[Anthology] A Clean Fake Marriage Romance Collection

by Victorine E. Lieske

  Adam knew...that had to be what he wasn’t telling her. Her mouth went dry. Why was the actress here? Was she going to reveal herself as a hack? What were they going to say?

  She straightened in her chair, as Dale was already counting down. Nothing she could do about it now. If this was it and they were going to try to humiliate her, she was ready. She could deflect them.

  After their first break, when they were supposed to introduce a teen violinist, Adam turned to the camera and flashed his plastic smile. “We’ve had a bit of a change in schedule. Tiffany Brighten was unable to make it today, so we’ve brought back a popular guest from earlier in the month. Please welcome relationship specialist Doctor Shelby Lemon.”

  Megan kept her face passive, even after Adam shot her an apologetic glance. The girl posing as the doctor stepped up on the set and took a seat next to Megan. How had she not seen it before? The woman was quite young, only made up to look older with her over-sized glasses and an obvious wig.

  “Tell us what you’ve been up to.” Adam leaned forward, his television smile in place, but a bead of sweat belied his nerves.

  Doctor Lemon laughed. “You know, the life of a researcher. Pretty boring. What I’d like, Adam, is to get an update on how things are going with you and Megan.” She eyed the two of them over the rim of her glasses.

  Adam chuckled. “Our relationship is an open book, Shelby. It’s on the Internet, after all.”

  Megan’s shoulders relaxed with relief. This was just an update show. They’d talk about their online dating, get more hype for Leon’s website, and that would be it.

  “Yes, of course I’ve been watching the show. Very entertaining. But what I’m most interested in is what happens off-camera.” A wicked grin crossed Doctor Lemon’s face.

  Adam sat frozen, the stupid smile plastered on as if he’d stuck his face in cement. Megan jumped in. “Of course we speak to each other when we’re not on camera, but you pretty much get to see everything important going on.”

  Adam snapped out of his stupor. “I’m curious to know what you think of our relationship, after watching our dates.”

  Yes. Turn the tables back onto her. Megan silently applauded him. The fake doctor patted his knee. “I have watched you grow closer. Is it true that your feelings for Megan have increased?”

  He didn’t miss a beat. “Yes. Most definitely.”

  “You get pretty cozy on camera. I’m glad to hear it’s not all an act.”

  Megan seethed, gripping the sides of her chair. Who was this fake to imply their relationship wasn’t real, when she was the impostor? “We’ve grown quite fond of each other. Adam is a perfect gentleman.”

  “Well, not a perfect gentleman. I’ve seen those doorstep scenes.” Shelby raised her eyebrows.

  Adam laughed. “I’ve been told I’m a good kisser.”

  Heat rose to Megan’s face, but she pushed down her embarrassment. It wasn’t a lie. “I’m not going to argue.”

  “Why, Megan, you’re blushing.” The grin on Doctor Lemon’s face gave her a sour stomach. “Tell me, how would you categorize your relationship with Adam?”

  “We’re friends.” The words slipped out before she could think about them, but the look on Adam’s face made her sink into her chair.

  Doctor Lemon pursed her lips. “Surely you’ll admit to being closer than just friends.”

  Megan cleared her throat, trying to buy time. What was she to say to that? Of course they were more than friends, if she were being honest with herself. But what should she call their relationship? There was no easy box to put it in. And it was none of her business anyway. “Yes, of course. I meant that I see Adam as a friend now, whereas before, I wouldn’t have trusted him with a bag of Jelly Bellies.”

  He frowned, and the fake doctor appeared to be trying not to smile. “I do think you’ve come a long way. However, I think the two of you are hiding something. Is it true that Adam took you to meet his father on Easter Sunday?”

  All color left Adam’s face, and his jaw muscles flexed.

  Doctor Lemon continued. “And is it also true that Adam was seen leaving your apartment Tuesday morning?” Her eyebrows wiggled in a suggestive manner.

