Page 27 of Loving Her Enemy

Okay. What was she up to?

No sooner than the question popped into his head, Halayna lifted her left hand and placed it on her chest. Sloane’s gaze followed the move, and that’s when he saw it—the engagement ring on her finger. Even wearing that black brace, the ring sparkled under the overhead lights.

A slow smile spread across his face, and Sloane almost laughed out loud. Sneaky. This was one helluva way for her to say yes to his proposal, and Sloane couldn’t have planned for better timing if he’d tried.

As if being pulled by a magnet, Sloane stepped around his desk to get to her. He had barely taken three steps before Marcella blocked his path.

“Come on Sloane. I was here first, and I need to talk to you,” she whined, which grated on his nerves. That and the fact she always smelled like she took a deep dive into her perfume bottle made it easy to say no to her.

“Marcella, you’re welcome to leave,” Sloane said and moved around her.

His smile grew the closer he got to Halayna. He couldn’t believe she was there, but he was going to have to thank whoever helped her make this type of entrance.

Once he stood in front of her, heat soared through his body and his heart swelled. Just seeing her in his office made something shift inside of him. Sloane couldn’t quite put a name to the feeling, but suddenly he wanted Halayna in his life for more reasons than were listed in the contract.

“Hey, Beautiful,” he said quietly and slid his arm around her waist before pulling her against the front of his body. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Testing just how far she’d let him go, he slowly lowered his head and placed a lingering kiss on her luscious mouth, half expecting her to discreetly push him away.

She didn’t, and his smile grew as he lifted his head to look at her.

“We’re going to be great together,” he said, only loud enough for her to hear.

She returned his smile and leaned in closer, which made him want to nuzzle her neck. Her incredible scent was doing wicked things to his peace of mind.

“Don’t get cocky, Mr. Davidson,” she said, her voice as low as his. “You don’t know my terms yet.”

Sloane threw his head back and burst out laughing. He wanted this woman. He wanted her more than he wanted anything in his life, and that should scare him. Instead, he was prepared to give her any and everything she wanted to make her his wife. Even if it was going to be a temporary arrangement.

Moving his arm from around her, he reached for her hand and linked their fingers. Then he brought the back of her hand to his lips. When he placed a kiss on her fingers, he felt her shiver, but she smiled at him. The way the gesture lit up her gorgeous face was like the sun breaking through a cloudy day, and he wanted to keep her smiling.

Though she hadn’t outright agreed to become his bride, her wearing his ring spoke volumes. So, he turned to his childhood friend and smiled.

“Marcella, I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Halayna Tanaka, my fiancée.”

Chapter Thirteen

“Yeah, right. Like I’m supposed to believe you’re suddenly engaged,” Maricella snapped. “Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you. There’s no way you’re marrying this, this—” She waved her hand up and down toward Halayna.

“I don’t give a damn what you believe,” Sloane cut her off, anger vibrating off him.

It took every bit of control Halayna had not to burst out laughing at the woman’s comical expression. Clearly, she didn’t like Sloane’s announcement because, if looks could kill, Halayna would have turned to ashes.

It was a shame that such a pretty lady with a stylish pixie haircut, curves that would make a grown man weep, and wearing an outfit that probably cost more than most people made in a week, had such a stank attitude. It had been evident from the moment Halayna walked in, and the woman glared at her as if wanting to jump her for interrupting.

Marcella reminded her of a social media post she’d seen that morning about how people put so much focus on their outer appearance and fail to work on their character. She was dressed to impress, but her narrowed eyed gaze and the sneer on her red lips made more of an impression. A negative one.

None of that mattered, though. Clearly, Sloane saw the woman for what she was—a vixen trying to get her claws into him.

Not today. Halayna had finally made a decision about her and Sloane, and she was going to see her plan through.

The last three days had been a whirlwind. When Bristol had offered her three days of pampering at a hotel and spa, Halayna leaped at the offer. Not wanting handouts, she had promised to pay her friend back for every penny she spent.

Bristol had joined her on the second and third day, and they hung out like old times talking and laughing late into the night. Then this morning, Bristol had arranged for Halayna to shop from the comforts of her hotel room. Racks of clothes had been delivered for her to go through and pick a few outfits to add to her current wardrobe.

She had also arranged for a makeup artist and a beautician to help Halayna get ready for her contract meeting with Sloane. Which was how she’d managed to look as good as she did when arriving at Sloane’s office. She not only looked and felt like a wealthy woman, but she was also ready to show Sloane she could be the wife he wanted and needed. Even if it was temporary.

When it came to telling Sloane she’d accept his proposal, she’d wanted to do it in a fun way. That’s when Bristol got Reece involved. Halayna liked him immediately. He wasn’t as serious as Sloane, and no doubt they balanced each other out in the business world. It had been his idea to show up at the office and Bristol’s idea for her to dress like she meant business.