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One

There came a tiht Devon Carter stared down at the brilliant diaed that this was one such time He snapped the lid closed and shoved the box into the breast pocket of his suit

He had two choices He couldhis coest, most exclusive line of resorts in the world, or he could refuse and lose it all

Put in that light, there wasn’t much he could do except pop the question

The doorh-rise hurried to open the door as Devon strode toward the street, where his driver waited He took a deep breath before ducking into the car, and the driver pulled into traffic

Tonight was the night All of his careful wooing—the countless dinners, kisses that started brief and casual and becaht his seduction of Ashley Copeland would be complete, and then he’d ask her to marry him

He shook his head as the absurdity of the situation hit hiht Williahter down Devon’s throat He’d tried everything to sway the older hter married off…to Devon

Ashley was a sweet enough girl, but Devon had no desire to marry anyone Not yet Maybe in five years Then he’d select a wife, have two-point-five children and have it all

William had other plans From the leam in his eye He’d told Devon that Ashley had no head for business She was too soft-hearted, too naive, too…everything to ever take an active role in the family business He was convinced that any ratiate himself into the Copeland fold—and the fortune that ith her Williaht Devon was the best choice

And so he’d made Ashley part and parcel of the deal The catch? Ashley wasn’t to learn of it The old hter, but he damn sure didn’t want her to know about it Which as he’d said, the patience he’d exerted in his courting of Ashley He was a blunt, straightforward person, and this whole rit his teeth

If she was part of the deal, he’d rather all parties know that fros, no hurt feelings and no misconceptions

Ashley was going to think this was a grand love match She was a starry-eyed, soft-hearted woman who preferred to spend tis, charts and financials for Copeland Hotels

If she ever found out the truth, she wasn’t going to take it well And hell, he couldn’t blame her Devon hatedto hi to her

“Stupid old fool,” Devon muttered

His driver pulled up to the apart that was home to the entire Copeland clan William and his wife occupied a penthouse on the top floor, but Ashley had moved to a smaller apartment on a lower floor Various other family members, from cousins to aunts and uncles, lived in all places in between

The Copeland family was an anohteen, and the only thing he remembered of his parents was the occasional reminder not to “screw up”

All this devotion William showered on his children was alien and it made Devon uncomfortable Especially since William seemed deter Ashley

Devon started to get out when he saw Ashley fly through the door, a wide s as she saw him

What the hell?

He hurried toward her, a frown on his face

“Ashley, you should have stayed inside I would have come for you”

In response, she laughed, the sound vibrant and fresh a free tonight instead of being pulled up by a clip in her usual careless manner She reached for his hands and squeezed as she smiled up at him

“Really, Devon, what could happen to ht here, and he watches over me worse than my father does”

Alex, the doorently in Ashley’s direction It was a smile most people wore around her Patient, somewhat bemused, but nearly everyone who met her was enchanted by her effervescence

Devon sighed and pulled Ashley’s hands up to his waist “You should wait inside where it’s safe and let me come in for you Alex can’t protect you He has other duties to attend to”

Her eyes sparkledhim with the unexpected show of affection

“That’s what you’re for, silly I can’t i me when you’re around”

Before he could respond, she fused her lips hungrily to his For God’s sake the wo a spectacle here in the doorway to her apart