The Boss's Convenient Bride by Jennie Adams

Author:Jennie Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

SATURDAY came quickly. Before Claire knew it, she was standing in the chapel, in front of God and everybody, eaten up with guilt, about to begin a marriage that must never be consummated.

Her final gift to Nicholas would be a quick annulment. It wasn’t the kind of thought that brides usually had as they stood before the altar.

How ironic that his hasty plans had come together so wonderfully, right down to the beauty of this old building. The chapel had a timeless elegance that showed in every bold architectural stroke.

Garbed in its wedding finery, it shone even more. The polished wood pews and stained-glass windows formed a perfect backdrop for the branches of apple blossom and the dozens upon dozens of tapered white candles that gave out a soft welcoming glow.

With the help of a very efficient, forgiving, and most of all discreet wedding planner, Claire had managed quite a presentable effort. On the surface, things looked fine. She even looked fine herself, in an off-the-shoulder white satin sheath gown overlaid with French lace.

Their respective family and close friends filled a few rows of the church behind them, smiling benevolently while cameras flashed. But Claire was about to exchange marriage vows with the boss. The thought was terrifying.

Her gaze strayed to where Nicholas stood at her side before the Reverend. Each day deepened her love for him, and that was another reason she had to keep this marriage platonic.

If she wanted to survive at all, she couldn’t afford to tumble any further, and she knew if they made love any defences she still had in place would collapse. Then she wouldn’t only tumble, she would plunge headlong and lose herself for all time.

How she wished she could tell Nicholas everything. But he would despise her, and then send her away, and none of her problems would be solved. She was trapped in her own web of deceit, and it was going to get worse before it got better.

She couldn’t face the thought of the heartbreak ahead. And, on top of that, she had to fight the attraction that seemed to want to consume them both at every turn.

Nicholas had made no secret of his desire for her. Claire wanted him, too. Any time they were in a room together she sizzled with awareness of him. With need and desire and want. And it was all for him. Only for him.

And that only scratched the surface of her feelings. He claimed to be uninterested in the emotions that bound couples together, but for a man with such a cynical view he could be incredibly thoughtful. That only made her care for him more.

Of course that was when he wasn’t forcing her into instant marriage.

The truth was, she wanted all this to be real. She wanted it to be love that shone from Nicholas’s deep hazel eyes, not simply self-satisfaction. It was only satisfaction, wasn’t it? Yet when she gazed back at him she saw emotion of some kind.

No. He can’t have feelings about this.

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