Chapter 37

Of course, they would be staying in his childhood room. If that didn’t add another layer of guilt, nothing
would. She wanted to come clean with him; she wanted to tell him everything. But how could she and
still stay loyal to her brothers?

It was supposed to be so simple. A few days at Green Room Media, snooping for exclusive footage,
chatting with some camera guys. In theory it all sounded like a perfect plot...but somehow the
execution had gone astray and now she risked breaking her heart and hurting the one man who made
her want to forget this entire vendetta.

“Quite the little prince,” she joked. “Though I imagine you stood on your balcony and had the best
imagination as a child. I know I would.”

He smiled and started to cross to her. “And what would young Roslyn have imagined?”

Young Sophie would have loved this room. “She would have pretended to be a queen overlooking her
land, protecting her castle and her family.”

Not so far removed from grown-up Sophie.

“Really?” He closed the gap between them and took her shoulders in his hands. “That little girl wouldn’t
have dreamed of a knight coming to rescue her from the tower?”

“I’ve never needed to be rescued,” she countered. “I’m the one who would save the day. Always.”

Wasn’t that what she was ultimately doing now? Sacrificing to save her family’s legacy?

And who knew what would happen now that Darius was coming to Royal and Miranda wanted to
connect with him.



One thing Sophie knew, she refused to let Blackwood properties, holdings and finances stay in the
hands of a gold-digging socialite who probably already had her sights set on another unsuspecting
wealthy man. Sophie couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t already remarried, but maybe the perfect
billionaire hadn’t come along, yet.

“You’re very protective of your family,” he stated, sliding his thumbs up along her neck and jawline. “I
admire that.”

He had no idea the lengths she’d go to.

“You and your sister must have a special bond,” she replied. His touch had her body tingling and trying
to concentrate on the actual conversation was difficult. “Since you are part of the wedding.”

“We’ve always been close. She’s older than me, so my grandmother doubled the pressure on her to
settle down and have children.” Nigel laughed. “Now that she’s closing in on that goal, Grandmother
has turned her attention solely on me. You’ve been warned.”

Sophie reached up and gripped his wrists, returning his grin. “I can handle myself for a few days.
Besides, I don’t mind playing your girlfriend. You’re not exactly an ogre.”

Nigel’s low laugh curled those nerves tighter in her belly. “I’ll take that as a compliment. You’re pretty
sexy, too.”

After the way he’d worshiped her body on the flight over here, she didn’t need the words. She was well
aware of how he thought of her. During their time on the jet, Sophie had pushed aside all of the outside
problems facing them, all of the lies and deceit. She’d focused on them, on the pleasure and desire.

But reality hit hard now that they were here and she had to maintain the facade. Sophie only hoped she
could get through these five days without Ellen circling back to how Sophie looked familiar.



“You know, we don’t have to be down for dinner for a while,” Nigel said, backing Sophie toward the
four-poster bed.

“If we lose track of time and miss dinner, your grandmother will reprimand both of us.”

Nigel shook his head. “If she thinks there’s a chance you’re going to help with the next generation of
Townshends, she’ll lock us in here and to hell with all dinners.”

The idea held its temptations...but she knew it was nothing more than a fantasy. Even without the
deception hanging between them, Sophie was sure this world wasn’t for her. The Townshends were
pretty much as powerful and wealthy as royalty. And even though the Blackwoods were wealthy in their
own right, the differences were vast. City and country life were quite different. Nigel may have grown up
in this gorgeous countryside town, but he was all city. He was larger than life, someone who needed
that hustle and hard work. Royal, Texas, wasn’t for someone who needed that rush of moving from one
project to the next.

Sophie, on the other hand, loved her laidback lifestyle back home. She loved the ease of her work, the
thrill of designing for others at her own pace.

Nigel kissed her neck and Sophie realized how silly and foolish she was being by thinking there would
ever be anything more between them. Instead of a foundation for a true relationship, they had a fling,
they had a farce for the next few days, and they had her lies. Not exactly future-building material.

“I thought we were faking this relationship,” she murmured, thrusting her fingers through his hair.

“Only some parts.” His lips moved over her heated skin. “I want you. Nothing about that is a sham.”

She couldn’t argue, not when she wanted him just as fiercely.



In a flurry of hands and stolen kisses, their clothes fell to the floor. Sophie stumbled back onto the bed
and Nigel followed her down, pressing his weight against hers and into the soft thick pile of blankets.

Sophie hadn’t known she had such passion inside her until she met Nigel. Never before had she
wanted to forget her goals and give everything, including and especially her body, to one man.


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