Free The Billion Dollar Bachelor by Jackie Ashenden Page B

her. “Oh, goodie. A plan.”
    “You won’t like it.”
    “As long as I don’t have to marry anyone, I can deal.”
    “You and I are going to make it look like we’re engaged. That we’ve been seeing each other for months and now we’re ready to go public with the news.”
    “Uh-huh. And why is that?”
    “Firstly, that’ll make your father happy and less inclined to share secrets that weren’t his in the first place. And secondly, it’ll give me some time to get some dirt on him. Something that’ll keep his mouth shut.”
    “Okay, that seems logical.”
    It was. Very logical. “Thirdly,” he went on, “I want us seen around the city together. If you get yourself a public profile, it will be harder for you to disappear if you father decides to do any double-crossing. I’m not sure any of his colleagues would want the heat of being connected with Jax Morrow’s ex-fiancée.”
    Pandora blinked, a smile slowly curving her mouth, color creeping back into her cheeks. “Yeah, my God, that could work.” Her brow creased. “But how long do you think this is going to take?”
    “A few weeks at most, maybe. My private investigators are second to none and they work fast.”
    She gave him an oddly assessing look. “You know, I could get the info you need and quicker than a few weeks.”
    He frowned. “How?”
    “I’m quite good with computers as it happens. There’s dirt I can dig up on him easily enough.”
    It was tempting, he had to admit. And yet … No matter how vital this was and no matter how much of a prick Garret happened to be, the fact remained that she would be working against her own father. Putting him in prison if it came to that. Maybe he’d treated her like crap and maybe she hated him but he was still her father.
    “No,” he said flatly. “I won’t have you ratting out your own father on your conscience.”
    Pandora rolled her eyes. “Y’know, I think my conscience can stand it. He’s a bastard who—”
    “I don’t care what he’s done. He’s still your father and family is important. If the dirt needs to be dug, I’ll be the one doing it.”
    But she still didn’t look happy. “Yeah, but … a few weeks?”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “Where does that leave me? I mean, where am I supposed to go?” She took an audible breath. “I don’t have anyone.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, you’re literally the only person I know who isn’t associated with Dad. At least in real life.”
    “Real life?”
    She lifted a shoulder. “I have a few online friends but that’s it. A bit hard to make friends when you’re followed everywhere you go by bodyguards.”
    “Everywhere?”
    “Yeah. I’m never allowed to go out by myself, never allowed to see anyone who isn’t associated with my father or his friends, never allowed to talk to anyone who hasn’t been personally vetted by him.” She turned away, glancing out the windows, the exquisite line of her back left bare by her red silk gown.. “I don’t even have any other family. My mom died when I was seven and dad cut off all contact with her side of the family. I’m entirely dependent on him. I don’t even have a bank account. Even my credit card is linked to his.”
    Unwanted sympathy twisted inside him. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like to be so isolated. So cut off. All that passion and vitality trapped. Nick Garret needed a jail cell and fast.
    Pandora turned back, her dark eyes meeting his. “All I have is the clothes I’m wearing and nothing else. I mean, if I could borrow some money I could go get a hotel, get some clothes, get something—”
    “You won’t need a hotel. You’ll be staying here.” The words came out of him before he even had a chance to think.
    You weren’t supposed to be going there again.
    Well, he wouldn’t. Of course he wouldn’t. This was entirely logical. As his fiancée, she would be living with him.
    Because she’s yours?
    No, of course