Ruby smoothed her dress for the hundredth time. "You could say that."
"You're scaring me." Opal's eyes widened. "It's not Sapphire, is it? Is something wrong and you're not telling me?"
Ruby shook her head, hating that she'd made her cousin worry for nothing. "Saph's fine."
But I'm not. I'm about to marry a stranger.
"Then what is it?"
"There's no party today." She pointed at the beautiful stone building at the end of the block. "We're headed to the registry office."
Confusion creased Opal's brow. "Is someone we know getting married?"
Wishing the butterflies practising the bridal waltz in her belly would stop, she nodded. "Me," she blurted, watching her cousin's confusion turn to horror.
"What?Who…? Why…?"
Opal rubbed her temples, as if staving off a headache. Ruby knew the feeling.
"I'm marrying Jax Maroney in half an hour."
It sounded more ludicrous out loud and she was glad they hadn't left the car because, by her pallor, her cousin would've keeled over in shock if she hadn’t been sitting.
Opal opened and closed her mouth several times before speaking. "I don't understand."
This would be the hardest part, lying to her cousin. But Ruby had agreed with Jax: no one, not even their closest relatives, could know the truth. Less likelihood of their fake marriage leaking to those who could use it against them.
Ruby took a deep breath, hoping her high school drama classes were good for something.
"We met in Broome when I popped over for that pearl expo, and have been doing the long-distance thing ever since."
Opal didn’t buy it, if her narrowed eyes and compressed lips were any indication. "Why the heck didn't you say something?"
Luckily, she'd prepared this answer too. "Because his mine is driving us out of business, and Sapphire would kill me if she knew."
Understanding flared in Opal's eyes. "That's why you're doing this. For the business," she said, so softly Ruby had to lean forward to hear.
The truth lodged in her throat, dying to spill out, but she'd agreed to keep this need-to-know, namely between her pretend groom and her.
"It seemed the right time to take our relationship to the next level."
Not a bald lie, just a twisting of the truth. Time to take her relationship with Jax to the next level to get him to back off on his takeover bid and giveSeaborna chance to shine again.
Tears glistened in Opal's uncertain gaze. "I think you're amazing, and if you ever need me, I'm here."
"Thanks, sweetie."
They hugged, and Ruby sent a silent prayer heavenward that she’d completed the first tough task for the day.
When they eased apart Ruby braced for the next. "There's one more thing—"
Opal's eyes flew to her belly. "You're not pregnant?"
Hell no. As if this bizarre situation wasn’t complicated enough, she'd make sure if she slept with Jax they were well protected.
That one little word taunted her.
If…