  Megan’s hands shook, and she glared at Little Ms. Fake Pants. “Like I said, Adam has never been anything but a gentleman.”

  “So, you don’t deny it?”

  All Megan could think about was punching the woman in the face. Adam spoke up. “I assure you, Doctor Lemon, our relationship is still in the beginning stages. We’re getting to know one another, and I admit it’s all thanks to you.”

  The good doctor turned her wicked smile on him. “Would you say your relationship has grown beyond friendship?”

  Adam swallowed, glancing at Megan. “Yes.”

  “And would you admit to your fans that you would like to pursue a deeper connection?”

  He paused. Megan didn’t realize she was holding her breath until her lungs began to burn. Adam slowly nodded. “Yes.”

  “One last question.” When had they lost control of the interview? “Are there going to be wedding bells in the future?”

  Megan’s mouth dropped open, and she had to sit on her hands to keep from ripping the woman’s wig off her pointy little head. Adam shrugged and flashed his cool smile at the camera. “I guess our fans will have to watch to see.”

  After the show, Megan stormed into Leon’s office. “Are you following me? Watching my apartment?”

  Leon sat at his computer, his fingers making a clickity noise as they flew across the keyboard. “Mmm?” he asked, without turning to look at her.

  Anger pulsed through her. She clenched her hands into tight fists. “Are. You. Following. Me?”

  He looked up. “No. Your fans see you two. They talk. It’s all on the website. There’s quite a discussion going on about when Adam is going to pop the question.”

  “What?” Adam’s deep voice sounded behind her, and she whirled around.

  Leon frowned. “Don’t you go on the website?”

  “Yes. I print off all the comments each week.” Adam folded his arms.

  “No, not the comments, the forum.” He clicked a few times, and they were staring at the Adam Warner and Megan Holloway forum. The most active thread was labeled, “Will there be a wedding?”

  Megan’s heart pounded in her chest. “What are you doing? You’re encouraging these rumors, aren’t you? I wouldn’t be surprised to learn you started them.”

  A guilty look flashed across Leon’s face and vanished just as quickly. “It’s gaining viewers.”

  Her cheeks heated. “I am only going to say this once. I am not marrying Adam. I wouldn’t marry him if I were dying and he was the only cure!”

  “Hey!” Adam said, frowning.

  She touched his arm. “No offense.”

  “How can I not take offense at that?”

  A movement caught Megan’s eye, and she turned to see Dale with his camera pointed at them. She let out a guttural yell and slapped her hand over the lens, shoving it back. “I can’t believe you people!”

  She stormed out of the station.

  A WEEK AFTER THE DOCTOR Lemon fiasco, Megan was curled up on her sofa reading when her phone rang. The display read Adam. She couldn’t stop the butterflies from acting up.

  She slid her finger across the display to answer. “Hey.”

  “Leon just called me. He wants to see us down at the station right away, says it’s important.” Adam sounded breathless, like he’d been running.

  The hairs on her neck stood. “What does he want?”

  “I don’t know, but we’d better get over there. Want me to pick you up?”

  She glanced at the clock. “I don’t know. It’s getting late. What if people see us?”

  He groaned. “Funny. I’ll be there in a few.”

  “All right. But you’d better have me home before midnight, or people will talk.” She didn’t mean to be so sarcastic, it just came out.

  She
hung up, then decided to change out of her T-shirt and sweats and refresh her makeup. By the time he pulled up, she was ready and waiting for him. She slid into the passenger seat. “What’s this all about?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  When they got to the station, Leon was waiting in the lobby by the door. He pulled them inside and rounded on them. “ABC wants to buy the show.”

  Excitement shot through her. “What? How?”

  Leon looked like a kid at Christmas. “I pitched our show and sent them tapes. They love the idea!”

  Adam grabbed her arms and pulled her into an embrace. “ABC! Can you believe it? We’re going to be on ABC!”

  She hopped up and down with him, unable to contain her enthusiasm. “My mother’s going to flip! She never thought I’d amount to anything in television.”

