Free The Wedding Hoax by Heather Thurmeier Page A

think for one second I’m going to get into bed with you because you can’t get with anyone else for a while, you’re dead wrong.” She shook her head, hoping it might clear away some of her anger. But it didn’t help.
    He was still the same playboy asshole he’d always been. The few nice moments she’d had with him had been nothing but him trying to satisfy a simple male need or playing along with their charade. Nothing about him or the vibes he’d sent her had been real. Only a couple of weeks, and she was already getting hurt by him.
    She couldn’t go through this again.
    “The playboy might have put a ring on my finger, but he’ll never stop playing the game, will he?” she asked. “This was a mistake. I don’t know why I ever thought we could pull this off.”
    He narrowed the gap between them, trapping her back against the wall. “I’m doing the best I can, Daisy. It’s hard to suddenly be someone I’m not because a piece of paper and a ring tell me I have to.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking as frustrated as she felt.
    “I’m sorry that being with me is such a hardship for you. Maybe it’s best if we call this whole thing off now before it goes any further. Maybe Mason will let us keep the first part of his investment. It’s better than nothing at least.”
    Cole pressed his hand against the wall beside her, leaning on it while his other hand forced her chin up to look at him. “No. We’re not giving up on this. We both need it. I let Arianna flirt with me out of habit, nothing more. I’ll try harder from now on.”
    His gaze penetrated into her, deeper than she wanted it to. It took her breath. “And I was only joking about fulfilling a need. I’ve gone without sex before. I can go a few more months without. You know I would never pressure you into something like that.”
    She couldn’t help but smile. The need to lighten the intensifying moment between them forced her to joke when it was the last thing she actually wanted to do. “Did the playboy just admit to having a dry spell? Where’s the photographer now to get this moment documented?”
    When she giggled, his thumb brushed across her lower lip. Her breath caught in her throat, and she choked on her laugh.
    “I won’t pressure you. I’ll go the whole time on your terms to make this deal work,” he said, his tone serious and low. “But I’d never tell you no if you came looking.” He brought his lips to hers, barely grazing them with a kiss.
    His touch, the look in his eyes—all of it made her head swim. This was another reason why going through with this commitment was a bad idea. She already couldn’t stop the reaction she had to him every time he looked at her or touched her or…kissed her.
    If she went through with this, she was bound to walk away with a broken heart bigger than the investment check. No amount of money could prevent the pain she already felt on the horizon. No. She couldn’t do this. Not for Cole. Not for her store. Not for the money.
    Falling for him had hurt too much the first time. She couldn’t bear the pain a second time.
    She turned her head, breaking their kiss. “Don’t. I can’t do this with you.”
    He hovered over her. “It’s okay. We’re allowed to do this. We’re engaged, remember?”
    She shook her head. “No. I can’t do this. Any of it. I’m breaking off the deal. Six months of my life isn’t worth it.”
    “Daisy, don’t ruin everything. Let’s talk about this and come up with a way we can work it out. I have too much riding on it to let you go.” He stepped back, finally giving her some breathing room and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll stay away from you the whole time, except for in public. We can do this. Daisy, I—”
    “No,” she cut him off, “I just can’t.”
    “Why not?” he demanded, his frustration breaking through his otherwise-calm facade.
    Because I can’t get hurt by you again.
    She bit her lower lip and cursed herself for