I still couldn't believe I was going through with all of this.

Standing in front of a five-star restaurant, I felt like such an outsider. I dressed as nicely as I could, but nice for me and nice for Case Williams were entirely different things.

People walked passed me with dresses that shimmered, suits that looked like they were made in Italy and of the finest fabric imaginable.

Me? I got this dress from the clearance rack at Wal-Mart.

He wanted me to meet him here tonight. Apparently our one meeting wasn't enough for him. Instead having the papers sent to me, he was going to hand them to me in person, and take it back when I signed them.

Like I needed the pressure of him watching me as I read the agreement to be his fake wife.

I can't help but feel like I'm selling myself short too much. He said he chose me for my degree, but I wasn't terribly convinced that I was in need of education to do the job I was hired to do.

A guy like him wanted someone to be his trophy wife, and trophy wives aren't exactly known for their keen academic minds.

I half expected to be picked up in some sparkling limousine or something similar, but I hadn't signed anything yet. Maybe I'd be getting one of those home.

"Ah, Sage," that low, growl of a voice of his called out. "You're looking absolutely stunning as you always do."

"As I always do? You've seen me twice."

"Well that's one hundred percent of the time I've seen you and you've been stunning. That you'll be stunning the next time I see you as well is just basic pattern recognition."

I should have been annoyed by this, but all I really could do was smile his way. I've told other guys to back off when they went too heavy and cheesy with the sweet talk.

All I wanted to hear from him was more of it though.

"Come along then," he said, throwing his arm over my shoulder and urging me toward the restaurant. I was oddly enjoying his touch even though it was clearly not sexual in any way.

In his other hand was one of those brown file folders. I assumed the documents were in there.

"Table for two please."

"Reservation?"

He took his hand off my shoulder and took money out of his pocket. "Yes, it should be under Franklin and Franklin?"

The waiter nodded.

Me? I looked Cases' way with surprise. "That actually works?"

We walked behind the waiter as he showed us to a table we clearly didn't have reservations for. "Well, yeah. Money is magic if you know how to apply it right."

Together we sat down. "I'll fetch your menus right away."

"It was short notice. I decided I couldn't wait to see you again, so hence I organized this get together. Francisco's is very exclusive, and I figured it'd play into our narrative better if I'm spoiling you."

"The narrative?"

He nodded. "You know, in case my father wants to poke around and ask us where our first date was."

"What? He's going to quiz me or something?"

"Probably not, but we need to make this authentic as can possibly be."

"I'm sure you go to all your first dates with stacks of papers for them to read."

"Well I prefer them to know what their getting into and know what I want, you see."

I stared at him. "What, you really..."

"That was a joke, Sage."

God, he was so supernaturally charming. Like, if he started sparkling like some sort of hacky vampire in front of me, I wouldn't have been remotely surprised.

He handed the folder over to me, and I took it, sitting it in front of me and starting to read through it. It was mostly legalese. I understood most of it, and it didn't seem like he was trying to pull any wool over my eyes.

"The agreement is fairly simple. We discussed your compensation, and as we also discussed, you will pay for nothing in the meantime."

"Pay for nothing? I thought it was just gifts and meals and other things?"

"It's for the narrative. My father may assume something is astray if I'm not spoiling my beloved."

"The narrative. Right." I shook my head. "That's what this is all about."

"So, what, if I want to, I don't know, buy a giant diamond ring, you'll pay for it?"

"We'll need an engagement and wedding ring at least."

I took a deep breath. It was a reminder of what I was agreeing to do.

Like, I hardly viewed marriage as this incorruptible institution. My own parents fates told me that much. Yet I still thought it was better than just throwing a sham of a wedding and not even making it a legal agreement.

The money though, God. It was so much and would solve a lot of my problems.

Not to mention the strange feelings I was having looking at him. I wondered...

"So, um... are there duties expected of me that aren't listed here? For legal reasons?"

"I tried to be thorough in the document."

"Yeah, but um, there are things that aren't legal that would be related to are, how you put it, narrative, to list here?"

"Like what?"

I nibbled on my lip. "Sex?"

He laughed. "Are you asking if signing that contract will require you to have sex with me?"

"Well it does say here that I need to act as if we were truly getting married. And I haven't got the vibe that you're one of those Christian types who has to wait until marriage."

"Hardly." He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "It is not a requirement. It isn't forbidden either. Are you saying there's something you want, Sage? I can have Lauren modify the terms."

I knew my face had turned beet red at that point. What did I want? Did I really want him to hire me to be a fancy prostitute?

Why on earth was I suddenly okay with that idea? I wasn't that desperate for money, and nothing listed implied that I needed to do such a thing.

I hated how looking at him made me so warm between the legs. I needed more than good looks and money to make me fall for someone, and I didn't even know if I could trust the idea that he was into it too.

The way he was using his eyes to roll up and down my body suggested that yes, he wanted me in quite the carnal fashion. Maybe though that was just part of his act. I remembered that it wasn't unusual for these business types to be psychos who were masters of hiding their true emotions under the facade of a smile.

Did I consider serial killer on the list of possibilities?

