ever imagined walking through its legendary lobby, where old Hollywood glamour dripped from every chandelier and Persian rug. She f

uniform appeared at her elbow. "Mr. Cro

usly close to anticipation. Three days had passed since their encounter at the unemployment office. Three days of her father asking why she looked so

c view of Los Angeles, the city spread out like a glittering promise. The furnishings were understated but clearly e

He'd loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves, the first time she'd seen him look even remotely casual.

e said, turni

ore she could stop it. "Part of me thinks this

e wh

he crossed her arms, trying to project confidence she didn't feel. "Men

s his face-hurt, maybe, o

en investigated like poten

studying her with those unsettling

e an exp

t probably cost more than her car. "But I

ealth and power, from his custom-tailored suit to the way he commanded space without effort. Yet there was something else bene

fering her a glass she didn't take. "They've decided I'm too much of a liability-too

ind a nice society g

ntire adult life perfecting the art of keeping people at arm's le

nt to arran

ée. We'd make public appearances, attend family functions, convince the world that I'm capable of love and commitment. After that, we stage a mutua

ssing a merger or acquisition-made her skin

acting. Very well-c

ind of... ex

ned. "You think I'm

don't know what you're payin

'd need to sell the romance-hold hands, look besotted, maybe the occasional

ess that made her pulse quicken. The idea of kissing him,

now you're

esty was brutal. "Yo

ulent space. "Trust you? The man who ha

u a check right now that wo

nto the leather sofa, suddenly dizzy with the

red thousa

ough to pay for her father's treatment twice over. Enough to quit the café and go back to s

sane," she

e. "I have twenty-four days to produce a fiancée, or I lose everything I've

t? What if someone fi

hat matters. For thirty days, you'd have to become the kind of woman Damien C

ause from where I'm sitting, you seem abo

his eyes. "You'd be surprised w

he whole situation was certifiably crazy. Rich men didn't offer half a million dollars

sterday, smaller and grayer than ever, pretending to be strong w

said, surprised by the st

ch

at says you can't just decide I'm not worth

prepared a comprehensive agreement covering comp

ency, controlled every variable. Except her. She was

d to s

ense text, her literature degree coming in handy as she parsed the formal language. The numbers made her di

serious about t

ly se

Angeles. Actresses, models, socialites

wouldn't answer. When he finally spoke, hi

, not the reputation, not the bank account. You saw me, and you weren't impressed." He paused

lipped and she glimpsed something raw underneath-loneliness, maybe, or fear. It m

ow," she said, standing abruptly. T

do you

sure I'm not making the b

etween them felt charged with possibility and

ha

u're a gold digger, investigate your background, t

ing to talk

onest about what yo

ract to her chest like

the elevator when h

le

look in his eyes m

nsidering it. I kn

her heart hammering against her ribs. As the doors

expires a

lone with the weight of an impossible deci