Fiancé for the Night

“Would you be my fiancé?”

Fiancé? Troy McKnight must have misheard the blonde standing next to him due to the noise in the jam-packed San Francisco brewery. She was attractive with wide blue eyes, freckles across her nose, a heart-shaped face, and no makeup, but she wasn’t his type. With multiple chains and pendants hanging around her neck, dangling silver earrings, and a flowery dress, she looked out of place in the popular, after-work hangout, which was filled with the suit-and-tie crowd from nearby financial offices. He preferred women who dressed professionally. She was too bohemian looking.

He stared over the rim of his pint. “Excuse me, but what did you say?”

Releasing a sigh, she brushed her wavy blond hair behind her shoulders.

“Would you be my fiancé?” she repeated. “Just for tonight.”

Troy had heard her correctly the first time. He half-laughed. Her matter-of-fact tone made her proposition sound almost logical, and he knew it wasn’t the beer causing that. He’d only had one—the half-filled cold glass he held in his hand.

He took another swig from his lager. The cool liquid ran down his throat. After a rough day at the office, all he wanted was a drink followed by another quiet evening at home, nothing else.

Especially not this woman.

She hadn’t introduced herself. She could be a scam artist—a she-devil in disguise—and he the target. Even without lipstick, her full lips were luscious enough to seduce unknowing prey.

Troy set his glass on the bar. “Why do you need a fiancé tonight?”

“It’s a long story.”

Her sunshine-and-sunflower scent cut through the smell of beer hanging in the air. Okay, that was nice. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She reached for his hand, pushed back the arm of his suit, and read the time on his watch—a present from his parents when he graduated business school. “Yes, I knew it.”

“What?”

“You’re wearing a watch.”

He eyed her warily. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That I asked the right person.”

“You’re being evasive.”

“I don’t have time to explain. Are you coming with me?”

“You’re asking for a lot without providing any explanation.”

She rolled her eyes. “I got myself into a jam with my family. It’s only one dinner. My father will pay, so the only thing tonight will cost you is time. Any other questions?”

Troy hesitated, unsure if he bought her explanation. “Nothing personal, but you don’t look like the kind of woman who hangs out here.”

“I’m not, but my parents would approve of you and the men who frequent an establishment like this.”

That sounded plausible.

“Look, will you be my fiancé or not?” The edges of her mouth turned up slightly. “I’m sorry to be impatient, but if you say no, I have to find someone else.” She glanced around the bar as if she were scanning the area for her next target.

In the crowded brewpub, she could easily find someone else. Men with rolled-up sleeves and loosened ties stood at nearby tables, relaxing after long hours at the office.

Troy didn’t know why he was considering posing as her fiancé. The woman had appeared out of nowhere, yet he couldn’t deny his curiosity about her and her strange proposition. The concern and sense of urgency in her eyes rang true, but he never took risks. Spontaneity wasn’t part of his plan—a life plan to ensure he achieved all he wanted and would never have to return to his family’s farm in that middle-of-nowhere town in Missouri.

Staring at him, she waited for his answer by tapping her unpainted fingernails against the bar.

If he said no, she seemed to have no qualms about asking another man to be her fiancé for the night. He doubted she was a con artist. She looked too much like an innocent love child from the sixties with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. In a meat market like this, a veritable smorgasbord of male testosterone, she could end up with anyone.

At least she would be safe with him.

“This is important to you, isn’t it?” he asked.

As she tilted her chin, her earrings chimed. “Yes.”

A free dinner with an attractive woman. It almost sounded too easy. Troy thought of Jessica White, who worked in the office next to his. Now she was his type, but he’d seen Jessica’s fiancé pick her up this afternoon.

For three years, Troy had wanted to ask her out, but he’d been too busy working to get around to it. Now she was engaged to someone else, and he was sitting in a bar with a total stranger. Maybe he needed a little adventure in his life.

He took another sip of his lager. “Okay, I’ll be your fiancé.”

The woman threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “Oh, thank you.”

Her impulsiveness gave him a small thrill. The envious glances of other men in the bar made Troy sit straighter. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Grabbing his arm, she pulled him off his barstool. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

Whoa! That was fast. Maybe an adventure wasn’t such a good idea. “I need to pay for my beer.”

Before Troy could reach his wallet, she opened her purse, a multicolored cloth pouch with drawstrings, and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “Will this cover it?”