Hot, sexy, and handsome serial killer?

Well, I suppose there were worse ways to go.

"Why, Sage, do you bring it up?" He looked at me, huge shit eating grin on his face.

"I don't know. I guess I was just trying to cover all the bases here. You know. Just in case."

"Really, I assure it's all for the sake of the narrative. As I'm doubting my father will want to watch me fuck to prove my relationship, it's not entirely required. This isn't biblical times where we need to publicly consummate our marriage for it to be viewed legitimate. Again, unless, of course, you're into that sort of thing." Another smile, another drip of temptation thrown my way.

"Oh, then." It wasn't as if I wanted some old man version of Case watching me fuck Case, but then again, it would mean I did get to fuck Case.

Christ, I was never this much of a horndog before. What was this man doing to me?

I read through the documents. Everything was on the up and up, just like he said. I didn't really expect him to pull anything askew, but I wanted to be sure.

Jut six months to a year. As long as it takes for him to get the company.

The menu came. We ordered. We drank. Not too heavily, just some wine that was probably more expensive than my entire annual income.

The food was fantastic, of course. It should have been. The menus didn't list prices, but I assumed at this class of joint, they were simultaneously ludicrously expensive and low enough that no one who was eating here would actually care about the costs.

I had no idea how rich this man actually was.

Just rich enough.

If I was the type to settle for being a trophy wife, damn, he would have been quite the catch.

I wanted more for myself though, and it was easy to see that Case wanted more himself too.

Soon the meal was done, and all that was left was for me to sign the papers.

"Any last questions?"

Did I dare ask the question that was passing my mind? It was awfully presumptuous, thinking that he would go for a woman like me.

"What if..." I stammered. "What if we want this to be more than what's written down?"

"As in?"

"Um... uhh... we need to keep the narrative going on longer, or um... other things come up."

Like, what happened if I really did fall in love with him?

What the hell was wrong with me? I wasn't such a hopeless romantic that I would fall in love with some handsome rich guy when I was deliberately told not to.

"That we will approach when it comes to it, Sage. We can negotiate extensions or extra endeavors, or whatever else we need to make sure all of this works."

I nodded. "Of course."

A moment longer I waited, then I found the pen that was pinned to the paper stack. To the dotted line I scribbled my name. The job was agreed to. I would pretend to be his fiancée for the indefinite future. Be in constant close proximity to him.

Constant close proximity to temptation.

"Our first important event will be introducing you to my father and future step-mother."

"Step-mother?"

"My biological mother passed some years ago. But this new woman makes my father very happy, so I'm not going to complain about her coming into my life. If you win her over, I'm sure you'll do well in winning my father over, and making all of this come together."

"When is this?"

"Next Friday. Six PM. "

Damn. That was exactly when my mother was calling on me to show up and meet some stuffy old guy she'd been dating. I wasn't really looking forward to that beyond a good meal, but it seemed like I'd get a good meal going with Case. "Fine, fine. I'll be there." Mom would understand. Or she would reschedule.

What was I going to tell her about all of this?

Did I have to tell her anything?

Do I invite her to my fake wedding?

My head hurt thinking about all of that, so I pushed the thoughts away. I'd figure something out.

"Good, good. I'll be sure to have Lauren set you up with some pampering before hand."

"Hmm?"

"I need to make you look like a million bucks. You know, more so than you do now." He grinned.

"Oh really?"

"You'll enjoy it. Lauren knows how to make it fun."

I was still slightly confused by his relationship with her, but I reminded myself it wasn't my business anyway. I wasn't really his wife or anything like that.

Letting out a sigh, I stood up. "That's all for the night then, I presume?"

He stood right along with me, dwarfing me with his height. "If that's all you need."

"Right then." I was more than prepared to run away. The tension between us was so potent and strong that I was really quite confused on how exactly I was supposed to not act so awkward around him. That'd make for a damn poor performance for someone who is about to marry him.

He offered his hand. I reached out and took it. It was firm, it was business like. "I have a feeling we're going to get along just fine, Sage."

I smiled his way.

Our hands released, and I turned to walk away.

"Sage."

Back around I turned, an eyebrow raised.

Then he kissed me.

Lip to lips, full on kiss. No brief peck, but his lips on mine, tongue invading my mouth.

I was terrified.

I was enticed.

It only took a moment before I was kissing him back. God, he was good. My heart was rushing, my hands going down his back and feeling how firm and strong he was beneath my fingertips.

Almost in a base, primal need, I wanted more of him. To see what he was hiding underneath that three piece suit of his.

Reality had a nasty way of catching up with me, though.

All too suddenly, our embrace broke.

He stepped back, the guilt on his face as clear as day. "I apologize," he said, taking a deep breath. "I couldn't control myself there."

"It's fine. Really." I was trying to think of what it all meant, trying to make any sense of it.

Yet I was left their stammering, unable to say anything substantial.

"We'll be in touch, Sage. I won't let anything get in the way of us keeping this professional."

Eating my face with a sudden make out session seemed like the furthest thing possible from professional.

He walked past me, heading for the door.

Thing is, I was super on board with a whole lot more unprofessionalism.