by Toni Aleo
He exhaled hard in relief. “Thank you, sir.”
“Good luck getting her to do it, though. That girl doesn’t want to be married, and I’m surprised she’s keeping the kid. She’s a hard one, my Wrenny is.”
Swallowing hard, Jensen nodded as he looked down at Tricksie.
The signs were right there, blinking brightly in his face, but Jensen just smiled.
“I love her. We’ll be fine.”
He just hoped he wouldn’t find himself in another situation like he’d been in with Ophelia.
But even with all the signs and everyone, even Wren, saying the same thing, he felt right. He knew what he was getting into, he knew the girl he loved, and he was going to do his best to change her mind.
He’d get his happy ending.
With Wren.
He deserved it.
He just needed her to see that she deserved it too.
Dear my amazing sister, whom I love more than anything,
I got word today from your male caller that you will be blocking my calls, but I bet you didn’t block my emails, so here we are. Male caller, also known as my best fucking friend on the face of the planet, informed me that he somehow developed some magical sperm and knocked you up. Call me surprised to hear this, but then he asked to marry you, which of course, I said yes to because I love him like he is my brother. Though, I couldn’t help but know for a fucking fact that he didn’t get you pregnant, nor is he marrying you because it’s his kid. He’s doing it for you. You’re using his feelings against him, and that’s shitty. Are you fucking kidding me? You asked our best friend to marry you because you got knocked up by God knows who and need a baby daddy because more than likely the dude is worthless?
Really!
Really, Wren?
Jesus, girl, really?
I can’t believe you, but then I can, because that fucking money is worth it, eh? Hurting our best friend is worth fifty million? I am utterly disgusted, and I hope you’re ready to explain yourself because I see through this sham. I see right through it like it’s a fucking window. You’re using him, and that is pathetic. I swear to God, if you think I’m okay with this, I’m not. So call me. Or I’m flying out there to pinch you since I can’t hit you because that’s not right and you’re pregnant.
Which, btw, congratulations. Wells Junior is a wonderful name, works for a girl or boy, and I can’t wait to meet my niece or nephew because I already love them.
And you. I love you.
But I’m fucking pissed because I love Jensen, and I don’t want him hurt.
Love, your who you’ve probably diagnosed as, bipolar brother,
Wells
PS: Don’t tell Jensen about this because he told me not to be hard on you, but obviously, I didn’t listen to him. He can kick my ass, and since you’re his one and only now, I bet he would. So, yeah, keep your pie hole shut.
Please & thank you.
Call me.
Now.
Clicking off the screen from her brother’s email, Wren exhaled loudly. Well, she didn’t expect anything less from her brother; he was one for the dramatics. And he was completely right. She could handle her brother; she just didn’t like that he saw through them. Not one bit.
Her phone was blinking with the nine thousand calls and texts from him, along with the ten million calls and voice mails from her parents. Sighing once more, she opened her voice mails and hit the first one.
“Baby girl, it’s Daddy. Just got off the phone with Jensen. Call me.”
“Wren, Dad again. Call me now.”
“Wren, I know you aren’t this busy, girl. Call me.”
“I’m telling your momma, which pisses me off because I gotta leave my woodshed.”
“Wren, it’s your mother. Call me, please.”
“Wren Josephine, I am not playing with you. I can still smack you. On your butt—that ain’t pregnant.”
“Young lady, why didn’t you tell me about this? Lord. Your brother is upset, as is your daddy. We need to talk!”
“Now Wells is claiming you’re stealing his thunder! You couldn’t wait till after the wedding?”
“Okay, I didn’t mean that. Your brother is dramatic. Call me. I love you. I do.”
“Wren, I swear if you don’t call me by eight p.m., I’m flying out. I swear it.”
Glancing at the clock, she saw she had a good three hours before her mom made good on her threat. Rolling her eyes, she deleted everything and all the texts up to the point where Jensen’s name was the one at the top of her text screen. A smile pulled at her lips, which calmed her pounding heart a bit.
Licking her lips, she tapped his name and typed out a message.
Wren: So the family is pretty damn happy.
Jensen: Ha. Lies. All lies. Though, your dad did give me his blessing, and my mom cried, said she can’t wait to hug you.
Wren smiled.
Wren: She did always like me.
Jensen: Way more than my ex-wife, so you’re starting out well.
Wren: Thank god. Wells sees through it.
Jensen: I know. How are we handling that?
Wren: As planned. What are you doing?
Jensen: Nothing at all.
Wren: Liar. Watching Game of Thrones.
Jensen: Yes. I’m pathetic.
Wren: You are. Meet me at the restaurant? I’m starving.
Jensen: Leaving now.
She sent him a kissy face emoji and then stood up. Nerves were running wild through her. Wells would be the last person she’d be calling or writing back, but she wasn’t worried about her mom and dad. They would just want facts and to know what was going on. She knew for a fact they adored Jensen, so there was no worry there. But she was worried about Wells. She was also hurt that he accused her of thinking the money was more important than her friendship with Jensen. That wasn’t the truth at all.
And now she was getting way more than she expected.
