His 24-Hour Wife (The Hawke Brothers 2) by Rachel Bailey

don’t have plans to insert myself into your life.” Then she laughed. “Okay, I suppose that’s what this entire plan is designed to do. But I meant in reality. I won’t be trying to snag you or anything.”
    “I didn’t think you had ulterior motives,” he said truthfully and blew out a breath. “I’m just not used to living with anyone, so this will be an adjustment.”
    She arched an eyebrow. “You’ve never lived with anyone?”
    “Not as an adult, no. I have a full-time housekeeper, but she doesn’t live onsite. For most of the time that she’s here, I’m at work so I don’t see her all that often.”
    Callie lowered her voice. “Does she know? The truth about us?”
    He was sure his housekeeper was trustworthy—she’d been hired by Katherine, their family’s housekeeper who still worked for Liam and Jenna, and Katherine’s standards were ridiculously high. But trust didn’t come easy to Adam at the best of times.
    “I’ve given her a week off on full pay so we don’t have to worry about her discovering our arrangement. She normally cooks for me, but it seemed easier to just order takeout while you’re here and keep everything private.”
    “That’s probably a good idea. But I can cook, and I don’t mind making our meals.”
    That would be cozy. Sharing a meal at night that she’d cooked for them. And cozy home-cooked dinners sounded like the last thing he should be doing while ensuring his guard stayed in place.
    He held up a hand. “Your time is valuable. How about we compromise and I’ll ring a catering company and get them to deliver some prepared meals. We’ll also need to order some groceries for lunches and snacks.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. “You’ll be home for lunch?”
    “I’ve taken a week off,” he said, his casual tone belying the fact that he hadn’t had a week off in four years. “I told my office that we’re basically newlyweds so we’re taking some time together. But we’ll both be able to work from home.”
    Callie glanced around the room and frowned. “I wasn’t planning on staying here in some kind of lockdown.”
    “It helps the believability of our story.” And if he could feel other reasons tugging at him? They were best left unexplored. “Besides, if we’re not coming and going then those photographers at the gate will get bored and leave. After the week, the story will have lost its urgency and we can resume our normal lives.”
    “Except for the wedding plans,” she said.
    “Except for the wedding plans,” he agreed. “You’ll probably want to stay here after the week, right up until the wedding. But the media’s attention will move on enough that you won’t be restricted here all that time.”
    “Okay, sure.” She fiddled with the hem of her top—the only crack in her facade of composure. “I’ll do the lockdown. My main focus is the Hawke Brothers’ Trust account, and if anything that will be easier to work on while staying with a member of the Hawke family anyway. I’ve brought my laptop, so I can work from this room easily enough.”
    “I think we can do better than that.” He headed for the hallway and opened the door across the hall. “This guest room is also at your disposal. I have some office furniture being sent over from Hawke’s Blooms’ headquarters. It should be here in the next hour, and we’ll rearrange and set it up in here.”
    She glanced around again and bit down on her bottom lip. “You didn’t have to go to that much trouble, honestly.”
    “It was only a phone call.” He shrugged a shoulder. “This is a guest wing, so you won’t be disturbed. My home office is off the living room, and my bedroom is at the other end of the house.”
    Before she could reply, ringing came from her handbag, and she fished out her cell.
    “It’s my boss,” she said, her expression telling Adam that she was bracing herself for the call.
    He nodded and stepped toward the door. “You take it and meet me in the living