Rent a Millionaire Groom Read Free

wouldn’t do at all for a prospective father.
    That rationalization made her feel much better.
    “Are we talking about a class reunion?” he guessed. “I’ve heard of people taking pretend partners to those things to impress their classmates.”
    He was taking everything very well, but Elise hated the conversation. She would never do that, lie to impress someone. That had been Richard’s standard M.O.
    But that’s what you’re doing, isn’t it? a small voice inside her asked. No, I’m lying to get some peace from my family. She needed to make sure that James understood that.
    “It’s not a reunion.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “You see, I come from a large family.”
    “Lucky you.”
    She blinked, surprised by his response. “Don’t you have brothers and sisters?”
    “One brother. But there’s eleven years difference between us, so it was almost like being an only child.”
    “Oh. Well, I guess there are advantages to a large family, though some days it’s hard to remember them.”
    He smiled again, and she figured he’d make hisfortune on the basis of his smile alone. Or his eyes. His Paul Newman blue eyes crinkled slightly at the corners.
    “Um, yes, well, I have six sisters and one brother.”
    “So there are eight of you. That’s quite a large family these days.”
    She felt as if she was babbling, and she’d had everything planned out so rationally. “Yes,” she agreed, and clamped her mouth shut.
    That eyebrow again. He looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
    “Sharon, my baby sister, is getting married soon.”
    “The youngest? How old is she?”
    “Twenty-two. She finished college in December.”
    He frowned, and she caught her breath. “You and your sisters must’ve been born close together because you don’t look much older.”
    He was good with the flattery. She supposed it must be his stock-in-trade. “I’m thirty-three. My brother is older.”
    “And you already have your doctorate? I’m impressed. Did you study in France?”
    “Yes, at the— Never mind,” she hurriedly said. If she wasn’t careful, she’d get distracted and never tell him what she really wanted.
    “You want to stick to the subject?” he asked, smiling again, a twinkle in his eye.
    With a sigh, she said, “Yes, please. This is difficult enough as it is.”
    “To ask me to escort you to your sister’s wedding? That’s not asking much. I’ll be glad to take you.”
    Elise seriously considered accepting his offer. Then she could tell him just before the wedding that she actually needed him to appear to be more than just her date—but that would be wrong.
    With another sigh, she said, “Thank you, but that’s not exactly what I’m asking.” She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m asking you to be my fiancé.”

Chapter Two
    He couldn’t believe it.
    He’d been suckered in, like an inexperienced teenager.
    Damn it, he was thirty-six. He’d been chased by the best, and he’d fallen for this green-eyed witch’s simple plan.
    He schooled his features to give nothing away. “I’m not interested in marriage, Dr. Foster.”
    As he started to rise, her hand reached across the table and grabbed his wrist. He didn’t know whether to believe the look of horror on her face. If she was acting, she was damn good.
    “No! I mean, neither am I!”
    He raised his eyebrow again, still not convinced it wasn’t a trap. Too many women had seen his millions as a ticket to easy street.
    “I meant I want you to come to the wedding as my pretend fiancé. I only need you until after the wedding. I like being single. I have my career. It’s only a pretense!”
    She sounded desperate, he’d give her that. But he didn’t see why it would be so important toher…unless she had an ulterior motive. “Why is it necessary?”
    “Look, I… Oh, never mind. It was a crazy idea. I’ll figure out something.”
    Now it was his turn to reach out and stop her from rising. Was he crazy? He was