But telling her brother that would ruin everything, and no matter how much she wanted to confide in him, she couldn’t. He’d not only blab it to their mother, he’d try to talk her out of it. Hell, he’d probably come at her hard because no one was allowed to hurt Jensen. Everyone had this pathetic notion that Jensen was fragile. She’d admit at one time she thought it too, until he stood in front of her with a list of what would happen if he were to help her. No, Jensen Monroe was not weak or fragile. He was actually pretty damn impressive.
When she glanced at her computer, she noticed in the reflection that she was grinning. She almost didn’t recognize herself. For most of the last six months, she’d hardly smiled, not truly. But now, after that soul-shattering kiss, Wren was smiling. Radiantly.
And that worried her.
Damn it. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want to fall for him or anything like that. She just wanted to get through this because she knew she wasn’t worthy of someone like Jensen. Supermodel, sweetheart Jensen Monroe belonged with someone like Taylor Swift or Emma Watson, or even Emma Stone. Pretty girls with banging bodies and shit like that. Not frumpy, fat, and pregnant Wren Lemiere. As much as she hated thinking of herself like that, she couldn’t help it.
And that was a problem because she was about to marry Jensen for real, and she was going to have to keep her heart in check the whole time.
It was a very hard road ahead of her, but she didn’t have a choice.
As Wren parked, she knew she probably should have answered the phone when her mom called four times on her way to the restaurant, but she was hangry and didn’t want to yell at her mom. Tucking her phone into her purse, she started to gather all her stuff when her door opened suddenly. Reaching for her pepper spray, she held it up, ready to shoot, but paused when she saw it was Jensen looking down at her.
“Well, that would have put me in a world of suck.”
She laughed as she shook her head, throwing it into the cup holder. “I thought you were going to rape and kill me.”
“Kill you, no. And rape, I mean, I’m not
down with it any other time, but if you wanna do some role-playing, I guess I can get with that if it’s your thing.”
She sputtered with laughter. “I’m pretty sure you can’t role-play as a rapist. You would ask me if it’s okay and then ask if you’re hurting me as you’re supposed to be choking me.”
A grin played at his lips as he held his hand out for her. “Probably.”
Taking it, she got out as he shut the door, and she put her purse on her arm. “Good try, though,” she said, patting his bicep, and he smiled. “I’m not into that stuff anyway. I just like it a little rough. Smack my ass, call me your dirty girl, good stuff like that.” His grin grew as his expression turned to delectable. “Why did I admit that?”
“’Cause you’re actually letting yourself be you instead of this closed-up Wren who, let me point out, is very frustrating.”
She set him with a look. “Or I’m hungry and not thinking clearly.”
A smirk pulled at his lips. “Or that. Let’s get you and baby fed,” he said, placing his hand on the small of her back as they headed toward the restaurant. They were seated quickly and ordered just as fast, both of them knowing what they wanted.
“I really like eating with you,” she said, sitting back and exhaling loudly. “Like, for real. No waiting, no chitchat, just order, and get the food.”
He smiled back at her. “I know food.”
“Right? Me too. I love food.”
Folding his hands on the table, he licked his lips, and she found it hard to concentrate when he did that. “So, how was your day?”
Swallowing hard, she looked away as she shrugged. “Busy. So many clients, but it’s good. They need it, and I love it.”
“Yeah, you’re great at it from what I hear.”
She smiled with a shrug. “I’m okay.”
“Plus, I don’t know many pregnant women who can go through a whole day of emotional work and still look at gorgeous as they did when they started.”
Her cheeks filled with color as she waved him off. “Stop.”
“Never.”
He said it as a promise, one she realized he meant to keep as soon as she met his gaze. His lips were tipped at the sides, and for a moment, she almost didn’t recognize him. He looked so damn hot, not in the supermodel way, but in a different, explode her world kind of way. She almost couldn’t handle it. It was too much, and soon she looked away, shaking her head. “Anyway, did you make the appointment to get married?”
“Yeah, two tomorrow works well for everyone. I called and made sure you didn’t have clients.”
Her breath caught. “Oh, cool. Did Leah block me out for that time?”
“Yeah.”
“So tomorrow?”
Breathless, she watched as he nodded. “Tomorrow. That’s okay, right?”
“Yeah, fine. Wow. Okay.”
She clapped her hands, and he laughed, shaking his head. “It’s gonna be fine.”
“Yeah. Totally.”
Thankfully, their food arrived, and Wren dug in as soon as the waitress set her plate down, in an effort to hide the fact that she was having a mild panic attack. Since Jensen was the only one without his mouth full, as well as the one with manners, he thanked the waitress before glancing over at Wren. “How many bedrooms does your apartment have?”
“One,” she said around a bite. “Yours has two?”
“Yeah. So you wanna move in to mine?”
“Yeah, I guess. I’ll pack a bag.”
His fork stopped just above his food as he looked over at her. “Or I can get the truck and trailer from Vaughn, come over with some boxes, and pack you up.”
She shrugged. “No reason we should bring all my crap.”
His expression didn’t change, his gaze intent on hers. “Yes, we should. We’re moving in together.”
