Parker nodded thoughtfully. "With stakes like this I'll take any ammunition I can get."
When Megan walked into Stephen's office at Garrison Inc she had some design plans in hand. But more importantly, she had a decision.
Stephen stepped around his desk and strode toward her.
"I've drawn up some preliminary plans," she said. "You can take a look at them at your leisure, and then we can discuss them. Anything can be changed, of course."
He took the plans from her and dropped them on a nearby table. Then he shut his office door and braced his arm there. "Well?"
They both knew the real topic of this meeting.
She told herself she wasn't afraid of him. She wasn't afraid of the vast Garrison family wealth and influence. But she had to face reality.
She chewed her lip. "I've thought about your proposal."
His proposal had been a far cry from her girlhood dreams, but those she d buried along with their relationship four years ago.
"Good. I expected you to."
She walked farther into the room, and he followed.
Stephen’s immense office had a view of the beach and endless blue water. His desk stood in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, and off to one side were a sofa and chairs arranged around a low table.
Like the rest of the hotel, the office was light and airy. The only thing she’d change was the abstract artwork. Though she was sure it was all very valuable, she’d prefer to see something less geometrical and more soft, maybe impressionist.
But more importantly, the view from Stephen’s windows said everything, and that she couldn't change. She watched as a toned blonde walked past to head into the hotel.
She turned toward Stephen.
His too-handsome face gave nothing away.
Nervous energy thrummed through her. She rubbed a palm against her taupe linen skirt. "I've decided to accept your proposal."
His eyes shot dark fire, and she could read the triumph in them. "Well have the wedding next weekend."
Her stomach flipped over. "Next weekend? That's not enough time!"
Shed thought she’d have more time to adjust to the idea of being Mrs. Stephen Garrison.
"You've already had four years." he said in a clipped voice, as if he'd read her mind.
"A week is not enough time to plan a wedding—"
A grim smile slashed his face. "It is if we have it here at the Garrison Grand, where conveniently I'm the boss. In fact I just put together Parker and Anna’s wedding in a short time."
"I have a job I just started." she began.
"You won’t need to do anything but show up."
She stared at him doubtfully.
"Let’s seal the deal." He looked at her innocently. "I hope that's okay?"
Then before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, and his lips came down on hers.
First there was the warm pressure of his mouth, then he slipped inside, his tongue touching and coaxing hers.
Hot sweet sensation flooded her and a rainbow of colors danced behind her eyelids.
When he eventually pulled back, he gave her a heavy-lidded look. "Just like I remembered." he murmured.
She touched her fingertips to her lips, feeling him there still.
Ordinarily, the stolen kiss might have sparked her ire but under the circumstances, it reminded her of what she had to do.
She dropped her hand. "I forgot to mention something." she said hoarsely.
"What's that?"
She took a breath. "I have a couple of conditions of my own."
His look turned guarded. "Shoot."
"I want to wait until after the wedding to explain to Jade that you're her biological father."
He looked ready to argue, so she rushed on. "I want to give her time to adjust. It’s enough for the moment that I'm springing this wedding on her."
"Aren't you just drawing this out when it would be better to explain the whole thing at once?"
She shook her head. "I want her to get used to you...get to know and—and like you first, without putting any sense of obligation on her three-year-old shoulders."
"Fine." he said, though she knew he still wasn't thrilled with her idea.
And now for the hard part, she thought.
"I'm agreeing to this marriage for Jade's sake." she said. "I know there'll be lots of advantages to growing up a Garrison and with you there to help raise her."
He nodded, as if he was glad she saw reason.
"That's why." she went on her chin coming up "this will be a marriage in name only. I'm doing this for Jade. I won’t sleep with you. Stephen."
Something in his eyes flared, and his lips curled. "Strong words from a woman who just melted into my kiss."
"Those are my conditions." she repeated.
Their eyes held for one drawn-out moment.
"You'll get your own bedroom." he said finally.
She relaxed. She was thankful for the walls of a bedroom. Now she just had to work on shoring up the ones around her heart.
When she pushed back the tissue paper Megan felt the breath leave her.
A short while ago a messenger had delivered several boxes. She’d taken the delivery, puzzled but knowing from the sender’s information that it came from Stephen. She’d wondered why he hadn't bothered to bring the boxes himself, since he was due to arrive in a short time.
Now Megan let her fingers stroke over the smooth white satin revealed.
She’d opened the first box.
A multitude of conflicting emotions stormed her.
She understood now why Stephen may have chosen to send the boxes by messenger before he arrived. Once shed seen what he'd bought for her he'd known she’d find it hard to resist.
Carefully, she lifted the gown from the box and examined it.
It was a backless sheath dress with a small swallowtail train made of satin overlaid with lace. The bodice, which had a sweetheart neckline, was held up by two spaghetti straps.
Simple but sexy, it would be spectacular with her flaming red hair, as well as show off her generous chest to advantage.
Stephen knew her so well. And that, she realized, was part of the problem.
Shed told Stephen shed be wearing something practical—something she already owned—for the wedding. Instead, he'd overridden her.
He'd sent her this dress, and its message was clear: she was being served up as a delicious dessert he intended to savor.
Still, the dress was so beautiful, it brought tears to her eyes.
Shed once wished for happily-ever-after. Instead, she was getting an illusion.
A sham wedding leading to a fake marriage.