“Yes.” Call him old-fashioned, but he wasn’t used to a woman paying.

She tossed the money on the bar. “Is there anything else?”

He wanted to say yes. Stop. “No.”

“Let’s go then.” She led him out of the double glass doors.

A cool breeze blew off the San Francisco Bay. Cars sped by on the Embarcadero. To his right, the lights on the double-decker Bay Bridge twinkled in the evening sky. The pleasant October weather was a refreshing change from a day spent in a skyscraper.

“Do you have a car?” she asked.

“Not with me.”

She rubbed her temples. “We’ll take a taxi. That will be faster than calling for a ride.”

“Where are we—”

“I’ll explain everything once we’re on our way.”

She flagged a yellow cab and muttered the name of a trendy restaurant known for creating mouthwatering dishes and attracting a crowd of see-and-be-seen patrons.

He would be getting a good dinner tonight. Troy followed her into the cab.

As they pulled away from the curb, she laughed incredulously. “I’m going to pull this off.”

He watched her for a moment. Her unrestrained joy and boundless energy captivated him. He’d never met anyone like her.

She wet her lower lip. “I don’t know your name.”

“Troy McKnight.”

“Troy McKnight.” She repeated his name twice. “I like it. Well, Troy, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that. After all, we are engaged.”

The cab driver coughed, but Troy ignored him. “Would you mind telling me your name?”

“I’m Cassandra.”

Such a serious and formal name for such a lighthearted person. The name Cassie fit her breezy personality better. “Cassandra what?”

“Oh, sorry. Daniels, Cassandra Daniels.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t believe I found you, and you said yes.”

“Why do you need a fiancé?”

Her honey-gold eyebrows pulled together.

He couldn’t let this drop. “I need to know what’s going on. Otherwise…”

“You’re right.” She dragged her teeth over her lower lip. “Okay, here’s what happened. We met a few weeks ago, fell madly in love, and got engaged. My parents decided they had to meet the man who swept me off my feet, so they called this morning and told me they were driving up from Carmel to have dinner with us.”

“Are your parents retired?”

“My mother thinks so, and my father should be, but he does some business on the side because he claims he’s not ready for retirement. They split their time between Carmel and Palo Alto.”

She had to come from money. Both towns were expensive places to live. “What happened to the real fiancé?”

“What real fiancé?”

“I assume you told your family about a real engagement.”

“No,” Cassandra—no, he liked Cassie better—said. “I made it up.”

“Excuse me?”

“There isn’t a real fiancé. If there were, I wouldn’t need your help tonight.”

Who was this woman? She wasn’t a compulsive liar, was she? “You told your family you were engaged when you weren’t?”

She nodded as if her actions were logical.

Cassie didn’t look delusional, but this was insane.

“Why?” he asked.

“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Sometimes, I’m, uh, impulsive.” She smiled mischievously, almost as if sharing a childhood secret.

The woman had to be crazy, but what did it say about him since he agreed to participate in her lie?

“I want to thank you.” Her eyes shone with gratitude. “I could tell you were a nice guy. You have a wonderful smile.”

When had he been smiling tonight? He’d been drinking his beer in solitude to relax before heading home to his studio apartment to do more work. Maybe tomorrow, he could look back on tonight and laugh.

A smile lit up her beautiful face. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t said yes.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

The way she turned toward him tightened the bodice of her dress and accentuated her full breasts.

This fiancé gig was looking better and better. He’d been working hard, trying to close the Micro-Psi deal, and get offered a partnership with the venture capital firm where he worked. But life consisted of more than reading balance sheets and making deals. He was no different from any other red-blooded male. He needed rest, relaxation, and fun too.

“No, it is a big deal.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re my McKnight in shining armor.”

“At your service, milady. We McKnights aim to please.” He wasn’t sure if the full moon or her perfume were getting to him, but he found Cassie’s playful spirit contagious.

When was the last time he’d had fun? Troy couldn’t remember. His shoulders tightened.

“By the way, is there anything else I should know about tonight?” he asked.

“You should know a little about me.” She bit her lower lip. “Let’s see. My favorite color is purple. I love flowers and hot fudge sundaes. I’m not a vegetarian. I love a good hamburger every now and then. Cooked medium. I think people who won’t eat veal but eat chicken are hypocrites. I love reading books. I like eight-hundred-thread-count sheets—any higher number than that isn’t better, just pretentious. Oh, and I sleep in the nude.”

