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Well, that was ratherfor Dan smiled back, aardly ‘Actually, Ia week in the same hotel as him?’

Laurel turned pale ‘Oh, I’m sorry Of course you don’t want to hear about that! Melissa always says I talk about myself far too ot a lot of work to do I’ that will keep me so busy I don’t even have to think about him’

If Melissa had her way Dan suspected Laurel would be plenty busy And probably only talking about Melissa, too

‘What you really need is a new boy

friend to flaunt in his face,’ he joked, and Laurel laughed

‘That would be good,’ she agreed, grinning at him ‘But even if I hadn’t sworn offthis wedding, so I definitely haven’t had time to date’

That was a shame, Dan decided Laurel, with her war She shouldn’t be locking herself away, even if it wasn’t for ever She should be out in the world, ether and he already knew that Laurel was one of the good ones—and the co he suspected about her half-sister Laurel should be suy anted to spend the rest of his lifefor

Dan kneas definitely not that guy Treating woht wasn’t the problem—he had utter respect for any woman who hadn’t previously been married to him But he didn’t do ‘for ever’ any more Not after Cassie

Besides, he knew from experience that ‘for ever’ wasn’t omen wanted from him, anyway They wanted a stand-in—just like the directors did when they hired hiood work, take the fall, and be ready to get out of the hen the real star of the show ca

But maybe, he realised suddenly, that was exactly what Laurel needed this week

A stand-in

That, Dan knew, he could absolutely do And it ht just help him out in his mission to save his baby brother fro him closer to the centre of the action

‘What if he just thought you had a boyfriend?’ Dan asked, and Laurel’s nose wrinkled in confusion

‘Like, lie to him?’ She shook her head ‘I’m a terrible liar He’d never believe me Besides, if I had a boyfriend ouldn’t he be at the wedding?’

‘He would be,’ Dan said, and the confusion in Laurel’s eyes grew