Arizona pounded on the apartment door. The building’s elderly doorman wouldn’t be strong enough to stop the men who were coming for her.

She banged the brass lion-headed door knocker. “Gerri, it’s me. Open up. Hurry!”

“Hold your horses,” Gerri screamed from inside. “I’m getting my robe on.”

The elevator behind her dinged. As she turned to look over her shoulder, Gerri’s door opened. Arizona pushed past her and slammed the door. She set the lock and the deadbolt, then peered through the peephole.

“Arizona, what’s going on?” Gerri demanded.

“Shh!”

Two men stepped out of the elevator. They walked past the door without hesitation. When they didn’t even glance her way, she breathed a sigh of relief and sagged against the door. She turned to find Gerri standing with her hands on her hips.

At four feet eleven inches, Gerri was a tiny firecracker of a woman. An elegant emerald-green dress accentuated her petite frame. Her golden eyes contrasted perfectly with a bob of pure-white hair. She carried herself with the sophistication of a woman who could afford a penthouse apartment in a great neighborhood.

“Are the hounds of hell after you?” Gerri asked. “You’re whiter than a polar bear covered in snow.”

“My dad sold me to the Mafia.”

“What?” Geri arched a perfectly manicured brow. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“He really messed up this time. I’m in big trouble and I don’t know what to do.”

Arizona wrapped her arms across her chest. Shivers of dread rattled her bones. Even though the apartment was a comfortable temperature, icy fingers of fear snaked down her spine.

“Well, come on in,” Gerri said. “There’s nothing I like more than a little trouble on a Sunday afternoon. I can’t wait to hear all about your father’s latest scheme. But first, cake.”

“Cake?”

“I just baked a double fudge brownie cake. I’ve got a batch of strawberry margaritas in the blender, so your timing is perfect. I do hate to eat alone.”

Her nonplussed reaction was exactly what Arizona needed. Gerri would know what to do. The Mafia couldn’t possibly guess that she’d fled to her friend’s house. And even if they did show up, Gerri kept a shotgun under the sofa. Arizona had found it the last time she’d come to visit. She wasn’t too surprised, after all; Gerri was a strong woman who could take care of herself.

As she followed Gerri into the kitchen, the muscles in her neck relaxed. She was safe. For now. But for how long?

“Margarita?” Gerri asked.

“Do you have any tea?”

“Of course, but I think you need something with bite.” Gerri poured the bright pink drink into a crystal hurricane glass. “Take a few sips and let me know if it’s too sweet.”

The frozen drink slid down her parched throat. The kick came almost instantly. She sputtered and coughed.

“Too strong?” Gerri asked.

“I wasn’t ready for it.”

“We’re rarely ready for life’s little bumps. So what’s this about the Mafia?”

Arizona took another sip before responding.

“Dad has a gambling problem. He owes the Mafia fifty thousand dollars. Last week, they told him they’d break every bone in his body if he didn’t pay by the end of the week. He didn’t pay. When they showed up to kill him, dad made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

“Your father always was a snake with a sharp tongue.”

“The boss, Tony Sciaretta, agreed to let him live. But I have to marry him or they’ll kill my dad.”

“And you don’t want to marry him, right?” Gerri asked.

“God no. Of course not.”

“If you refuse?”

“They’ll kill him. But I’m done being his scapegoat. He always puts himself first and never cares about me or my life. I haven’t told you everything he’s done, but it’s been hell since Mom died.”

“Your mom was one of my best friends. I still miss her every day,” Gerri said. “I told her not to marry that man, but she was blinded by love. She couldn’t see past his lies. She should have let me set her up with someone. Matchmaking is what I do. I could have found her a better man.”

“I told Dad I’m done with cleaning up his messes. I’m not going to marry into the mob, but I don’t know how to escape. If I stay in the city, they’ll find me and force me to marry Tony. I need to get out of here. Hide somewhere until they forget about me.”

“You need to get married.”

“What?” Arizona’s eyes went wide.

“Not to the Mafia boss, to someone else. Anyone else. Tony can’t marry you if you’re already married. Cake?”

“Sure.”

Gerri plated two huge slices of fudge cake. She placed one in front of Arizona. “It’s a new recipe. Let me know what you think.”

Arizona forked a piece into her mouth. An explosion of chocolate and mint danced across her tongue. It was sinfully decadent and guaranteed to add a few ounces to her already curvaceous figure, but she didn’t care. Gerri made the best cake on earth.

“I don’t think marrying someone else will work,” Arizona said between bites.

“Why not?”

“The Mafia won’t leave me alone if I’m married. They’ll try to kill my husband and make me marry Tony anyway.”

“Not if you marry a shifter. A shifter will fight tooth and claw to protect you.”

“But I don’t want to get married, ever.”

“Why not?” Gerri asked.

“Marriage is an outdated form of servitude. My mom waited on my father as if he were lord and master of the house, and he couldn’t even keep a job. She’d work two jobs to support us while my dad sat on the couch watching TV all day. I never want to live that kind of life.”

