THE DEAL by Marsh, Nicola (electronic reader txt) 📕

before her eyes. She blinked, wishing her imagination would calm down. “No problems here. I just wanted to make it clear from the start. You know, to avoid any uncomfortable situations.”

He chuckled. “Hey, if you’re that concerned, we can always sleep top to tail.”

“But that wouldn’t stop...” she trailed off, horrified at what she’d been about to say.

“Gotcha.”

She whacked him on the arm as he parked.

He rubbed his arm and turned to face her. “Lady, you pack a powerful punch.”

“That’s nothing. Wait ’til you see what I have planned if you really get out of line.”

His eyes glimmered in the fading light as the sun set around them in a staggering array of muted colour. “Promises, promises,” he murmured, reaching out and cupping her chin.

She stared, transfixed, unable to pull away even if she wanted to. “Shouldn’t we go inside?”

“Eventually.”

As he leaned towards her, there was a loud honking of a horn and they jerked apart like two teenagers caught necking. A sporty red convertible pulled up next to them and the driver’s window slid down.

“Hey, you two. Great timing, though what are you doing out here in the car? Thought you’d be unpacking by now.” Luke Saunders winked at her. She’d met him several times and loved his cheeky sense of humour.

“Good idea,” Matt muttered, though it sounded like it was the last thing he wanted to do.

With a wave, Luke pulled away and parked nearby.

“He’s a nice guy,” she volunteered, confused by Matt’s continuing silence.

“Think so?”

She couldn’t fathom his sudden reluctance to go in, especially considering their almost-kiss minutes ago. “What’s up?”

To her surprise, he reached over and grabbed her hand. “I really appreciate you doing this for me. I know that posing as my girlfriend for a professional dinner is a helluva lot different from doing it for a whole weekend. I hope you’re still talking to me by the end of it.”

His behaviour was making her increasingly nervous. “Why wouldn’t I be? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He shook his head. “No, though a lot of people are going to assume we’re closer than close after this weekend, including my father. I wanted to warn you, that’s all.”

She squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll be the model girlfriend, you’ll see. A deal’s a deal, remember?”

Sadness flickered in his eyes as he dropped her hand. “Yeah, it is. Time to face the music, I guess.”

There was little time to say anything else, as Luke opened her door. “Need a hand?”

She smiled, uncertainty rendering her speechless. What the hell was she doing, playing at a role she’d coveted her entire life? Surely Matt’s Dad and his closest colleagues would work out that she was a phoney over the weekend? And if so, what would that do to his chances of being made a partner and in turn, what would happen to Sally’s business? The sooner she wrapped up the DATY for Sal, the sooner she could focus her attentions on saving Inner Sanctum.

Half-listening to the men talk as they climbed the porch steps, she heard a squeal of tyres. They turned in time to see a bright yellow convertible screech to a halt, gravel flying in its wake. The car had barely stopped when a statuesque brunette unfolded her long legs from behind the wheel and stepped out.

“Great. There’s my date now.”

Matt stared at the woman, paling as he turned to Luke. “You invited Miranda? What gives?”

Luke winked. “She’s the love of my life. At least for this week.”

“You’re crazy, you now that?” She watched Matt clench and unclench his fists several times, tension evident in the taut set of his shoulders.

“Do you know her?” Kara ventured, not liking the vibes she was picking up.

Matt turned to her then, as if noticing her for the first time. “Yeah, you could say that.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, sending spikes in every direction. “We’ll see you inside,” he called out to Luke, who was already lost in a clinch with the voluptuous Miranda.

He took her elbow and guided her up the remaining steps, a look of disgust on his face.

“Is she an ex-girlfriend?”

He nodded. “She’s a girl and she’s an ex, but she sure isn’t a friend. I can’t believe Luke’s hooked up with her.”

A stab of jealousy pierced her gut. “For someone who isn’t a friend, you sure seem annoyed about something.”

“Leave it,” he muttered, as he pushed open the heavy oak door. “What’s happened in the past stays in the past. Let’s hope Mandy remembers that rule.”

Mandy. The pet name didn’t assuage her jealousy, not one little bit. She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “What’s the matter? I thought you’d love having more than one woman fawning all over you?”

“Stop. Bitchiness isn’t flattering.”

“Neither is purchasing and parading a token girlfriend for the benefit of furthering one’s career.”

Colour drained from his face for the second time in less than five minutes. Damn, she’d gone too far.

“I’m going to unpack. Our room is number eight. If you choose to join me, fine. If not, I don’t give a damn anymore.” He threw the car keys and she caught them, purely a reflex action. “It’s your call. Either way, I don’t care.”

She watched him stride away, tears stinging her eyes. She wanted him to care, damn him. She wanted him to care as much as she did...and more.

What the hell was she going to do now?

Eight

Matt unlocked the door and strode into the room, barely noticing his surroundings. He couldn’t believe his plans were ruined already. So much for romancing Kara this weekend. Right now, he didn’t know if she’d