The Stand-In by Kelly Collins

One accidental felony. Two master strategists. And a fake engagement that feels dangerously real.

Saving weddings is my business. I’m Ivy Sullivan, Manhattan’s top professional bridesmaid. I fix disasters—until I create one by tackling the groom’s best friend into the ICU. To avoid a felony charge, I make a desperate pivot: I tell the nurse I’m his fiancée.
I’m Brooks Taylor, a venture capitalist who measures life in risk and return. Waking up to a concussion and a fake fiancée wasn’t in the business plan. But this stranger is the perfect shield against a merger I don’t want. She owes me a debt; I need a distraction.
We agree to eight weeks in the Hamptons. It’s a simple transaction between professionals. But as we navigate family secrets and gala dinners, the performance starts to feel terrifyingly real. Ivy is the only one who sees the man behind the money, and she’s quickly becoming the only asset I can’t afford to lose.

When the contract expires, walking away should be easy. But falling in love wasn’t in the fine print.