Page 80 of Ruthless Heir

“I suppose so.” I can see what she means but I still worry because I lied a lot when I was with Nick, telling Josh things were fine when they weren’t. I guess my conscience is just screwing with me.

“I also think you could use this chance to explore things with Asher.” Mischief fills her face.

“Beth, I’m just going to do what I’m supposed to do. No exploring.” Although I’d love to.

“Well, maybe Asher will see what he’s been missing all this time.” She laughs.

I look down at the fluffy rug beneath my toes as if it holds the answers then return my focus to her. “I don’t think so. This is just for convenience. I shouldn’t read more into it.”

“I guess that’s wise but you never know.” Her eyes fill with hope.

“I can’t fall for him again, Beth.”

“Again?” She chuckles. “Did you ever stop?”

“No. But you know what I mean. I have to view this thing as a business deal. I don’t want to get hurt.”

“I don’t want to see you hurt, either.”

“All I want is to get my want my life back on track and the chance to be happy.”

She nods understanding. “I have faith in you, Harper St. John. I can imagine you doing great things with your music.”

“Thank you, my friend.”

“Maybe my grandma was right and this is the universe giving you a helping hand. Vito was your last connection to Nick. Now you can be free of both of them”

I nod, agreeing. “Yes. Now all I have to do is stay focused.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“This should be easy considering what I’ve been through.”

“Exactly.”

Focusing sounds easy but it’s the part that worries me.

How am I supposed to focus when I’m going to be Asher’s pretend girlfriend? Every time he touches me and we act real for everyone else it will feel real for

me. Then I’ll have to remind myself that we’re not.

Sadly, the desperate girl I was in the past is excited about this new venture.

That version of myself would rather have this fake relationship with Asher Le Blanche than nothing at all.

Chapter Sixteen

Asher

“I can’t believe you actually took my advice.” Layla gazes back at me wide-eyed with her hands placed on her cheeks.

We’re at the office and she’s sitting across from me. I lean back against my chair and stare at her. This feels like a déjà vu of Saturday. Except I have some control over my wife problem now.

“I can’t believe I took your advice either.”

Layla grins, raises her hands, and claps. “Well done for taking a walk on the wild side.”

“You’re right to call it that—wild.”

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