He hands it to me. “I think you missed something.”
I look at the note I’m holding. It’s in Mom’s handwriting.
“Just in case,” Dad says quietly. “She wrote that for you in the event that she wasn’t here when you received this contract. It’s like she had a sixth sense that she might not be around…”
I blink hard as I read her note out loud.
My darling Mia,
A partnership that is pure and true is a wonderful thing. I want you to walk through life with someone who will love and respect and cherish you. I was lucky with your father, and I wish that same luck for you. Taking over a generational business is a lot of pressure and a lot of work. But I had your father by my side to support me—in good times and not so good times—and that made everything better.
This stipulation in your contract will no doubt anger you (and I know you will try to get around it somehow) but I wouldn’t have put it in if I didn’t believe in its benefits.
So promise me that you’ll try, sweetheart. You’ll try to honor this stipulation with a man who’s deserving of you and how incredible you are. I trust you will make the right decision for you.
All my love always,
Mom
I fold the note up and put it into my purse.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell Dad, who’s standing across from me silently. “But I’m also going to try to find a loophole.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Dad kisses my cheek. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I give him a businesslike nod and show him to the door.
After I shut it behind him, I sink to my knees and groan.
A freaking husband?How can I possibly find a guy who’s willing to marry me for a year? Because there’s no way I’m waiting for the real thing. That will just take way too damn long. And I’ve waited long enough already to take over my family’s company.
I sit down at my laptop and scroll through the Internet. I wonder if I should join an online dating site. Maybe I could find someone who’s interested in…
I burst out laughing.
Right. Instead of asking a guy if he wants to spend the night together, I’ll politely inquire if he’d like to marry me for a year. No biggie.
Like I always do when I need to talk to someone other than my dad, and especially when I need to ventaboutmy dad, I text the one person I can always count on.
My uncle writes back immediately, asking me to come to the arena in a half hour.
Then my phone buzzes with a second text.
Drinks? I’ve had a shitty day.
Jamie Beth, my best friend, must be reading my mind.
I text her back with a simple,Hell yes.
Chapter Three
Declan
Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
Penalty over.
And I’m finally free.
