A Con Artist

Hunter could swear that he had never heard a more ridiculous question in his life than that.

He couldn't believe a gold digger like her was asking him, Hunter Quinn, if he was with her for her money.

"Why are you laughing?" Delilah demanded, her eyes narrowing as she watched Hunter's amusement.

Hunter composed himself, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "I'm laughing because of your question. It's just... amusing, that's all."

"What's so amusing about it?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Because you think I'm like you," he replied, leaning back against the bedpost.

"No, you're not like me. If you were anything like me, you wouldn't be targeting me in the first place. There are ladies out there who would give anything to be with a good-looking man like you-"

"So, you still think I'm good looking, huh?" Hunter asked with a grin and she scowled at him with displeasure.

"That's really not my business. I was stating a fact. I don't care about you or your looks-"

"That's too bad, cause I care about you and your looks, and right now you look pretty sexy. I've never seen you this way without makeup. Your face is bare and innocent, and your lips look so inviting right now. Your tousled hair makes my fingers itch to run through them," he cut in, and grinned when she raised a hand to her hair self consciously, and dropped it when she caught herself doing that.

"I was saying-"

"I'm not here because of your money or anything like that. I'm here because I truly like you, Lila," he interrupted once again, making her glare at him for repeatedly cutting her off mid sentence.

"Why would you like me? We barely know each other," she asked with a scoff.

Hunter leaned forward, his expression earnest as he held her gaze. "You captured my attention from the moment I set my eyes on you, Lila. I saw you and I was intrigued. You have this aura about you, this strength and independence that drew me in. I wanted to know you, to understand what makes you the person you are."

She stared at him, trying to find any sign of deceit in his words. "How did we meet? What was my first word to you at the club? How did I get so drunk?"

"I was seated at the bar when you came in. I said hello to you as you slid into the stool beside me, but you wouldn't even look at me or spare me a glance. You kept gazing around the club, and I kept trying to get your attention. Then finally you turned to me wanting to ask me to get lost, I believe, but then you looked into my eyes and you smiled…"

"Hogwash," she hissed.

Hunter chuckled, "I swear it. You did smile. You said you've never seen a man so handsome as I was, then you asked if I was a regular. I said yes. You asked if I knew or had seen Hunter Quinn. I told you yes, and you asked if I could point him out to you," Hunter said, and Delilah eyed him skeptically, wondering if it was true.

"And?"

"And I said I would if you let me buy you a drink," he said with a shrug.

"You said you couldn't drink, and I told you I couldn't tell you either. Reluctantly you agreed to drink, and once you started, you wouldn't stop. It was as though you had been possessed by an alcohol demon and you just kept drinking and talking to me. The more drunk you became, the harder you fell in love with me, until you kept crying that you wanted me to marry you," Hunter said with a grin.

"That's not true," she hissed.

"You asked me what happened and that's what I'm telling you. You're free to believe whatever makes you comfortable. I was already in love with you so I agreed but I told you I didn't have any money. You said you had enough for us both and all I needed to do was be my handsome self by your side," Hunter said with a chuckle, amused by the tale he was spinning.

"And?"

"And we left the club. Went to get our wedding bands, found someone to wed us and we went to the hotel for our honeymoon," he said simply, and Delilah shook her head incredulously.

"Tell me something, are you not ashamed to be with a woman who is wealthier than you?"

Hunter chuckled again. "Are you ashamed of being with men who are wealthier than you?"

Delilah hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, I am. Not exactly ashamed, but it's uncomfortable. I do not like it."

"Well, consider yourself lucky," Hunter said with a grin. "You don't have to be ashamed anymore, because you're married to a broke man. And for your sake, I'll remain broke so you don't become uncomfortable."

Delilah's irritation flared up. "Don't you dare think for a moment that I bought all that crap you tried to sell me. Where did you forge the marriage certificate and the pictures?"

"I didn't forge them. I already told you what happened," Hunter replied calmly.

"Then you must have drugged me," she snapped. "I'll report you to the police for this."

"Go ahead," Hunter said, his tone unflustered. "I have nothing to lose, but you have much more to lose from such exposure. I'm sure you know that."

Delilah's frustration mounted, but she knew he was right. The scandal would damage her reputation far more than his. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"Just... relax and stick to the terms of our agreement. That's the best you can do right now. If you don't fall for me in six months, I will leave you alone and disappear. I'm not asking for too much, am I?" Hunter asked softly.

"Assuming I agree, how do you plan to earn your keep in the meantime? I'm not going to feed you for free or let you live here for free," Delilah said matter of factly.

"I will work," Hunter replied confidently. "I will find a job and if you want, I can pay you daily for my room and meals."

Delilah narrowed her eyes, "What's your plan?" Delilah asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "How do you plan to win my heart?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Leave that to me," Hunter said with a smile.

Delilah scowled. "Don't even think about coming an inch close to my bedroom or seducing me. I'm not going to fall for you or your cheap tricks no matter how handsome you think you are."

"Time will tell," Hunter said, still smiling.

Delilah stood up, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness. "We'll see about that," she said, before turning and walking out of the room.

As she walked back to her own bedroom, Delilah couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped. This man had come out of nowhere, turned her life upside down, and now she was stuck with him for six months.

She had no doubt that he was a gold digger. A con artist. A really good one at that. She wondered how long he must have studied her and why he had targeted her in the first place.