Fake Marriage Box Set (A Single Dad Romance)

by Claire Adams

  "Hey," I whispered and smiled, losing myself in the moment. How fucking amazing would it have been if our ruse wasn't a lie at all, but a hidden love story?

  The writer in me itched for my laptop. I felt the swell of inspiration and found it so ironic that it would end up being Maddie. The woman who'd sold her soul for money.

  "Hi," she whispered back and slid her arm into mine.

  I nodded at the older man beside her and offered him my hand. "Mr. Mills."

  "Gavin." He glanced down at Maddie. "I knew the two of you would end up together. Fate always has a funny way of doing stuff like this."

  I forced a chuckle. "Thank you, Sir."

  We turned, and the pastor from my mother's previous church walked out, stopping in front of us. I hadn't told the poor guy that we weren't really getting married but lied about not having the marriage license. He wasn't thrilled about getting up in front of a group of people and performing a ceremony that he didn't have the license for, but I gave him a sob story about my mother, and he relented.

  We could deal with the technicalities later.

  But later would never come.

  It wasn't for him to bother with, and my worries had to be tucked away. I wanted to be present at the moment, why I wasn't sure. Good plot information for a wedding scene if I ever wrote one?

  The pastor welcomed everyone and dove right into the ceremony, preaching about God and love and joking about babies. I laughed and glanced down toward Maddie to find her looking back at me.

  Something protective inside of me swelled, and I wanted to ask if she were okay, but it would have been silly.

  Of course, she was. She would get her money and run, and eventually find herself doing this wedding thing again, but the next time it would be real, or hopefully so.

  I couldn't help but wonder if she would keep the dress and use it again. Would I keep the ring?

  Fuck no.

  Looking down at her, I couldn't help but feel how real the ceremony could have been. I was grateful seeing that it was all for my mother.

  "Who has the rings?" the pastor asked, the smile on his face friendly.

  "Ron?" I glanced down at my best friend and extended my hand, taking both of them before handing them over to the preacher.

  We walked throughout vows and turned to face everyone before us as the preacher's voice boomed behind me.

  "And I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

  I turned and pulled Maddie into my arms, leaning down and kissing her deeply, passionately. The sound of whooping and hollering filled the space around us, and our kiss broke with both of us smiling.

  It was so real that it hurt me to know that I would never forget it. The moment was impressed upon my broken heart. Did she feel the same? Was she alive at all? Awake enough to feel the passion between us, the building warmth that I couldn't deny even if I wanted to?

  "I'd like to introduce you gathered here today to Mister and Misses Gavin Hayward."

  Everyone stood and clapped as I took Maddie's hand and we walked back down the aisle. Birdseed was being thrown above our heads, and the sound of music and laughter had me smiling.

  I moved back and turned, shaking hands and giving hugs until Ron and my mother were the only ones left in line.

  "Well, I have to say, that was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Ron pulled me into a quick hug before turning to his cousin. "Makes me want to consider acting right and getting myself a wife."

  "I thought I would never hear the day." Maddie hugged him and laughed as I turned to my mother. Ron wasn't going to settle down. He was a playboy with the hopes of sleeping with as many women as possible before he was forced to put a ring on someone's finger.

  "Mom." I reached out and cupped the side of her face as tears rolled down her eyes.

  "My baby. All grown up and married to a princess." She smiled and moved back, lifting a camera. "Let me take a few shots to send off to the rest of the family that couldn't make it this fast." She glanced over at Maddie. "You can post it up on your social media too, sweetheart. Everyone is going to rave seeing you in that beautiful dress. You should be on the cover of a wedding magazine."

  "I agree." I glanced down at my fake bride and pulled her to my side, leaning in and smiling like it was the best day of my life.

  "Thank you, Ms. Hayward."

  "Call me mom." My mother moved over to Maddie and pulled her into a long hug. "And make sure to take care of my boy. You're all he's got outside of Ron; God help us."

