“I’d rather screw you, Princess. Whatever happens between us this weekend, it’ll stay behind—like in Vegas. You’re one of my best employees. I wouldn’t jeopardize my accounts by treating you differently. Also, I don’t want us to enjoy each other’s company after this weekend. When the time comes, we’ll be strangers. You can keep hating me, and I’ll keep ignoring you.”

He strides toward me with a predatory glimmer in his eyes. My heart slams against my ribs. He lifts my chin with his thumb, brushing his lips against my mouth.

“Let’s make a deal,” he says, connecting our gaze as his hands possessively run up my arms and over my shoulders. “You forget about work, my family, and everything else today. We have an entire day to explore the pyramids, go to the beach, or do whatever we want.”

He cradles my face and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll make it worth your while,” he says against my lips, kissing me like he’s starved and desperate.

Then he’s kissing me again, harder, as if he’s trying to possess me, consume me—make me his. My body quivers from head to toe. I’m breathing his air and he’s breathing mine. For a minute I’m afraid to fall.

Just keep it casual, Claire.

This is a casual weekend, nothing serious.

There’s that saying you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But who are we kidding? We do it anyway. Before this weekend, I had pinned Miller Archer as the biggest asshole on the planet. Despite him being passionate about his business, driven, brilliant, and incredibly ambitious.

Miller Archer, the man is sure of himself, kind, loving with his family, patient, and down to earth. He has an uncanny ability to make me laugh and smile.

Yesterday was my favorite non-birthday day. He made it special. He made me feel special. We spent a few hours in bed having the best sex of my life, then went to Isla Mujeres to scuba dive before we had dinner by the beach. He ordered a special cake for me, even sang “Happy Birthday.” He has a nice voice, who knew, another hidden talent.

He’s perfect, and it makes me wonder how much of my performance is fake and how much is real. A part of me wishes this was more than just a ruse.

Is it bad, when I blew out the candles last night, I wished for a real relationship with a man just like Miller Archer?

With a man like him, I wouldn’t mind risking my heart. I hold my breath as I realize what I’m doing.

Uh-oh, I’m having feelings.

How can I not with those eyes, his smile, his touch?