Page 59 of Charming Deception

He’s hotter than the hero in my books. And Wolf is hot. He’s made up, for god’s sake.

“We’d both make a good partner,” he presses.

“How do you know what kind of partner I’d make?”

The heat of challenge in his eyes hones to a fine point as he studies me, and I struggle not to squirm. “Your brother filled me in last night, after you went to bed, about your ex.”

“Great. So he told you I’m a doormat and you decided I was an easy target?” The words come out quiet and more wounded than I want them to.

Jameson leans on the table, closing the space between us. The sleeves of his elegant shirt are casually rolled up, and the arm porn alone, along with his forearm tattoos, are enough to break me.

God, I’m so thirsty.

Be strong, Megan.

Just because it looks delicious doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat.

“No,” he says. “That’s not what I meant. The way Cole spoke about you… It sounds like you went through a lot to try to make it work. He didn’t get into details. But he made it clear that your ex didn’t deserve your efforts. Or you.”

I take a breath.

“And you know what I thought?” he goes on. “I thought you must have a really big heart to try that hard and that long without giving up on someone. It’s not your fault you chose the wrong someone. You were young when you met him, right?”

I really don’t want to talk about Troy, so I don’t. “And now you’re asking me to choose a virtual stranger. For money.”

“Not for money. Money is just a means to an end. Do it to set up your future. You deserve it, after what you’ve sacrificed this far.”

“We’re too different,” I hedge.

“How? How are we different? Do you want financial security and a nice home to live in?”

“Most people want those things. And your house is beyond nice. I have no money. The power balance is deeply disturbing to me.”

“I was born into a wealthy family. You weren’t. That’s circumstance. It hardly matters. And once you’re with me, you will have money. There’s no need to feel like I have the upper hand.”

I almost laugh.

Truly, I’m still shocked by how casually he offered me such a large amount of his money.

Two million freaking dollars.

But it’s sinking in that he’s deadly serious about this.

So am I.

We aren’t a match, even if we fake it.

Judging by the absolute deluge of Google hits Nicole scrolled through today while narrating the headlines to me and shoving the accompanying photos in my face as we got all done up for ladies’ night, Jameson Vance is a people person. A marketing exec who works with celebrities, parties with celebrities, and dates them, too. He must thrive on the attention he gets dating all those famous women.

Otherwise, why would he keep doing it, so often and so publicly?

I’ve dated one man in my entire life. That man is a carpenter who grew up in the same small town I did.

Just the thought of trying to navigate the world of Jameson Vance, billionaire, a world of red carpets, cameras, moguls and celebrities, makes me sweat. I’m shy and introverted. I make up people in my head because I often find them better company than actual people. Not to mention less harmful.

The last few years, I’ve spent as much time as I possibly can writing and hanging out with plants, to avoid people.

“I just haven’t had a chance to earn your trust yet,” he says, in that bossy way of his. “Give me some time.”

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