“Your dad is a special case,” Gerri said. “Not all men are deadbeat losers.”

“I don’t need more failure in my life right now.”

“What are you talking about? You have a great job at the advertising agency—”

“I write copy for cereal boxes.”

“—tons of friends—”

“From work.”

“—and you go on dates all the time. What’s wrong with your life?”

“My dating life is a disaster. Remember Sam, the dentist with the house on the hill?”

“He was a looker,” Gerri said.

“Gay.”

“Oh dear. Send him my way and I’ll set him up with a nice man.”

“And Frank?”

“Also gay?”

“No. A womanizer. He flirted with everything that walked. He’d take me out to dinner then spend half the night hitting on the waitress.”

“Then he’s not a real man,” Gerri said. “What about Ross?”

“Bankrupt.”

“I didn’t think you cared about money.”

“I don’t. But when a man starts asking you to pay his mortgage on your third date, it’s a pretty clear sign that you need to run like hell.”

“Absolutely.” Gerri sat back in her chair and twirled the remaining margarita in her glass. “Why don’t you let me set you up with someone? I’m sure I can find a great man for you.”

“No way. I’m not going to use a matchmaking service.” When Gerri frowned, Arizona quickly added, “This has nothing to do with your abilities. You’re great at what you do, but I’m not interested in getting married. It’s too much drama. Too much of a hassle. And let’s be honest, all marriages are doomed to fail.”

“Not true,” Gerri said. “I’ve made many amazing matches between shifters and humans, and all of the people I set up are living happily ever after together.”

“Happily ever after only happens in fairytales. I’m thirty-two. If it hasn’t happened by now, then it’s not going to happen.”

“It will happen when you least expect it,” Gerri said. “Mark my words.”

“I doubt it.” Arizona shoved another piece of cake into her mouth.

“What about a compromise?”

“Like what?”

“What if we made it look like you were already engaged to a shifter? That would be as good as married.”

“You can’t fool the Mob,” Arizona said.

“Maybe not, but if you marry a shifter, he’ll fight tooth and claw to protect you.”

“I’m never getting married.”

“You wouldn’t have to. It would be a fake engagement.”

“I love you, but that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“No. It’s perfect.” Gerri clasped her hands together. “And, I have the perfect match for you. Don’t say no until you’ve heard my plan. If you don’t like it, we’ll think of something else. Sound good?”

“Okay.”

As Gerri outlined her outrageous scheme, a tingle of adrenaline skittered around in Arizona’s belly. Her idea was so crazy that it just might work. And since she needed to get out of town as soon as possible, why not try it?

“Are you sure this guy will be okay with having a fake fiancée?” Arizona asked.

“It will be perfect. But I should warn you, his dad’s a bit overbearing. He’s the leader of a bear clan, so that’s to be expected, but don’t let him intimidate you. I’ve known that family for years and they’re all a bunch of teddy bears at heart.”

“Do you really think this will work?”

“Yes.” Gerri nodded her head. “When your mom was diagnosed, I promised her I’d always look after you and keep you safe. I wouldn’t send you to Montana if I didn’t think it would work. And you never know what might happen. You could fall in love.”

* * *

Arizona paced around the baggage claim area at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. She glanced at her watch. The flight had been delayed due to a summer thunderstorm. Hopefully the guy hadn’t changed his mind and left.

She grabbed her purple luggage and headed toward the waiting area at the front of the airport. Although international flights came though the airport, it was small. If she waited outside she wouldn’t be able to miss him.

As time clicked by, the nervous twitch in her gut gave way to full-fledged panic. What if this didn’t work out? What if he took one look at her huge butt and ran for the hills? This was the dumbest, most idiotic idea ever. Why had she gone along with it? Oh right, because if she hadn’t, she’d be forced to marry Tony.

She shuddered.

“Are you Arizona?” a gruff voice asked.

The most gorgeous man she’d ever seen stood before her. She jumped to her feet and stammered, “Yes.”

At least six feet two inches, he towered over her. A wash of dangerously sexy stubble obscured a chiseled jawline sharp enough to make a sculptor weep with envy. Eyes the color of wet denim hooded by thick lashes swept the length of her body. Every inch of her prickled with delicious goosebumps as if he’d reached out and caressed her quivering flesh. His sunbaked golden skin glistened in the afternoon light.

“Did you have a safe flight?” he asked.

His low, rumbling tone enchanted the warm, wet heat between her thighs. She’d never been struck mute before. But his chest. Those thighs. Good Lord!

“Yes. Good. Flight. Good. Yes.” Oh my God, stop talking!

“My truck’s in the far lot. Is that all of your luggage?” he asked.

The hint of amusement in his voice made her want to crawl under a rock. A half-witted fool could have articulated her thoughts with more grace.

“Yes.”