  Maddie laughed, but I could hear how forced it was. "I sure will. Let's get you back to your house so you can rest."

  Mom glanced back at me, reaching out and taking my hand. "That sounds like a great idea. I had so much fun." She turned and touched my face. "I love you. I'm so proud of you, and your daddy is looking down from heaven today, too. He's proud. I promise you."

  "Thanks, mom." My heart broke in my chest as I wrapped an arm around her and helped her back to the house.

  Maddie walked closely on the other side of her, asking questions about her and my father's wedding day. I let her go on until we had mom in bed. We closed the door to my mother's bedroom and walked out of the small house after talking with Karen for a minute.

  "Well? We did it." Maddie reached for my hand, and I twisted my fingers around her.

  "Yeah. You were stunning. Still are." I let my eyes run down the length of her body as we made the short walk back to my house.

  We walked into the house, and I closed the door as she stopped and turned to face me.

  "I know this isn't the way you wanted all of this to go, but thank you for taking me up on my offer." Her expression softened.

  How easily I could have fallen in love with a beautiful woman like her. "No, thank you." I closed the distance between us and leaned down, brushing my nose against hers. "You made my mother's day."

  "No, Gavin. You did." She slid her hands up my chest and pulled me down for a long slow kiss.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Maddie

  He looked perfect in his suit, standing at the front of the ceremony with the preacher and Ron on either side of him. His jaw had been locked in place, and the depths of emotion in his eyes had almost split me in two.

  He was thinking about his mother and his father. He had to be. Hell, I was thinking about my parents and how much they loved each other. Had I really sold us out for a sum of money? Both of us? We had to walk through the fake motions of the best day in most people's live, and it was all for nothing. For a scam I was running.

  I cupped the side of his neck as we stood in his house and brushed my thumbs down his throat as I pulled him closer. The soft brush of his lips against my quickly turned into something so hot it hurt.

  He ran his tongue over mine and slid his hands down my back to cup the top curve of my ass. A moan left me as the thickness of his growing erection pressed against my stomach.

  "I want you on top of me," I mumbled against his mouth, half-expecting him to tell me to hush and stop being bossy.

  "I'd like that." He moved back and licked his lips. "I'll get the shower going. You grab a bottle of wine from the kitchen and two glasses. Meet me in there, and I'll help you out of your dress."

  I couldn't find words. The softness in his voice gave me a false sense of hope, and it almost seemed like speaking might destroy it and send me tumbling back into reality. We would be over soon, and he would be in his own world, and I'd be back in mine. Without him.

  After grabbing a bottle of white wine from the fridge, I picked up two glasses and kicked off my heels. The sound of him humming something gave me pause.

  The Wedding March.

  A smile lifted my lips. He could pretend to be a hard-hearted guy all he wanted. He wasn't one at all. He was a romantic. No wonder he was so damn pissed over my offer to play his fake bride for money. It spit in the face of what he believed to be true.

  He wasn't jaded about having a beautiful, loving relat
ionship with someone like his folks had. Hell, like my folks had. He was all for it. Maybe his writer's block was due to the fact that everything in his life that represented that love, that hope, was dying.

  And I had spit on the little bit that was left.

  Sickness swelled in my stomach as I walked into the bedroom and extended the wine and glasses to him.

  "Gavin," I started.

  "No. No more words. I know we're both a little off because of what happened today, but let's not dive into it. Alright?" He set the wine and glasses down, leaning over to pour it as I watched him.

  He had undone his tie and had his button-down shirt opened a little bit, giving me the perfect view of his beautiful chest and stomach.

  I moved closer and slid the shirt off his thick shoulders as he stood up. My eyes moved around his face as if asking permission. He nodded, knowing exactly what I was up to.

  "Turn around, Maddie." His voice was deep, thick.

  I turned slowly and let my head drop as he unzipped my dress and pushed it off of my shoulders. His hands snaked around my waist, reaching up and cupping my breasts. The soft press of his mouth against the side of my neck caused a tremor to run through me.

