Some Like It Charming (A Temporary Engagement) by Megan Bryce

of wine, two bottles of beer, and chocolate cake.
    Mackenzie shook her head, a smile hovering at the corners of her mouth, and Ethan grinned at her. “I didn’t know what you wanted. Except I was pretty sure about the cake.”
    She grabbed a steak and salad and beer and he did likewise.
    He pointed to their plates and said, “See how compatible we are?”
    “Uh-huh. I can see it now, matchmaking services based on what you eat.”
    “Or perhaps based on what you won’t eat. If you don’t like fish, you don’t want to wind up with a fish eater.”
    Mackenzie snorted and shook her head. “And there goes romance. What if love is putting up with stinky fish?”
    Ethan eyed her. “That’s love? I had no idea.”
    “I’m just saying that love isn’t all good parts. Sometimes there will be things you just can’t stand but they don’t matter.”
    He watched her with a small smile on his face. “You’re a romantic. I would never have guessed.”
    “I’m not. I just think that if there’s love, stupid little stuff shouldn’t matter.”
    “Nope, you’re a romantic. Can’t talk me out of it.”
    She sighed, reaching for a slice of cake. It was thick and rich and chocolatey and she felt a little less hostile about getting herself engaged to Ethan O’Connor after eating it.
    She said, “So what happens if I go along with your crazy idea and agree to be your fiancé? Pretend that all the little things you do that drive me crazy don’t matter? Just how are you planning on making me come out on top after all of this?”
    “First of all, there aren’t that many things with me. Don’t you know I’m Mr. Charming?”
    “Uh-huh,” she said again and he grinned.
    “And second of all, I’ll give you a share of O’Connor Capital.”
    She sucked in a long breath, gauging his sincerity. He looked at her, no smile on his face, no twinkle in his eye. She opened her mouth to say something, say anything, and nothing came out.
    He said, “It means that much to me.”
    Mackenzie cleared her throat. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I am. I’ll give you a three percent share. That’s worth about $100,000 per year, which is comparable to your base salary, but you’ll be the only outside owner. That’s how you’ll wind up winning.”
    Mackenzie sat back in her seat. “Can you even give a portion away?”
    He smiled slightly. “I need a majority approval. Mother, Grandma, and I all own equal shares, so I need one of them to agree to let me give you the shares. Luckily, my grandma likes you.”
    “This much? And what happens when this ends? She still going to want me owning even a little part then?”
    “You’ve worked for O’Connor Capital for seven years. You know sales, you know the business. I have no worries about bringing you on board as a minority owner. She knows this engagement won’t last and still thinks it a fine idea.”
    A laugh escaped her lips. “Do I even want to know how your mother took it?”
    He took a bite. “I didn’t tell her. I only need one of them to go along with it.”
    She shuddered. “I don’t want to be there when she finds out. You’re crazy for even thinking of giving me a share.”
    “I need a break, Mackenzie. A break from women, from drama, from the stupid tabloids. I need a break from Mr. Charming. I feel as if I’m standing on the edge of a cliff and one more rumble from any direction and I’m going right over.”
    He sat back, looking at her. “I know I can trust you. I don’t need to worry about hurting you because you’ve never believed anything I’ve said. I can be myself around you.”
    “That’s not worth three percent of your company.”
    He closed his eyes and said softly, “I can’t see one more woman look at me like I’m the answer to all her prayers when I know I’m not. When I know in just a few short months I will be one more hurt. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially anyone I care about. I can’t seem to stop, though.” He opened his