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.Maybe those tales had formed the person she was now: idealistic and eternally hopeful that she would one day find the right guy for her.If it was inconceivable that someone like Lucas, jaded and cynical, could ever be attracted to someone like her, then it was equally inconceivable that someone like her, optimistic and romantic, could ever be attracted to someone like him.‘Ground rules.’ he repeated gently, snapping her out of her reverie.‘Oh, yes, you were about to tell me.’‘Ground rule number one,’ he said, frowning, because never had he ever had to work so hard at getting a woman’s attention, ‘is the importance of remembering that this is just a temporary charade.’Milly looked at him, eyes wide with puzzlement.‘I know that.’‘By which,’ Lucas continued, taking advantage of her full, concentrated attention before she could drift off into one of those doubtless cotton-candy fantasies of hers, ‘I mean that you don’t get ideas.’‘What on earth are you talking about?’ Enlightenment dawned as he stared at her with unflinching intent.‘Oh, I get it,’ she said slowly, as colour crept into her face and her heart picked up angry speed.‘You don’t want me to start thinking that the game is for real.You really are the limit! Do you honestly imagine for a second that I would be stupid enough to fall for a guy like you? Especially after everything you’ve told me?’‘Come again?’‘You think that because you happen to be okay looking, because you happen to have a lot of money, somehow you’re an irresistible catch! And you may just be for all those supermodel women who like being draped over your arm, getting their pictures taken whenever they’re with you, but I meant it when I told you that I can’t think of anything worse! Least of all with a guy who’s said that he sees marriage as a business transaction!’‘Sure about that?’ Lucas’s mouth thinned, a reaction to the unfamiliar sound of criticism.‘Quite sure,’ Milly informed him scathingly.‘I could never be interested in a man like you.I’m sure you have wonderful qualities.’ She paused for a heartbeat while she tried to imagine what those wonderful qualities might be.Certainly sensitivity and thoughtfulness didn’t feature too high.Although, a little voice pointed out, isn’t his attitude towards his mother an indication of just those qualities, lurking there somewhere underneath the cool, hard, jaded exterior?‘But,’ she continued hurriedly, ‘I go for caring, sharing fun guys.’‘Caring? Sharing? Fun? This may come as a shock, but when it comes to fun I can’t think of a single woman who’s ever complained.’‘I’m not talking about sex,’ Milly said derisively, scarlet-faced, because really what on earth did she know about sex? Her life had not exactly been littered with panting suitors desperate to strip her naked and climb into bed with her.Sure, there had been interest.She had even gone out with a couple of them.But none of those brief relationships had ever stayed the course.Either she was too fussy or she just wasn’t clever enough to play the games that most women knew how to play, the games that trapped men.Not that she had ever had any inclination to trap any of the guys she had dated briefly.She went a shade pinker as she wondered how Lucas would react if he knew that she was a virgin.The virgin and the rake, poles apart, the most unlikely pretend couple in the world!‘I’m talking about the sort of caring, giving man who shares the same belief system as I do; the sort of man who wants the same things that I want—love, friendship, a soulmate for life.’‘Sounds thrilling,’ Lucas said drily.‘You’re omitting passion.Or is that sidelined by the friendship, soulmate angle?’ He shot her a wolfish grin that made her skin prickle, made it difficult to keep her eyes focused on his lean, dark face.‘Never mind, I get the picture, and I’m glad that we’re singing from the same song sheet.That being the case, you will have no need to pretend.I imagine our conflicting personalities will be enough to demonstrate to my mother that our relationship is not destined to last longer than it takes for you to rustle up a hot meal.’ He shrugged elegantly and shot her a crooked smile.‘Feel free to share all your home truths about me!’‘I most certainly will! And.one other thing.’ The plane began dipping, preparing to land.‘I’m afraid I didn’t come prepared for warm weather.’ She thought wistfully of the innocent little ski-resort job she had mapped out as part of her recovery programme.‘I hadn’t expected to find myself on a plane to Madrid.’‘Believe it or not, there are shops there.A free wardrobe is part of the package
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