The Rancher's Fake Girlfriend - Leslie North Page 0,8

social media follow-up, you’ll seem like the perfect candidate. And I can help you make it happen.”

“I am the perfect candidate.”

She smiled. “I agree. But people need to see it in action.”

“Okay, give me one example.”

She pursed her lips for a moment in thought. “Okay! I’ve got one! What you said out on the porch, about the patchwork of ranches and community. We could make that part of your slogan.”

He was admittedly relieved to hear that. For a minute, he’d been picturing lots of razzle-dazzle fakery that wouldn’t feel like him at all. Yeah, he wanted to win, but he wanted to win as himself—not by pretending to be someone else. “Oh, so you mean you wouldn’t be putting words in my mouth?”

“Not at all! A solid campaign takes the personality of the person and polishes it up so you can put your best foot forward—that’s all. We’d be helping people get to know the real you, the one you’re convinced is the right man for the job.” She smiled shyly at him.

“I like it, I like it,” he said, nodding. “But is it a fair trade, then? Sounds like I’d be getting more out of it than you.”

She shook her head and looked down. “I don’t want to make a big deal about it but … Tripp scares me. I need to take a drastic step to get him to back off, because I’m getting worried about what he’ll do. I can’t put Aria in that sort of danger.”

“Wait a minute, you’re feeling threatened?” Chad felt himself snap into protector mode. “Why, I’ll just go over to his ranch and teach him a thing or two about—”

“No, no, don’t you see that’ll only make him more determined? That’s why a fake relationship is so much smarter. When he sees that I’m committed, and that there’s someone looking out for me every day, he’ll have no choice but to back down.”

Chad was silent for a moment. There was no way a woman as sweet as Hannah should feel frightened for herself or for her child. If she really thought this was the best way to protect herself, who was he to tell her no?

“Okay. Let’s do this thing.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yep. Time to tell the paparazzi. Come on, let’s make it look real.”

Chad extended his hand to Hannah, and she gave him a smile then placed her soft hand in his. The moment their palms touched, he felt an inexplicable jolt, but he played it off as they pushed through the swinging door and into the cheers of his family.

4

The closet wasn’t that big.

Once again Hannah kicked herself for keeping the relics from her old life that took up more than half of it, because it made finding the stuff she could wear next to impossible.

She wasn’t that woman anymore—the one who worked as the communications director for a powerful environmental advocacy group. Her work ensembles no longer consisted of power suits, nor did she need the fancy gowns she used to wear to elite events. Her wardrobe was much more casual now. She barely had to think about it.

Except for right now, of course, when she couldn’t stop staring into her closet and dealing with flashbacks from everything she saw.

Back when she still working with her ex, John, she had to strike a delicate balance with her look for public events. No clothing with obvious branding (unless it had the Green Spaces logo), natural fibers only, flattering but not overtly sexy, easy to move in yet elegant. The types of outfits she could be photographed in and look good no matter the angle. She ran her hand over the fine fabrics in her closet.

She didn’t miss it one bit.

John had loved that they looked so good together, her dark hair and light eyes almost a match to his. It was yet another way that sold the idea that they were a united front—not just romantic partners, but the twin leaders of Green Spaces, the environmental foundation that John had started while he was still in college. It grew from a single table in his university’s quad to a worldwide movement to save the planet through education and acts of peaceful protest. Hannah had come on board when the foundation was still new, and John’s infectious enthusiasm stole her heart in more ways than one. But the bigger the foundation became, the more he changed. From idealistic nature lover to ruthless eco-warrior, to in the end, someone she barely recognized.

She reached