Money Man's Fiancée Negotiation Read Free Page B

voice. “This is Asher Williams. Your fiancé.”

Two
    M elody shook her head, unwilling to accept what the doctor was telling her. She didn’t even know why. It just didn’t feel right. Maybe it was the way he was looking at her, as if her being in an accident had somehow been a slight against him. Shouldn’t he be relieved that she was alive?
    So where were his tears of joy? Why didn’t he gather her up and hold her?
    “No, he isn’t,” she said.
    The doctor frowned, and her so-called fiancé looked taken aback.
    “You remember?” Dr. Nelson asked.
    “No. But I just know. That man can’t be my fiancé.”
    Tension hung like a foul odor in the room. No one seemed to know what to do or say next.
    “Would you excuse us, Doctor?” her imposter fiancé said, and Melody felt a quick and sharp stab of panic. Shedidn’t want to be alone with him. Something about his presence was just so disconcerting.
    “I’d like him to stay,” she said.
    “Actually, I do have patients I need to see.” He flashed Melody an encouraging smile and gave her arm a gentle pat. “The nurse is just down the hall if you need anything.”
    That wasn’t very reassuring. What did they even know about this man? Did they check out his story at all, or take him on his word? He could be a rapist or an ax murderer. A criminal who preyed on innocent women with amnesia. Or even worse, maybe he was the person she had taken that cash from. Maybe he was here for revenge.
    She tucked her purse closer to her side under the covers, until she was practically sitting on it. The phrase never show fear popped into her head, although from where, she didn’t have a clue. But it was smart advice, so she lifted her chin as he grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the side of her bed. He removed his jacket and draped it over the back before he sat down. He wasn’t a big man, more lean than muscular, so why did she feel this nervous energy? This instinct to run?
    He eased the chair closer to her side and she instinctively jerked upright. So much for not showing fear. Even in repose the man had an assuming presence.
    “You don’t have to be afraid of me,” he said.
    “Do you honestly expect me to just take your word that we’re engaged?” she asked. “You could be… anyone .”
    “Do you have your driver’s license?”
    “Why?”
    He reached into his back pants pocket and she tensed again. “Relax. I’m just grabbing my wallet. Look at the address on my driver’s license.” He handed his wallet to her.
    The first thing she noticed, as she flipped it open, wasthat there were no photos, nothing of a personal nature, and the second thing was the thick stack of cash tucked inside. And yes, the address on his license was the same as hers. She knew without checking her own license because she had read it over and over about a thousand times yesterday, hoping it would trigger some sort of memory. A visual representation of the place she’d lived.
    Of course, it hadn’t.
    She handed his wallet back to him, and he stuck it in his pocket. “That doesn’t prove anything. If we’re really engaged, where is my ring?” She held up her hand, so he could see her naked finger. A man of his obvious wealth would have bought the woman he planned to marry a huge rock.
    He reached into his shirt pocket and produced a ring box. He snapped it open and inside was a diamond ring with a stone so enormous and sparkly it nearly took her breath away. “One of the prongs came loose and it was at the jeweler’s being repaired.”
    He handed it to her, but she shook her head. She still wasn’t ready to accept this. Although, what man would offer what must have been a ridiculously expensive ring to a woman who wasn’t his fiancée?
    Of course, one quick thwack with the ax and it would easily be his again.
    She cringed and chastised herself for the gruesome thought.
    “Maybe you should hang on to it for now, just to be safe,” she told him.
    “No. I don’t care if