“First of all, the girl’s mother has a criminal record. Elena said this was in the disclosures—I double checked, and it’s mentioned that she was arrested recently for property damage. Something about a hotel room in Nashville. Were you aware?”
“No.” I scowled at him. “You should have caught that.”
Alan nodded. “I already fired the associate who did the initial review, but you’re right. I missed it.”
“It doesn’t change anything, though,” I said. “Rory didn’t lie about it, she disclosed it, the agency disclosed it—we just didn’t flag it.”
Alan held up his hands. “I’m not saying she did anything wrong. Not at all. But one other thing Elena told me caught me off guard. Did you know that Rory is a virgin?”
My cheeks heated. For some reason, having my attorney talk about my fake fiancé’s sex life, or lack thereof, felt wrong. “I don’t really see why you’re bringing this up.”
“I asked if you were aware,” Alan said drily. “We discussed everything else about this girl only two days ago. I don’t think it’soff-limits to bring up her sexual history, seeing as you’ve signed a contract to marry her.”
It was true, Alan and I had discussed the girl at length. When we’d drafted the contract, I hadn’t even met Rory. I’d thought of her only as a commodity, a necessary pawn in my long-term game. But now I caught myself feeling protective of her.She’s a virgin?Rory really was as innocent as I’d thought…
“I’m only bringing it to your attention so that you’re aware. You need to know what you’re dealing with. When I heard that you were falling all over her last night?—”
“I wasn’tfalling all over her?—”
“Those were Abigail’s words, not mine,” Alan said mildly. “But that observation, in conjunction with the mother’s recent criminal activity, and the fact that the girl has zero prior experience…”
His voice trailed off, and he frowned.
“What?” I asked. “Just spit it out, Alan.”
“I just want you to be careful. That’s all. Don’t get in over your head with this girl. Remember that this is a business transaction, one that’s designed to protect your legacy. The stakes are incredibly high, Rhodes.”
“I know that,” I snapped. “By the way, just so you hear it from me first? We’re going to tell everyone that we’d like to start a family. We want to give Luke cousins to grow up with.”
Alan arched an eyebrow. “Is that your plan?”
“It’s myfakeplan—just like my engagement, and my marriage. This was all my idea, remember? I know what I’m doing, Alan.”
“Of course you do.”
“I have to go.” I closed my laptop and turned to the window. The sun was shining; it was another bright, breezy morning at Barrington Manor. But the high I’d felt after waking up with Rory snuggled next to me was fading.
I felt mildly ashamed that I’d been described as tripping over myself last night, but… Wasn’t that appropriate? I was newly engaged. Rory was my fiancé. Myfakefiancé, but still.
That shouldn’t cause me shame, and it wouldn’t have, except—what if it was true? Ihadfelt a little giddy as I’d slid my hand over her bare back, the feel of her skin electric against mine. And I hadn’t just asked her to leave early to avoid the boring dinner and my snake of a stepmother—although those were both motivating factors.
I’d asked her because I wanted to be alone with her.
And we’d had fun.
But fun wasn’t the point. Alan was right, my family’s legacy was the point. And Rory was just a necessary distraction, someone I’d hired to legitimize my claim.
Still, Alan’s announcement stunned me.She’s a virgin?Untouched and pure, Rory had slept right next to me for the past two nights. What would it be like to claim her, to be her first? The thought had my dick rising to attention, so I quickly squashed the flood of tantalizing images parading across my brain. Rory in that dress. Roryout ofthat dress. Rory on top of me. Rory under me.
Enough! Down boy.
It would be ill-advised to have such impure thoughts about the girl. She was essential to the success of my plan. As Alan said, my agreement with her was a business transaction, one designed to protect my company. Taking Rory’s virginity would further complicate an almost impossible situation. It would be too much. She might want something from me that I had zero interest in giving.
Keep your eye on the ball, Rhodes.
I sighed. And then, for better—or more likely, for worse—I re-opened my laptop and resumed planning my wedding.
MAKING A SPLASH
