e her nerves thrum. She sat by the window, arms folded, eyes on the clo

He hadn't said much since they boarded. It was as if he didn't need

eared with a tray. "Mr

a fli

dn't eve

you," she s

Dan

name

se it was technically true-or because

James said without glancing

m f

meeting her eyes

htened. "Don't a

act. I

deciding to trap me in a fake

e. It's just.

"You always were goo

, Amanda-if I'd signed the pape

es

at your eyes s

art th

yourself," sh

in her cheeks

ocument and resumed reading, as if the conversat

-

ater, they la

ld charm Amanda used to dream about when she was a broke in

the tarmac. James's drive

cobblestone streets, the Duomo pas

red villa. Amanda didn't recognize the name, which meant it was

she heard a voice call

Final

navy suit strode toward t

s said smoothly. "M

ed. That wor

er cheeks. "Bella.

s, I hope," she repl

you were strong, brilli

wkwardly. "Th

" Marco said. "E

ames replied, tak

ing car, Amanda turned to James.

ar

hat like it me

business. To him, a man with a wif

to

able. "A man who doesn't

-

ntire top floor. One bed.

the marble counter. "You s

There are three rooms.

that in

tly. "Still do

ailed me into pretending, and rui

s at eight. Wear something soft. Mar

ar what

"Then I'll

sed. "What's that

'll

-

an open back and delicate straps. She tied her hair up, ad

s she

dressed in a dark navy suit-clean, p

at her a

oft," he

is s

ething shifted in his expr

dn't r

his arm.

t. Because

e, she was scared of what mi

-

pped around stone arches. Laughter filled the garden.

cted, spoke fluent Italian when

e, she wa

inner, Marco stoo

oyalty. And to o

one c

e Daniels-proof that love ma

s applaud

hand slipped into he

ent, she didn

-

lutch on the couch and turned to h

the deal

use

her. "You agr

ssed on the hand. Or to

stop s

"Don't pretend this m

ing means something to me, Amanda. I

fr

"Then why did

e. A l

cause you left before I c

ck. "That's not l

o the bedroom, slammi

ing hard, heart pounding, hi

he was lying-or if the man she once lov