[Anthology] A Clean Fake Marriage Romance Collection

by Victorine E. Lieske

  Tara couldn’t believe he would do that for her. “Really?”

  He rubbed her back. “Of course. I just want Kylee to be safe.”

  That’s all she wanted as well, but after a year, they’d no longer be anything to each other. Maybe he could protect Kylee now, but that would eventually end. And then she’d be on her own, wondering if Bobby was going to go off the deep end again. But her parents were sitting in the room with them, so she wasn’t able to say anything. “Thanks.”

  At the end of the day, Tara was exhausted. She put Kylee to bed, went into the other room and slipped under the covers, ready to put the day behind her. Rick rolled over. “Are you all right? You were quiet at dinner.”

  “Just tired.”

  His fingers brushed her cheek. “I’ll protect her.”

  Tara’s pulse raced. She knew he meant it. The sincerity was in his eyes. He cared about Kylee. And Kylee adored him, that was certain. She clung to him every chance she got. He was so gentle with her. Kylee couldn’t help but fall in love with him.

  His eyebrows pulled together in concern. His thumb grazed her cheek. “You’re crying.”

  Was she? She blinked and wiped at her cheeks. Stupid. She didn’t need to be thinking about how he had won Kylee over. How her daughter adored another man who was going to leave them. How Tara would feel after Rick was gone.

  Pain stabbed in her chest. Rick would be the perfect father for Kylee. “Would” being the important word. It wasn’t real. He was acting. This was just another gig for him. She broke his gaze. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. What Bobby did scared me to death. I totally get why you’re emotional about it.” He gathered her into his arms.

  Warmth enveloped her and she laid her cheek on his muscular arm, snuggling into him. It might only be temporary, but she had one year with him. She could enjoy it while it lasted.

  She closed her eyes and fell asleep, wrapped in his arms.

  RICK AWOKE TO THE SOUND of “The Imperial March.” He tried to untangle himself from Tara without waking her, but she raised her head and blinked her eyes. “Phil’s calling? That can’t be good.”

  “It never is,” he said, suddenly grumpy Phil had awoken them. He was enjoying the feeling of Tara in his arms. He picked up the phone and swiped to answer. “Yes?”

  “Turn on the celebrity news.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just do it.” Phil sounded impatient, so Rick slid out of bed and crossed the room. He flicked on the small TV sitting on Tara’s dresser. He messed with the channels until he got what he wanted.

  “. . . serious allegation. Can you substantiate it with any facts?” A reporter stuck a microphone into a man’s face. He had white-tipped hair and looked slightly familiar.

  “I heard it from Rick Shade himself. He married her to settle down his party boy image.”

  Tara gasped, and Rick’s chest tightened. Who was that guy?

  “Liam,” Tara said, answering his unspoken question. “The limo driver,” she whispered, her hand raising to her mouth. “Oh, no.”

  Rick turned to her. “It’s okay. It’s his word against ours.”

  Liam pulled out his phone. “And I have this.”

  Rick’s voice came out of the television. “It’s okay, this doesn’t mess up our plan. No one knows we’re just doing this for publicity. We’re still on track. Everything will be fine.”

  Rick’s heart sank. Liam had proof. His phone began playing the Darth Vader song again and he wiped his sweaty hands on his t-shirt before picking it up. “Yes?”

  “We can’t come back from this.” Phil sounded defeated. “It’s in your own voice that this is just a publicity stunt. There’s no use lying anymore.”

  Desperation grew in Rick. He didn’t want to give up. He needed more time with Tara. “Forget them. Who cares what people think?”

  “That’s the whole reason we’re doing this!” Phil let out an exasperated grunt. “Listen, I’ve got to come out with a statement. We’ll come clean. Make a joke out of it or something. Another crazy Rick Shade stunt.”

  Rick knew it was no use fighting it. Phil was right. This was the only way to save face. If he could even save his reputation. “Alright,” he said, and hung up.

