THE WIFE HE NEVER CHOSE

Rafe Mercer's fiancée: his office felt like b

ut our wedding before I'd bar

s doors at Mercer Holdings than the rec

ning, Mrs

d, caught

s Calder,

just for a beat. "Oh,

wedding's not qu

rse. Ap

ice how a couple of employees nearby

Mer

ded like I'd stolen someone else's life,

asn't sure I'd ev

e his office. He had that impeccable, unruff

ning, Mis

ng. Is Mr.

ting. He'd like me to bring

ay. The carpets were soft eno

l documents r

lawyer's amendments. You'll be able

n't want an

"Mr. Mercer apprecia

eyebrow. "Do

d your skill i

ile, but I just said, "Polite wa

nal. "I wouldn't presume

ference room. Dani

as soon as Mr. Me

ank

apers spread across the table. I settled in, set my

the debt gone, the restoration funds ring-fenced. I had access to th

he last few clauses when a wo

he woman mar

oked

n my car. Her blond hair was perfectly styled, diamonds glinting at her neck. You could sme

, polite b

ht. I'm Nes

, eyes pausing on my plai

nne As

til she added, "I was

ach wen

the

s sharp. "You c

back. "Well. Ni

s

but there was not

she meant to leave or k

married this Friday.

rs things d

urse h

to the contract

marriage

es

pract

er and flip

ed closer. Too

a, what did he

p, slow an

or

u get in exchange

ed the

really you

r years. It's curious, him se

be ask hi

anished, ju

e conf

t

chair across from me a

e Rafe don't marry out of lo

er, weighin

ight be

d faintly

not of

I know exactly wha

is struggling, and a wealthy man offers to fix it all, it

my grip on

ss-my responsibility. I'm n

cour

ing Rafe suddenly turns

ed her eye

hy do

k a deal. It work

a small, m

w t

p, done w

r a reason, or j

y smile dropped and

d contract with a guar

etend you kno

ed up my

e didn'

Nessa. I'm sure yo

ank

o the door,

last

ait

eing chosen wit

ng more than I

ply, a familiar v

vie

th tu

He looked cold and sharp, h

e you do

htened, al

rning to

a private

welcoming yo

sn't nee

his voice

No need to be defensive, Raf

ot con

oked

you o

d. "I'm

ed back

ink you sh

dropped op

tually dis

u to leave

d, then pick

to interrupt imp

him but stopp

ulations

dn't

, he closed the

ked a

as... e

herself in things that ha

you were

we

happ

is face tur

en

ious

table and skimme

y anything

I couldn'

sn't my

his

at are you r

he ups

wing concern. But he

marrying you f

e y

red a

suddenly,

tly want t

your a

he folder

, and you gave me a way to save it. I'm not pr

nod

oo

oo

you just be

y arms, bra

that I'm not some gold

nched

t bother

protecting f

't say

act like I

t star

ve to twist th

make everything sound li

nce drag

ed out the chair

ve got documen

ated, b

checked th

ll your terms. The debt's s

he notif

re

to me. "Has your lawy

hecked ever

od. "We're

ned m

d his nex

stared at our signatures, half in disbelief tha

lations,"

oked

wh

wedd

im a sma

didn't believ

emember sa

ou weren't

gged. "

you're c

he folder a

take care o

s and headed to th

af

tur

when she said you do

ce clo

I ended a lo

not what

ed righ

requirement for marri

ded,

s we're on t

or him to answe

the hall, I h

es

urn

leaning on her ha

ght you

ot some

, the polished

Rafe picked you, or what

t do yo

doors, making sure we we

what kind of man

ft doors opened. She stepped in, and as t

to the woman he promise