The Unintended Fiancé (Captured by Love Book 4) by Miranda P. Charles

successful bid. What was more, with Christmas and Brad’s birthday just around the corner, it would attract too much interest and sympathy if they had a relationship-breaking “fight” around this time. Better to have a quiet parting of ways early in the new year.
    She didn’t mind that their pretence was being stretched out for longer than she’d anticipated. Frankly, she was now so used to being Brad’s fiancée that sometimes she had to remind herself that it was a sham.
    Brad was charming, thoughtful, sweet, and so freaking sexy that it was impossible not to wish for the unattainable—that he’d somehow want to ditch the act and make it real. Now she understood why all those other women had let their hearts be broken by him. They simply hadn’t been able to stop themselves from falling.
    But she was made of sterner stuff. It helped that Brad had been such a good friend for so long that she knew him better than any of his previous sex partners. And she could tell he was still anti-commitment.
    He’d casually mentioned a few times that he was enjoying their fake engagement, with the emphasis on the word fake . No doubt that was his way of reminding her not to take what they had seriously. And while he’d insisted that they had to be exclusive to each other while “engaged”, it was only because he didn’t want to complicate matters. It wasn’t as if he’d be jealous if she slept with other men.
    Sometimes, though, she got confused when he was in one of his protective and possessive moods. During those moments, she truly felt like she and Brad had something deeper than friendship. But then he’d roll his eyes whenever they discussed Lexie and Rick’s wedding, saying that the thought of walking down the aisle made him want to run for the hills. And she’d be reminded again why she couldn’t let her imagination get away with her.
    So, yeah. Like Lexie had said before, Brad was an incredibly decent guy to play around with. That was it. No more, no less. And she’d be doing herself a big favour if she never forgot it for even a minute.
    The lift door opened to her floor and she got out.
    “Erin, good morning.”
    “Good morning, Roger,” she responded, smiling at her boss.
    “Do you have a minute? I want to talk to you about something.”
    “Sure. Now?”
    “Yes, please. Why don’t you get your coffee and I’ll see you in my office?”
    “Okay.” She didn’t like the sound of that, or Roger’s expression, which was decidedly serious. Was she in trouble?
    She hurried to dump her bag on her chair and made a beeline for the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, greeting her workmates good morning as she passed them by. Then she made her way to Roger’s office.
    “Please close the door and take a seat,” Roger said.
    She did so, and gingerly placed her mug on Roger’s big desk.
    “I’ve known you for seven years, Erin,” Roger said, his voice low and soft. “And in all that time, I have had nothing but praise for the quality of your work and your attitude.”
    She swallowed. No one started a conversation that way, and in that tone, unless they meant to follow it up with something from the opposite end of the spectrum.
    “How’s Brad?”
    Her brows shot up at the unexpected question. “He’s good, thanks. He’s flying to Perth this morning. He’ll be there for a week.”
    Roger nodded. “I understand that your relationship with him goes far back. Before you got together, he was also your very good friend, not to mention being your best friend’s brother, right?”
    “Yes,” she answered, her nerves multiplying. Where was this leading?
    “I don’t believe that you’re someone who would compromise your work ethic for anything or anyone, Erin. But I have to ask you a question.” Roger paused, as if he was reluctant to say the next words.
    She blinked, her heart thumping hard. Clearly, whatever this was had something to do with Brad. And it wouldn’t be good news.
    “Have you ever handed