  Adam grinned. “And I’ll be able to afford to bring my father to a closer facility.”

  “I can’t believe we’ll have our own morning show on a major network!”

  Leon cleared his throat. “Um, no. It’s nothing like that.”

  Somewhere in the back of her brain, she heard the horrible sound of a record player needle scratching over vinyl. “Wait. What are you talking about?”

  Leon rubbed his mustache. “It’s not your morning show they want.”

  A cold lump formed in her middle. “What do you mean?”

  “They want your dating show. They’re going to bring on Doctor Lemon as the host, and the whole premise is Adam trying to win you over.” His eyes gleamed. “They’re making a whole mini-series, ‘Winning Megan Over’, or something like that. They’re not sure of the title yet.”

  Megan’s stomach lurched as her dreams went crashing into pieces. This was not what she expected. A major network...and all they wanted was to film her and Adam dating? That couldn’t be right. There had to be more to it than that. “What would the show entail?”

  Leon shrugged and shuffled his feet while staring at the plastic plant stuck in the corner of the room. “Um, well, not much, really. They want to show clips from our show. Give the readers a taste of what you guys are about. Then they’ll have Doctor Lemon working with Adam, coaching him, helping him woo you.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Woo me? Like, going on dates, right?”

  “Yes. Dating will be part of it.” His eyes shifted, and she could tell there was more to it.

  “And what else?”

  “I don’t have to tell you that ABC is a major network. We are talking big money here.”

  Adam put his hands on his hips. “Leon...”

  “This will be a huge jump for your careers. If this goes well, they will look at your morning show.” He took a step back and hooked his thumbs in his pockets.

  She was getting annoyed. “What else, Leon?”

  “There’s just one catch.”

  “What is it?” she and Adam said at once.

  “They don’t want it unless you agree to get married at the end of the show.”

  Chapter 14

  Heat burned Megan’s face, and she took a step toward Leon, her nose only inches from his. “I can’t believe the depths of your greed.”

  He threw his hands up in surrender. “Hey, it’s not me.”

  Megan poked his chest with one finger. “I don’t believe that for a second. You pitched the show. You created the idea.” She narrowed her eyes. “You came up with this scheme.”

  “You don’t have to stay married.”

  Megan clenched her fists, her arms shaking with restraint. What she wanted to do was punch the guy.

  Adam spoke up. “Wait. Let’s take a second to—”

  Megan rounded on him. “Don’t you join his side. We are not getting married as some stunt for television. Not now, not ever.” She wasn’t going to be bullied into making herself a spectacle. And she was sure Leon planned on revealing Dr. Lemon as a fraud after the wedding, to humiliate her even more.

  “They’re paying each of you $100,000.”

  Adam staggered back. “A hundred grand?” His reaction mirrored her own. She couldn’t believe it.

  Leon grinned and shifted from one foot to the other. “I told you it was big bucks. They’re prepared to push this show hard. Big advertising, big media events, you’ll be on all the hot talk shows. You’ll make names for yourselves.”

  “But not for our morning show.” Megan saw her dream swirl and disappear into the drain. She didn’t want to be some reality TV star. She didn’t want to be known as ‘the girl who married the chump and then found out his affections were based on a lie.’

  Leon waved her comment away like a pesky fly. “You’re not seeing the big picture. Once you’re famous, you can write your own ticket. They give famous people talk shows all the time. Chevy Chase, Bonnie Hunt...even Magic Johnson got his own show.”

  Megan scowled. “Weren’t all those canceled right away?”

  “Bad examples. But that’s beside the point. You know what being a household name can do for you. Think about it. Don’t just say no because you’re angry.”

  She glanced at Adam. He looked like a salivating dog. Of course. He wanted to advance his career, just like she did. And she knew how much it would mean to him to have his father closer.

  What were the chances that Leon was right? If she made enough of a splash with this stupid facade, could she get her own serious show? She swallowed. It was possible.

