vince. He’d be fine on his own. He was a grown man and his career was underway.

      It was time for her future to begin. Period. In the morning she would tell Ethan no.

      Besides, once he heard that she had already been married and divorced