A Contract for His Runaway Bride

The thought of it sent a tremor of unease through her body. Not because she was worried he would take advantage of such a situation, but because she wasn’t sure she could resist him if he did. There was a particular intimacy about sharing a room, even if not sharing a bed. Taking turns to use the bathroom, dressing and undressing and moving about the space they shared... It would stir a host of memories she had spent the last seven years doing her level best to forget.

Lincoln’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘We will have to give the appearance of being in an intimate relationship at all times and in all places. And, judging from your kiss a few minutes ago, that’s not going to be too hard for you to achieve.’

‘That kiss was hardly one-sided. I thought you were going to make—’

‘I wasn’t.’ His tone was adamant and it cut her like a knife. ‘I meant what I said about the rules. A paper marriage is a lot easier to dissolve than a consummated one. Once the six months is up we’ll get a simple annulment and move on with our lives.’

He made it sound so simple, so clinical, when her feelings about him and their arrangement were anything but. Six months as his wife on paper. Six months acting the role of devoted intimate partner. But another way of looking at it was to think of it as six months building her career, making the most of the time to launch her own label. Being Lincoln’s wife would lift her profile like nothing else could.

His wife...How those words made her insides tighten with unruly desire.

Elodie leaned down to pick up her purse. ‘I’d better get going. I’ll need my beauty sleep for the big day tomorrow.’

Lincoln placed a hand on her wrist as she straightened. ‘I won’t be made a fool of twice.’

She held his determined gaze, her skin tingling where his fingers curled around the slender bones of her wrist. ‘Nor will I.’ She brushed off his hand with a stiff smile. ‘Let’s leave the intimate touching for when there’s an audience, shall we? Or have you already changed your mind?’

A devilish glint appeared in his eyes. ‘If I do, you’ll be the first to know.’