Bride by Design 3: Manchala Nights Read Online Free PDF Page B

at me silently, his eyes steady and unflinching. I went on - "Katie found her boyfriend in bed with someone else. They broke up and now she's devastated. She's a mess, I need to get back to her and help her feel better."
     
    I watched as Colin went pale, and then he finally shook his head no. When he spoke, his voice was cold. "That's not going to happen. I need you here with me, pretending to be my good wife."
     
    "But everyone's already seen that you're married and you're a family guy. You don't have a shot against Roger in any case!"
     
    Colin refused to budge . "I need you here," he repeated, "And I'm going to do my best to get this project."
     
    I felt the anger flooding over me. "Katie needs me more than you do. I promised to be there for her if this happened."
     
    "You'll be there for her in a few days. She'll live."
     
    "This is an emergency."
     
    "If it were a real emergency, I'd let you go back. But this is bullshit."
     
    I glared at him, angry and hurt. "You just said you cared about me."
     
    He looked at me coldly . "And you said you cared about me . But I guess you lied. If you real ly cared, you'd want to help me. I'm someone who really likes you and isn't just taking advantage of you like everyone else around."
     
    My eyes narrowed and I could barely think straight. "Katie isn't taking advantage of me. She needs me by her side to help her out."
     
    "She needs no such thing , she can survive a few days with her family and her other friends . I'm the one who needs you, I don't have any other choice and you need to be here with me ."
     
    I stared at him silently for a few minutes. "Well, at least now I know you were just saying all those things to get into my pants."
     
    Colin looked at me quietly , not denying what I'd said. After a few moments, he said softly, "Do I need to remind you I've just paid a lot of money for your brother's debts, and that this is a job you agreed to do?"
     
    I breathed in, I breathed out. Stay calm, I told myself. He was right, he'd paid for me to be on Manchala and if he wouldn't agree to let me leave, I would need to honor my end of the bargain and stay with him .
     
    "Fine," I said softly, sliding under the covers and moving to the edge of the bed. "I'll stay because you're paying me to. But I'm glad you showed me your true colors before I really fell for you."
     
    Colin was silent and we slowly drifted off to sleep. Roger might have been wrong about Colin killing his foster parents, but I knew he was right about Colin being a ruthless, cold-hearted businessman.
     
    I'd make it through the week, I told myself, and then I'd accept the job at Brian Brito Designs and never see Colin again.
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    Colin and I were stiff and formal with each other the next day. I hated myself for falling for him, for being trapped with him on an island when Katie needed my help, and most of all, for still finding him attractive.
     
    I couldn't deny that his imposing physique, deep green eyes and square jaw made my body quiver - more so now that I knew what we were capable of together. But I had even better reasons to ignore him, now that I knew he was inconsiderate and cold-hearted.
     
    When we were outside near the others , I tried my best to act like I was in love. I let him wrap his arm around my waist, and I smiled happily, ignoring the urge to either shove him away or turn around and kiss him.
     
    We headed to a conference room after breakfast the next day , and we sat through presentations by Roger , Keith and Colin. I grudgingly admitted to myself that Colin's presentation was the best by far - he painted a picture of exclusive luxury, a holiday experience that would appeal to families and couples. Colin covered both the practical aspects of the development, the potential income and profitability, as well as creating a romantic overview of the whole development. It was clear that he'd prepared well, and his presentation left us all impressed.
     
    Keith's