Secrets of the Tycoon's Bride by Emilie Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

beauty appointments.”
    â€œI’ll choose my own clothes and make my own appointments.”
    â€œLauryn—”
    â€œAnd I won’t dress like a tramp.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I don’t date tramps.”
    â€œDidn’t your last girlfriend recently make the news for flashing a pantiless crotch shot at the paparazzi?”
    â€œShe wasn’t my girlfriend.”
    â€œThe media says differently.” She futilely tried to massage the headache squeezing the back of her skull beneath her knot of hair. “I can dress myself and do all the rest.”
    He sat forward, forearms braced on his knees. “Not from what I’ve seen. Keep your wardrobe conservative, but try to dress your age instead of matronly. Remember, people are supposed to believe I’m attracted to you.”
    Ouch. “You’ll have to trust me.”
    â€œWe can’t afford mistakes. We have to get it right the first time.”
    â€œI’ll get it right.”
    Tense, silent seconds ticked past. “You have a headache?”
    â€œYes. But it’s nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure. Please, Adam, go home. I’ll read the documents and discuss them with you tomorrow.”
    He stared at her as if considering refusing, but then rose. “I’ll pick you up at Estate at five tomorrow evening. We’ll stop by Brandon’s office for the notary to witness our signatures before going to dinner.”
    And then she’d be tied to Adam Garrison in a sham of a marriage for two years.
    But what was two years when her entire life had been a lie?

Four
    â€œR eady to roll?”
    Lauryn nearly jumped out of her chair at the sound of Adam’s voice behind her late Tuesday afternoon. She swiveled around and found him standing just inside her office.
    Black suit, white shirt, conservative black-and-silver-patterned tie. Manly. Magnificent. He’d always been a sharp dresser, but she rarely saw him so formally attired.
    â€œAlmost. You’re early. Let me print this last page.” She caught the sheet before it could hit the tray. “I typed up an addendum.”
    â€œAddendum to what?” He crossed to her desk and took the papers she offered.
    â€œOur agreement. These are the items we covered last night.”
    His gaze ricocheted from the pages to her face. He backtracked and closed her office door. “Our sex life is not going into a legal document.”
    â€œI want the terms spelled out.”
    â€œI won’t have anything in writing that the press can use to discredit me. The prenup and marriage contract are risky enough. Delete that file,” he ordered in an authoritative voice.
    Her hackles rose in a conditioned response. Like a Pavlovian pooch. She’d never taken orders well. Her father had barked them as if she’d been a new recruit, and she…well, she’d rebelled. More often than not her response had landed her in hot water.
    But that was then.
    â€œAdam—”
    â€œDo it now, Lauryn.”
    Grasping the arms of her chair, she sat back and counted to ten. “You’re protecting your interests. Why shouldn’t I protect mine?”
    â€œI give you my word I will abide by your requests.” He fed the pages into the shredder and then planted his palms on her desk and slowly leaned forward until he towered over her. He held her gaze without blinking. “Until you tell me otherwise.”
    The last phrase, delivered with a cocky half smile, oozed confidence and charisma. He thought she’d change her mind about the sex ban. He had no clue what kind of lockdown she’d put on her hormones since dissolving her hasty marriage or how good she’d become at ignoring the opposite sex. But he’d learn.
    She deleted the file and even emptied her computer’s recycle bin. “Done.”
    â€œLet’s go.”
    â€œWait. You need to approve the advertisement for my