Microsoft Word - catherine mann - landis brothers 4 - rich man's fake fiancee.docx by Catherine Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

bug she couldn’t swat away. Above all, Ashley hated feeling powerless.
    She shook off the wasted emotion. Time to take control and face the nightmare so she could wake up and get her life back.
    Ashley plowed around the corner and into a broad male chest. She jumped back with a scream, slipping on the squishy rug.
    But it wasn’t the paparazzi.
    Matthew filled the doorway. Apparently she would be talking to him sooner than she’d expected.
    “Hold on a minute, darlin’.” Matthew gripped her shoulders, his voice rumbling into the silence. “It’s just me.”
    “Matthew, of course it’s you.” Shuddering with relief, she instinctively sagged against him—then stiffened defensively.
    He pulled her firmly against him anyway until she could only hear the steady thrum of his heart pulsing beneath her ear.
    His musky scent encircled her, insulating her from the fiery aftermath.
    Her skin burned with a prickly sensation, almost painful. A rush of heat deep in the pit of her stomach made her long to melt against him, press her breasts to his chest until the ache subsided, or exploded into something magnificent.
    Ashley flatted her palms on his chest and shoved. “You scared the hell out of me.”
    “Sorry.” Matthew squished back a step, hands raised in surrender, his flashlight casting a dome of light. “I saw you crossing the yard and I came in through the front.”
    “It’s okay. Now that I can breathe.” It wasn’t fair that she felt like death warmed over and he looked so damned good. Even in khakis and a polo shirt, he rippled with power.
    Still, she felt tired and cranky, and his appeal left her edgy and vulnerable. She didn’t like it—and she still had to tell him they were engaged after all. “What are you doing here so early?”
    “You said you were coming to check out the damage.” He absently scratched behind his ear, then stopped. “I thought you could use some help.”
    Miffed with herself for losing her temper, Ashley reined in her wayward emotions. She’d never used anger to get her way before. She couldn’t see any reason to start now. Must be nerves from what she had to tell him.
    She’d wanted a good night’s sleep to brace herself, but so much for wishes. “I apologize and you’re right, I did need to speak with you. We can talk while I do my walk-through of the place.”
    For the first time since she’d slammed into Matthew, his poster-boy-perfect mask slid. Concern wrinkled his brow. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Hire a clean-up crew and spare yourself some heartache.”
    “I’m not going to clean the place yet. Actually, I can’t until the insurance company completes its assessment. I just wanted to look. It shouldn’t take long.”
    He stepped aside. She gasped.
    The whole room loomed like a black hole, void of color. Boards over the window even kept out much of the streetlights from lending any relief to the drab grays. Maybe she should have waited until morning after all and seen the place in the light of day.
    Surely the dark made everything seem worse than it was.
    But probably not.
    She’d hosted so many beautiful pre-wedding events here in the past, imagining celebrating her own engagement someday.
    What a crummy, crummy way to get her wish.
    Matthew wondered how Ashley could stand so stoically still in the face of such a damn mess.
    The second she’d told him she planned to come here, he’d known he would have to be there with her. For safety’s sake and for support.
    Her chin quivered. Totally understandable. He’d expected just such a reaction. He hadn’t anticipated how her sadness would sucker punch him.
    RICH MAN’S FAKE FIANCEE
    12
    CATHERINE MANN
    SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1878
    THE LANDIS BROTHERS
    Matthew crossed his arms, trapping his hands so he wouldn’t reach for her. She eased past him, the sweep of her peasant top brushing against his arm. What did she have on underneath? His throbbing body begged him to discover the answer.
    Odd how he’d