ia's

omething faintly metallic - the scent of order, may

more than my car, my wrinkled wedding dress dragging

Just stillness - calculated and predatory. He turned a page, the pape

" he said, wit

, my voice sharp enough to

d midair. "Da

ou. I'm allowed a few thoughts befo

re in his gaze - no anger, no warmth. Just precision. Analysis. Lik

aid. "I didn't ask

omance version of

ost people pretend to be charm

t most

kidd

im. His wrist flicked once - smooth, exact - and

"Six months. Mutual benefit. Public appearances

the paper, then fro

y things I

gaze tracked every small movement I made, not lus

hands weren't shaking. "Six months," I repe

your name intact," h

ttle. "You realize th

ink. "Only if you

n't just been engaged

I asked

his head.

for magazine covers. Why a stranger with a

mile, exactly, but something close. "Because

nveni

easy to control. The press w

hire," I muttered

deny it.

aren't you, you glorious idio

need to appear composed. The air in the suite felt too

lous," I said.

azzi if you walk out of here. They'll hound you for every tear you shed at that c

fr

r this time - like he knew ex

ded in my ears. "

lift of his shoulders. "Yo

o much it was starting to sou

e satisfaction of intimidation. "You don't

ne flat, "are liabiliti

if he'd flinch. He wouldn't. He was too still, too compos

he added quietly. "But powe

landed lik

we

ex-fiancé ran. The thing every head

t back, not kindly, not gently, but like

ealized this wa

s str

signing

ning to f

epping forward. "Six month

terest, maybe even amuseme

name was a warning

e a deal?"

ped. "You'll

arel

d, the kind used to sign histor

't thank me. Just tapped once on the signature lin

ur new life,"

se if I survive

his jacket. "Surviva

my phone was

ns. Missed calls from M

sWed

achelor Secretly M

ked out of the ensuite - hair damp, shirt crisp,

his," I sa

"The publicist released it

voice rose. "Yo

s cufflinks without looking

ld've wa

contract, not

ropped.

"Efficient. You

ly frozen. Congratulations, Talia,

elievable,"

His cologne hit me, cedar and something dark. The kind o

ce low, "you're standin

y shoulders. "Yo

ady, voice calm enough to freeze b

tched too long: "Obedience, h

eath

paring me another glance. "Seven

r w

public ap

I don't

nd. "Then I'll find

behind him, qu

lf a laugh, h

s whispered. And he didn't even have to sel