Stunned, Troy stared at her. She’d spoken so fast. Hot fudge sundaes and sleeping in the nude. His temperature rose at the images filling his mind. He crossed his legs.

“What about you?” she asked.

He couldn’t think straight. He needed to cool down. “Uh, I like ice cream.”

“Chocolate’s my favorite. What else?”

Troy stared into her eyes and found himself transfixed. It was as if he were being hypnotized.

She smiled at him as if he were a lost puppy. “Any sports?”

“I like football.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

Her eyes were the color of a cloudless summer sky. “Blue.”

She patted his hand. “Don’t worry. We can make it up as we go along.”

What was wrong with him? He felt out of sync. Almost dizzy. Maybe he needed something to eat.

The cab slowed as it approached the restaurant. Cassie handed the driver a twenty-dollar bill and slid out of the cab. “Are you ready?”

Not at all. Troy cleared his throat. “Sure.”

Cassie brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and straightened his tie. She took his hand in hers. “Don’t forget—we’re madly in love.”

Her small hand fit snugly in his. Madly in love? Maybe they were just mad.

♥ ♥ ♥

Standing on the sidewalk, Cassandra worried Troy might change his mind. He seemed a little uptight given all the questions he’d asked. She was so sure he would say no that his yes had surprised her. Maybe that was why she held on to his hand like a lifeline.

So far, so good. She couldn’t believe she’d found a fiancé—albeit a fake one—but the evening was only beginning. Her insides trembled. This night could easily turn into a complete disaster.

“Nice place,” he said.

“Yes.” That was the only word Cassandra could manage right now. She clenched her free hand and then flexed her fingers. Nerves were getting to her. Who was she kidding? She’d been frantic from the time she hung up from her mother’s call earlier today.

Cassandra wasn’t a good actress, but if she pulled off tonight, she should get an Oscar for her performance.

Her family wasn’t standing at the carved mahogany bar. They must be seated. That would mean making a grand entrance with her fiancé in tow. Something she hadn’t wanted to happen, but she’d been running late, as usual.

She glimpsed Troy’s reflection in a mirror. An unexpected smile tugged at her lips.

Luck was on her side tonight. He was exactly the well-dressed fiancé she’d hoped to find. His Italian navy suit was top-of-the-line silk cashmere if she guessed right. He wore a nice watch, which was a bonus. And he was easy on the eyes.

Very easy.

High cheekbones and sculpted features gave Troy a model-handsome look. To be totally corporate, he needed a haircut and different style, but she liked the way his longish, curly at the ends, and almost-out-of-control brown locks added character to his all-American good looks.

Her picky parents would find few faults with Troy McKnight. They would give their seal of approval and stop interfering in Cassandra’s personal life. After tonight, their endless dating advice and matchmaking would stop. She’d be on her own.

For good this time.

All she wanted was to be left alone.

Soon…

She smiled, pleased with herself. She’d found the perfect fiancé for the night. Her sister, Emily, would be jealous, too. That was another bonus. Cassandra didn’t care what Eric Wainwright, her brother-in-law, thought, so long as he didn’t voice his opinion. She’d heard enough from Eric. She’d be happier if she never had to see him again.

The hostess, an attractive woman with flaming red hair, smiled. “May I help you?”

“We’re with the Daniels party,” Cassandra said.

The woman glanced at something on the tall table she was standing behind. “Your party is seated. Follow me.”

She led Cassandra and Troy into the crowded dining area.

Not one table was empty. Waiters hurried around with steaming plates of food and bottles of wine. The scent of basil and garlic drifted in the air. Cassandra had skipped lunch and was starving.

Noise from spirited conversations rose from the tables, but the din wasn’t unpleasant. Not like at the brewpub earlier, which was just a place people went to drink and hook up. She shivered. The only good thing about that place was knowing she’d find someone suitable to pacify her parents there.

“Here’s your party,” the hostess said. “Enjoy your dinner.”

“Thank you.” Cassandra took in the image of her family sitting at the table like models from a magazine ad or a soap opera. None had noticed she’d arrived. Not surprising. She’d tried fitting into their world, but she’d realized that wasn’t who she was. Maybe someday her parents would understand and accept the choices she’d made. Then again…

Vanessa Daniels, her mother, wore a black knit dress—simple lines and flattering, which no doubt carried a hefty price tag as did the rest of her wardrobe. Every strand of her platinum hair was in place, and her brilliant diamond earrings sparkled for all to admire. Thanks to daily workouts and highly paid dermatologists, she was a stunning woman who looked like she was in her early forties, not pushing sixty.

