Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“That I’ve been busy and my inbox is filled with tons of other unwanted messages, so you’ll have to keep waiting,” I said. “Preferably someplace other than my doorstep.”
“I’m not waiting another second.” He closed the gap between us. “I suggest you invite me inside.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Don’t make me ask you again.”
“You haven’t asked me anything, Travis. Try that and I’ll consider inviting you inside, if I feel like it.”
“Okay.” He let down his umbrella and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the living room.
“I’ll make this quick,” he said. “You owe me a favor and I’m here to redeem it.”
What the… “Please don’t tell me you suddenly expect me to pay you back for all the spicy tacos we ate together in the past.”
“I don’t.” A slow smile spread across his lips, but he didn’t let it linger. “This is a lot more than that, and we’ve reached the part of the conversation where you ask me what the ‘favor’ is.”
“I only ask about things I want to know.” I inhaled the sexy scent of his cologne. “I honestly can’t help you or anyone else with anything at this point in my life.”
“My apologies for giving you the illusion of a choice.” He looked into my eyes, and the room was suddenly ten times smaller.
“The door is behind you, Travis.” I ignored the ditzy, desperate rhythm in my chest. “I would say ‘thank you’ for stalking me and showing up without an invitation, but—”
“I need you to marry me.”
WHAT?
His words hung in the air for several seconds, floating between the realms of ‘what-is-this-fuckery’ and ‘sentences-that-make-no-sense.’
“We should discuss the details,” he said, looking around the room. “Preferably with the lights on.”
“Travis, when I said I’d always owe you a favor, I was thinking something similar to what you did for me.”
“Then you should’ve been specific,” he said. “A deal is a deal.”
I glanced behind him, waiting for a camera crew to burst through the door and announce that this scene was part of a ‘Blast From Your Past Says Something Dumb’ game show.
I was about to search him for a hidden microphone, but another loud knock sounded.
“I knew it,” I said, stepping backward. “This was very entertaining, Travis.”
When I opened the door, I saw the woman I’d seen in the stairwell weeks ago.
“Oh wow.” She tilted her head to the side. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re the only woman who’s ever made my panties wet at first sight.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Your name is Tatiana Brave, right?”
I didn’t answer.
“You probably don’t remember me, but my name is Madeline Dawson, and I tracked you down from security camera footage and paid a hacker to find your address.”
She said those words with a straight face, and I was now concerned for my life.
“Contrary to what a certain someone said, I know that you’re not a ghost.” She leaned forward and sniffed me. “Is that Versace? Dolce & Gabbana?”
“Um…” I started to shut the door on her, but she pushed her way inside.
“Well, hello there, Mr. Carter.” She stepped in front of Travis. “Great minds think alike, huh?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked.
“What are you doing here?” She looked between us. “Then again, sorry for interrupting. I’ll um, stand here and fly back to Vegas with you after, right? I think I’ve been spoiled after flying private, and it kills me to fly in coach…”
He shook his head before returning his attention to me.
“I need you to pretend like you’re mine for three months,” he said. “That time includes official parties and attending all my press conferences and public engagements. You’ll stay with me as well, but I have plenty of space for you to live your own life whenever you’re not helping me.”
His lips continued to move, spouting off a never-ending list of things that were never happening. By the time he finished, he was walking toward the door as if this was a done deal.
“Let me know what time my jet needs to pick you up on Saturday,” he said. “I’ll handle it from there.”
“You must have missed the part when I said that I can’t help you with anything.”
“I heard you loud and clear.”
“Good,” I said. “I won’t be there. I can’t afford to leave my life behind for a month of play pretend.”
“Three months of play pretend.”
“Same thing.” I shrugged. “Besides having no interest in doing that, I have bills to pay and clients to train.”
“Mr. Carter left out the part about payment.” Stalker Woman stepped between us. “He’s willing to pay a premium for your assistance with this. Just name the amount.”
“I’m not for sale.”
“Name the amount,” Travis said.
“Five hundred thousand dollars.” The words rushed from my lips before I could think them through. “Minimum.”
Travis raised an eyebrow, and Stalker Woman pulled a pen and pad from her bag.