The Tycoon's Make-Believe Fiancée Page 0,20

itself was intense, or their conversation was making it so. Tamar and Royston were discussing the possibility of a business deal, tossing out the pros and cons, their minds amazingly agile as they resolved one issue after another.

Miranda had to agree with the woman. After the past two nights, she wasn’t sure what she was feeling for the man, but it was strong and it was confusing. “Yes, he is.”

Wyndi looked at the other woman with a smile. “I’m glad he’s found someone kind and generous like you to marry. Royston has had a tough life. He deserves someone who can make him happy.”

Miranda’s eyes snapped up to Wyndi’s, startled with the news. “What do you mean? I know the two of you were separated as children, but he wasn’t born into wealth?”

Wyndi laughed, causing both men to glance in her direction. She smiled back at them and waved, her other hand resting on her stomach. “Goodness no! Royston hasn’t told you about…?” she stopped and closed her mouth. “Ask him about his teen years. You deserve to know. His experiences are probably what’s made him so successful.”

That was a mystery Miranda was dying to discover, but she couldn’t ask Royston anything about his past. Other than the information he chose to reveal, she was in the dark. Royston was a very private person. He might give his body to her freely every night. But he didn’t open up to her about his feelings or his history. That didn’t stop him from asking her question after question. But she had so far failed to garner any insight into the man and what made him so strong and driven.

Miranda didn’t want to use her position, however temporary, to spy on Royston though. She thought it wouldn’t be right. Besides, she might be sleeping with the man, but this whole weekend was a lie. She understood why Royston was doing it and even admired him for his efforts, but she liked Wyndi. She hadn’t expected to like the woman so much and now she felt awkward perpetuating the lie. It was wrong.

“You know, Royston is pretty happy,” Miranda said softly, trying to reassure this kind woman.

Wyndi smiled, looking at Miranda and secretly hoping things would work out between her brother and this kind, warm-hearted woman. “I know he is now. But he was not happy when I first found him.”

Miranda’s eyes swung from watching Royston shoot to the woman beside her. “Why do you say that? I thought you’d just found him earlier this week.”

Wyndi smiled inwardly, one more piece of the puzzle falling into place. The fact that the woman wasn’t certain only confirmed her suspicions that Royston and Miranda weren’t actually engaged. She wasn’t going to ruin the story though. Maybe if she kept quiet, they would work things out and realize that they were made for each other.

“You’re right. But from the moment I saw him in his office, I could sense the sadness in him. I don’t know why and I can’t really explain it, but Royston was not a happy man.” She let that sink in. “He’s pretty happy now,” she said, still watching the men. “Also, I might have been pretty young before our parents died and we were split up, but Royston never treated his girlfriends the way he treats you. And I know there aren’t many pictures of him online, but of the ones there are, there’s a look in his eyes, a hardness and angry expression, that’s been absent when he looks at you.”

Miranda wasn’t sure how to take those comments. They gave her a ray of hope that there might be a future between herself and Royston, but was that logical? Royston was one of those men who had obviously had many lovers, knew how to treat a woman to make her feel special. But should she dare to get her hopes up that this weekend might mean more to him than just a casual fling?

She shook her head, silently admonishing herself for thinking such ridiculous thoughts. There were probably dozens of women in Royston’s past who had stupidly hoped for the same thing. She might be sharing his bed, but she wouldn’t let her heart go so easily. She had to be sensible about this. Royston was not the kind of man who would settle down.

She watched him, a sadness filling her heart as she considered what would happen Monday morning. She’d love to live in this fantasy world where everything