Read Online The Substitute by Denise Grover Swank - Free Book Online Page A

tell them about Jay…ahem…I mean me?”
    She smiled slightly as she stood, brushing out her skirt. “That you bought a condo in downtown Seattle overlooking the sound because it was a good investment. I was going to move in after the wedding. You’re from Seattle. You have one brother and two parents… Oh, and they aren’t coming to the wedding.”
    “Why not?” he asked, astounded.
    “They booked a cruise and got the wedding date mixed up. They would have lost nearly ten thousand dollars.”
    He whistled. “Damn, it must be some cruise…”
    “It’s a private yacht in the Mediterranean. And Mom had already booked the botanical garden, so she couldn’t change the date since we’re getting married in June. She was lucky she got the date at all.” Noticing his blank stare, she added, “That’s where the wedding and reception are. The Powell Gardens.”
    “And my brother?”
    “He’s not coming either. He couldn’t get away from work.”
    “Wow. Was anyone from this jerk’s side coming to the wedding?”
    She cringed. “A couple of friends. But obviously they aren’t coming now.”
    From what Josh had heard he wasn’t surprised. What an ass. “Let’s try to stick together tonight. That way there’s less of a chance we’ll get our stories mixed up.”
    She lifted her eyebrows. “Don’t you worry. I have no intention of leaving you alone. I have no idea what you are up to, but I’m going to keep an eye on you.”
    He flashed her his charming smile and held his hands out from his sides. “I already told you; I’m trying to avoid my family drama.”
    “By jumping into mine?” She sounded even more skeptical than before.
    “Hey, anybody else’s family drama is preferable to your own. Besides,” he flashed her what he hoped was a beguiling grin, “I told you that this is mutually beneficial.”
    “Part of me wants to believe you, but nobody goes to this much trouble for someone they hardly know.”
    “Megan!” Her mother’s muffled voice called up the stairs and through the closed door, louder than before.
    “Maybe I’m just a nice guy.”
    She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes as she studied him. “No. I don’t think so.”
    He laughed. “You don’t think I’m nice?”
    “Not in this. You’re up to something. But let me warn you,” she wrapped her fingers around his tie and pulled him closer until their faces were no more than a foot apart, “if you screw me over down there, I will make you suffer for the rest of your natural life. Do I make myself clear?”
    The sight of her—her eyes wild and wicked with the promise of retribution—had the opposite effect of what she’d intended. His heart began to race and he had to restrain himself from closing the distance and kissing her. “Megan, I’m here to help you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently rubbed the tense knots. “You need to relax.”
    She released his tie and brushed his hands away. “I’ll relax after we’ve broken up. And we’re breaking up tonight .” And with that, she stormed out the door.
    Oh, shit .
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Josh stopped her in the hallway. “Wait. Why are we breaking up tonight? I thought we were going to wait.”
    She shook her head. She didn’t have time for this. Her mother was going to be plenty furious as it was. “My mother’s party is the perfect place—in front of all her friends. There will be tons of witnesses to see that I’m the innocent in this and you’re the jerk. There’s no way she can blame me.”
    “Don’t you think you’re being hasty?”
    And there it was again, the voice in her head that said something was screwy here. “You make it sound like you don’t want to break up. What the hell kind of family drama are you facing in Kansas City, anyway? It’s got to be pretty bad for you to throw your plans away and become my substitute fiancé. You don’t even know me. And don’t give me some bullshit answer.” She knew she