The morning after Luke stays over at my apartment, I'm floating on cloud nine and I'm too excited to work. I try to focus, but I just can't.

So instead, I spend the day going for a run and taking care of unfinished errands. In the afternoon, I meet Aya and some of her friends for an afternoon barbecue and Ultimate Frisbee game in Central Park. We cook all-beef hot dogs with ketchup, relish, and bacon. My favorite combination.

When you don't have a boss breathing down your neck all day, it's really easy to get distracted and waste time like I just wasted the whole day.

It's ironic that a real-life romance is getting in the way of my romance career. But I'm determined to buckle down and prioritize work. I'll never forgive myself if I mess up this publishing deal.

So the next morning, I get to the library in Brooklyn bright and early. But when I've finally managed to stop thinking about Luke Steele and get immersed in the world of my story, my phone dings with a new text. I have a feeling it's Luke, and when I look at the screen, my suspicion is confirmed.

Crap. Right when I'd finally managed to get him off my mind. I argue with myself, trying to convince myself to put away my phone and not look at the text until later. But I can't help myself.

I fish my phone out of my purse and read the message:

Need to talk to you about a possible business deal.

Well… That's not what I was expecting. My heart starts beating with excitement, but my stomach twists with discomfort at the same time.

Did he decide I'm more useful to him as a business opportunity than as a dating opportunity? What kind of business deal could he possibly want with me? It's not like I'm some important business partner. I'm just a brand new, unproven author at his company.

Maybe he's going to try to win my affection by giving me a business deal that I don't really deserve.

Actually… the more I think about it, the more likely that seems.

I think back to my contract negotiations with Diamond House. The editors knew I really wanted a national book signing tour for this first series, but they couldn't justify giving me one yet. Not until I'd proved myself with this first series.

That's the only unfinished business "deal" that I have with Diamond House right now, and I can't imagine what else he'd be talking about.

I wonder if he talked to the editors and found out how much I wanted one. Honestly, if Luke tried to give me a tour now… it'd be weird. I want to prove myself. I don't want to be cheated out of that experience and given things I don't deserve.

I hope Luke knows me better than that by now. I decide to hope for the best.

What is it? I text back.

Need to discuss in person, comes his reply.

When do you want to talk? I write.

Now.

Now. Of course, now. He always wants to do things when he wants to do them, and he doesn't seem to think twice about inconveniencing other people's schedules.

But I can't lie. I still want to see him, even if it means playing by his rules.

I'm at the Brooklyn Public Library, I text back.

Be waiting for my car outside in 10.

* * *

I click the door shut behind me. The view inside Luke's office is breathtaking. The Manhattan skyline looms outside, the buildings looking majestic and dynamic. It's a calm, rainy day, and this bird's-eye view of the city sends a shiver down my spine. I expected Luke to have a nice office, but this view is better than anything I could have ever imagined.

Luke sits in his chair, his back to me, his feet kicked up on a railing in front of the window. Then he spins around and stands up. He does it in such a commanding way that he looks like he was born for this role. Some men just have an air about them that says, 'I'm in control.' Luke Steele is one of those men.

"Welcome back to Diamond House," he says, stepping around his desk toward me. "Have a seat. We won't be going back up to the roof again. At least not today." He winks at me as he pulls out one of the guest chairs at his desk. I smile as I cross the room, and plant my butt in the chair like I'm told.

A vision flashes through my mind of doing other things that I'm told. And I like it. I consider myself independent, but with Luke, I actually want him to take charge and tell me what to do.

I think that's one of the reasons Edward wasn't the right guy for me. He tried to be a playboy with ladies, and he fooled a lot of them into sleeping with him while he was supposed to be exclusive with me. But he didn't have any real self-confidence or any ability to lead our relationship. I didn't feel like I could really trust a man like that, and well, he proved me right.

So far, Luke has shown that he is very in control of himself and others, and that he can make good decisions involving me. It makes me feel very comfortable being around him and letting him take charge.

I just hope he doesn't screw it all up by doing what I think he might be doing. I don't want him to try to win my affections by giving me things. But I just have a sick feeling about it, and I can't stop myself from bringing it up right away.

"Hey," I say, before he can get another word in, "I think I know what you're going to tell me, and I'm not sure I like the idea of it."

Luke sits back against his desk, his hands on either side of him in a powerful-looking stance. He looks amused. "Is that right, Leah? I have to say, I highly doubt that you know what I'm going to ask you."

"I think I do." I pause and screw up my courage. "I think you're going to offer me the book tour that the editors wouldn't give me."

Luke almost cracks up laughing, and I feel my face starting to turn beet red. "That's what you think I brought you here for?"

I immediately feel self-conscious. Am I really that much of a fool? Did I really assume the complete wrong thing about why he brought me here? And if not for that, then what?

"I… When they signed my contract, they knew that I really, really wanted to do a cross-country book signing tour. I pushed them hard for it, but they wouldn't budge. I just assumed that you were going to give it to me as a gift or whatever. I don't know what other business deal you could be talking about."

"Uh huh," he says. "And you think I would do that… why? Before you've even published a single title under the Diamond House name?"

