The Hired Fiancée: Bound by Contract, Trapped by Desire

From the back cover

Dr. Julian Knight has spent his 37 years building an empire of success-renowned surgeon, medical genius, and heir to a fortune that most people only dream of. But there's one thing his wealth and brilliance can't fix: his mother's growing desperation to see him married before she dies.

Victoria Knight, a legendary former actress with old Hollywood glamour and an iron will, has watched her daughter settle into married bliss with two children. Now she's turning her relentless focus on Julian, summoning him home for Christmas with one mission: explain why he's still alone, or let her choose his bride.

Panicked and out of options, Julian takes his colleague's advice-hire someone to play the part. He never expected to find her in a dingy bar, watching a fierce young woman hold her own against men twice her size who thought they could take liberties without paying.

Elena Martinez is 22 and fighting a losing battle against life. A high school dropout since 17, she juggles multiple day jobs and dangerous night work to keep her family afloat while her father drinks and gambles away every dollar she earns. She's got nothing to lose and everything to gain when a mysterious doctor offers her more money than she's ever seen-just to pretend to love him for one week.

The contract seems straightforward: survive Christmas dinner with one of Hollywood's most intimidating matriarchs, convince everyone that a street-smart girl from the wrong side of town could capture the heart of America's most eligible bachelor, and walk away rich enough to disappear forever.

But Julian's family estate is full of secrets, his sister asks too many questions, and his mother's approval comes with a price neither of them anticipated. As Elena learns to navigate crystal glasses and three-course meals, and Julian discovers what it's like to be with someone who sees past his money, their fake relationship starts feeling dangerously real.

When the week is over, will Elena take the money and run-or will Julian finally understand what he's been missing all these years? Some contracts are meant to be broken, but the heart doesn't negotiate.