Free Twisted Affair: The Complete Series Box Set by M. S. Parker Page B

There would be ways around it. At least Liv seemed like a decent person.
    “All right,” I said. “Let's do this.”
     

Chapter 11
    Katka
    It had been a long day and I was so looking forward to a hot shower and crashing for the rest of the night. Maybe some wine and ice cream. It was better than it sounded.
    I was curled up on the couch, a half-empty glass on the coffee table and a bag of potato chips next to me when Livie finally got home. I scooted over, waiting for her to join me on the couch. It was our ritual when the two of us worked the same shift that we'd spend a couple hours together when we got home, just relaxing and hanging out.
    I waited for a minute and when she didn't come over, I sat up, frowning. “Livie? Is everything alright?”
    She was standing there, this expression on her face that I couldn't quite read. Panic flooded me. I could always read Livie. We rarely needed to talk to know what the other one was thinking. Except now, I needed to ask the question.
    “What is wrong?” I got to my feet, a thousand worries flooding me. Was she sick? Had she gotten fired again? Or quit because one too many men had hit on her?
    “I am getting married.”
    I sat back down again, all of the strength running out of my legs. She must have said it wrong, chosen an incorrect word. We had learned English as children, but hadn't used it frequently until coming here. There were still times when we struggled with choosing the right words. This must have been one of those times.
    Livie came over and sat down next to me. “Hear me out. Last night–”
    “You did not come home.” I grinned when she scowled at me. It was a shaky smile, but I managed. This had to have something to do with last night's events.
    “A young man came into a bar for a drink. He passed out and I took him home. I stayed to ensure he was safe.”
    My grin widened and I wiggled my eyebrows at her. I knew nothing had happened. My sister did not go home with strange men or have one-night stands. It didn't make teasing her any less fun.
    She glared at me as she went on with her story. “This morning, his father came to see him. The young man, Blayne Westmore, was given an ultimatum by his father. To marry or lose his inheritance. For some unknown reason, Blayne told his father that I was his fiancée.”
    I stared at her. It was like something out of a soap opera. It still didn't explain, though, why she had said she was getting married.
    “He came back this evening,” she said. “And proposed.”
    I couldn't find the English words for what I wanted to say so I switched to our native language. “ You must be joking .”
    She shook her head and held out her hand. There, on her left ring finger, was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. It was elegant and expensive. I let out a low whistle and grabbed her hand, looking at it from every angle.
    “It is not romance, Kat,” she said firmly. “It is a business arrangement.”
    I dropped her hand. “Explain.”
    “He has agreed to pay me handsomely to marry him and maintain the lie that he told his father this morning.”
    Anger flared sharply and I couldn't keep going in English. “ What the hell, Livie? You were angry with me for suggesting we marry someone through an agency to secure our green cards and instead you agree to marry some random guy from a bar? ”
    She waited until I was done. “We have a contract,” she said. “Or at least we shall. It will be signed before the wedding on Saturday.”
    My head was spinning. Had she just said she was getting married on Saturday?
    “There will be no physical contact between us,” she assured me. “I am not prostituting myself. It is marriage only.”
    And then she told me how much he was going to pay.
    “You are going to marry this stranger?” I asked.
    “Blayne Westmore,” she repeated his name.
    This time, the last name clicked. “Westmore?” My eyes widened as the rest of the name registered. I let out a string of curse words