Page 16 of Temporary Wife Temptation

They reached his penthouse before he did anything foolish, and were met by the spectacular views of downtown that stretched all the way to the Hollywood sign. The gusty spring winds had carried away much of the smog, and all of Los Angeles stood clear and arresting before them.

“Come on.” He beckoned her with a tilt of his head. “I’ll give you the five-cent tour.”

Natalie followed him with her bright eyes scanning the condo, but her attention kept drifting back to the city view. The condo itself wasn’t much. Three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a couple dens, a kitchen and dining room, two libraries and an exercise room. The two of them should have enough space without feeling too cramped.

“Um... Is this where we’re going to live after we get married?”

He hadn’t given much thought to what Natalie would need or want. He was, without a doubt, an insensitive tool. “I don’t have a particular attachment to the place. We can move if you’d like.”

“No. I wouldn’t dream of imposing on you like that. I’ll only be here a while.” Natalie waved her hands.

“You don’t need to feel like a guest while you live here. It’ll be as much your home as mine.” If Mike or Adelaide heard him, they’d be shocked. Garrett valued his privacy as though his life depended on it.

“That’s very kind of you.” Her lashes fluttered shyly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he whispered. Her sincere words touched and humbled him. “Thank you for rescuing me from an unwanted marriage.”

“Don’t thank me, yet. You won’t be safe until I ruin you for good.” Her mischievous smile made him hold his breath. “I’ll pack over the weekend and move in by Sunday.”

His breath left him in a hoot of laughter, and he enveloped her in a bear hug and swung her off her feet. She squealed and held on to his shoulders.

“Garrett, put me down,” she said in a voice breathless with laughter.

After another spin, he steadied her onto the floor, keeping his arms loosely wrapped around her. He couldn’t stop grinning. To his surprise, he very much looked forward to playing house with Natalie.

Five

Garrett was picking her up in fifteen minutes and she was still in her bra and panties. Natalie enjoyed big shindigs as much as she liked rolling around in a patch of poison ivy. She was agonizing over her attire for the dinner party—her bed was littered with half a dozen dresses. Garrett had sent them to her, and they were all beautiful, fashionable and—no doubt—expensive. She had to look the part, but he’d gone overboard.

It was their official “first date” and Natalie’s insides were tangled into knots. They had gone out to lunch almost every day to strategize about their next moves, and let the paparazzi take pictures of their “secret romance.” But this evening, she was accompanying Garrett to Michael Reynolds’s birthday get-together to convince his friends what a happy couple they were.

Five minutes late, she eeny-meeny-miny-moed a black, strapless dress from the pile and slipped into it. She wore her hair in a loose updo, away from her bare shoulders. As a finishing touch, she sprayed her favorite scent on her wrist and behind her ears. After a pause, she spritzed her cleavage.

With a last look in the mirror, Natalie rushed down the stairs and out of the building. Garrett had parked his car close to the entrance and stood outside, leaning back against the passenger-side door. He looked sinful in a tailored gray suit with a navy shirt, unbuttoned at his throat.

“Sorry I’m late.” She sounded breathless. It had to be from running down the stairs, not because of how handsome he looked.

Garrett glanced up from his phone and froze as something hot and predatory flared in his eyes. He opened his mouth then closed it to clear his throat. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you.” The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop them, and blood rushed to her cheeks.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as his lips tugged to the side in a sexy grin. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she mumbled, sliding into her seat while he held the door for her.

Natalie was surprised that Michael Reynolds was Garrett’s oldest, closest friend. She knew Michael as a laid-back man with an easygoing smile, always cracking jokes. He was so different from the reserved, intense person Garrett was... It was difficult to imagine them as friends. But then, she didn’t really know her soon-to-be husband all that well.

Forty-five minutes later, Garrett pulled up to a South Pasadena estate with a huge front lawn. The circular driveway was packed with luxury vehicles. Valets in bow ties and black jackets rushed around to take the guests’ keys.

“This is his house?” Her voice rose at the end. She’d expected a casual get-together. Sure, she figured rich people would have fancy hors d’oeuvres and a Dom-Pérignon fountain or something, but not this.

“Yes,” Garrett said, then switched off the ignition and stepped out of the car.

Natalie followed suit when one of the valets opened her door. Smiling her thanks at the man, she took Garrett’s arm and whispered, “You said it was a ‘small gathering.’ This is a freaking wedding reception.”

He furrowed his brow. “He’s a publicist so he invited some influential acquaintances, but it’s hardly a huge party. There can’t be more than a hundred people here.”

“Good Lord. What have I gotten myself into?” She dug her fingers into Garrett’s forearm, which was muscular as hell. Big party. Hot man. She wanted to run off into the night.

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