Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
She’s in over her head, I think, and not for the first time. Hell, so am I. But if she’s willing to trust me to lead through this mess, I’ll take that seriously.
I lean back in my seat, voice easy, casual. “So, just to be clear—on this retreat, we’re madly in love, can’t keep our hands off each other, and I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
A sharp snort escapes her, quick and unguarded. “In your dreams, Hawke.”
I grin, letting the grin bleed into my tone. “You’ll have to do a better job convincing your family than that.”
She turns, studying me with a long, assessing look. Calculating, guarded. I hold her gaze without flinching. Let her take the full measure if she needs it. After a beat, she exhales, shaking her head. “This is going to be a nightmare.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I smirk, can’t help it. The push and pull between us is becoming its own game. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
She groans and sinks deeper into her seat, as if the upholstery might swallow her whole. I catch the small movement out of the corner of my eye and bite back a laugh.
Cute. The word flashes through my mind unbidden, landing harder than it should. Because truth be told? She’s more than cute. She’s fire wrapped in ice, and when she lets a crack show—when she groans like this, flustered and fed up—it’s damn near irresistible.
I grip the wheel a little tighter, ground myself in muscle memory. Stay sharp, Hawke. Stay professional.
But even as I shift gears and press on, one thought keeps circling: this fake fiancé gig is going to be a hell of a lot harder than I expected.
And maybe—for reasons I probably shouldn’t admit—I’m not entirely dreading it.
4
Charlotte
The moment we pull up to the resort, I already feel the tension creeping up my spine. It’s a stunning place—an opulent, sprawling estate nestled in the mountains, all snow-capped peaks and twinkling lights. Normally, I’d be thrilled to spend a week here, but not when it involves Wade Sinclair and his overbearing parents. And my grandmother.
I love her, I do, but… damn, let me marry who I want. I’m surprised she hasn’t traded me for a goat yet.
I barely have a second to breathe before I spot Wade standing at the entrance, flanked by his parents like some sort of awkward family photo. His perfectly tailored suit and smug expression are just as charming as I remember, which is to say, not at all.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “They’re here already.”
Asher glances at me, one eyebrow raised. “Showtime, sweetheart.”
I ignore the way my stomach flips when he calls me that and focus on plastering a smile on my face as we step out of the car. I link my arm through Asher ’s, trying to act like I haven’t already decided this entire week is going to be a disaster.
“Charlotte,” Wade says, stepping forward, his voice dripping with false charm. “It’s so good to see you.”
He makes a move to kiss my cheek, but I shift just enough to make it look like I didn’t see him coming. “Wade,” I reply with a smile so sweet it could give someone a cavity, “how lovely to see you, too.”
Asher steps in smoothly, his presence immediately calming me. He’s good at this. Makes my skin crawl. He pulls me a little closer, his hand settling on my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m pretty sure he can feel the tension rolling off me, but he doesn’t say anything.
“And who’s this?” Wade’s mother, Nancy Sinclair, asks, eyeing Asher like he’s an unexpected pest.
“This is Asher,” I say, my smile tightening. “My fiancé.”
For a moment, there’s a delicious, stunned silence. Wade’s eyebrows shoot up, and I can practically see the gears turning in his head as he tries to process the fact that I’ve suddenly shown up with a fiancé.
“Fiancé?” Wade repeats, like he’s just discovered a new species of animal. “That’s... surprising.”
Asher doesn’t miss a beat. “Nice to meet you,” he says, extending his hand to Wade with the most relaxed, I-don’t-care-that-you’re-here smile.
Wade takes his hand but keeps his gaze locked on me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Can I have a word with you, Charlotte? Alone?”
I feel Asher stiffen beside me, but I’m already ready with an excuse. “Oh, I wish I could, Wade, but we’re absolutely exhausted from the drive.” I lean into Asher slightly, letting my head rest on his shoulder for good measure. “Aren’t we, darling?”
Asher picks up on the act immediately, his hand sliding up my back in a way that probably looks a lot more romantic than it feels. “Yeah, we should really get unpacked and settled before dinner,” he says, his voice warm and full of affection.