Love For Hire: The Helena's Grove Series Book 2 Read Online Free PDF

year, even though I’ve been technically ‘broken up’ with their daughter for three years.”
    “Wow, they must have liked you.”
    “It’s my job to make the family like me. So don’t worry, whatever crazy aunt or horrible cousin you can throw at me, I’ll win them over.”
    “That’s good to know.” Annie couldn’t believe this guy. He was like a computer generated ‘create your perfect boyfriend’ – you just put in your favorite characteristics and specifications and POOF, he’s standing before you, real flesh and blood.
    “Are there any other questions you have at this point?” he asked.
    “No, I can’t think of anything but I’ll call if I do.”
    “Sounds good Annie, I’ll see you soon.” He walked out into the cool autumn air just as casually as he had walked in.  Annie stood there, dumbfounded by him, by the situation, but most of all, by how easy it was to hire a boyfriend.
     

Chapter 5
     
    With only two weeks until Christmas, Annie was as nervous as ever. Every day was a moral battle of whether or not she should call off this entire charade of having a boyfriend. The only thing that kept her from cancelling her contract with Marcus was the fact that he intrigued her in such a way that she always found herself wanting to see him again after every visit.
    “You can’t have a crush on your acquisition!” Roxy chastised Annie from across the room when she giggled over their last encounter together.
    “I don’t,” Annie assured her. “He is just very nice to look at and I like talking to him. He’s so gentlemanly and…”
    “No, no, no!” Roxy shook a finger at her. “Stop! The only feeling you are allowed to have towards him is approval or disapproval. Think of him as a product you bought at the grocery store. Like shampoo, does it work for you or not. You don’t have a crush on your shampoo do you?”
    “No. I mean, not literally.”
    “Okay then, get a hold of yourself or your going to be in for a whole lot of trouble. These guys are doing their job. He isn’t spending time with you because he likes you – you’re paying him. He probably has a handful of real girlfriends that he can call whenever he feels like it. He’s a womanizer, they all are. Charming, beautiful, charismatic womanizing scum bags, Annie; all of them so get used to it.” She waited until Annie nodded in understanding before putting her pointing, disapproving finger down and went back to her computer.
    Annie sighed heavily. She knew she had a problem of getting attached to people she could never be with. However, this was different. She could be mature about this. She could be nothing but professional, just like Marcus was. And together they would fool all her loved ones into thinking they were a couple. Once the holidays were over, Marcus would collect his payment and walk out of her life just as quickly as he had walked in. She was okay with that; and she could go on as if she had never seen his beautiful face. Of course she could! Annie nodded as if agreeing with herself, and for the first time since Thanksgiving, she felt alright about everything.
     
    ****
                 
    Marcus was at the airport when Annie arrived on Christmas Eve. “You’re here!” she said smiling.
    “Did you think I wouldn’t be?” he asked, returning her smile. He wore the same long coat he had the day they’d met and a scarf wrapped tastefully around his neck. His hair was combed and his face clean shaven. As always, the picture of perfection.
    “I guess a part of me wondered,” she admitted.
    “Well here I am, ready to go.”
    Annie nodded and then remembered something. “Here is the down payment we talked about.” She handed him an envelope.
    He accepted it graciously. “Thank you very much.” He took her rolling suitcase from her. “Ready?”
    “As I’ll ever be,” she said with a deep breath. With that the two of them made their way through customs and to the waiting area. There was little