  Oh, but she loathed the idea of being the brunt of another one of Leon’s cruel jokes. She’d had enough of that and couldn’t bear to think of the humiliation. And not just local people would be watching this time. She’d be embarrassed on national television. A headache pounded in her skull. But Leon was right. Even if she was made the fool, if she handled it right, she might come out on top. And then maybe she could get her own show, away from Leon and Adam.

  But...marrying Adam? She didn’t want to sign papers and pledge to love him ‘until death do us part.’ Not if she didn’t mean it. Marriage was sacred. At least to her.

  She took a breath and let it out slowly. “Can’t we do a fake wedding?”

  Leon shook his head. “No. People dig into that kind of stuff. It has to be real. But the two of you don’t have to really be in love. People marry all the time for reasons other than love. You only need to make it look convincing on camera.” He chuckled. “And you’re doing a great job of that already.”

  Probably because every stupid day she felt more attracted to Adam. Megan tried not to scowl. This was her own fault. She should never have agreed to go out with him. If she had refused, no one would be asking her to marry him.

  And ABC wouldn’t want her.

  Thoughts of being on a major network sifted through her mind. Could she do it? Could she agree to marry Adam? She was attracted to him. And when he kissed her, the world spun. They had chemistry.

  Adam and Leon stared at her, waiting for her to say something. Waiting for her to concede. Seconds ticked by as she tried to wrap her brain around what she was about to do. “When do they want to start taping?”

  Leon’s face brightened. “They want to have it on the fall schedule. They’ll start taping immediately. But the last show, the wedding, they want to do live.”

  Live so they could embarrass her. She’d just have to think of a way to turn it on them. Make them look like fools. She turned to Adam. “What do you think?”

  Several emotions played across his face before he spoke. “I think a hundred grand is difficult to turn down. I also think this could help both of our careers.” He held up his hands. “But I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to. I’ll go along with it if you do, but if you say no, I’ll back you up.”

  Leon coughed, and she could have sworn she heard the word ‘wimp’ in there somewhere. She tossed him a dirty look. “If I say yes, and that’s a big ‘if,’ our marriage wouldn’t be real, even if it’s legitimate on paper. So, separate beds.”

  Adam squirmed. “Of course.”

/>   “And if I go through with this, we’ll plan on getting a quiet annulment a few months after the show airs.”

  Adam nodded, a slight grimace crossing his features. “Sure.”

  Megan stared at the men, shocked at what she was about to say. Sighing, she plopped down onto one of the cheap lobby chairs and placed her head in her hands. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  Adam folded his arms across his chest, frowning. “Not exactly how I imagined a woman would accept my marriage proposal.”

  Megan tried to laugh at his levity, but all she could do was moan, already regretting her decision.

  ADAM WALKED ACROSS the room, smiled at the camera, and sat on the plush leather seat. They had rented some swanky mansion to tape the show in, and all he could see were crystal chandeliers and gold accents shining from the bright film lighting. The infamous Doctor Lemon sat opposite him.

  “Adam, before we begin, I’d like to ask you some questions regarding your relationship with Megan.”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  “My analysis of you showed deep feelings for Megan, even before you started dating. Had you realized your feelings at the time?”

  Great. Just what he wanted to do. Talk about his feelings on national television. Heat crept up his neck, and he adjusted his tie. “Um, no. I mean, I’ve always liked Megan. She’s spunky. But I hadn’t thought about her in a romantic way.”

  “And how has that changed?”

  He squirmed and thought about the time he’d spent with her over the last few weeks. If he were being honest, he’d have to admit his attraction had grown. But what was he supposed to say on camera?

  Doctor Lemon leaned forward and put her hand on his knee. “I sense your hesitation.” She glanced around the room. “Ignore the cameras for a minute. Try to relax. We’re just having a conversation.”

  Adam drew in a shaky breath and let it out. “Okay.”

  “You’ve spent the last few weeks dating Megan. How has that affected your relationship?”

  “I’ve gotten to know her. We’ve become friends.” He cringed at his own use of the word. That wasn’t what he had meant to say.