How would her mother act if she became a grandmother?

Cassandra couldn’t imagine her mom letting anyone call her “Grandma.” But that was Emily’s problem when she had babies. Cassandra didn’t even want to date. Forget about marriage and having a family. She liked being single.

Her mother’s gaze met Cassandra’s. “I told you she would come, Emily. And look, Dixon, her fiancé does exist.”

“You’re correct, Vanessa,” her father said. “I must admit I had my doubts given how fast things have happened, but he’s real.”

Cassandra winced. She would show her parents she could find her own man. She didn’t need their help or their interference.

“Sorry we’re late.” Cassandra clutched Troy’s warm, strong hand. She not only needed a fiancé tonight, but she also needed someone to give her emotional support. “Troy and I were making out, so I had the driver make an extra circle around the Civic Center.”

Her mother blushed. “Cassandra, really.”

“Don’t worry, Vanessa.” Her father, the venerable Dixon Daniels, downed his drink. His once-blond hair had turned gray, and he could stand to lose about thirty pounds, but he was still handsome with sparkling cornflower-blue eyes and a cheerful smile. “At least he looks normal. Unless there are hidden tattoos or pierced body parts under that suit?”

Cassandra leaned over and kissed her father’s tan cheek. The familiar scent of his aftershave filled her nostrils and brought back fond memories of her childhood. She might be the black sheep of the family, but she would always be her daddy’s little girl. “Don’t be a prude, Dad. Everyone has a tattoo.”

“I don’t.” Emily, her uptight sister, sounded offended. “Not everyone is as classless as you.”

Her? Classless?

As if asking Cassandra to be her maid of honor was an example of classy behavior.

Unbelievable. “Well, I suppose you got all the class when they divided the DNA.”

Emily was her fraternal twin. She was two minutes older, an inch taller, and fifteen pounds lighter. Her light brown hair was pulled off her face. Her little black dress shouted designer collection. Two twins couldn’t be more opposite. They’d shared nothing except the same birth date…until Eric Wainwright.

Eric.

So pathetic.

Sweat beaded on his high, creased forehead. A short, boring hairstyle had replaced his formerly luscious mane of blond hair. The hair. That was what had attracted Cassandra to him in the first place. The length had given him a wildness and an edge that was missing now.

For the best.

He’d created a bad-boy character that made him irresistible to her, but it had been an act. He wasn’t wild or a rebel or any of the things he claimed to be. The nights she’d spent with her arms around him, riding on his motorcycle and watching sunsets, had been as fake as his words of love. She’d been Eric’s key to ensuring a successful career—until he met Emily, who was born to be a corporate trophy wife.

Unlike Cassandra.

She only wondered if Eric was as miserable to her sister as he’d been to Cassandra. Her wedding gift to the couple had been a lovely keepsake box containing the business cards of marriage counselors. Tacky, yes, but what the two of them had done to her was worse.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your betrothed, sweetheart?” her father asked.

Her betrothed.

Troy.

“Sorry,” Cassandra said. “I got so caught up in the goodwill at the table, I forgot.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Are you trying to be sarcastic or ironic? Or perhaps you don’t know the difference…”

Ignoring the words, Cassandra cuddled against Troy’s firm, wide chest. His muscles tensed, but she didn’t back away. She couldn’t, or her family would figure out this was a ruse. She lightly rubbed her fingers against him. Maybe that would calm him.

“Troy, this is my family.” Cassandra looked at her mom and then her dad. Emily and Eric didn’t warrant acknowledgment. “Family, this is Troy McKnight, the man of my dreams.”

After formal introductions and handshakes, Cassandra and Troy sat. No one said anything. The tension in Troy’s body had increased. He looked ready to feign an excuse and take off.

This wasn’t good.

Cassandra ate a slice of bread before her stomach growled. She drank her entire glass of water, trying to wash away the dryness in her throat. The waiter took each of their orders and left. Still, no one spoke. She had to think of something to say and fast.

“I want to thank you for inviting us to dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.” The genuine tone of Troy’s voice surprised Cassandra, as did his speaking up given how tense he appeared. Maybe he wasn’t going to take off. He raised his wineglass in acknowledgment.

“The pleasure is ours, Troy.” Her mother smiled. “And please call us Vanessa and Dixon. My husband’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.”

