Free Fiance by Friday by Catherine Bybee - The Weekday Brides 03 - Fiance by Friday Page A

him. He thinks his mom suspects,but not his father. A couple of women he’d dated, for the camera, made it clear to the media that there wasn’t a sexual relationship, which I think started some inside rumors. The industry is rather tight-knit according to Michael. I’m not sure if he’s doing this to save his macho rep, or to buy himself some time. He has three huge films he’s involved in over this next year…and another two for the next. The millions he makes per film is enough incentive for him to get married.”
    “That’s what I thought. Doesn’t matter anyway. So long as you don’t have any romantic ideas.”
    “He’s sexy as hell but he rubs me like a good friend or a brother. No worries about me falling for him.”
    “Good.” Gwen pushed off the couch. “You’re going to have to show me a few things in our files. Though I doubt there will be much activity while you’re prancing around France, you never know.”
    “Let me change my clothes first.” Karen left the room and headed upstairs.
    Gwen bookmarked the page she’d been looking at on the Internet and clicked into Alliance’s main client files.
    “Ewwh! Gwen, get up here,” Karen yelled.
    Gwen laughed as she walked toward Karen’s voice. “Our naked neighbors at it again? They were up late last night.”
    Karen stood in the door of her room, not at the window.
    Gwen followed Karen’s stare.
    The window in Karen’s room was open a few inches and on a flower box was a mass of black feathers. “Is it a dead bird?”
    “A crow, I think.”
    Gwen moved closer. Sure enough, the crow looked like it had attempted to peck inside the screen. The beak was caught partially inside while its body lay in the gardenias.
    “I hate birds, Gwen. Bad Alfred Hitchcock flashbacks.”
    Gwen chuckled. She removed her shoe and tapped the end of the beak until it was free of the screen. She popped the screen free, and then using the tips of her fingers, Gwen managed to pick up a feather and quickly toss the bird to the ground below. “I’ll put it in the trash.”
    “Thanks,” Karen said shivering. “Ewwh.”
    Gwen chuckled as she left the room. “And everyone thinks I’m the weak one around here,” she said under her breath.

Chapter Eight

    Gwen drove through the gates of her brother’s Malibu estate and parked her car in the circular drive. She waved at one of the groundskeepers and let herself into the house. “Hello?” she said as she walked inside.
    The sound of soft heels meeting the tile floors preceded the housekeeper.
    “Lady Gwen?”
    “Hi, Mary.” Gwen removed her sunglasses and set them with her purse on the hall table. “How are you?”
    Mary had worked with her brother for as long as he’d lived in this house. She was the main cook and would sometimes help with other domestic chores. There was a full-time live-in maid and groundskeepers who went home in the evenings. And of course, Neil.
    It was killing her not to look for him. He was probably in the guesthouse…if he was there at all.
    Gwen told herself she didn’t care. She was on a mission.
    An independent mission.
    “Did Samantha tell you I was coming?”
    “She did. Will you be staying for lunch?” Mary asked with hope on her face.
    “Bored, Mary?”
    “To tears. I can hardly wait for them to come home.”
    They walked together down the massive hall to the kitchen. The kitchen and breakfast room opened to a great room with huge floor to ceiling windows. Beyond the swimming pool and patios was a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
    “I’d be happy to stay for lunch so long as you’ll join me.”
    Mary raised her eyebrows. “Wonderful. Any requests?”
    “Anything that isn’t prepared in a microwave would be super.” Learning how to cook hadn’t been part of Gwen’s upbringing. Since moving to the States, she’d had to learn to fend for herself, and that meant plenty of ready-made microwavable meals.
    “Coming right up.”
    “Wonderful. I’ll be in my