MELANIE MILBURNE - Unwrapping His Convenient Fiancée

The perfect lie...

Violet Drummond can’t face another office Christmas party as a singleton, but charismatic family friend Cameron McKinnon seems like the perfectly platonic “plus one” for the festive season. Until he reveals his plan to make Violet his convenient fiancée!

Wealthy architect Cameron sees this charade as the perfect escape hatch from the unwelcome attention of an important client’s wife, but soon fake feelings shift to real attraction...

There’s only one thing Cameron wants to unwrap on Christmas morning—the staid suit from Violet’s lush body—and he’s willing to push the boundaries of their agreement to accommodate his growing desire...

‘Are you sure we should be doing this?’

There was a slight easing of the tension around his mouth. ‘We’re not robbing a bank, Violet.’

‘I know, but—’

‘If you’d rather not, then I can always find someone—’

‘No,’ Violet said, not even wanting to think about the someone else he would take. ‘I’ll go. It’ll be fun—I haven’t been out to dinner for ages.’

He smiled a lopsided smile that made the back of Violet’s knees feel weak.

‘There’s one other thing...’

You want it to be a real date? You want us to see each other as in see each other? You’ve secretly been in love with me for years and years and years?

Violet forced herself to keep her expression blank while her thoughts pushed against the door of her reasoning like people trying to get in to a closeing down sale.

‘We’ll have to act like a normal dating couple,’ he said. ‘Hold hands...show affection...and so on.’

And so on? What else did he mean?

Violet nodded as if her head was supported by an elastic band instead of neck muscles. ‘Fine. Of course. Good idea. Fab. Brilliant idea. We have to look authentic. Wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea... I mean...Well, you know what I mean.’

Cam leaned down and brushed her cheek with his lips, the slight graze of his rougher skin making something in her stomach turn over.

‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

MELANIE MILBURNE read her first Mills & Boon at age seventeen, in between studying for her final exams. After completing a Master’s Degree in Education she decided to write a novel in between settling down to do a PhD. She became so hooked on writing romance the PhD was shelved and her career as a romance writer was born. Melanie is an ambassador for the Australian Childhood Foundation, is a keen dog-lover and trainer and enjoys long walks in the Tasmanian bush.

Books by Melanie Milburne

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

His Mistress for a Week

At No Man’s Command

His Final Bargain

Uncovering the Silveri Secret

The Ravensdale Scandals

The Most Scandalous Ravensdale

Ravensdale’s Defiant Captive

Awakening the Ravensdale Heiress

Engaged to Her Ravensdale Enemy

The Chatsfield

Chatsfield’s Ultimate Acquisition

The Playboys of Argentina

The Valquez Bride

The Valquez Seduction

Those Scandalous Caffarellis

Never Say No to a Caffarelli

Never Underestimate a Caffarelli

Never Gamble with a Caffarelli

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

Unwrapping His Convenient Fiancée

Melanie Milburne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my dear friend Jo Shearing.

You are such a gorgeous person

and I value our friendship so much.

This one is for you. xxxx

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The perfect lie... Violet Drummond can’t face another office Christmas party as a singleton, but charismatic family friend Cameron McKinnon seems like the perfectly platonic “plus one” for the festive season. Until he reveals his plan to make Violet his convenient fiancée! Wealthy architect Cameron sees this charade as the perfect escape hatch from the unwelcome attention of an important client’s wife, but soon fake feelings shift to real attraction... There’s only one thing Cameron wants to unwrap on Christmas morning—the staid suit from Violet’s lush body—and he’s willing to push the boundaries of their agreement to accommodate his growing desire...

Introduction ‘Are you sure we should be doing this?’ There was a slight easing of the tension around his mouth. ‘We’re not robbing a bank, Violet.’ ‘I know, but—’ ‘If you’d rather not, then I can always find someone—’ ‘No,’ Violet said, not even wanting to think about the someone else he would take. ‘I’ll go. It’ll be fun—I haven’t been out to dinner for ages.’ He smiled a lopsided smile that made the back of Violet’s knees feel weak. ‘There’s one other thing...’ You want it to be a real date? You want us to see each other as in see each other? You’ve secretly been in love with me for years and years and years? Violet forced herself to keep her expression blank while her thoughts pushed against the door of her reasoning like people trying to get in to a closeing down sale. ‘We’ll have to act like a normal dating couple,’ he said. ‘Hold hands...show affection...and so on.’ And so on? What else did he mean? Violet nodded as if her head was supported by an elastic band instead of neck muscles. ‘Fine. Of course. Good idea. Fab. Brilliant idea. We have to look authentic. Wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea... I mean...Well, you know what I mean.’ Cam leaned down and brushed her cheek with his lips, the slight graze of his rougher skin making something in her stomach turn over. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

