into the plush carpet-no sound, just th

iend Sienna, who ran a very... discreet co

he could feel every second pulling

r gown, touching up the tear tracks she'd faked for Victoria. S

too soft. Hallie's breath caught. She pulled the

e, collar just slightly askew. Dark hair, short and severe. His face was all hard lines, sharp angles-cheekbones, jaw, the bridge of his nose. But his eyes wer

She had imagined a struggling actor, maybe a

tear-streaked makeup. His expression didn't change. No surpri

as low, steady, the kind that di

rm, pulled him inside, and quickly shut the door,

art hammering against her ribs from a combinatio

, his gaze finally settling back o

wrist. No diamonds, no flash-just plain, dark metal and a thin leather strap. The kind of watch that didn't need to announce

th tears again, her voice catching. "I need you... to

y. Then it settled back into place. H

. he has crippling social anxiety. The plan was for him to just show up for the vows,

possible. "The guests are all waiting. My parents... they have he

bsurd, but it was the bes

with wide, pleading eyes, h

reading a contract. Interesting. He'd expected a setup-a blind date, a business connection. He hadn't expected a bride in a wedding dress, lying badly, w

an to curdle into dread. Just as she was ab

rig

ozen face, and the corner of his mouth moved-just barely, just enough for her to wonder if she'd imagined it.