Page 10 of All Tied Down

“I love your shoes,” Theo mock whispers, raising his eyebrows for dramatic effect.

“Thank you,” I say sweetly. “Your boss seems to like them too.”

Garrett makes a choking sound behind me as Roan snickers and Tom drags his hand down his face.

“Garrett,” Theo yells, “I love your wife.”

That earns another round of comments from everyone before Roan grabs the notepad on the coffee table and settles back into the recliner.

“While I’d love to shoot the shit all night, we have a fuckton to manage.”

“Did you hear that, Garrett? We’re a fuckton to manage.” I smirk and Garrett winks before strolling over and taking a seat beside me.

“Worth it,” he whispers, just loud enough for me to hear. I want to call him out on it, but Tom takes the opportunity to get us back on track and that’s probably for the best.

“What’s the backstory?” he asks, his gaze sliding from me to Garrett and back.

“We were secretly dating prior to Vegas and decided to make the most of our trip,” I supply, glancing at Theo who is typing furiously on a laptop he pulled from the messenger bag on the floor.

His dark hair is longer on the top but styled perfectly, the collar of his shirt starched and his slacks devoid of wrinkles despite the late hour. He’s the yin to Garrett’s yang—a dynamic I’m looking forward to seeing in action.

Des fits effortlessly into my world—he looks like he belongs—although in this room, the only one who doesn’t fit is Garrett in his jeans and T-shirt.

And I kind of like that.

Go figure.

“And the real reason?” Roan asks pointedly.

Garrett opens his mouth but I cut him off, my hand landing on his thigh as a warning. “We were in Vegas and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Annulment?” Tom asks, but Garrett shakes his head.

“We’ve agreed to a six-month, public arrangement that allows me to provide some positive press for the band.”

“And what does Emerson get out of it?” Tom’s voice is dangerously low.

Always the protector.

“I get to show my father and the corporate world at large that marriage is not for me and I don’t need to play into such an archaic institution.” To Tom, I belatedly add, “No offense, Oakey.”

“None taken.” His lips twitch as Roan releases a heavy sigh.

“Oakey?” Garrett asks.

“Tom Oakden. Oakey.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Tom says and Theo snorts out a laugh as Roan tries to bring us back to focus.

“Okay, six months. You’re living here?”

“Yes, because someone had to show up at my office and we had to be escorted out the back to avoid being mobbed.”

“Forgive me for wanting to visit my stunning wife while she takes over the world.”

“Stop that,” I hiss which earns me a lopsided smile from Garrett and a snicker from Theo.

“You gonna make it six months?” Tom deadpans and I have to count backward from five before I can respond.