“Yeah, but—”
His eyes stopped her words. They were almost challenging, and she didn’t get what was going on. Why would she move her whole apartment… But then it dawned on her. “Wait, was this part of your terms?”
“It is.”
“So, you want to really do that? Live together?”
“Yeah.”
“And make love.”
He quirked his lips. “Yes.”
She took in a deep breath and let it out through her nose. She could do this. “I’m pregnant.”
He smiled. “I’m aware.”
“My body—”
“Moving on,” he demanded, and she rolled her eyes. While it was kind of sweet that he wouldn’t let her bad-mouth herself, it was also quite annoying.
“Then boxes it is. But if this doesn’t work out, you’re moving me back in to my apartment.”
“Well, then it will work even better than expected ’cause I hate moving crap.”
“Me too,” she agreed as she started to stuff her face once more.
“Also, can you see about taking off the week before the week you’re taking off for the wedding?”
She looked up, confused. “Why?”
“I’m going home for the week before to see my family and have my day with the Cup. I want you to be there.”
She lit up. “Yeah, of course. I’ll— Oh, we’ll be a married couple to your parents.”
He smiled. “Yeah, just like with your family and at home—our home.”
She sucked her teeth. “But that’s my family. The point of this.”
“No, the point of this is to make something better out of the situation we were given.”
She blinked. “You don’t have to, though.”
“You’re right. I want to.”
“That makes me nervous.”
“Well, it does me too, but it’s a part of it.”
“Okay, yeah, um… I’ll work it out, just get me the dates.”
“I’ll text them to you tomorrow.”
“Great,” she said as she took another bite of her meal, her mind going crazy. She knew they were doing this, she was in, but she didn’t realize she’d have to do it in front of his family. They were such good, amazing people. Not that her family wasn’t, but it would be easier to pretend with them because they were holding her money. With his family, it was different. They were kind. They would love her as their own. They’d love the baby. She would love them even more.
And Jensen.
This was getting complicated.
As she picked at her rice, he cleared his throat. “What’s wrong?”
She looked up, shrugging. “A lot to process.”
Licking his lips, he reached out, taking her hand in his. “I understand that, Wren, but I’ll always be there for you.” She swallowed hard as he commanded her gaze. “I won’t ever leave you, unless you tell me you don’t want me.”
Man, she felt stupid for not believing him, but when had anyone ever stood beside her? Other than her family? Yeah, that was it. While, yes, he was family, she just couldn’t believe he would. Call it a mental flaw, but she simply couldn’t grasp that he would want to. “You know I’m me and you’re you, right?”
His brow arched as he laid down his fork. “Yeah, I’m aware, but enlighten me on what you mean.”
She glared and he smiled. “Don’t get sassy, mister.”
“My apologies.”
“Anyway, I mean, you’re Jensen Monroe, supermodel-hot hockey goalie guy, and you can have anyone. I mean, anyone. Just wear a sign that says ‘Looking for a chick who wants to do me,’ and they’ll line up.”
“But I don’t want a chick just to do me. I want a wife, I want a family, and guess what? You need a husband and a father for your child, so, hey, here I am. Willing and wanting.”
“Jenny, really—”
“I thought this was decided. Why are we circling back around? You’re stuck with me,” he said, kissing the back of her hand before taking a big bite of his taco. When he glanced up, she was sure he saw that she was gaping at him. “What?”
“I’m me.”
He nodded. “I know. So?”
“Let me stop you right there, please.”
Dropping his fork, he scooted out of the booth. “What are you doing?”
“Coming to you,” he said simply before sitting beside her and taking her face in his hands. “Let me tell you something, and we’re gonna squash this real quick, okay?”
Her eyes were wide, and man, he smelled so damn good. Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Okay?”
“I don’t care about any of that, unless you’re deliberately unhealthy. Then together we’ll give up the bad foods and enjoy other healthy foods. I’ll work out with you if you want. I’ll be there for you because that’s my job as your husband and because I want to.” Her eyes started to water as he held her gaze. “I am not Douche One, Two, Three, Seven, Nine, or Ninety-Nine. Okay? I’m Jensen, your husband, and I will never make you feel less than perfect, because that’s what you are in my eyes. Do you understand me?”
She blinked. What else could she do? Who said things like that? Who held someone’s face like that while looking into their eyes as if they were the only one in the room? Who, with each word, made it obvious he meant the words like they were his last? No one, and she meant no one, had ever in her life talked to her like that.
But Jensen did.
At that moment, she realized he was way more than just a fake husband. Even though he had implied that from the beginning, she had thought he was just going for an easy lay or something along those lines. But staring into his eyes, she was starting to realize this wasn’t a game Jensen Monroe was playing to help her.
He was playing to win her.
She wasn’t sure how the hell she was supposed to stay strong against that.
Jensen loved holding Wren.
She smelled like a mix of pineapples and tacos, or maybe that was just her meal, he wasn’t sure, but he loved looking into her beautiful green gaze. Her lips were parted ever so slightly, and her eyes were wide, full of complete wonder. If she thought he was going to be like those other guys she dated, she had another thing coming. He had waited for the moment when he would get to have her, and now that he did, she wasn’t going anywhere without a fight.