Jace chuckled.
“I’d imagine not.It’s incredible, though.The small touches.It’syou.”
Aurelie beamed, her bone-white teeth a stark contrast to the ruby red of her lips and soft pink of her cheeks.He swallowed hard.It would be harder than he thought to keep this thing platonic, wouldn’t it?
“Thank you.Would you like a glass before we leave?”She pointed to a bottle of local island rum atop a small bar.
Jace nodded.“Hell yes.It’s not every day you marry someone you just met.”
“I should hope not,” she said, laughing.He loved the way the laugh sounded as it echoed off the walls.It filled every inch of the space, and Jace was certain that no matter what size the room was, that would be the case.
He took the glass she poured him, noting with a particular satisfaction that she gave herself the same three-fingered pour she’d given him.They clinked glasses, the room otherwise silent.As they sipped at their drinks, a calm settled over the room, over Jace’s hyperactive visceral response to Aurelie.It was comfortable, despite the gravity of what loomed over them.
Jace finally pulled himself away to change, kissing her atop her head on his way out of the room.He was apart from Aurelie for only a few seconds, and his body already ached to be next to her again.Jesus.He was in deep shit.Not that he was complaining.
Back in front of Aurelie, his breath lodged in his throat as he laid eyes on her again.He ran a shaking hand through his hair, leaving it tangled in his curls so it kept him from reaching for her, kissing her into oblivion.But he couldn’t do that, and she deserved to know his shortcomings before she tethered herself to him.He owed her honesty if she was giving him her future so willingly.
“Damn, this is harder than I thought,” he started, taking a long pull from his glass.“But I need to tell you something before we do this.”Aurelie pursed her lips, but instead of having the effect of showcasing her concern, it only made Jace want to pull that bottom lip of hers into his mouth to nibble on it.Not conducive to what he had to say next.“I know we said we’re doing this because it’ll help us both out, but honestly, Aury, I feel something for you I can’t put a finger on.”
“Me, too.It’s a little unsettling, to be honest.”
“Yeah, agreed.But—”
“Ah, thebut.”
He sighed.“It’s just that I could have married anyone in Hollywood who needed a leg up to help my image.But I never wanted that.I’m not sure I do now, just like I’m not sure I’m going back to California or to my career.Still, I also don’t know if I can do anything more than physical intimacy in this.I like you, think you’re amazing, but a relationship was always going to be off the table for me.”
He finished his speech, winded and pulse racing.But he’d done it.He’d been honest with her, a more auspicious start to their unconventional relationship.She didn’t move, and fire engulfed his cheeks.
Shit, shit, shit.He’d blown it.Again.
“I don’t need you to be anything more than what you are, Jace.Even that feels like a lot right now, but may I ask why?”
He didn’t overthink it, but instead shot from the heart.They could always renegotiate the terms later.
“Suffice it to say, I had a shitty start to life, and not much after that showed me that partnership is the path for me.On the other hand, I know I love being around you, and I don’t want this to be difficult.For either of us.”
Aurelie stood and paced.She tossed back the remainder of her drink and walked calmly back to the bar, where she refilled it.He walked over, and she gazed up at him with the same determination she’d had etched on her face at Paige’s house the night before.
He had a feeling he’d come to be pretty familiar with that look.
“So, fake marriage, good sex, but no real feelings?”
He shrugged.“Can you do that?”
“On one condition.”He steeled himself.“You can’t live in a hotel while you’re renovating.First of all, it’s too far from your project.Second, if you want this to look real—and I need it to look real—then you’ll have to move in here until your house is built.”
Damn.She got right to the point, didn’t she?
He laughed, then followed her lead and took down the rest of the rum in one swallow, only a little bummed not to be able to spend the time sipping it.Still, he enjoyed the warmth as it spread to his limbs.
“Okay.That makes sense.Anything else?”
“Do you have any pets?”she asked, looking around her place at all the fine things she wouldn’t want broken.Shit.He’d forgotten completely about Max in this whole mess.
“Um, yeah, a mutt of dubious pedigree.”
“Probably not unlike his owner, hmm?”She winked, and he laughed again.If only she had any idea how close to the truth she’d come with that statement.“Is he housebroken?”