This time, I know my face turns completely red and there's nothing I can do about it.

He laughs out loud. "Leah," he says, "I know you better than that. You already made it clear that your affections can't be bought. Plus," he says with a smirk, "I have full faith in my team to make the right decisions for my company. I would never waste company resources like that. Not on you, not on anyone."

I smile and feel relieved. But I also feel embarrassed that I freaked out prematurely. "I'm sorry," I say. "I guess I just got carried away worrying. I do that sometimes. You should probably know that about me."

He cocks his head and smiles. "Leah, I promise you that I won't ever try to purchase your affections. I know that you would never accept such a gesture… And that has everything to do with why you're here right now."

I swallow hard. Now I'm even more nervous than I was before. "Okay, well, then what is this all about?"

He pulls a pen out of his pocket and scoops a stapled stack of papers off his desk. "I'll explain everything and answer all of your questions. I promise. But before we continue," he says, "I need you to sign this." He grabs a clipboard off his desk, clips the sheet of paper into it, and hands it to me.

The top has a big bold title:

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

It gives me a really weird feeling. It's kind of exciting, too. But weirder.

I think for a second, then shake my head and hand it back to him. "This is really strange, Luke. I'm not going to sign some agreement for something I know nothing about."

"Trust me," he says with a smirk, "It's a very interesting deal that I have to offer you."

I cross my arms and double down. "No."

For the first time since we've met, I feel him start to heat up. He looks at me in a way that's completely different than before. He's always looked at me like I'm some pretty, perfect little prize for him. A trophy for him to chase down. But now he looks at me like I'm a rival who's not cooperating with him, and it's intimidating as hell.

But it's also hot. I can't remember the last time a man made me feel like he could discipline me. I've never met a man whose B.S. I couldn't see right through. So many guys talk big and call themselves "alpha," then act like man-children. But not Luke Steele. He's the real deal.

I feel my panties getting wet under my short summer dress. The chair I'm sitting on is made from leather. Damn. If I leave a wet spot when I stand up, I'm going to be absolutely beyond mortified. If that happened, I think I would just will myself to disappear on the spot.

"You'll have to take me at my word," I say. "If you don't trust me, then maybe you shouldn't be offering me such an important deal anyway."

He flashes a look of indignation and hot annoyance at me, but I still see the way his eyes hungrily search over my body. I'm not giving in. "I trust you," he says. "And that has everything to do with why you're here. But this could affect my entire career and life. I need some kind of collateral if you won't sign an NDA."

"What does that mean?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know where he's trying to take this, but I have an irresistible urge to find out.

"I need something of yours that you couldn't afford to have made public. Because what I'm about to ask you can also never be made public, or it could ruin me."

"Like what?" I say.

He gets a devilish look in his eyes and he half-smirks at me. "A revealing photograph would do."

My eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. I've only ever sent naked photos of myself to my ex-boyfriend Edward, and even that was a mistake. I swore I'd never do it again, no matter the circumstances, unless I was married or something. And now Luke Steele is asking for them as part of a business deal.

I don't believe it.

"Are you seriously saying what I think you're saying?"

"I trust you implicitly, Leah. But this is my entire career at stake. I don't see an alternative. The collateral needs to be… intensely personal."

I think about what he's saying, and despite my best intentions, it makes me feel wet again. I don't know what's wrong with me. This is completely inappropriate and it goes against my best judgment. But it seems like a fun game. And I'm getting more and more curious about what this business deal could possibly be. It has to be something really juicy if this is how worried he is about it.

"Okay," I finally say. "I don't have any on my phone, though. If you want me to take one, then I need to be in private."

He looks surprised, but then he smirks. "Very well."

He exits his office, leaving me alone in the room. My heart beats wildly in my chest. Shaking, I get up from the chair, sit on his desk, drop the shoulder straps off of my dress, and snap a selfie of myself topless.

I look at the result, and I decide it's not pretty enough. After all, if I'm going to send him a copy of this picture, then I'd better be looking my best in it.

It makes me get really wet, thinking about what he might do with this picture after I leave. I keep taking shots until I get one that I like. Usually I'm self-conscious, but this actually made me feel really sexy. In the picture, both my tits are out, and they look really perky. And my stomach looks flat. I think Luke will like it.

Hopefully I don't regret this.

I put my dress straps back over my shoulders and sit back in the guest chair. "Come in," I say loudly.

Luke re-enters the room and the door clicks shut behind him. He moves next to me, standing and towering over me. "Send it to my phone," he says.

I try to keep my fingers from trembling as I select the photo and text it to him. After it's sent, I watch his eyes carefully as he pulls his phone out of his pocket.

There's a vibration, then he taps the screen a couple times, and I see him suck in his breath. And I swear I see a hard-on growing under his pants.

Luke quickly stuffs his phone in his pocket and sits back against his desk. He walks a little bit funny and I delight in knowing the effect I'm having on him.

"Very well," he says, trying to keep his composure and professional demeanor. "That will suffice as collateral for this business offer."

"Okay."

"Leah," he says, looking at me, his eyes positively undressing me. He focuses right on me. "This may sound strange, but it's absolutely critical for the sake of my career. I need you to be my fake fiancée."