Accidentally Yours

Terms and Conditions

The restaurant was exactly what Maya expected from someone like Ethan Harrison – private, elegant, and tucked away in a historic building far from the prying eyes of the financial district. What she hadn't expected was the way he pulled out her chair, or how his fingers lingered on her shoulder for just a moment too long.

"You're surprisingly calm for someone who just got engaged to a stranger," he said once they were settled. The ring – her ring – caught the candlelight as he reached for his water glass.

Maya took a long sip of the wine he'd ordered. "You're surprisingly calm for someone who just accepted a proposal from a drunk woman on a sidewalk."

His laugh was unexpected – rich and genuine. "Touché." He leaned forward, those dark eyes studying her face. "So, Maya... tell me about yourself."

"Shouldn't you have asked that before saying 'I do'?"

"Where's the fun in that?"

The waiter appeared with appetizers Maya didn't remember ordering. As he arranged the plates, she took the moment to really look at her accidental fiancé. Ethan Harrison couldn't be more than thirty-five, but there was something in his bearing that spoke of authority, of someone used to being obeyed. His dark hair was just starting to silver at the temples, and a tiny scar above his right eyebrow kept him from being too perfectly handsome.

"I'm waiting," he prompted once they were alone again.

Maya straightened. "What exactly do you want to know?"

"Let's start with why you were planning to propose to James Porter, of all people."

The way he said James's name made her curious. "You don't like him?"

"I don't like what his firm represents." Ethan's expression hardened slightly. "They've been trying to block my company's expansion plans. James has been particularly... aggressive in his attempts to either stop us or get himself hired by us."

"And now his girlfriend is engaged to you." Maya felt a smile tugging at her lips. "That must be killing him."

"Ex-girlfriend," Ethan corrected. "And yes, I imagine it is." He studied her for a moment. "Which brings me to a proposition."

"Another one? I think one proposal per day is my limit."

His lips twitched. "A business arrangement, then. You need revenge. I need to smooth over some PR issues before this merger goes through. The press likes to paint me as cold, calculating – not exactly helpful when I'm trying to convince small business owners to trust me with their livelihoods."

"And a whirlwind romance would soften that image?"

"Precisely." He sat back, loosening his tie slightly. "Three months. We maintain the engagement, make public appearances, show the world that Ethan Harrison is capable of falling madly in love. Meanwhile, James gets to watch his ex-girlfriend living her best life with his boss."

Maya's head spun, and not just from the wine. "Three months is a long time to pretend."

"I'll make it worth your while. A generous monthly allowance, plus a settlement when we 'amicably' part ways. You can take that Maldives trip after all – maybe invite James's assistant as your personal servant."

She should say no. This was crazy, the kind of thing that happened in movies, not real life. But something in the way Ethan looked at her – like he saw past her mess of a day to something interesting underneath – made her pause.

"What about work? Won't it be suspicious if your fiancée keeps her job at a rival firm?"

"Already thought of that. I'm opening a charitable foundation – good PR, tax benefits, the usual. It needs a director." He raised an eyebrow. "Unless you enjoy being a junior analyst?"

Maya's wine glass froze halfway to her lips. "How did you know my position?"

Something flickered across his face – too quick to read. "I make it my business to know everything about my competitors' employees."

"Everything?"

"Enough." He pulled out his phone, checked something quickly. "For instance, I know you graduated top of your class at NYU. That you turned down Goldman Sachs to work at a smaller firm. That you volunteer at an animal shelter on weekends." His eyes met hers. "That you deserve better than being James Porter's girlfriend."

A shiver ran down Maya's spine – whether from unease or excitement, she wasn't sure. "And what makes you think being Ethan Harrison's fiancée would be better?"

He smiled then, slow and dangerous. "Because I keep my promises, Maya. When this is over, you'll have everything you want – career advancement, financial security, and the satisfaction of knowing you brought James Porter to his knees."

"And what do you really get out of this?"

"Besides the PR boost?" He reached across the table, his fingers brushing her hand. "Let's just say I enjoy a good game. And this promises to be very entertaining indeed."

Maya looked down at their almost-touching hands, at the ring that had started this whole crazy situation. "Three months?"

"Three months."

She took a deep breath. "I have conditions."

"Name them."

"I want everything in writing. The allowance, the settlement, the foundation position – all of it."

He nodded, looking pleased. "Done. What else?"

"No sleeping together. This isn't that kind of arrangement."

Was it her imagination, or did his eyes darken slightly? "Agreed. Though we'll have to be convincing in public."

"Fine. Convincing but proper." She lifted her chin. "And one more thing – when this ends, it ends clean. No drama, no press leaks, no revenge sequels."

"My lawyer will have the papers drawn up tomorrow." He raised his wine glass. "To our mutual benefit?"

Maya clinked her glass against his, trying to ignore the way her pulse jumped when their eyes met. "To accidentally yours."

His smile held secrets she wasn't sure she wanted to unlock. "Accidentally yours," he echoed. "For now."