The Fiancee Charade. Darcy Maguire

She’s perfect,’ he said slowly, the memory of the fire in her eyes sliding through him like warm honey.

      ‘Well, she was certainly beautiful.’ Lucas nodded. ‘And feisty. And she’ll make wonderful babies with you…if only she didn’t hate you.’

      He had to smile. ‘Not a problem since all I need from her is her wisdom and advice on ousting my womanising ways.’

      ‘You’re going to make her fall in love with you, aren’t you?’ Lucas leant against a wall. ‘Because if you can make her love you then you can make anyone?’

      Alex frowned. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’

      ‘Think about it.’ Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, a gleam shining in his eyes. ‘Then you could make a try at the big one.’

      Alex closed his eyes. ‘Natasha Bradford-Jones,’ he said slowly, thinking about the woman who had evaded his charms and advances by being tantalisingly unavailable, with this fiancé or that one. Until now.

      But somehow he couldn’t get enthused about Natasha with Jess filling his mind and senses.

      Jess and him.

      The thought of romancing Jess sang in his veins, but the thought of anything more—that he could get anyone, maybe even Natasha Bradford-Jones of the Double Bay Bradford-Joneses—was incongruous.

      ‘Natasha’s available,’ Lucas said softly.

      ‘Now you’re being crazy.’

      Lucas threw up his hands. ‘But I’m right. Come on. I know you…how can you resist a challenge?’

      Alex wasn’t going to argue with his friend. Lucas had listened, given his views, and now it was up to him and him alone to make a decision—no matter how flawed.

      ‘Here’s the first challenge now.’ Lucas stepped back so Alex could see her, standing in the foyer. ‘Hell, she’s a looker.’

      Lucas was right. She was stunning. And passionate. And from the way she was glaring at him—her eyes narrowed and her mouth pulled thin—he’d have to do a lot of smooth talking to get her to like him, let alone fall for him.

      He strode up to her. ‘Jess.’

      ‘Calahan.’

      He ignored her cool tone. He hadn’t expected anything less. Had he? Had he hoped in some juvenile way that just meeting him again would change her mind about him? That somehow his suave ways and charms would thaw the brick of icy armour she had standing between them?

      It didn’t matter. She’d come round eventually. They were going to spend a fair bit of close time together, that would give her a better perspective of him, show her what she was missing by hating men.

      ‘This is my good friend and colleague Lucas,’ Alex offered, straightening his tie.

      She clasped Lucas’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

      Lucas shook her hand, his smile widening and his chest filling out. ‘I hear you’re going to try to straighten out this lad and his debauched ways.’

      She shrugged. ‘I’ll do what I can.’

      Alex had to smile at her lack of enthusiasm. But he’d show her he was seriously committed to this, and then things would change.

      Lucas slapped him on the back, his eyes on Jess, his face all smiles for the woman. ‘I’ll leave you to your lost cause.’

      She nodded, watching Lucas leave as though she wanted him to stay.

      A chill ran through Alex’s chest as he watched her gaze follow Lucas all the way back down the hall. Did she like Lucas? That would be a disappointment. For her. He was worse than Alex at finding love, and had no intention of changing his reputation or his ways with women at all.

      Alex shrugged, turning his attention solely to the woman he’d hired to help him. She was simply dressed, making the point that she hadn’t gone to any extra effort for him—just cream trousers, a tunic and the same taupe jacket as last week.

      She looked incredible.

      ‘Is that what you think I am?’ he asked, unable to resist probing her thoughts. ‘A lost cause?’

      She lifted a finely arched eyebrow.

      ‘Do you think I’m just some arrogant playboy looking for a good excuse to tie up a beautiful woman by my side all day?’

      She pursed her full lips. ‘I wouldn’t put it past you.’

      ‘At least you’re honest.’

      ‘Can I say the same about you?’

      Alex crossed his arms over his chest. ‘You don’t really want to be here, do you?’

      She shook her head. ‘No, but I’m hoping you’re going to make it worth my while.’

      He nodded, but the familiar focus on money chafed at him. Why he was surprised he had no idea. It was what made the world go round, what women were always thinking of to fund their next shopping fix.

      Alex slid a gold pen from his jacket pocket and scribbled a figure on a piece of paper. ‘What’s your day job?’

      ‘Much the same as this,’ she lied, her voice sweet and low. ‘But enough about me. Let’s talk about…you.’

      He straightened and handed her the paper. Whoever had screwed her over had done it big-time. Her abhorrence for this job—and him—was obvious. And Lucas was right. He couldn’t help feel the thrill of the challenge ahead of him.

      Would it take long to learn serious relationship etiquette? And would it take longer to teach her to like men again?

      ‘Is that enough to compensate you for putting up with me all day?’ he asked tightly.

      She glanced at the paper. ‘Are you this big a bastard?’

      He couldn’t help but smile. ‘You have to ask?’

      She managed a smile too, meeting his gaze with fiery green eyes, jerking her chin up and her shoulders back. ‘Of course you are. Silly me. You’re the most arrogant ass in the city. I should wonder that there are any women left for you to screw over.’

      He rubbed his chin. ‘There are a couple I’ve had my eye on…But they’re from good families with real marriage potential and I don’t want to mess it up this time.’

      She bared her teeth in a forced smile. ‘I’ll do all I can to help you see the error of your ways.’

      Alex clapped his hands, the buzz of anticipation sizzling through him. ‘Great.’

      Step one accomplished. Agreement to the task at hand, and the sacrifice of spending time with him.

      He had nothing to worry about.

      He’d have no problem at all in running through the protocol for lasting relationships, mastering it, then pursuing and obtaining the woman of his dreams and having the perfect life.

      Then he’d have everything. He’d be happy. And not even his father could take that away from him.

      Jess followed Alexander Calahan’s more than sexy body to his office, pinching herself on the leg as she went. This couldn’t be happening. She was living her darkest nightmare.

      She’d thought of standing the guy up—thought of leaving the country or just staying under the warm covers of her bed this morning. But she couldn’t have lived with disappointing Kath. Not when Kath believed in her crazy plan to take on Calahan and destroy him when no one else would.

      Just the thought of spending time with Attila of the ad world made her blood drain to her toes. Actually being with him was surreal.

      Seeing him standing in the foyer, in a killer tailored suit that hugged his wide shoulders and hunky body to perfection, with his