“You’re incorrigible.”
“I am, but at least I speak the truth. I’m going to miss you.”
“Girl. I’m still your boss and I will be coming to the office like normal.”
Amelia pouted. “But it won’t be the same. We won’t have girl’s nights.”
“I don’t know. Maybe you can come over for a sleepover.”
We both laughed and I finally rose to my feet, sweeping the room to see if I’d forgotten anything. “This should be all I need for now.”
“You do know what this calls for. Right?”
“What’s that?”
I suddenly knew what she was going to say. We both did together in the same funny voice as used in the cute song and commercial. “Tequila!”
We even did the cha-cha line dance on the way into the kitchen. One drink wasn’t going to kill me. Besides, a bracer might be the only way I kept from killing him.
I found the tequila while she turned on some festive music. There were so many reasons to have anxiety about the deal I’d made, but the only one that kept my stomach filled with butterflies was being required to spend time with Christian.
Alone.
While I had my morals and my resolve, he was quite persuasive as well as charming. Damn it.
After quickly making margaritas and handing her a glass, I held mine into the air.
“What are we toasting to?” she asked, licking salt off the rim as she studied me.
“To marriage. What else?”
“Hey. What about a bachelorette party? We gotta have one of those. And I am going to be a bridesmaid at least. Right? I should really be your maid of honor, come to think of it.”
“You do realize this is a fake marriage. Right?”
She hid behind her glass. “Are you so sure?”
I dipped my fingers in my drink, flinging liquid into her face. “I’m positive. Six months and I won’t ever need or want to see him again. You can take that to the bank.”
“All I’m advising is never say never.”
In my mind, there was only black and white when it came to the law and to love. If you couldn’t wait to see the person you intended on marrying, dreaming of the day you could begin spending the rest of your lives together, then I was all for marriage.
But if there was nothing but mutual attraction enveloping your hatred of each other, then the fragile ecosystem would crash and burn.
At this point, I expected nothing but a fireball.
CHAPTER 15
Vanessa
Christian’s house was unexpected, the exterior appointed with lavish details from a long stone walkway surrounded by well-lit Japanese gardens to a massive front door with glass transom windows flanking and above. The color of the door? Crimson, my favorite color.
How could I have guessed?
Nestled on several acres, there were no neighbors in sight, although during the drive, I’d seen beautiful estates built of grandeur.
As I walked down the path, I heard running water like there was a waterfall somewhere on the property. I stood gazing at the incredible floral display after ringing the bell, my stomach still in knots. I rubbed my hands down my dress as I heard footsteps. I also heard music, the choice of classical a surprise.
