endlessly patient, especially considering how many times I made them re-read whenever I changed the chapter order AGAIN. My beta readers, Dawn and Erika, whose gloriously detailed reading truly helped this story become the best it could. And my ARC team, whose constant excitement for Nina and Matthew’s story drove this forward, inch by inch, until it was done.
My nebulous but ever-growing group of authors peers. If I’ve sent you a random message over the past few months and you answered, thank you. What would I do without those contacts in a world that is becoming increasingly contact-free? Even if we haven’t explicitly talked about the books, your energy buoys me. In particular, Jane, Laura, Kim, Crystal, Claudia, Parker, and Harloe—I appreciate you more than you know.
The team of incredible women whose professional help keeps me on track and focused: my publicist, Dani, and the entire team at Wildfire; my editor, Emily Hainsworth, who juggles my multiple drafts with the ease of a circus performer; my proofreaders, Shauna Stevenson and Judy Zweifel. What would I do without you all? Probably nothing at all.
Lastly, my husband and step kids, who so helpfully juggled the constraints of homeschooling and childcare for a six-year-old in the Time of Corona to help me finish this book. I realize I haven’t exactly been a joy to be around the past few months, and your bottomless patience and love is astounding. I hit the jackpot with you.
To anyone else I may have forgotten while writing this, please forgive me. You matter so much more than I could possibly say. Thank you for your support and for reading in any way.
About the Author
Nicole French is a hopeless romantic, low-key fashion addict, and total bookworm. When not writing fiction, she is hanging out with her family, playing soccer with the rest of the thirty-plus crowd in Seattle, or going on dates with her husband. In her spare time, she likes to go running or practice the piano, but never seems to do either one of these things as much as she should.
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Also by Nicole French
The Hate Vow
Eric de Vries. Looks like millions. Worth billions. A body like the David with a mind to match.
Unfortunately for this wayward heir, to keep his money, he needs a wife. And of all the women in the world, he chooses me.
Too bad I've hated him for five years, since he took all my tears and tossed me away. The guy slept his way through half of New England and discarded women like hotel toiletries.
Been there. Done that.
Still...what would you do for twenty million dollars? Would you wear the dress? Fake a smile for the man who broke your heart?
Or would you run far, far away?
Yeah, that's what I thought. I'll see you at the church.
The gong of the antique clock rippled through the air at exactly 10 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. Eric knew this because it was synced to his watch, and his grandmother, Celeste de Vries, always had the correct time. She was nothing if not punctual. And she demanded