do? Part of me doesn't want to know the answer, but the bigger part of me - the part that

owen says simply. "In every way t

mping thing in my chest. "W

ss from me. Even with just a towel wrapped around his

attend business dinners and charity events as my wife. It means we

it, yo

confirms. "Can

my desk. I think about my landlord who's been very understanding about late rent but

re we talking abo

llion d

ty years at the kind of jobs I've been applying for. Two million dollars would pay off my student loan

eat, just to make su

arried. Clothes, food, anything you

f this is some kind of elaborate joke.

dollars. Two million is nothing compared to

will work? Pretend

s to be convincing, Avery. We can't just go through the motions. People in my world are experts at spo

omething flutter in my stomach.

it? What if I'm no

atter-of-factly that I almost laugh. "But

y n

re already we

inger. I'd almost forgotten it was there.

haven't tried

ven't actually tried. Maybe because deep down, I'm terrified of what happens when I do. Maybe

etly. "I've never been to a charity gala. I don't k

won

you be

made me see things I'd never considered before. You're smart, Avery. Smarter than mos

it into his world, even temporarily. But I've spent my

My apartment, my jo

about

y apartment is a dump. My job search has been a disaster. And my friends... w

hink about t

ntil tomorr

not enou

expecting an answer, and the longer we

as Strip stretches out below us, all bright lights

ane," I say

, it

g the biggest mis

st decision yo

y start to care about each other? What if six

ut it's gone so fast I might have

n you b

ionships, Avery. I do business

e me feel better. Instead, it stings. Which is ridi

be an emplo

ell-paid

months, we just walk

k. No strin

lying or uncertain. But Rowen Knight looks like a

my best friend

N

sharp and final. "W

ement. As far as the world is concerned, we're

lying t

t getting two m

first real test, I realize. He's seeing if I'm willi

ng if I just disappear into y

Tell her it's a whirlwind romance.

n't bel

er beli

want this to work, I have to commit comp

ay slowly, "I want

ch

appearances. No sleeping in the same bed. A

Anythin

ck. I want to know exactly what k

nce I woke up, Rowen

fe, I need to understand the game we're playin

lly see him reassessing me. Good. Let him know I'm no

years trying to destroy me, and he's gotten close several tim

osshairs. You said he'

ru

do I me

table. He glances at it, a

e says, holding up the pho

on't recognize: Dinner tonight. 8 PM.

ld. "He knows we

me with something that might be respect. "So, Mrs. Knight, are

o with fear. But it's the look in Rowen's eyes that really scares

ly worried about p