  Tara worried her lip, her hands clasped together. He didn’t want to have to tell her. He scratched his chin, trying to think of what to say. “We’re coming clean. Phil’s going to release a statement. Admit that this was all for publicity.”

  Her shoulders fell. “I see.”

  “We don’t have to pretend anymore. You are officially released from your contract.”

  She looked like she was going to cry. He hadn’t thought about it before, but she was counting on that money to give her a new start. He rushed on to say, “I’ll still pay you. It’s in the contract. You married me and upheld your end of the bargain. I’m the one ending it early.”

  She turned away from him. “Thanks,” she said quietly.

  “And if you need any help with Bobby, just call me. I don’t want Kylee going to see him without someone else there. I don’t trust that man.”

  Tara nodded, still facing away from him.

  He couldn’t stand to see her upset. “And I still think you should enroll in college. I’ll pay for it.”

  She faced him, her cheeks white. “No, you don’t have to. Not with everything else you’re doing. I couldn’t accept that.”

  He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her he wanted to do it for her . . . because he loved her. But his feet stayed rooted to the carpet. If he told her, she’d think he was just being impulsive. Rash. Like he always was. Jumping into things without thinking.

  He glanced around the room, unsure of what to look at. Things were starting to turn awkward. “Do you want to stay here then, since your plan was to move to Iowa? Or do you want to come back to L.A. with me?” Could he dare hope she’d want to return with him?

  “My parents don’t watch celebrity news. I’d rather leave with you, then find a way to break it to them later.”

  Thinking of Douglas and all his questioning the other night, Rick agreed. “That would be best.” Rick didn’t want to be anywhere near her father when he found out the whole marriage was a sham.

  They began packing and getting ready for their trip. When Rick went downstairs, he found Kylee sitting at the table with Joyce and Douglas. A stack of waffles sat in the middle of the table. Kylee had a bowl of blueberries and was putting a berry in each dimple of her waffle.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  Douglas stood and clapped him on the back. “Rick. You can have my chair. I was just finishing up.”

  The difference in Douglas was like night and day. He was relaxed. Smiling. Almost jovial. Joyce seemed happier, too. “Thanks,” Rick said, sitting down.

  Joyce took a clean plate from a stack and handed it to him. “Have as many as you’d like. They’re still warm.”

  Kylee got done with her blueberries, then started eating them one at a time, counting as she went.

  “You know your numbers,” Joyce said. “Good job.”

  “And I know my alphy-bet too.”

  “You do? Show me.”

  Kylee rattled off letters, missing a few as she went. Joyce patted her on the head when she was done. “Very good.”

  Tara joined them. After breakfast, Rick helped clear the dishes. Joyce took the stack of plates from him. “You can go sit in the living room.”

  “Actually, you may have missed it, but I believe I made headline news the other day when I did such an awesome job drying the dishes.”

  Tara snorted and ducked her head.

  Joyce tossed him a towel. “Well, that would be nice of you.”

  Tara filled the sink with soapy water and Kylee climbed up on a chair to “help.” Rick glanced around the kitchen. “You’ve never had a dishwasher?”

  Joyce motioned to Tara. “Had one for years before she moved out.”

  He chuckled. “Tar
a still insists on doing the dishes in the sink. Even with a state-of-the-art dishwasher at home.”

  “She’s always liked hand-washing them.” Joyce shrugged. “I don’t mind it either. Gives me time to think.”

  Tara washed the plates and rinsed them off, handing them to Rick. He dried them and put them in the cupboard. Joyce watched the two of them. “I wasn’t sure what to think about the two of you. But I can see, you two really do love each other.”

  Tara sucked in a breath and then had a coughing fit. Rick tried to cover for her after she left the room. “Yes, I do love your daughter. She’s very special.”

  Joyce patted his cheeks. “You take care of her.”

  Guilt rose like a wave in his throat, making it hard to breathe. “Of course.”

  He set the towel down and started loading the rental car with their things. Kylee wanted to help, so he gave her their pillows and other light items to carry. When the car was ready, he picked Kylee up and headed back inside.

