through ticking on her fingers her top performances over the past month.
In one more step, he invaded her space. She pitched against the desk, gripping the edge as she tipped her head and stared at him up close.
His hazel eyes contained far more amber than she ever noticed. Or was that gold?
She shook her head to clear it but only managed to flood her nose with the scent of his personal aroma, which surprisingly wasn’t manure.
A moment of silence passed while she waited for him to demand she enhance the image more…or ask her to do his laundry again.
“Marry me, Lauralee.”
Her jaw dropped. No air passed in or out of her lungs for the space of five heartbeats.
Then she exhaled in a burst. “What! You’ve lost your mind!”
“I need a wife for the job. You heard Ross.”
She started shaking her head and her fingertips burned as she gripped the desk behind her tighter. “Get someone else!”
“Look, there isn’t much time to spare. Black’s wife is desperate to escape. Ross spoke with the staff member she bribed to get the message to us and, well, we don’t think she has time. I need to get in there now and find a way to get her out.”
“But…but…” she sputtered, unable to come up with anything else to say to his…proposal? Had Boone Wynton seriously just asked her to marry him?
Her words flooded out as her brain engaged once more. “I’ve done some weird things in this line of work, but this? No way.”
“You’re the only person I can think of.”
“How charming of you to say so. This proposal’s getting better and better.” She peeled her hands off the desk and folded her arms even as his reason for asking her plucked at every heartstring she had.
“We’re both professionals. It’s a job. We can divorce right afterward.”
She narrowed her eyes on his rugged features. “What about your bride taking half your assets?”
“Would you do that?”
“No!”
“I didn’t think so. That’s part of the reason why I asked you.”
She drew her brows downward. Should she be flattered that he didn’t believe her to be a woman who’d take advantage? Or happy that he trusted her enough to ask her?
He arched a brow at her in anticipation.
“I have to think on this.”
“Well, think fast. I’m leaving in an hour.” He backed up a step, which allowed her to skirt around his big body.
Earlier, he’d paced and now she found herself following the same path, her bootsteps loud in the quiet office. He was right—this was crazy. When she heard Ross suggest that he marry in order to slide into Black’s employ, she thought it the best course for the sake of the woman held prisoner.
But now that she was being dragged into the mess, she saw Boone’s point. Why did he need to be married? Wasn’t there another way for him to infiltrate the billionaire’s ranch and free her?
Lauralee stopped walking and gazed evenly at him. “You mentioned Noah taking this job, but Ross says he’s out of the running. What about Ross? He and Pippa are already in a committed relationship.”
“He’s met Black in person. He’ll be recognized.”
“Crap.” She took off again, swooping around two desks Silas had pushed together to hold his enormous setup of the most impressive top-of-the-line equipment she’d seen.
She skidded to a stop. “All I need to do is sign my name on a certificate and then you go to Black’s ranch? That’s my only role in this deal?”
“No,” he said slowly.
Her brows shot up. “No? What else?”
“You’re coming with me. If you’ll agree to. Ross believes it will look more convincing.”
“Oh God.” She had so much to think on and the seconds flew by far too fast.
She threw him a look. Okay, he was hot but annoying. She didn’t want anything to do with the marriage side of this deal.
Maybe…
“Wait. I’ve got it.” She held up a hand. “We falsify records, so it looks like you’re married.”
He shook his head. “No good. This dude’s crazy enough that he runs deep checks on everybody in his employ. Apparently he’s paranoid enough that he thinks someone will run off with his wife, and he’s got enough money to worry about her taking it.”
“This is ridiculous. Didn’t he have a prenup?”
“Yes, Ross read it over just a little bit ago, and it’s damn solid. But clearly Black’s got some mental issues too.”
Every corner she turned, a roadblock popped up.
“Why can’t the FBI be called in? Or some other government agency? It’s a hostage