Famously Engaged Read Free Page A

in. He talks about you nonstop and I thought he was making a pest of himself.” He palmed his face and exhaled a heavy breath. “I realize you don’t know me, but you shouldn’t be alone tonight, Beth. Tell me what you need. What can I do for you? Anything. Name it and it’s yours.”
    “An early night is all I really want. I need time alone to process the fact that my mother is never coming back. I’ve had months to prepare for this, but it’s still a shock. I’m not ready and I don’t…”
    She swallowed. “I don’t quite know what to do.”
    He gathered her close for the hug she desperately needed.
    “I’m here now. Maybe I can help get your mind off your mother.
    I’ll be a good distraction, because your house will be surrounded with reporters within hours.”
    “It’s official then. I have a houseguest.” Beth sighed.
    He surveyed her yard. “Does this high stone fence surround the entire property?”
    “Yeah, it does. But you weren’t serious about reporters, were you?”
    “After the news breaks, the media will assume I’m here.
    That’ll mean siege conditions: paparazzi camped outside your gates, helicopters flying overhead, no one coming in or out without security clearance.”
    She stared at him while she considered the inconvenience of housing him, frowning when his gaze jerked back to her face from somewhere down near her feet. Was he checking her out?
    “ Nice ,” he said.
    Pretty sure she didn’t want him to elaborate, she said, “If you’re staying, you’ll have to abide by the house rules.” He grinned.
    “First up, stop calling me Bethany. It’s private and special, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
    “That’s not going to happen.”
    “The media will run with Bethany, nothing I can do about it.
    Okay, but I’d prefer plain old Beth.” She gestured at her house, then tried to look stern. “No one, not even you, is famous inside my house. You’ll have to help out, and you won’t be entitled to any hospitality beyond what I’d give to a visiting relative. A distant, female relative.”
    He clasped his hand to his heart as if he’d been mortally wounded, but his smile didn’t dim. He tried the front door. “It’s locked. Want me to organize a locksmith?”
    “No need. Follow me.” She pondered their situation as she navigated the chilly stone path toward her kitchen window. Five
    Awesome Emperors were one of the most famous bands on the planet and cameras followed them everywhere. Jake didn’t travel without his band, an entourage, and bodyguards. He couldn’t be here all alone, and he certainly couldn’t be engaged to her.
    She stopped and turned to face him in the pool of light spilling through the living room windows. Jake Olsen was here in her yard, engaged to her, about to move in, all because Brad couldn’t stop talking about her…
    “Something wrong?”
    “Why would there be? My last half hour hasn’t produced anything more exciting than a rock god, a fake engagement, and siege preparations. It’s slow for a Friday night.” She gave his arm an affectionate pat. “But it’s early. Things might pick up later.”

Chapter Two
    “Someone went to extraordinary lengths to research every aspect of my life before fabricating a bridal lottery in your name and declaring me the winner. I can’t understand why they chose me or how they know so much.”
    “Reporters,” he said. “It’s their job.”
    “I don’t think anyone would pair us up without a reason. The column won’t be printed till tomorrow, yet you’ve had it long enough to fly here from the UK .”
    His arm tensed beneath her hand. “To warn you.”
    “You could have reached me by phone or sent a representative.
    Something’s not right. You’ve known for at least a day, and you haven’t taken out an injunction or notified anyone.” She gasped at the conclusion her mind supplied. “You said something about your manager writing the article. You want this