Troy’s grin reached the corners of his eyes. The effect was dazzling.

Cassandra had been interested in his image, the whole package he presented, when she had picked him out earlier. She’d recognized his attractiveness, but now she could see how gorgeous he was.

“My mother says the same thing, Vanessa.” Troy emphasized her first name. “Cassie and I have been so wrapped up in each other that we’ve shut everyone out. I’m happy to finally meet each of you.”

Cassie?

Every muscle bunched. She hadn’t been called Cassie since she’d graduated from high school and demanded to be called Cassandra. No way did she want to return to her childhood nickname. Maybe no one noticed.

“We’re happy, too.” Her dad’s assessing gaze never left Troy’s eyes. “I must admit we were surprised, shocked really, when Cassandra told us about your engagement. After all, Emily and Eric had just returned from their honeymoon.”

“How was your honeymoon?” Cassandra wanted to change the subject. Troy didn’t need to know the icky details about her past with Eric.

“Wonderful,” Eric answered. “The honeymoon was everything we hoped it would be. A month away was the perfect length, too.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. Eric had told Cassandra that he wouldn’t be able to take more than a week off from work when they’d been planning their honeymoon.

Had that only been a year ago? It felt like another lifetime.

“Where did you go?” Troy asked, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents at the table.

“The Mediterranean. We spent a week in Greece and then took a three-week cruise,” Emily said before her husband could answer. “We made so many stops I lost count. Fun but tiring.”

Eric cocked one eyebrow. “Have you two made honeymoon plans yet?”

Cassandra suppressed the urge to toss a piece of bread at his oversized head. Instead, she pasted on her most charming smile. “Troy’s in charge of the honeymoon.”

“That’s right,” Troy said without any hesitation. “Two weeks of total relaxation on a tropical island with fine white sand, crystal blue water, a gentle sea breeze, and no interruptions sounds about right.”

Picturing Troy at the beach, bodysurfing in the waves, rubbing sunscreen over her body, had her nodding along.

Eric snickered. “I can’t imagine Cassandra sitting on a beach for two hours, let alone two weeks.”

“We aren’t planning to spend our time sitting,” Troy answered with a wink before biting into a slice of bread.

Cassandra’s cheeks warmed. Thank goodness he wasn’t her type, or she could imagine falling for Mr. Troy McKnight.

“Enough honeymoon talk.” Her father straightened in his chair.

“Why don’t we discuss the wedding?” her mother suggested. “Have you set a date?”

“No,” Cassandra said. “We aren’t sure if we want a traditional wedding or not.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Emily muttered. “I see you don’t have a ring yet.”

“We’re using my grandmother’s engagement ring,” Troy said. The man kept saying the unexpected, and she appreciated his fast thinking. “I haven’t had time to fly home and get it from my parents’ house.”

“Your grandmother’s ring.” Her mother clapped her hands together. “A family heirloom. How wonderful.”

Troy smiled at Cassandra. Her mother’s reaction seemed to please him.

Eric glanced at the rock on Emily’s ring finger. “That works out well financially. Troy has a ring to use, and Cassandra has a dress to wear.”

Jerk. Cassandra balled her hands into fists.

Emily’s parted lips matched her wide eyes. She exchanged a glance with Eric.

“She can’t wear that dress,” Emily said with uncharacteristic understanding. “She bought it for…another wedding.”

“But the dress has never been worn,” Eric explained as if he were talking about a pair of jeans, not a beautiful white dress that had made Cassandra feel like a princess. “Letting an expensive wedding gown hang in the closet forever because I married you would be a total waste.”

Cassandra stiffened. She couldn’t believe she’d told that moron she loved him or said yes when he’d asked her to marry him. Temporary insanity. That was the only explanation.

Troy placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. His warm breath teased her neck.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

She nodded. At least someone cared, or pretended to care, about her feelings. “I sold the dress.”

“Well, then. That means you’ll need a new one. This time…” Her mother picked up her glass of Chardonnay. “I want to go shopping with you.”

“Of course, Mother.” That day would never happen.

“There’s plenty of time to talk about the wedding,” her father said. “All I know is my little girl looks happy, and that makes me happy.”

“My job is to make her happy.” Troy caressed Cassandra’s cheek with his fingertips.

A tingle ran up her spine. “You do an excellent job.”

Did he ever.

