start out by being his escort for your benefit in San Diego. I have to decide, since it’s coming up this weekend. Really, he’s not asking for all that much to obtain that property. I kind of suspect he would have given in to you eventually, Jade. He knows it’s important to you. But I’m not sure I want to take the risk that he’d just turn it over to you. The last thing I really want is to cause family issues for you and Eli.”
Jade bit at her lip. “But I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do.”
I smirked. “I have to admit that I don’t mind chasing women away from your brother, because I suspect they’re just after a rich guy. But I’d rather not have to go back into that crowd in San Diego. I’m happy here.”
“Then don’t,” Jade encouraged. “We’ll figure something else out. I don’t belong in that world, either. I only do it to raise funds. And Eli is so comfortable with it that it makes it easy to bear.”
“So much of it is so damn trivial,” I complained. “It’s all one big game to see who can outdo who. But I can handle it, I guess. I’ve had plenty of experience adopting the facade.”
Jade shot me a dubious look. “Are you sure?”
I nodded firmly. I’d made up my mind during my conversation with Jade. “Positive. And it won’t be so bad since you and Eli are going to be there this weekend.”
“Do we need to go clothes shopping?” Jade asked teasingly.
“Seriously, we might,” I replied. “I pretty much traded in my formal gowns for power suits and jeans.”
“Seth cleans up well,” Jade answered with a grin. “All of my brothers look good in a tux.”
“He looks pretty good in a custom suit, too,” I blurted out without censoring my words.
“I knew it,” Jade said excitedly. “You’re attracted to him.”
I lifted a brow. “Like a praying mantis is attracted to a mate,” I grumbled. “But don’t forget that the female rips the head off the male once they’ve gotten it on.”
Jade busted out laughing. “He’s not so bad,” she said once she’d recovered. “If you get to know the real Seth, you might actually like him. Like every single one of my brothers, he’s a pain in the ass at times, but they all have some redeeming qualities.”
“I’ll have to take your word on that one,” I mumbled. “I’ve been doing battle with him for months, and he hasn’t budged until now.”
“Oh, I never said he isn’t stubborn,” she answered with humor in her tone.
“And that’s a good quality?”
“Actually, I think it’s a quality you both share. You are on the other side of the argument.”
“I’m an attorney,” I reminded her. “I get paid to be argumentative.”
Jade smiled as she stood up. “Thank you, Riley. But please know that if this ends up painful for you in any way, it stops. I know how much you dislike being in a fishbowl. We can resolve this a different way.”
“I’m good,” I told her with a falsely cheerful tone. “I just need to lay some ground rules, and everything will be fine. In a few months, that property will be safely in our hands so it can become a protected breeding ground for the least terns.”
We said our good-byes, and I headed back to my office.
This time, I had absolutely no problem writing back to Seth.
If we were going to do this masquerade, I was going to do it on my terms, with very little room for negotiation.
CHAPTER 6
SETH
Dear Mr. Sinclair:
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to accept your offer, but you’ll need to take it with the following terms:
GROUND RULES
Rule #1—I will dress appropriately, but under no circumstances will you get to dictate what I wear to each function.
Rule #2—You’re not allowed to ask me to dance with any male at the event, even if it will benefit your business.
Rule #3—You’ll hold your criticism of anything you dislike about my behavior, unless and until there are no other parties present. We discuss things alone.
Rule #4—NO SEX. AT ALL. EVER.
Rule #5—YOU WILL NOT PUT YOUR HAND ON MY ASS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Rule #6—You have to be respectful at all times.
If you can agree to these terms, you can send me a list of events you’ll be attending, and I’ll draw up the contract.
Riley
“Is she fucking serious?” I grumbled aloud as I sat in my office alone on Tuesday.
Okay, maybe I did have