I gripped my drink so tightly that I thought the glass would break.
“What a surprise to see you here.”
“I didn’t know you’d been invited, although I wished for it. In fact, I was only just telling Cara and John how I’d enjoyed attending these events with you.”
I ignored his words and turned to the couple we’d hoped to see tonight.
“Cara. John. How wonderful to see you. Mom was over earlier and telling me how grown up the kids are.”
Cara beamed. “Time passes far too quickly. We’re wondering how we’ll keep busy when our youngest goes to college next year. We’ll be like two Ping-Pong balls rattling around that big house.”
I nodded. “Oh, how rude of me. Please let me introduce you to my husband, Noah Spencer. Noah, this is Cara and John McMartin.”
Pierce’s shocked gasp was silenced by Cara’s happy shriek. “Your mom didn’t say you were getting married. Congratulations. So nice to meet you, Noah.”
“It’s really lovely to meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. McMartin.”
“Please call us Cara and John,” John said.
Pierce touched my elbow. “Could I have a word?”
“Of course.” I turned to Cara and John. “Could I leave my husband in your care for a moment?”
Cara waved me off. “Of course, dear.”
Noah gave me an imperceptible nod. Pierce’s interruption hadn’t been part of our plan, but it came in handy.
I followed Pierce to a space between two trees that seemed away from prying ears.
“How can I help you, Pierce?”
“The question isn’t how can you help me, but what can I do to help you. The answer is, I’ll go all the way.”
I snorted. “We’ve already gone all the way, Pierce, and the problem was that you were going all the way with a few other people too.”
“Why do you always have to bring that up? I’m trying to help you here.”
His discontent wasn’t my problem. “I bring it up to remind you that what happened was your fault, even though you seem convinced of the contrary. And what exactly would I need your help for?”
“I can marry you.”
I laughed. “And why would I do that?”
“To get your father’s share of the company, of course.” He now looked exasperated. “Look, I know about the will conditions. You don’t need to pretend to be married to that guy. No wonder the partners don’t believe you.”
His words made me do a double-take. “I’m sorry, what now?”
He sighed. “I know you don’t want to lose your family’s company, but resorting to lying is beneath you, Lior. Getty told me you announced your fake marriage at the meeting a few weeks ago. I didn’t get in touch because I had the feeling you didn’t really want to see me after Atlanta. Besides, I didn’t think you’d actually show up in public with him, but this is going too far now. You even have a wedding band.”
“Oh, you think we’re faking it?”
“I know you’re faking it. You were so opposed to marrying me when I asked, and now you’ve met a guy five minutes ago, and you’remarried?”
“Fortunately for me, I don’t have to prove my relationship status, or anything else, to you, so I don’t give a crap if you believe it or not, but our marriage is very real. More real than anything you and I ever had.” I walked away from a stunned Pierce.
Noah beamed when I joined them. He opened his mouth to say something, but I couldn’t resist swooping in for a kiss. It was quick and, by anyone’s standards, very understated.
When I pulled away, his cheeks were flushed and his pupils were dilated to the point his eyes almost looked black.
