The Honeymoon Prize Read Free

forever kind that would last a lifetime. Someday she would find that. Someday . . .
    He touched her arm. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing, just . . .” In spite of her doubts, Addie hoped Nick understood the depth of her gratitude. A week ago, she’d forgotten her key to Emily’s apartment and fallen asleep on the welcome mat leaning against the front door, waiting for her friend to return from a date. “Thanks for everything. I owe you big time.”
    “Thank you.” He flashed her a charming smile that sent female hearts aflutter, brought women to their knees at bars and clubs, and convinced Addie to accept his marriage-of-convenience proposal. Not that saying yes took much convincing. Desperation had a way of making a person see the brighter side to any option, including marrying her closest guy friend. “Without legal proof I was a one woman guy, my boss would ship me off to some boring assignment guarding a building or I’d be looking for a new job.”
    “I’d be homeless.”
    He winked. “You win.”
    “We both win and get a free honeymoon out of the deal.” Though the rock in her stomach felt more like dread than relief at the moment.
    “True that.” He opened the truck’s passenger door. “Here’s to having fun and being each other’s good luck charm from now on.”
    “I like the sound of that.” She hoped his words came true. For years her luck had been bad. Not anyone’s fault, just the way her life had turned out. She was ready for things to be different. “Where to now?”
    “Home so we can finish packing our overnight bags.”
    Addie climbed up into her seat, careful with the dress. “I still can’t believe we won a honeymoon. We’ll have to buy Emily a nice souvenir.”
    Nick walked around the front of the truck and climbed inside. “She’s gone out of her way for us.”
    “That’s because she thinks we’re . . .” Addie couldn’t say the words in love . “A cute couple.”
    “Yeah.” He fastened his seatbelt. “But we can’t tell her or anyone the truth. Our friends have to believe we’re married for real. My boss, too. I love my job. Six figures to babysit clients in exotic locales is too easy a gig to lose because of a jealous husband.”
    The gorgeous, young wife of a client had become infatuated with her handsome bodyguard. The man threatened to take his private security needs elsewhere unless Nick was reassigned. With the man’s connections, other clients voiced similar concerns leading to Nick’s assignments becoming limited. His boss had joked how much easier life would be if Nick were married, but the underlying ultimatum was unmistakable.
    So what did the not-interested-in-settling-down bodyguard bachelor do? Propose to Addie. His friend. A sex-less, in name only marriage solved both their problems. In theory at least.
    “Did you happen to give the client any reason to be jealous?” she asked.
    “No way. I take my job seriously. No messing around. Strictly professional.”
    She had no reason not to believe him. Nick had never lied to her. But that meant she knew many of his secrets. “Until you’re off duty.”
    He stuck his key in the ignition. “I’m only human, babe.”
    “I know.” She was a one-man woman who wanted the happily ever after, pinning her heart on a guy like him would be a disaster. “And you can’t help yourself for being a chick magnet.”
    His cheeks reddened. The charming blush reminded her of the boy he’d once been, the boy she’d once loved, her childhood friend. “A cross I must bear.”
    She fastened her seat belt, thinking about the cocktail waitress he’d last dated. They’d gone out for two weeks, a new record for him. “I pity any woman who falls in love with you.”
    He started the engine. “Funny words coming from the new Mrs. Cahill.”
    “In name only, dude. I would never want to be married to you for real.” She knew too much about his dating habits. “No offense.”
    “None taken.” He turned