Accidentally Ever After

ltered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting the room in a golden glow. For a brief moment, she felt

till Mrs.

awake. Before she could answer, Xander strolled in, already impeccably dressed in a gray suit that

e said, the word drippi

ered, pulling the silk shee

want to get up. We have brunch reservations at The

aid, recalling the gala and the exhausting chara

said with a shrug. "Appearanc

o point arguing. "Fine. Jus

f nerves in her stomach. How long could she k

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list had chosen for her. The fabric hugged her in all the right places, and the plungi

gering for a beat longer than nec

ped. "You make me sound

her his arm. "A very

to slap him and instead l

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ors, and chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds. Every table was filled

the whispers that followed them. Her

he murmured, his li

he moment they sat down, Xander slipped his han

gh his voice held an edge of

the contact. His touch was warm, almost too int

most maddening. Sienna tried to focus on the conversation, but the weight of Xander's hand on

purpose," she hissed

n eyebrow.

r thumb," she said,

gleaming with amusement.

retort, a voice

't Xander Hawthorne an

ir table. He was handsome in a sharp, polished wa

nder said,

said, his gaze flicking to Sienna. "Aren't

urtly. "Sienna, this is Ethan C

aid, taking her hand and brushi

ile, though something abo

d, his smile turning sly. "I must

rprises," Xander sa

tension. "Well, congratulations. I'

ienna leaned closer to

ed to worry about," h

but didn't

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e the unease Ethan's presence had stirred. Xander had been col

Ethan?" she asked as

ents stiff. "He's a competitor. Likes to

not all,

eyes unreadable. "No. But

going to keep this act convincing,

thin line. For a moment, sh

er finally said. "And he'll use any wea

ach twisted.

"That's why you need to be careful, Sie

their arrangement settling

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r and Xander. They'd grown used to sniping at each other, but today had been diff

door to her room opened. She sat up

?" she asked, her voice

him, his expression unre

ed in her chest

he said, h

e was looking at her-intense, alm

r, we

closer. "But pretending doesn't mean I

her with the heat spreading through h

gaze dropping to

istance between them, his hand cupping he

, all her defenses crumbled. Her hands found his shoul

nst his lips, her voice a m

et her gaze, his dark eyes burni

ead, she pulled him back to her, the weight of their fake marriage

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