  His warm chest pressed against my back and rough fingers slipped into my panties, opening my folds and rubbing in a rhythmic fashion.

  I moaned and leaned back against him as emotion raged through me. "You were perfect today."

  "You were, too," he murmured against my neck and rimmed my opening. "Go get in the shower, and I'll be there with a glass of wine shortly. Let's finish up this act with one last night together."

  I couldn't speak, or tears would drip down my face. I nodded and stepped out of my dress with his help. It was hard to keep my back to him, but I managed it somehow. I got into the shower and moved under the spray, washing off my makeup as a few tears escaped.

  Would tonight be our last night?

  "Here you go, pretty girl."

  I turned at the sound of his voice and took the glass from him. The way his eyes moved across me left me feeling beautiful. He reached out and brushed his fingers down between my breasts as he stepped closer, his body bare.

  I reached out and stroked his erection, pumping the weeping head as he took a long drink of his wine and groaned. "I love shower sex."

  "Me too." He finished his drink and nodded at mine. "Drink that. There's a lot more, and we're not wasting that bottle."

  "So bossy," I whispered with a cocky grin on my mouth. I downed the drink and reached for him, pulling him into the hot spray with me.

  He cupped the back of my head and ground against me as he made sweet love to my mouth. I opened up, offering him everything I was. The desire to comfort him, to love him, was almost too much. I was grateful in a lot of ways that the act was almost over. I'd almost lived the lie long enough to convince myself of it.

  "God, you're sexy." He slid his hands over my ass and squeezed as he licked at my mouth. "I'm gonna fuck you bareback a little bit, but when we get close, I'll pull out."

  "I'd like that." I gripped his shoulders and jumped, wrapping my legs around his waist.

  He positioned us to press his thick shaft deep inside of me on the first thrust. We shared a long sigh of passion before he tightened his hold on the back of my thighs and pumped his hips, driving into me with carnality.

  I leaned back in and pressed my lips to his, enjoying every hard thrust he gave me. The biting sensation of his fingers against my legs was pain mixed with pleasure and had me panting as an orgasm swelled in my belly.

  He turned and pressed his hands to the shower behind me, tucking his forearms under my knees as he pulled out of me. "Drop your ass a little, baby."

  I did as he told me to and clung to his neck before glancing down to watch him spread me open with deep, slow strokes.

  He glanced down, too, grunting with each pump of his hips. "Fuck, that's hot."

  "I love it," I murmured and looked up to find him watching me. I wanted to tell that I loved him too, but I wasn't sure it was true. Even if it were... it was unfair to say it after all we'd been through. He was most likely looking forward to getting rid of me.

  I would have been.

  "I love the way your breasts bounce, Maddie. You have no clue how sexy you are." He pressed deep inside of me and pinned me to the wall.

  "I'm just glad you think I am." I brushed my cheek by the side of his head and lifted up, squeezing my body as he gasped.

  "Keep that up, and I'm going to come." He brushed my hair back before kissing me a few more times. The slow burn inside of me raged to life as he started his assault again, fucking me harder and faster.

  My back smacked against the cold tile, and I closed my eyes and concentrated on the intense pleasure building between my thighs. A scream ripped from my lips as I released, covering his shaft in sticky wetness that seemed to turn him on more.

  "I'm pulling out." He moved back and helped me down as he panted loudly. His eyes were wide, skin pale, and all I could think about was watching him come.

  I dropped to my knees and moved to take him in my mouth, not listening to his protests. The man who'd taken me to bed a week or so back would have happily emptied himself into my mouth, being angry and violent about it. The one above me now had a look of concern on his handsome face.

  "You don't need to." He gripped my hair as I growled and stroked his cock once before lowering it to my lips.

  "I want to. Come hard. Yell loud." I flicked my tongue over the tip as his shaft pulsed in my hand.