  Tara was in the living room with her parents. She glanced at Rick. “All loaded?”

  “Yep.”

  “I guess this is it.” Tara hugged her mother, then awkwardly looked at her father.

  Douglas pulled her into a hug. “Don’t stay away too long.”

  Rick’s gut twisted at this. Douglas didn’t have to worry. Tara would be back soon. Kylee gave each of her grandparents a hug and kiss, with a little prompting from Tara. Then they were out the door. Rick buckled Kylee in her booster seat, then turned to Tara, who looked like she was starting to get emotional. “You’ll see them soon.”

  His words didn’t seem to help. “I know,” she said under her breath. She turned away from him and got into the car.

  Rick felt like a jerk for some reason, but wasn’t sure why.

  Chapter 24

  Tara stared at the clothes in her closet. No, Rick’s closet. Rick’s clothes. None of it was hers. She slowly closed the doors. She had nothing to pack, except for a few outfits she’d brought, and Kylee’s things, which she shoved in the garbage bag she’d brought with her.

  Trash. That’s what she felt like. Rick was done with her, and now she was being thrown away. She swallowed and shook her head. She was being ridiculous. She agreed to this for the money, and now it was ending. She was getting what she wanted. A new life with Kylee.

  So why did it feel so empty?

  Kylee sat on the floor playing with her Jenga blocks, her favorite ladybug shirt on. She’d stack a few up, then use Winnie the Pooh to knock them down. Her giggles rang out. Tara crouched down beside her. “Time to pack these up. We need to head out.”

  Kylee looked up at her with her big, brown eyes. “Where are we going?”

  “To a new adventure.”

  She looked up to see Rick standing in the doorway. Kylee noticed too and went running to him. She hugged his legs. “Rick’s coming, too?”

  Tara’s eyes stung, and her chest tightened. “No.”

  Rick picked Kylee up and she threw her arms around his neck. “No! I want Rick to come.” Tears began rolling down her little cheeks.

  Rick patted her back. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll come see you.”

  “No!” she wailed, clinging so tight to him that his face grew a little purple.

  This was worse than she expected. Kylee had gotten too attached to him, as she had feared. And now she had to pry her daughter off the movie star. She reached out to take Kylee but Rick shook his head. “Just give me a minute,” he said.

  He took her out of the room and Tara could hear Kylee’s wails as they went down the hall, then down the steps. Tara rubbed the back of her neck. Why did she do this again? She’d made a terrible mistake. It wasn’t worth getting Kylee emotionally attached to another man who would just leave her.

  Tara leaned down and picked up the Jenga blocks, feeling like the worst mother in the world. She’d put herself above the needs of her child. She should have continued to clean toilets, paying off her debt slowly like the rest of America.

  And now her daughter would be devastated. Kind of like she was feeling right now. Tara fit the lid on the container. How could she walk away from her feelings? From Rick? Why did he have to turn out to be the perfect man for her? She didn’t even realize she was crying until a tear fell on her shirt.

  She wiped at her cheeks. How had things gotten so messed up? It was supposed to be simple. At least, it was when Rick explained it. Marry for the publicity. Spend a few outings together so the public could take photos. The rest of the time they were supposed to live happily separate lives. But that hadn’t happened. She’d gotten all wrapped up in him.

  She loved him. Tara brushed a strand of hair away from her face and stood. She placed the Jenga blocks in the box with the rest of Kylee’s toys and lifted it. She went outside and put it in the trunk of the rental car Rick had gotten for her. The money was already in her account, but Rick had insisted on paying for the car. Why, she didn’t understand, but she went with it. Every little bit of savings would help her and Kylee.

  After putting the trash bag of clothes in the trunk, she was ready to head out with Kylee. No need to prolong things anymore. She went inside to search for Rick. His voice carried out of his office. She walked in to see Rick sitting in his office chair, Kylee on his lap. He had the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated open on her lap.

  Kylee looked up. “Rick’s reading to me.”

  Tara raised her eyebrows. “He is? What is he reading?”

