The Proposal by Maya Hughes
Series: Cupcakes & Cocktails #1
Publication date: July 16th, 2020
Synopsis:
When I envisioned Zara Logan dropping to her knees in front of me, this wasn't what I had in mind...
I was expecting a lot less glaring and a lot more moaning.
Instead, she's proposing an enticing deal that I can't bear to walk away from.
To land one of the city's biggest clients, she wants us to put our differences aside and play fake fiances for the next thirty days.
So, I slip the diamond ring onto her finger and agree to play the perfect fiance. How hard can this be?
A hell of a lot harder than I thought...
She's infuriatingly stubborn and she thinks I'm a cocky jerk with an enormous ego. (She's right, but I can definitely back it up...)
As our long days stretch into even later nights, it's getting harder to remember we're only playing pretend, which means one thing.
She won't be faking it for long...
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Excerpt
"You want me to propose to you?" With muscles tense and tight, she stared at me before crossing the room to me in two strides.
"It'll make a wonderful story to tell if anyone asks. Or we can call the whole thing off and confess, but you're the one who led us down this path with the relationship talk. Kathleen would probably kick us off the project. Or maybe just you."
Her gaze narrowed. "Just when I think you're not a complete asshole. Fine." The word shot out like a nail gun. Covering her mouth, she mumbled into her hand. "Will you pretend to be my fake fiance for the next thirty days?"
I cupped my hand around my ear. "That wasn't exactly romantic and you're not even on bended knee. Boyz II Men would be disappointed." I dangled the ring in front of her.
She squeezed her forehead and snatched it out of my hand.
I braced myself for her to fling it straight into my face, but she didn't. Hiking up the skirt of her suit an inch, she lowered herself to the floor with her gaze trained on mine. The intensity of her emerald gaze sent my blood thrumming through my veins. Her thick eyelashes framed her eyes and the ill wishes she was trying to sear into my brain.
But damn if her sinking to her knees in front of me didn't flash me into a whole different set of circumstances with her where she wasn't wishing me dead and I wasn't trying to steal this project out from under her.
"Leo Charles Wilder, will you please agree to be my fake fiance for the next thirty days and make me the most miserable woman on earth?" She held out the ring in her palm.
I tapped my finger against my lips and stared up at the ceiling. "When you put it like that..."
"It'll make a wonderful story to tell if anyone asks. Or we can call the whole thing off and confess, but you're the one who led us down this path with the relationship talk. Kathleen would probably kick us off the project. Or maybe just you."
Her gaze narrowed. "Just when I think you're not a complete asshole. Fine." The word shot out like a nail gun. Covering her mouth, she mumbled into her hand. "Will you pretend to be my fake fiance for the next thirty days?"
I cupped my hand around my ear. "That wasn't exactly romantic and you're not even on bended knee. Boyz II Men would be disappointed." I dangled the ring in front of her.
She squeezed her forehead and snatched it out of my hand.
I braced myself for her to fling it straight into my face, but she didn't. Hiking up the skirt of her suit an inch, she lowered herself to the floor with her gaze trained on mine. The intensity of her emerald gaze sent my blood thrumming through my veins. Her thick eyelashes framed her eyes and the ill wishes she was trying to sear into my brain.
But damn if her sinking to her knees in front of me didn't flash me into a whole different set of circumstances with her where she wasn't wishing me dead and I wasn't trying to steal this project out from under her.
"Leo Charles Wilder, will you please agree to be my fake fiance for the next thirty days and make me the most miserable woman on earth?" She held out the ring in her palm.
I tapped my finger against my lips and stared up at the ceiling. "When you put it like that..."
About the Author:
Maya Hughes, that's me!, can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I'm a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.
I'm the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can't breathe, traveling with my family and Jeff Goldblum.
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