I Almost Do

<p>JAMES</p><p><strong>They say I married Clarissa Harcourt for her money. They're wrong.</strong></p><p> </p><p>When your mentor makes a dying wish that you'll marry his daughter...you do it. Especially when you're halfway in love with her already. </p><p> </p><p>Unfortunately this marriage of convenience is anything but convenient. Clarissa doesn't know about the tattoos I hide under bespoke suits. Or my more-than-skin-deep scars. She's too vulnerable and I'm too broken for us to be more than married <em>without</em> benefits. When I told her I wouldn't touch her with these dirty hands I meant it.</p><p> </p><p>Now I'm stuck between the rock on her finger and a very hard place behind my zipper.</p><p> </p><p>CLARISSA</p><p><strong>Note to self - when your crush won't consummate your wedding night don't drown your sorrows in tequila and serenade him with Elvis songs. And <em>please</em> lock the door so he doesn't hold your hair for you later.</strong></p><p> </p><p>Everyone says James is ruthless. But I know the side of him that is gentle and kind. I married Dad's CFO hoping our arrangement would turn into something real. But as long as he controls my trust fund he thinks he'd be taking advantage of me. He's wrong.</p><p></p><p> I want to be his partner not his responsibility. <em>And that starts with tempting him into a lot more than kissing his bride.</em></p>