"Nope. I’m an equal party in this arrangement. And she is my best friend. We’ll tell her together." She juts out her chin in a way that tells me, I won’t be able to change her mind on this.
"Fair enough." I snatch up my Montblanc pen and offer it to her.
She looks at it, then at my face. She hesitates. There’s residual doubt in her eyes.
This time, I can’t stop my heart from softening.
I reach out with my other hand, open her palm, and place the pen in it. "I would never take advantage of you. I promise, you don’t need to worry about anything nefarious from me." I cover the pen and her palm with my much larger one.
“Says the man who proposed a fake marriage.” She half laughs.
“There is that. But the agreement is in place to protect the both of us from getting hurt.” I hold her gaze.
She searches my features, then sighs. "What if I regret it?"
"What if you don’t?"
“What if I realize I made a mistake?” She chews on her lower lip.
My attention drops instantly to her mouth. Desire, which I only just forced aside, surges back to the surface.
I clamp down on it again.
My self-control wins. This time.
"What if it’s not a mistake?" I hold her gaze. "What if signing this agreement is the thing that dramatically changes your and your family’s life for the better?"
20
Harper
The warmth from his hand bleeds into mine.
I pull my hand from underneath his, clasping the pen between my fingers.
I hesitate. Once I sign this agreement, there’s no going back. But what do I have to lose?
I’ll still have to work for it, but now I have a shot at becoming head chef. Something I had almost given up hope for. And the money he’s paying me is going to be put to good use.
So what if I must marry the only man I’ve ever been drawn to? And then pretend that I don't feel the way that I do because he doesn’t want any feelings involved when it comes to us?
Once his investors have reconfirmed their interest and he’s gotten his inheritance, I’m sure he’ll lose interest in being married. I’ll be able to convince him that we should get divorced.
Then, I’ll be free to live my own life. And by then, I should have the money to start my own restaurant.
I’m doing the right thing by agreeing to this arrangement. It’s not forme as much as for my sister and my niece. Thoughts of Freya and how this will change her life settle any lingering doubts in me.
"I’ll sign it, but I have one last condition."
I expect him to snap at me and lose patience, but instead, he folds his arms across his chest, his features unreadable. "Go on."
"We’ll tell the staff at The Edge together, about our getting married. And after the fact."
I need to know he’ll stand by me when the world is watching. Part of me is testing him to see if he’ll claim me in public, while the rest is protecting the career I’ve worked so hard for.
If we’re doing this, it has to look real enough to secure my future.
"If that’s what you want." He nods.
