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“No, my mother’s been traveling with Richard and never got a chance to meet her.”

“Aw, that’s a shame,” I remark.

Now Monty almost smirks at me. “But anyway, I’m not ready to tell my mother it’s over. She’ll be…crushed.”

“So, you would rather lie to her for an entire weekend, then what, tell her we broke up next week?”

“Yes, it’ll be easier to tell her then,” he replies while giving me a pointed look. “Especially if she doesn’t get along with my fiancée.”

A laugh bursts free from me. “You want me to not only pretend to be your fiancée, but pick fights with your mother?”

“It wouldn’t be a big deal,” he says.

“I don’t know, it sounds pretty damn big, Monty.”

“When was the last time you took a vacation?” he asks, catching me off-guard with the change of topic.

“A few…years ago. I guess?”

My face warms as I try to recall the last time I even left the city. It’s not like work friends I don’t even see on weekends would invite me along to the beach or whatever. And my roommates barely leave the apartment.

“Then it’s past time for you to get away, right? Go someplace warm? So, what will it take for you to come with me?”

Shaking my head, I try to consider how this would go, pretending to be not just the woman he’s dating, but the one he was planning to marry, to spend the rest of his life with. The one he sleeps with every night. Which brings us to the first problem.

“Would we be sharing a room?”

“A bungalow. We wouldn’t …” He shakes his head. “You know what? Never mind. Now that I’ve said it all out loud, I realize it’s a ridiculous idea and I’ve probably crossed a million human resources lines just by propositioning you.” He glances over at me again, a stricken expression on his face. “Not that I was propositioning you.”

“Calm down, Monty,” I say as I hop up on the edge of his desk, crossing my legs while sipping my coffee. “Tell me more about this resort and what I would have to do.”

“Really?” he asks, sounding surprised I haven’t flat out refused as he comes a few steps closer.

At least I know why our boss has been grumpier than usual lately. But under his gruff exterior, he’s also sweet, caring, and an all-around good guy. He could do so much better than that woman.

Going on a weekend trip with Monty, getting the workaholic out of the office could be my chance to convince him to lighten up a little, to relax and take it easy while I do the same.

“Okay, as far as I know from the photos my mom sent me, it’s on a private island with beautiful beaches, snorkeling, one of those all-inclusive places with restaurants and swim-up bars.”

“Hmm,” I murmur as I pretend to be considering getting a free vacation in paradise this weekend with my hot as hell boss in exchange for telling his mom a little white lie. Not that I plan to let him off easy. “What’s in it for me?” I ask.

“What do you want?” he asks with a raised eyebrow right away, giving away his desperation. He really doesn’t want to disappoint his mother.

“I don’t know. I would need some time to think about it,” I say as I take another sip of my coffee.

“Well, the flight leaves tomorrow at nine,” he remarks. “You’ll have tomorrow and Monday off work.”

“A long weekend does sound nice...”

“I could pay you…”

“No, that wouldn’t be right,” I interrupt.

“Okay. How about I give you two extra weeks of vacation?”

“Seriously?” I ask.

“You can use them anytime, even next week if you want,” he says. “And I’d be willing to buy you new luggage or clothes, you know, to play the part.”