What am I getting myself into? I can’t believe I’m actually considering this. “You will pay for the airfare?”

“We’ll be taking my private jet.”

God, I must sound so hopelessly backward. “Of course, I should’ve known.”

“Money is a problem for you, isn’t it?” His eyes have that intensity to them again.

“A rude question.”

“Which means the answer is yes.” He sighs, tapping his fingers together. “I wasn’t going to bring up this part of the bargain so early, but I’m willing to do so if it helps you make your decision.”

“And what would that be?”

“The fact that I’m willing to pay two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the pleasure of your company.”

My jaw drops. It literally drops. He said it like it was nothing. I stare at him, speechless. A quarter of a million dollars! What I couldn’t do with that kind of money. It’s enough to make my head spin. Actually, I can’t even do the math right now because my brain is somewhere far away, floating along in the ether. I’m pretty sure it might even be lost forever.

He waves his hand in front of my face. “Did I lose you?”

“I-I mean—are you serious?”

“I don’t play games.”

I shake my head, blinking rapidly in the struggle to get control of myself. At least five years. If I keep living on the cheap, as I do now, I could support myself for five years on that much money. At least.

Four years, if I decide to take a vacation or two.

Wow, I could go to school full-time and stop working.

I could live like a girl my age wants to live.

I’d have time for friends again, and for fun.

I’d be able to live my life instead of falling asleep over my books every night and cleaning up after rich slobs everyday.

“I wish I knew what to say…” I whisper, still trying to come up with something, before reality hits, and my eyes narrow into dangerous slits. “Hold on. You want me to believe that all I have to do is go away with you for a weekend, on your private jet, and hang out in Vegas with the two of us sleeping separately? For that much money? You really want me to believe that?”

“I do.” He raises one hand, a finger extended straight up. “However, there’s one more catch.”

“I knew it. I knew this was too good to be true.” And I’m about ten seconds from running out the door.

“You have to move in here with me until we leave for the wedding, which is this weekend.”

“Oh, come on. And I suppose we’re just going to accidentally bump into each other on the way to or from the shower and oops, your towel’s going to fall off and whoops, we just fall onto the bed together—”

“Dani.”

The word is like a whip cutting through the air. It stuns me into silence.

He stares at me, his eyes so brilliantly blue, it is like a photograph of the ocean around one of those tropical paradises in the magazines on the coffee tables of the houses I clean. “I’ve already told you, I don’t force myself on women and I do not play games. I’ve already stated the obvious, that you’re beautiful, and I’ll admit to allowing myself the pleasure of admiring your body. This isn’t some elaborate ruse to lure you into my bed. I don’t need a random woman to fuck. And even if I did, I wouldn’t pay for it and certainly not that much money.”

I’m shaking. There’s another side to him, one much more in keeping with how demanding he is when it comes to the condition of his apartment. A coiled power, just under the surface. He keeps it under control. But just barely.

“I’m still in love with my ex-girlfriend.” Suddenly, his voice sounds strained.

My heart’s racing faster than an express train. I actually feel a little woozy. “Why—why do you want me to move in here, then? What for?”

“To make this as believable as possible. I don’t go into anything without preparing first, and I want to prepare the both of us so we’ll make a convincing couple.” His eyes narrow, just enough to make me shiver a little. “And I want to be sure you’re safe. New York isn’t safe.”

My eyes widen with shock. No one has ever cared enough to check whether I’m safe. I’ve watched my own back for as long as I can remember. “That’s ridiculous. You don’t have the first idea about my life or how I live it.”

“That’s irrelevant. I have OCD tendencies. When you’re here with me, living under my roof, I’ll know for certain.” He grins. “Would you rather I call you every ten minutes to be sure?”

I accept the olive branch and grin back. “That isn’t the least bit troublesome, or insane,” I quip drily.

“Would you?” he challenges.

I chew at my bottom lip. “No. I wouldn’t rather you call me every ten minutes. I wouldn’t even give you my number.”

“Do you want to see how quickly I can find it?”

“No. Thanks very much.”

He looks about as satisfied as the cat that ate the cream—another of my foster mother’s favorite sayings. He knows he has me where he wants me, that’s why.

I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “I could take one of the other rooms?”

“Naturally.”

“And it would only be until the weekend, when we would go to Las Vegas? And I would move home after that?”

“Of course.”

Somehow, that didn’t come out as sure and strong as the first agreement. I wonder why not. What does he think? That I’ll let him control my movements even when this is over? He’s got another thing coming—but hey, he wants to get to know me, doesn’t he? That’s why I’m moving in with him. Well, he’ll get to know me, all right. “I’m pretty sure I’ll end up regretting this,” I whisper.

“I’m certain you won’t. I’ll make sure you don’t.”

“I have to wonder what you mean by that.”

“You’ll have to wait and see.” He stands, towering over me.

Boy, he’s tall. This is the first time I’m seeing his full height. When I stand too, he dwarfs me. I’m around five-five, so he has to be almost a foot taller. Whew. “Am I honestly accepting this crazy idea?”

Brock smiles, his eyes are warm and sparkling for the first time since I woke up. “If you’re half as smart as you seem, you are. This is the sort of arrangement any girl would kill to be a part of.”

“Because you’re so wonderful?” I challenge.

“Because you need the money. And I have more than I know what to do with. In fact, this is likely the first time in a very, very long time that I’ve ever been truly satisfied with the result of spending it.” He extends a hand to seal our deal.

I can’t believe I’m about to do this. I absolutely cannot believe it’s happening. Like something out of a dream, or a fantasy story. Not my life, certainly. And yet, it’s his hand swallowing up mine in a strong grip. It’s his firm handshake. It’s him, I’m swaying closer to, almost touching my body to his because he’s so overwhelming, I can barely stand up straight.

And he knows it, the scoundrel.