Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)

by Lauren Asher

Lily doesn’t stop to check if I’m following her down the hall until she opens the emergency exit, which leads to an empty alley behind the bar. We both have been here before, although the last time she was wearing a pink bedazzled outfit and I was hiding behind a mask. “Well, isn’t this a trip down memory lane?” I ask with a dry tone. She slams the door shut and whirls around, her hair whipping me in the face in the process. “What the hell was that back there?” She pokes me in the chest. “You spent the last several months ignoring me, only to have a complete personality transplant?” “There’s a good reason.” “I’m waiting to hear it.” I stroke my chin. “I have a theory, but you’d need to sign an NDA first.” She scowls. “I’m not signing an NDA, so either you trust me to keep whatever private information you share tonight between us or I head inside and go back to ignoring your existence like you’ve done for nearly a year.” “You can’t.” I rush to get the words out. “Why not?” “Because I need you.” She laughs, but it’s hollow. “Let me guess—this has something to do with the campaign.” “Yes.” “You seriously think I’m going to let you use me for political gain when you don’t even like me?” I blink twice. “I never said I disliked you.” “Your actions say otherwise.”