Read Online The Boss's Fake Fiancee by Inara Scott - Free Book Online Page A

tended beds there were low shrubs with fiery red leaves mixed with spreading evergreens, and all around them were soaring maples, birches, and oaks dusting the sky with their mix of sunset-colored leaves. Melissa wasn’t a real estate expert by any means, but she knew there weren’t many properties, even in Scarsdale, with grounds like this.
    Finally, the driveway curved around to give Melissa her first view of the house. She could barely stifle an indrawn breath at the beautiful sight. The graceful old Colonial-style structure had pristine white siding and crisp black shutters, with a wide brick path leading to a columned front porch. The house had the feeling of early America in the simple design and multi-paned windows, yet had obviously been updated for twentieth-century luxury.
    Garth slowed to a stop beside the entrance to the brick walkway and turned off the car. “Before we go in,” he said, “I have a few ground rules of my own.”
    Melissa deliberately turned away, peering into the side view mirror to fluff her bangs. “I don’t think I like your rules.”
    Garth ignored her protest. “You are about to meet two people. One is Nan. She really wants to believe this whole engagement story, so she shouldn’t be too hard to convince. Her mind is still sharp, but she does get confused sometimes. She’s eighty-five, and the pneumonia has taken a toll on her. She’s quite fragile, really, though she refuses to believe it.”
    Melissa nodded, suddenly contrite. “I understand. And I’m sorry. That must be hard for you.”
    He blinked, as if not expecting her sympathy. “Yes. Well, thank you, but it’s fine.” Seeming slightly flustered, he brushed past the moment. “At any rate, the other person you’ll meet is Jessalyn.”
    Melissa waited. “Aaand…?”
    “She’s going to be a little grumpy this morning. I haven’t seen her since this all went down yesterday and I didn’t want to call her about it last night because I knew she’d give me hell.”
    Before Melissa could ask exactly who the grumpy Jessalyn was, or why Garth didn’t want to make her mad, he leaned over her lap to peek out the passenger side window of the car. Then he leaned back and swore.
    “Sorry, no time to explain. She’s come out to meet the car. Just be strong and don’t show any weakness.”
    With that dire statement, he threw open his door and jumped out.
    Don’t show any weakness?
    Melissa took a deep breath and got out of the car. A woman was walking toward them, moving at a significant clip. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-five and had short hair dyed hot pink at the ends. She wore ripped jeans and a white button-down shirt tied in a knot at the waist. The angry flare of her pierced nose and the position of her tattooed arms—tightly crossed over her chest—perfectly illustrated her feelings about Garth’s engagement.
    She didn’t like it one bit.
    “I guess you’ve heard the news?” Garth came around the back end of the car and stood beside Melissa. She felt oddly glad for his proximity, though the woman was several inches shorter than she was, and had no visible weapon.
    “Is this an f-ing joke? Engaged? You?”
    Garth winced. “Sorry, Jess, but it’s all true.”
    Jess held up a cell phone and pointed it at Garth’s face. On the screen, Melissa caught a look at a picture of herself emerging from Hadrien, Garth’s arm curved protectively around her waist. She didn’t even remember him touching her at that moment, probably because she had been in such a fog at the time over their mind-boggling kiss. “It’s on Twitter, Garth. I heard about your engagement from Twitter!”
    “Jess, I was going to—”
    Garth broke off as she shook her head and then tucked the phone in her back pocket. “Whatever. I’m just the housekeeper. No reason to tell me.”
    “It happened fast,” Garth said quickly. “I should have sent you a note last night, but I was overwhelmed with calls.”
    Melissa glanced at