Page 8 of Logan

“Exactly. Someone that will pretend to be in love with me, play the part as needed. And in exchange, you’ll never have to worry about money again.”

“Worry about money?” Mia frowned at me. “Why would you say that?”

“I know about your mom’s money troubles.”

Before this, I was pretty sure that she had no idea I was aware of what happened to her mom’s business or the fact that the woman had to move in with her. But Mia was my assistant, which meant that she worked closer with me than anyone else did. She was in a powerful position within the company because of it. I had to put my trust in her, so I made sure that I knew as much about her as possible, to be sure that I could.

“So you see, this could be a mutually beneficial arrangement for us,” I went on. “If we can convince my family that we’re a happily married couple, when I get my inheritance, I’ll pay you for your trouble. You know I can give you enough so that youandyour mom are well taken care of. You’ll never have to work again.”

That meant losing Mia as an assistant, which I hated, but I knew that I needed a wife and this was the only thing I could think of to convince her. Money was something that everyone wanted, and I had more than enough to get just about anything I wanted. I would hire someone else to be my assistant, and it would be fine.

Mia didn’t speak for a long moment, and I couldn’t tell if I’d offended her or if she was actually considering this. It could go either way.

I was still nervous, for some reason. I knew that I could ask someone else if she said no, but it didn’t feel like that was true. I knew Mia, and I neededher.

“So, when you get your inheritance, we get divorced?” she asked tentatively.

I felt the tension drain out of my body, certain she was going to agree. “Yes, but until then, we have to put on a show. That means living together, spending time together in public and with my family, kissing each other…” I swallowed hard as a shiver went down my spine and landed in the vicinity of my dick. “Only my brothers will know the truth, that it’s a marriage in name only. No romance or feelings involved. You know I don’t do the whole ‘love’ thing.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m aware of that.”

But she didn’t say anything else. I knew that I’d just dumped a hell of a lot of information on her, and she needed time to process.

Just not too much time.

“Think about it,” I said, moving back toward the window to give her space. “But I need to know soon.”

Mia stood, hesitating before leaving. “Goodnight, Mr. Reid.”

I couldn’t help smiling at her. “Mia, I just asked you to be my wife. I think you can start calling me Logan.”

“Oh, right.” Her cheeks tinted pink. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Logan.”

I watched her leave, waiting until she closed the door behind her to turn back to the window. There was something about this view of the city that made me think about my position within this company and how important it was to me. It always had been.

I’d never seen another path for my life. My grandfather started this company and ran it when I was a kid. My plan had always been to follow in his footsteps, and I’d done it.

I couldn’t lose it all now. It meant too much to me.

CHAPTERFOUR

Mia

There was no way I was doing this. I couldn’t marry my boss. It was too weird to imagine acting like a happy couple, kissing, and living together.

He had to be out of his mind to even ask this of me. Surely it would be an issue with HR, if I decided to complain.

I knew I wouldn’t do that though. There was something about the desperate look in Logan’s eyes when he explained what his grandpa wanted from him that kept me from feeling offended by his proposal.

He was desperate, that much was clear.

The two of us weren’t even close, not really. In the entire time I’d been working for him, our relationship had been nothing but professional. That was why it came as such a surprise that he knew about my mom’s money troubles.

I drove home on autopilot, my thoughts a jumbled mess in my mind. Despite my decision not to agree to Logan’s proposal, I couldn’t stop thinking about it in general. He mentioned kissing, and I had to admit that the idea made a warm desire rush through me.

I wanted him, but did I want to play house for six months with a man I was so strongly attracted to?

No way.