He was playing the devoted fiancé role better than she expected. She would have to be careful given the sparks that could easily erupt into fireworks if he kept touching her.

“What do you do, Troy?” Emily asked.

Leave it to her sister to get to the bottom line—income potential. An interrogation of Troy was bound to happen at some point. Cassandra had hoped they could get through appetizers and their salads first.

No biggie.

She assumed Troy was an attorney. He had that overpaid, on-a-retainer, stick-up-his-bottom lawyer look about him. “Go ahead, honey. Tell them what you do.”

Troy cleared his throat. “Venture capital.”

Oh, no. Not V.C. Cassandra clenched her teeth to keep her mouth from gaping open. Her stomach somersaulted.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not again.

Her dad beamed. Of course, this news would make him ecstatic.

Dixon Daniels was one of the long-reigning kings of venture capitalists—financiers who invested in startup companies in hopes of making huge profits. He’d made a fortune at the height of the tech bubble, but money had continued to pour in after the dot-com collapse and now.

Her father leaned forward. “I thought you looked familiar, Troy. Who do you work for, Sand Hill? No, it’s Scorpio Partners. I remember now. You handled the MagiWare deal.”

Troy nodded.

“Impressive.” Her dad wasn’t a man who gave praise often. “Why didn’t you tell me your fiancé was in the business, honey?”

Cassandra struggled for words to say. Troy had caught her off-guard. He looked like an attorney. He was supposed to be an attorney.

How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn’t she asked what he did? Daniels Venture Group was a respected firm, and Dixon Daniels was known as the master. Up-and-comers would kill to learn from him. Marrying the boss’s daughter was an easy way in. Just ask Eric Wainwright.

Not sure how to answer, she swallowed. “Well, Dad…”

“We wanted to tell you in person,” Troy finished for her, much to Cassandra’s relief. “I didn’t want you to think I was marrying your daughter for the wrong reasons.”

Her father glanced at Eric and then at Troy. “Does this mean you have no interest in joining my group?”

Unsure if she wanted to hear his answer, Cassandra focused on the breadbasket. Death by carbs sounded like the perfect option right now. Eric had lied when she asked him the same question after they’d started dating. She crumpled the linen napkin on her lap.

“I wouldn’t say I have no interest,” Troy said. “But my first concern is Cassie.”

Ugh. If he kept using that nickname, someone would notice. Cassandra forced herself not to grimace.

“Getting married is stressful,” Troy continued with a sincerity that suggested he was an excellent actor—or a liar. “A new job would only add to the pressure. I want to be the best fiancé and husband I can, so I don’t see myself making any changes right now.”

A rush of emotion built inside Cassandra. For all the fake smiles she’d given tonight, the one on her face now was genuine. She’d hoped to find a man who would say those words—a man who would put her needs ahead of his own. Troy answered the question well.

That gave her hope.

Maybe not all men were like Eric. Perhaps some weren’t self-centered and egotistical.

Was Troy different?

Not that it mattered, but he sure was being the perfect fiancé. If what he’d said was true, Troy would make a great husband. A great husband for someone else.

She ignored a twinge of regret. After tonight, she wouldn’t see him again.

“Cassandra, you’ve found such a nice man.” Her mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “I spent hours on my makeup. I can’t believe I’m going to ruin it by crying.”

“You don’t need makeup to look beautiful, dear,” her father said.

Her mother sniffled. “I hope the two of you will be very happy together.”

“Vanessa, you read my mind.” Her dad raised his glass. “A toast…to Troy and Cassie. May the two of you find a lifetime of happiness together.”

Oh no, her father had called her Cassie. That meant he’d noticed Troy using her old nickname. What was she going to do?

She’d spent her freshman year of college convincing her family to call her by her full name. She’d later realized she was more of a Cassie than a Cassandra, but by then, the trench had been dug too deep. She’d had to continue holding her ground.

“Daddy?” she asked.

“Yes, Cassie?”

The joy in his eyes made her hesitate. For the first time in years, she’d made him happy. Her mother looked equally pleased. Cassandra couldn’t spoil the mood, not yet anyway. If she allowed only her father and Troy to call her Cassie tonight, that wouldn’t be too bad, right?

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”

“So, Cassie,” Emily said with a saccharine-sweet tone. “Have you heard we’ve been house hunting? Unfortunately, the market is tight, especially in Palo Alto.”

“It’s Cassandra,” she corrected her sister. “And I’m sure house hunting must be a challenge.”