About the Author MELANIE MILBURNE read her first Mills & Boon at age seventeen, in between studying for her final exams. After completing a Master’s Degree in Education she decided to write a novel in between settling down to do a PhD. She became so hooked on writing romance the PhD was shelved and her career as a romance writer was born. Melanie is an ambassador for the Australian Childhood Foundation, is a keen dog-lover and trainer and enjoys long walks in the Tasmanian bush. Books by Melanie Milburne Mills & Boon Modern Romance His Mistress for a Week At No Man’s Command His Final Bargain Uncovering the Silveri Secret The Ravensdale Scandals The Most Scandalous Ravensdale Ravensdale’s Defiant Captive Awakening the Ravensdale Heiress Engaged to Her Ravensdale Enemy The Chatsfield Chatsfield’s Ultimate Acquisition The Playboys of Argentina The Valquez Bride The Valquez Seduction Those Scandalous Caffarellis Never Say No to a Caffarelli Never Underestimate a Caffarelli Never Gamble with a Caffarelli Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Title Page Unwrapping His Convenient Fiancée Melanie Milburne www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication To my dear friend Jo Shearing. You are such a gorgeous person and I value our friendship so much. This one is for you. xxxx

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

IT WAS THE invitation Violet had been dreading for months. Ten years in a row she had gone to the office Christmas party sans partner. Ten years! Every year she told herself next year would be different, and yet here she was staring at the red and silver invitation with her stomach in a sinkhole of despair again. It was bad enough fielding the What, no date? looks and comments from her female colleagues. But it was the thought of being in a crowded room that was the real torture. With all those jostling bodies pressing up so close she wouldn’t be able to breathe.

Male bodies.

Bodies that were much bigger and stronger and more powerful than hers—especially when they were drunk...

Violet blinked away the memory. She hardly ever thought about that party these days. Well, only now and again. She had come to a fragile sort of peace over it. The self-blame had eased even if the lingering shame had not.

But she was nearly thirty and it was time to move on. More than time. Which meant going to the Christmas party to prove to herself she was back in control of her life.

However, there was the agony of deciding what to wear. Her accountancy firm’s Christmas party was considered one of the premier events in the financial sector’s calendar. It wasn’t just a drinks and nibbles affair. It was an annual gala with champagne flowing like a fountain and Michelin star quality food and dancing to a live band. Every year there was a theme and everyone was expected to be part of the action to demonstrate their commitment to office harmony. This year’s theme was A Star-Struck Christmas. Which would mean Violet would have to find something Hollywoodish to wear. She wasn’t good at glamour. She didn’t like drawing attention to herself. She wasn’t good at partying full stop.

Violet slipped the invitation between the pages of her book and sighed. Even the London lunchtime café crowd was rubbing in her singleton status. Everyone was a couple. She was the only person sitting on her own. Even a couple pushing ninety were at the table in the window and they were holding hands. That would be her parents in thirty years. Still with the magic buzzing between them as it had from the first moment they’d met. Just like her three siblings with their perfect partners. Building their lives together, having children and doing all the things she dreamed of doing.

Violet had watched each of her siblings fall in love. Fast-living Fraser first, racy Rose next and then laid-back Lily. Been to each of their weddings. Been a bridesmaid three times. Three times. Groan. She was always in the audience watching romance develop and blossom, but she longed to be on the stage.

Why couldn’t she find someone perfect for her?

Was there something wrong with her? Guys occasionally asked her out but it never went past a date or two. Her natural shyness didn’t make for scintillating conversation and she had no idea how to flirt... Well, she did if she had a few drinks but that was a mistake she was not going to repeat. The problem was that men were so impatient these days, or maybe they always had been that way. But she was not going to sleep with someone just because it was expected of her...or because she was too drunk to say no. She wanted to feel attracted to a man and to feel his attraction to her. To feel frissons of red-hot desire scoot all over her flesh at his touch. To melt when his gaze met hers. To shiver with delight when he pressed his lips to hers.

Not that too many male lips had been pressed to hers lately. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been really kissed by a man. Pecks on the cheek from her father and brother or grandfather didn’t count.

Violet was rubbish at the dating game. Rubbish. Rubbish. Rubbish. She was going to end up an old and wrinkled spinster living with a hundred and fifty-two cats. With a chest of drawers full of exquisitely embroidered baby clothes for the babies she had longed for since she was a little girl.

‘Is this seat taken?’

Violet glanced up at the familiar deep baritone voice, a faint shiver coursing down her spine when her gaze connected with her older brother’s best friend from university.

‘Cam?’ Her voice came out like the sound of a squeaky toy, an annoying habit she hadn’t been able to correct since first meeting Cameron McKinnon. She had been eighteen when her brother brought Cam home for the summer—or at least the Scottish version of it—to their family’s estate, Drummond Brae, in the Highlands. ‘What are you doing here? How are you? Fraser told me you’ve been living in Greece designing a yacht for someone super-rich. How’s it all going? When did you get back?’