  “Stories about the swimming princesses.”

  She coughed to cover up a laugh. “I see.”

  Rick shrugged. “I didn’t have any kid’s books.”

  Tara reached out for Kylee and she climbed into her arms willingly. She took it as a sign. Time to go now, before Tara or Kylee had another meltdown. “We’re all packed.”

  Rick stood up so fast his chair bumped into the wall behind him. “Wait. I got her calmed down, but I think it would be best if you stay for another week or two.”

  Stay? What would be the point of that? To fuse the bond between him and Kylee even more? “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.

  “Why not? What would it hurt? You have a room here. You have everything here.”

  Tara’s throat grew tight. She tried to draw in a breath but it seemed impossible. How could she stay? What would she do? Live in his mansion . . . as what? They were already starting the divorce process. She forced the words out. “I can’t.”

  She turned and walked through the house, Rick following after her. As she neared the front door, Rick ran ahead and opened it for her. He frowned as she put Kylee in the car. He stopped her from shutting the car door. “Stay. Please.”

  His words stabbed through her. She looked into his eyes, which seemed to hold something unsaid. She wasn’t sure why he wanted her to stay longer, and in her heart she knew it would only prolong the inevitable. She needed to move on. She broke his gaze. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  He stepped back, slowly nodding. “Alright.”

  She climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. It took all her willpower not to turn around and glance at Rick as she drove away.

  RICK WATCHED TARA’S car wind its way down the driveway, his heart going with it. The summer sun beat down on his skin. Why couldn’t he have just said how he felt? How could he have let her go?

  His mind flashed back to Scarlett, and pain shot through his chest. He’d let her go, too. Was he that shallow? Could he give up Tara for his life in L.A.? Was she just a hamburger to him, or did his love for her run deeper?

  He walked back into his house. He immediately felt the emptiness she’d left. Kylee’s peals of laughter . . . Tara’s soft perfume. Gone.

  He couldn’t convince her to stay. Did he have the courage to go with her? He let the questions simmer in his mind as he walked back into his office. He plopped down in his chair and stared at the carpet.

  Over the past few days, he’d almost come out and tol
d her he wanted to try to make a real relationship work. But he hadn’t been able to gather up the courage. He knew she had her heart set on going to Iowa to raise Kylee. He’d already probed to see if she’d stay. The answer was clear: no.

  The only thing he could do was walk away from his career to be with her. But would he turn bitter if he did that? Resent her for what he gave up?

  He exhaled and looked up at the ceiling. He missed her already. No, missed was an understatement. He ached for her. The best eight hours of his life was when she’d spent the night in his arms. If he could have that every night, he’d be happier than he’d been his whole life.

  A realization slammed into him. He wasn’t letting her go for selfish reasons. He was letting her go because he knew she wouldn’t be happy in L.A. And he wanted her to be happy.

  The situation was totally different with Scarlett. He let her go because he wanted himself to be happy. She was the hamburger. Tara was more than that.

  But was she worth more than his career? He picked up the Sports Illustrated magazine. Kylee and Tara filled a hole in his life he never knew existed. A hole that now sat empty, leaving part of him dead. Yes, he could give up his acting career to have them in his life. He’d enjoyed his time in the limelight, but he realized now that life wasn’t full. It was missing something.

  He stood and a yellow form on his desk caught his eye. Kylee’s Winnie the Pooh bear. He picked up the stuffed animal and looked at the ratty fur. Kylee would be heartbroken when she realized she left it.

  And he would be heartbroken if they left him.

  He grabbed his keys and ran to the garage. Tossing the bear onto the passenger seat, he climbed into his Jaguar and cranked the engine. The garage door seemed to take forever to lift. He peeled out of the garage in reverse, ignoring the smell of hot rubber on concrete.

  He flung it into drive and took off down the hill. As he neared the gate, which was open, Tara’s rental car came into view and he slammed on his brakes. What was she doing just sitting there?

  He got out of his car and ran up to her window. “What happened? Are you okay?”