  "Fuck, yes." His voice dropped, and he pressed forward, filling me with every inch he had to offer. I took as much as I could and gagged hard as he forced another inch inside of me. That was all he needed.

  His eyes rolled back as he cried out and fucked me strong and fast.

  If I wasn't in love before, I was now.

  We finished up and dried off before putting on robes and heading to the kitchen. He set the bottle of wine in between us and glanced over at me.

  "I'll have the rest of the money deposited in your account in a few days." He glanced down at the counter in front of him and took a shaky breath before looking back up. "Thanks for playing the part today. You were brilliant."

  I picked up my glass and lifted it for him to fill it again as my heart tore in two. It wasn't nothing more than a scam... and I was the villain at the center of it.

  "You were, too," I whispered softly, not having enough air in my lungs to do much more. I would never get over what I'd done to him and yet, we were too far along to turn back now.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  One Week Later

  Gavin

  I walked the path back to my mother's house, the sun shining down on me, but the air chilly. Pulling the jacket I wore closer, I glanced around at the flowers. It was beautiful, and where I knew my mother loved it, it didn't seem like enough.

  Like I wasn't doing enough.

  I let out a long sigh and jogged up the stairs to her house, letting myself in and forcing my thoughts to move away from my lack and onto the woman who would soon be a memory.

  Losing her would likely cripple me as losing my father had crippled her, but it was part of life. Loving someone so deeply that when they left you, you knew a piece of you would go with them.

  I forced away the thought of that happening with Maddie, too. Mom dying was almost more than I could handle, but now I was throwing salt on the wound by having Maddie pack up and leave at the same time.

  But... an agreement was an agreement. She was sticking around until mom passed. That was it. After that, she'd be on her way to California, and I'd be left behind to pick up the pieces of a jumbled-up life.

  "Gavin? That you?" Karen called out as I walked toward the kitchen.

  "Yeah." I strained to hear if the TV were on in my mother's room, but didn't hear anything. "Mom doing okay?"

  I walked in to find Karen wiping down the kitchen cabinets. She glanced over her shoulder with relief on he
r face. "Today has been pretty rough. She threw up several times this morning and keeps complaining about her tongue and teeth hurting. It's getting bad. I wish I could do something to ease her pain."

  "Did you give her the meds the doctor prescribed?"

  "Always, but you know her throwing up isn't helping her digest them." She turned back to her work. "She's laying down now, but I know she'll want to see you. She always does."

  "Okay." I turned and walked down to my mom's bedroom as the smell of cleaning supplies filled my senses. Where I was glad that Karen kept the place sterile, it still left my insides empty. The end was creeping closer and closer, and I wasn't ready.

  Not that I ever would be.

  "Mom?" I walked in to find her laying in the bed, her breathing labored. She was watching a small blue jay out the window from what I could tell.

  She glanced over at me, her eyes glossy. "Hey there. Come here." She patted the bed beside me and tried to scoot over, but didn’t make it too far. Her arms shook with the effort she exerted. "I wanted to tell you a secret."

  "A secret?" I lifted an eyebrow, but walked over and sat down on the bed beside her as my heart quaked in my chest. My father wouldn’t have been able to handle seeing her so sick. It was almost a blessing that he’d gone before her. Unfair, but a blessing of sorts. "Alright. Spill."

  She laughed and grimaced, reaching up to rub her chest through her faded gown. "Man, it's been a rough day today. Everything hurts."

  "I know." I reached up and took her hand in mine. "I would take it all from you if I could."

  "Nope. I'd never let you have this." She put her other hand on top of mine, and the veins showed through.

  "So, tell me this secret." I took a shallow breath and tried hard to hold myself together. I hadn't cried too many times in my life, but losing her would be another one to add to the list.

  "Loving someone is hard work. It's the damn pits at times." She smiled or tried to. "But, if you write down a few things each day that you like about them, that you find pretty or funny or kind, you'll have something to look back on when the shit hits the fan." She patted my hand. "Because believe me. The shit always hits the fan."