Famously Engaged Read Free Page B

engagement story published? Why?”
    He didn’t speak.
    “Do you need a partner for some reason? Someone depressingly average who’ll make you look benevolent and soulful?”
    “No.”
    “But you’re allowing it to be printed.” She stared at him, struggling to imagine a scenario where he’d want to be engaged to her. “Of course! It must be a cover to divert attention away from your real engagement. Congratulations.” She hugged him, ignoring his lack of response. “How exciting. Do I get to know who I’m helping? Presumably she’s as famous as you are. Is she an Aussie?”
    He sliced his hand through the air, and she bit the inside of her lip to silence further questions. Clearly his life was private. Oh, to be a rock god and make all the rules.
    “You’re the only fiancée I have. I saw a situation developing between you and your ex-husband and I took the opportunity to end it.”
    “A situation? Brad’s my best friend, but there’s nothing else going on. We tried that and it was a disaster. Why do you care so much about Brad and Skyla?”
    “She’ll benefit from your inability to contact Brad. She makes a valuable contribution to Five Awesome Emperors and we look after our own. A fake engagement was the simplest way to eliminate problems before her wedding and ensure that her future husband maintained some distance from his ex-wife, who’d be confined to her home amid a sea of reporters.”
    Being confined in her house—with Jake—didn’t seem like much of a hardship. She slipped her hand into his and tugged him farther along the path.
    “Come with me. I might need you as a human shield if the siege turns ugly.”
    His laughter did strange things to the backs of her knees.
    “We’ll be entering the house via my kitchen windows. It’s the traditional entry point when a siege is imminent.”

    …

    Half an hour later, Jake leapt off his seat, almost upending his coffee when Beth dug a mobile phone out of her handbag. “You can’t tell anyone I’m here.”
    “I won’t mention your name, but I have to text Brad. Otherwise, he’ll call every hour unless I give him a reason not to, and if I don’t answer, he’ll come over.”
    Every hour? Stalker was the word that sprang to mind.
    Brad’s preoccupation with Beth was worse than he’d thought. A man who’d call his ex-wife every hour when he was due to marry someone else in a week’s time couldn’t possibly be trusted. Brad couldn’t visit tonight, though. Beth’s front gates were secured with an enormous chain and padlock. “If you don’t want him here, then don’t unlock the gates.”
    She paused mid-text and frowned at him. “Brad has keys. His family has had them for over a decade. I have keys to both Brad’s apartment and his mother’s house. It’s a fail-safe if we get locked out or need help.” She shrugged. “For the past year, he’s worked from my study one day per week so he could watch over my mother while I took a lunch shift at the restaurant.” She crossed her arms over her stomach in a way that made him want to hug her. “Friday is usually Brad’s day to work here and my day at the restaurant, but today was my mum’s funeral. It’s been a tough day for both of us. He knows I’ll try for an early night, but he’ll expect me to check in with him before I go to bed.”
    Her body language screamed stay away, so he kept it light and gestured at her phone. “Let me see that before you send it.”
    He paced to the farthest corner of her kitchen and made a private call to his manager. “Brad never moved in, Mike. And Beth’s mother died. Morning will find Beth and I engaged and living together, but if I keep my head down they won’t be able to prove it. I’ll need a team on the ground here within a day or two, and exterior security immediately. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave the explanations for me to handle once the team arrives.”
    He grinned as Mike’s wife chimed in