Maverick shook his head before chugging down the cold beverage. “No, but I’m going to fight to keep my business alive.”
“I have every confidence you’ll succeed. I’m here if you need my help.” His dad took a long drink. “Is that what brings you by?”
“Carly agreed to work on a case with me. It requires we pose as a married couple.”
Warren seated himself on a counter stool. “Is that a problem for you?”
“We have to get really close in order to pull this off.”
“I can’t think of anyone better suited to help you.”
Maverick stayed silent.
“Ashton, does this fake marriage include real feelings?”
He paused for a few seconds. “Yeah.”
“And that makes you feel vulnerable?”
“When the gig ends, we’ll go back to being buddies.”
“Why does it have to end?”
“Just thinking about giving my heart away, even to her, terrifies me. Keeping her in the friend zone is a safer choice. This way, I’ll never lose her.”
“I see.” His dad’s gaze hit the floor and the room grew quiet. Then, he regarded his son. “When I wake in the middle of the night, I reach for your mom. A few blissful seconds pass before I remember she’s gone. The emptiness never goes away. But I wouldn’t give up the years we had to avoid the heartache. If fear of losing your mom had kept me from marrying her, I would never have experienced deep, meaningful love. I wouldn’t have you guys.” He leaned back, a fatherly smile crinkled his lined face. “Don’t let the love of your life get away because you’re afraid you’ll lose her. One day, you will. Hopefully, you’ll both have lived a long and happy life together.” He drank down more of the tea. “Ever since high school, women have chosen you. You’ll be much happier if you choose your life partner. And if you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll admit you chose her a long time ago.”
Silence while Maverick absorbed the weight of his dad’s words. “You tell it like it is.”
“I have to with you, Ash.” His father stood. “Back in a second.”
He’s right. I’ve loved her for years.
A moment later, his dad placed two silver wedding bands on the center island. “You’ll need these.” His dad smiled. “Props, of course.”
“But they’re yours and Mom’s.”
“Mom adored Carly. I’m confident she’d agree with me on this one. Take the rings, son.”
Maverick slid them into his pocket. “Thank you, Dad.”
Warren walked his son to his car and gave him a hug. “Now, go and pretend propose to your real true love.”
Maverick drove home inspired. He would do whatever it took to get his life back on track. And that included a fake marriage that appeared so genuine, even Carly would see how right they were together.
He found her cutting vegetables while chicken sautéed on the stovetop. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt, her hair in a ponytail, she looked like she belonged there.
“There’s my wife.” He popped a sliced cucumber into his mouth.
A tight knot occupied the small space between her eyebrows. “Hey.” She rinsed the cherry tomatoes before dropping them into the salad.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She refused to look at him.
“That chicken smells fantastic. I’m starving.”
That elicited a brief smile. “You’re always starving. It’ll be ready soon.” As she tossed the salad, she said, “Let’s work out our story.”