“Are you still living in that…unique apartment near Twenty-Fourth Street?”

Thanks to Emily and Eric, Cassandra had moved after the breakup. The bad memories were too much for her to take.

As her temper flared, she reached for her glass of Cabernet. She sipped slowly, enjoying the robust taste of the full-bodied wine until she reined in her emotions. The anger, however, felt good. That was better than heartbroken. “No, I live a couple of blocks away.”

“You should buy a place.” Emily stared down her nose—a move she’d perfected by the time she turned nine. “Renting makes no sense.”

“It’s like flushing your money down the toilet.” Cassandra’s words ended her sister’s lecture.

The rest of the evening went relatively smooth. Delectable desserts followed the delicious dinner. Conversation flowed without the uncomfortable gaps of silence they’d experienced at the beginning. Cassandra managed to be civil to Emily and Eric, who returned the politeness. Troy charmed his way further into her parents’ hearts.

Gratitude grew with each sentence he spoke. She also appreciated the way he kept his arm around her chair—his fingers on her shoulder. Not only would anyone looking at them assume they were in love, but she also had the support she’d needed when dealing with her family.

Everything had worked as planned, except for her father calling her Cassie, but she could fix that later. This would be over soon enough.

Outside the restaurant, Cassandra kissed her mother’s cheek. “It was wonderful seeing you, Mom.”

“I enjoyed it, dear. I like your young man,” Vanessa whispered.

“Thanks, Mom.” Cassandra hugged her father. “Thanks for the delicious dinner, Dad.”

“Glad you could come.” He released her and then extended his arm to Troy. “I’m happy we got to spend time with you.”

Troy shook her father’s hand. “Thanks for dinner, sir.”

“I wish we had more time to get to know one another,” her father said, a twinge of regret in his voice.

“Daddy, it’s getting late.” Emily tapped her toe on the sidewalk. “You and Mother have a long drive ahead of you.”

“We’re staying in the city, so don’t worry about us.” Her dad looked at Troy. “I have an idea. Are you a golfer?”

“Yes, but I’m a hacker.”

“Me, too,” her dad replied.

Cassandra bit back a chuckle. Her father, who played at least three days a week, had a four handicap. He was far from a hacker.

“Why don’t you and Cassie spend the weekend with us in Carmel?” her father asked. “You and I can golf, and the women can discuss wedding plans. Short notice, I realize.”

“Uh.” Troy ran his hand through his hair. “What do you think, honey?”

“Well, I—”

“It’s settled,” her father said before Cassandra could say no. He placed something in Troy’s hand and whispered in his ear.

Cassandra needed to stop this. Now. “Daddy…”

Her father kissed her cheek. “We’ll see you Friday night, kids.”

With that, her parents walked around the corner. Emily and Eric followed them.

“What happened?” Cassandra stared at the deserted sidewalk. Her shoulders slumped. “It was going so well. Too well, of course. I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I wanted them to like you, but this is too much. How are we going to get out of spending the weekend with them?”

With a bewildered look, Troy stared at the contents in his hand. “I don’t know.”

“What did my father give you?”

Troy showed her two fifty-dollar bills. “You won’t believe what he said it was for.”

♥ ♥ ♥

Cassandra stared at the money in Troy’s hand. She laughed. “I can’t believe my father gave you gas money.”

“Me, either, but this isn’t funny.” An incredulous look was on Troy’s face. “No one’s ever given me gas money. Not even my own father.”

“It’s not a big deal. This is what he’s done my whole life. Arguing with him is futile.”

Troy’s eyebrows furrowed. Her explanation hadn’t seemed to mollify him.

“I don’t need your father’s money.” Troy stiffened. “I might not have my own company or fund, but I have a good job.”

“This isn’t about you.” He needed to lighten up. Cassandra wondered if Troy took everything so seriously. “My father gave you money for me. He’s trying to take care of his little girl.”

“But I feel…offended.” Troy’s lips flattened. “I can take care of you myself.”

Okay, the guy was sweet to think that, even though this engagement of theirs was not only fake but also over. Cassandra would play along if that made him feel better. She owed him for coming with her tonight.

“I know that, and so does my father.”

The temperature kept dropping. The cold brought goose bumps to her arms. Too bad she hadn’t brought a jacket. She crossed her arms. “Be happy my father likes you.”

Troy removed his suit jacket and placed it around her shoulders. “He does?”

