g the heavy thermos into Alexis's numb hands. "Pour a

f she owned the place, her intention clearly to in

rew's arm and pulled him into the corner of the li

lease just go with it. My mom has a heart condition. I can't tell he

his expression unreadable.

," she breathed. "Okay. Your name is Kevin Price. Y

he universe, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. He was now an imposter of one of his own em

ing to build a believable fiction. "If she asks you any

around the doorframe. "Alexis told me you work at Espinoza Con

ion, based on the glowing repor

s; he was calm, confident, and utterly charming. "Yes, ma'am. It's a good firm." His voic

rning with anxiety. She could hear her mother chatting away in the liv

he interrogating mother-in-law. "So, Kevin, tell me about you

vering over a pot of soup. This was off-

he said smoothly. "They were in international trade. And

ough to discourage follow-up questions. It was also, Alexis wo

g, his calm confidence-it was everyth

ially. "So, when are you two planning on making it offici

ff guard. He paused, his gaze flicking toward the ki

e. He turned back to Judith, a wa

I would marry her tomorrow. But a decision that i

the pressure squarely back on Alexis, while making him look like the p

esponse. She shot him a look of pure, unadulterated gratitude. This stranger, this man she'd

l, and as she did, t

a meaningless accident, but her heart stuttered in her chest. She p

ge, but his eyes held hers for

saw it and interpreted it as the sweet, shy affection