Mister Fake Fiance

Shock sucker-punches me. I stay frozen, processing this bombshell. Erin never even hinted that she can’t smell or taste. But that also explains a lot about her baking and the lack of improvement.

Fordham grows a bit more serious. “Look, man. I don’t want you to suffer because she made you fall for her under false pretenses. You deserve better. I looked into you a little, and it’s obvious you can have anybody you want. Why go for damaged goods?”

I take a deep breath and regard him. “So I dump her…and then what? You’re going to swoop in and marry her?”

He spreads his hands.

Asshole.

“Why should I trust anything you say? You could be lying.” I know he isn’t, though. He might have the morals of a snake, but he’s not an idiot. He isn’t going to lie about something that I can confirm with a quick conversation with Erin. But I don’t understand his motive for dumping this on me to get her back. It’s clear he isn’t doing it out of love.

“I have no reason to make stuff up. You can verify everything I’ve said. Easily.”

“Still doesn’t explain why.”

“I want Erin.” He smirks again, and it’s all I can do to not slap it off his face. “A successful political career requires more than just a charismatic personality. You also need a wife the voters are going to like and feel sympathy for. Erin’s perfect for that, which makes her a perfect wife for me.”

My molars grind together, but I rein myself in. “If Erin has public outbursts like her mom, as you claim she will, will voters still connect with her?”

“Those can be managed. The important thing is, I’ll be the devoted husband, who’ll stay by her no matter what. I can be the kind of man

people can trust their future with.”

Hot fury rages through me like a powerful storm, barely suppressed violence thrumming in my veins. My whole body tenses with the need to beat Fordham into hamburger meat. “You son of a bitch. You don’t care about her at all. You only want to use her.”

He stiffens, as if I’ve been unfair. “I do care about her. She’s lucky she has somebody like me in her life.”

“Lucky? That’s like saying she should be grateful for a tapeworm because it keeps her weight down.” I always knew politicians were assholes, but this one is beyond my wildest imagination. Every time I think he can’t sink any lower, he surprises me. “Get the fuck out of her life, Fordham. If you come near her—or me—again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“With what? Your money?” An ugly sneer twists his face.

What would get this asshole’s attention? The answer is obvious: never getting elected again. And that would happen if people saw the asshole underneath the faux-respectable mask. Inspired by Matt’s habit of dictating memos to be transcribed by his assistant, I gesture at my phone. “I was dictating a memo, but you interrupted me. Everything you said here has been recorded.”

A vein throbs visibly on Fordham’s forehead. “You can’t release that! It’s illegal!”

“Yeah, but you know how it is. Phones get hacked.” I heave a regretful sigh.

“It would make Erin look bad, too.”

I smile. “That can be managed. Her parts can be edited out. The important thing is that your political career will be over when people hear what a calculating, two-faced snake you are.”

Red blotches bloom on his face. He leaps up. I stand at the same time, willing him to start something physical.

But of course he doesn’t. “Asshole.” His voice trembles with barely suppressed frustration and anger.

“Guilty.” It’s my turn to smirk. “Don’t ever come near Erin again. Or I’m going to make sure you don’t get reelected. Just imagine. You might actually have to”—I sniff and wipe at my eyes—“work for a living.”

He glares at me, opening and closing his mouth like he wants to say something cutting, but can’t come up with a clever line. Finally he spins around and leaves.

I prop an elbow on the desk and rest my forehead against the heel of my hand. Sorrow, empathy and anger twist around in my heart. What Fordham said explains a lot about Erin’s behavior. I ache for the young Erin. What she must’ve suffered. No wonder she proposed we fake our engagement. She probably wanted a way to discourage a sociopath like Fordham.

Then I remember what he said about Erin being careful. Is that why she’s been skittish, not revealing much about her preferences and just generally keeping to herself? I know she doesn’t hang out with people at work much. The developers thought she was hard to get to know. She spent an entire weekend doing online training! And I couldn’t figure out what was with her for a while because she kept flinging the oddly fake “I’m okay” smile.

But now I understand what’s going on. And that means I now have a blueprint to navigate her mood and fears. I can use it to eliminate the obstacles and cut a path straight to her heart. By the time I’m done, rather than keep me at a distance, she’ll whisper and share all her fears and dreams and hopes. And she’ll be mine.

I unlock my phone and let my fingers fly across the screen.

Chapter Thirty-Three