He scooped her bags up as if they weighed less than an ounce. As he started toward the parking lot, she stood there like a fool. Gerri hadn’t mentioned a word about this man’s panty-melting capabilities. And he hadn’t even touched her. Not that he was going to touch her. There was absolutely no reason he should put his big, strong hands all over her hot, sweaty body.

“You coming?” he called.

All over your cock if I get the chance. “Yep. I’m coming.”

She needed to calm the hell down. This wasn’t a real engagement. They didn’t even know each other and she certainly wasn’t going to throw herself at him. No, this was strictly a business deal, a bargain to save her from having to marry Tony.

As she hurried to catch up with him, her gaze landed on his butt. Firm. Tight. Totally fuckable. It probably flexed when he ground his cock into—

“Are you doing okay? Did you eat lunch yet?” he asked as he tossed her luggage into the truck bed.

“I ate on the plane.”

But she was hungry again. Hungry for a hot, naked man-snack. She bit the inside edge of her lip to keep from saying anything stupid. She’d met good-looking men before, but Garrett could play a starring role in any woman’s fantasy.

As he pulled onto a small, two-lane road, she stuffed her hands under her thighs. She’d worn her favorite cobalt-blue dress with a scooped neckline to bolster her confidence. It hadn’t helped. The man was gorgeous and totally out of her league. His family would never believe she was his fiancée.

“I take it Tony’s enforcers didn’t follow you?” he said.

“No. I sneaked out through the fire escape.”

“Gerri told me they were staked out across the street from your apartment.”

“They were. It was terrifying.”

“It’s okay. No one will hurt you as long as you’re with me.”

He reached across the seat and clasped her hand in his. A silent thrill shimmied up her arm and tightened her nipples. She pulled her hand away. If this level of contact was enough to get her hot and bothered, how was she going to deal with being around him all the time?

“You know this is only temporary, right?” she asked.

“Of course. And honestly, the timing is perfect.”

“Gerri said your dad is…dying.”

“Yes.” As he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “He’s been sick for a very long time. Honestly, I didn’t think he’d last this long, but he seems determined to live long enough to see me married.”

“Why’s he so obsessed with seeing you get married?” she asked.

“He’s the head of the Black Rock Clan shifters. Our family has led the clan for five generations, and he wants me to carry on the family legacy.”

“But you don’t want to?”

“No.” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “But I want his last days to be peaceful, so I told him I was engaged.”

“Did he question it?”

“He sure did. He was furious that I’d kept you hidden for so long.” He flashed a disarming smile. “When he sees how beautiful you are, he’ll think I kept you hidden away so no other man could have you.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. Beautiful?

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Gerri told me you were stunning. She was right.”

“You don’t have to butter me up,” she said.

“I’m not.” When he stopped at a red light, he draped his arm across the back of the seat and turned toward her. “How are you still single?”

“Wow, do you always say exactly what’s on your mind?”

“Yep. Don’t you?”

“Most of the time.”

“But not always?”

“No. Sometimes it’s better to bite you lip than to tell someone the truth,” she said.

“Normally I’d say you should always be truthful, but right now telling the truth will hurt my father. I don’t want to do that.”

“You’d rather lie to him?”

“If it makes him feel better about passing on, then yes. I’d rather lie and make his last days on earth the happiest ones of his life.”

“You love your dad, don’t you?” she asked softly.

“I love him enough to compromise my integrity. What about your dad? Gerri said the Mafia’s going to break his legs if you don’t marry their boss.”

“They’ll probably kill him.”

“And you don’t care about him enough to save his life?”

She fisted her hands in her lap and glared at him.

“Why should I? Ever since my mom died, he’s done nothing but use me. He uses me to bail him out of jail. He uses me for my money. He uses me when he needs an alibi. And he’s trying to sell me off like cattle to the Mafia. So no, I don’t care enough to save his life by ruining mine.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”

“Look, we don’t need to get to know each other any more than necessary. I only need to be ‘married’”—she finger quoted—“until the Tony finds someone else to drag into marital slavery. This isn’t real.”

“I know. I’m sorry about your family. It sounds like you’ve had a hard time. How long has it been since your mom passed on?”

“Three years.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“I’m sorry. Look, let’s just take this for what it is—a very weird, very unconventional fake engagement. We’re not going to actually get married. We just have to convince everyone that we’re happily engaged and desperately in love with each other.”

“Sounds easy enough,” she said sarcastically.

“It will be.” He reached over to take her hand again. This time he ran the pad of his thumb back and forth across her fingers. “You’ll be safe with me, and in return, I’ll make sure my family doesn’t interrogate you more than necessary.”

“Interrogate me?”

“My sister missed her calling. She should have been a CIA interrogator instead of a clothing designer.” He turned to her and grinned. “But don’t worry, she’s more bark than bite.”

“Oh boy.”

As he drove toward the mountains, she sat back against the seat. If she wasn’t able to convince his sister that they were in love, would he send her away? Maybe this farce would be over before it started and she’d be packed up and shipped off on the next flight home.