“Of course, much to my brother-in-law’s chagrin.” Cassandra pulled the front of his jacket together. The scent of Troy surrounded her and made her want to smell the fabric. On second thought, that wouldn’t be a smart idea. “Eric kept glaring at you. The look on his face was priceless. I’m sure he thinks you’re trying to grab a share of his gravy train.”

Troy’s forehead creased. “You think this is funny?”

“Yes, I do.” His irritated tone annoyed her. “Relax, Troy. My father didn’t mean to offend you, so stop feeling insulted. Consider the cash payment for services rendered. I’ll come up with an excuse why we can’t go to Carmel this weekend. This is my problem, not yours.”

“I disagree.” He shoved the money into her hand. “This goes beyond gas money. It’s as much my problem as it is yours.”

“Why is that?”

“Your father is Dixon Daniels.” Troy said her father’s name with an almost-reverent tone. “Whether I want to work for him or not doesn’t matter. I have my reputation and career to consider. Dixon is an influential man in the V.C. circle. I doubt he’d be spiteful on purpose, but, as you pointed out, you are his daughter.”

How dare he, a total stranger, criticize her father? She raised her chin. “My father would not sabotage your career. He is an honorable man.”

“An honorable man who adores you,” Troy said softly. “I was tempted to walk out when I saw him, but I couldn’t leave you there alone.”

At least she’d picked an honorable fake fiancé. Biting her lower lip, she struggled to put the situation into perspective. “Thanks for staying. I’m sure tonight wasn’t easy for you.”

“It wasn’t, which is why I can’t blow you off like a one-night stand and risk offending your father. I’m not a partner at a V.C. firm. I’m an associate, working my way up the proverbial ladder. If he wanted, Dixon could become a big obstacle to my getting ahead.”

“What are you suggesting we do?” Cassandra asked, not sure if she wanted to hear Troy’s idea. She wasn’t as happy being stuck with his honorable intentions now.

He glanced at the sidewalk and muttered something.

She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “What did you say?”

“We could be engaged for a little while longer.”

“Are you crazy?” She yelled so loudly that a passing car stopped so a passenger could ask if she was all right.

“Until tonight, I would have said no,” Troy said with a half-smile. “Are you seeing anyone?”

“What does that have to do—”

“Answer the question, Cassie.”

“No.”

“Neither am I,” Troy said. “So, we don’t have to worry about other people saying anything or being hurt by this. I don’t see why being engaged longer wouldn’t work.”

It’s crazy, that’s why.

The situation was getting out of control. Not that this mess wasn’t her fault. She took full responsibility for the fiasco they faced, but that didn’t mean she had to allow the farce to continue. No, she had to put a stop to the fake engagement. “That’s what I said about tonight and look where we are now.”

Troy buttoned the front of his jacket around her. “Once your parents see how different we are, they’ll understand when we break up. We can say goodbye and tell your parents it’s too painful to remain friends.”

Although Cassandra didn’t think her father would hurt Troy’s career, she understood his concern. She had dragged him into this mess. Was she willing to take a chance with Troy’s job hanging in the balance?

No, she couldn’t do that to him.

“How often do you see your parents?” he asked.

Never. “Not much.”

“So, no one will know whether we are together or not. All we have to do is get through the weekend.”

The weekend.

As much as she might want to make a clean break, Cassandra couldn’t leave Troy in the lurch. He seemed like a nice guy. Uptight, but he’d gone along with her charade. Leaving him with a noose around his neck and her father holding the rope wouldn’t be fair.

She bit the inside of her cheek. “How long will we keep up the masquerade?”

“Long enough so I don’t look like a jerk.” His smile lightened the seriousness of their situation. “What do you think? Will you be my fiancée for the weekend?”

She’d wanted a fiancé for the night, not any longer. She enjoyed her life the way it was—uncomplicated. “Okay, but on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“We don’t get married,” she said half-joking, half-serious. “I mean, let’s not get carried away with this, uh, thing. I’ve had one fiancé who was more interested in marrying my father than me.”

“That’s an easy one.” Troy laughed. “I don’t want to marry Dixon.”

She exhaled slowly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” Troy smiled. “I promise not to get carried away with this ‘thing.’”

“Thank you.”

“Besides,” he said, almost laughing again. “Look at us. We’re complete opposites—from the way we dress to our personality types. Could you imagine us dating, let alone married?”