When Lightning Strikes Read Online Free PDF Page B

money a lot
more than Chelsea Seagate. She has all your old clients, remember?” he added
with a devilish grin.
    “How could I forget? But I’m not cut out for the part of
Simon’s wife!”
    “Sure you are. You’re perfect. No one will pay attention to the
rape claim because they’ll know that if you’re marrying him, it couldn’t
possibly be true. Everything will be tied up with a neat bow.”
    Was she really the one who’d come up with this idea? She was
beginning to feel faint again. “But Simon and I aren’t the least bit compatible.
Seeing us together, the way we interact, will be a dead giveaway.”
    “He’s an actor, and a damn good one. He can pretend to love
even you. And you’re a PR agent, which requires no small amount of stretching
the truth.”
    She considered what his suggestion would entail and gulped.
“Wait a minute…”
    “For what?”
    For the room to stop spinning. “What about my business? I’m needed here.”
    “You said you don’t have any business left.”
    “I don’t, but I was…hoping that—”
    “We’ll send your staff on vacation until we have everything set
up and ready for you to return.”
    “That won’t work. My employees can’t survive without a
paycheck, even for two weeks.”
    “Then they can stay and work. Simon will cover your
payroll.”
    He was overcoming every argument. “And the rent until we can
make a comeback?”
    “Simon will cover that, too.”
    Her knees buckled, and she sank into a chair. She had to admit
she’d had her fantasies about Simon. What woman in America hadn’t imagined his
mouth on hers? She’d imagined a little more than that. But those were silly
daydreams about characters who didn’t exist, not the flesh and blood and very
fallible man who played those larger-than-life parts. At least, that was what
she’d always told herself....
    “I’m not sure I can do this.”
    Shoving his hands in his pockets, Ian came closer. “Why not?
Who better than a PR pro to stay at Simon’s side night and day? If that won’t
keep him out of trouble, what will? Besides, you’ll know exactly what to say
when someone shoves a microphone in your face.”
    Gail grabbed for the one remaining argument she could think of.
“How can you promise that Simon will pay my employees and my rent or anything
else on his behalf? Last I heard you were fired.”
    He winked at her. “Simon needs us. He’ll understand that once
I’ve had a chance to talk to him.”
    Maybe he’d refuse. He wouldn’t like this idea. No question
about that.
    But if he thought it would give him Ty he’d do it in a
heartbeat.

5
    “S eriously? This is what my life has come
to? A fake marriage?”
    Suddenly finding it too much of a distraction, Simon put the
football game he’d recorded on his DVR on pause. Ian was hoping to retain his
job, so it was understandable that he’d come here with some crazy idea that was
supposed to save the day. But even if it had been a good idea, Simon doubted he’d take him back. In his opinion, Ian had
revealed some disturbing character flaws.
    Then again, Simon knew he probably wasn’t anyone who should be
pointing a finger.
    Ian sat on the edge of his chair. Showered and ready for the
rest of the day, his sunglasses dangling from one hand, he looked refreshed and
energetic, which counted for more than anything he’d had to say so far. His
manner made him convincing. Simon needed someone who
felt ready to tackle the world. He felt as if he’d
just been hit by a truck.
    “It wouldn’t be fake,” Ian said. “It would be real.”
    “That makes it worse. I’d be acting my own life.” Simon brought
his recliner upright. He spent a lot of time in this room. It had no windows, so
it was completely dark if he wanted it to be, and that helped whenever he had a
headache. It was comfortable, too. After barging into Gail’s office and ranting
like a madman early this morning, he’d come here to calm down and recover from a
raging hangover.