Page 12 of Hard and Unprotected

“Naw, that’s a no go,” he growled. “Like I said before, you have a way with aggressive animals and I’m guessing it’s the same with people. My father is the human form of Bowzer, a scary SOB that’ll bite before asking any questions. Just like you did with Bowzer, I think you’ll have a way with him too.”

I was completely taken aback.

“Even if I did agree, your father is a man, not a dog!” came my protest. “I can’t do it. No way.”

Evan’s smirk came back full force then. Because he knew exactly which buttons to press. Reaching inside his jacket pocket, the billionaire pulled out a checkbook and pen before scribbling something and ripping it out with a flourish.

“Here,” came his grunt. “Does this change your mind?”

My eyes went round, dollar signs cha-chinging before my gaze. Because it said ten thousand dollars, the four zeroes like round o’s staring at my face.

“Tell me your real name, Maggie, and I’ll fill it in nice and legal. Or you can do it yourself,” he rumbled persuasively.

And shamefully, my tongue answered.

“It’s Margaret Lake,” was my breathless whisper.

In a flash, the alpha scribbled.

“Here,” he grunted. “Ten g’s delivered to Margaret Lake. Does that help?”

Again, I was speechless. This was a lot of money. So much more than I’d ever seen before. I could do a lot with it. Pay my tuition at the college for the next couple of semesters, pay rent. Wow. Maybe I could even take more classes at the college and get my degree faster. I blinked at him in shock and stood there stiff and lifeless.

The billionaire’s brow quirked.

“Do we have a deal?”

My fingers tightened around the check and didn’t want to let go. The cash could change everything. God, I didn’t think I could say no. So I didn’t. I bit my lip. And before I knew it, the answer was out.

“Okay.”

That wolfish smile showed itself again.

“I knew you would see things my way, Margaret Lake.” Then he turned, one hand on the door knob before stopping. “Be ready at eight o’ clock tomorrow. I’ll pick you up.”

What? Oh my god! Everything was moving so fast. This man, the check, and now actually going out with him someplace.

“Wait, but why are you doing this?” I asked in a trembling voice, fingers gripping the paper so tight that my knuckles showed white. “Why do you need a fake fiancée?”

The dark man merely smiled again.

“You’ll see,” he rumbled. “You’ll see when you meet my dad.”

I was meeting his parents tomorrow? What in the world? Couldn’t be. So my brain rewound to one of the few things that it could process.

“But you don’t know where I live!” I called again to his departing back. “You know nothing about me.”

He stopped, turning to flash a brilliant smile over one shoulder.

“Then I guess we’ll have to change that, won’t we?” was his amused drawl. “See you at eight.”

And with that, Mr. Lincoln was gone, long legs striding to the exit, sure and confident. And even as my cheeks flared, excitement took root in my breast. Because suddenly everything seemed to sparkle, the world going Technicolor. It shouldn’t have been this way, and yet … I wanted to see how the next chapter unfolded.

4

Evan

“Thank you, Mrs. Jones. Everything looks really good.”