“I’ve missed you,” I whisper into her ear. To my surprise, I mean it.
“I missed you, too.”
By the time we let go of each other, her passengers are already out of the car.
“Come and meet my mom,” Marian says, tugging my hand.
Her mom is very pretty, and she looks more like Marian’s older sister than her mother.
“It’s nice to meet you, Declan,” she says. “You can call me Judy.” She turns to the slender man with short-cropped hair and an intense stare next to her. “This is Josh, my fiancé.”
My jaw drops. The guy is not a day older than me. I shake his hand and turn a questioning glance at Marian. She shrugs.
“Come on in,” I say and shepherd the group toward the house.
My mother emerges, a bright smile on her face. “Our guests are already here,” she says.
We form a circle, and I introduce Marian first to my mother. My mother smiles cautiously but so far, so good.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Marian says and introduces her mother and Josh.
The friendliness that my mother was exhibiting seconds earlier disappears in a flash. She stares at Josh and Judy as if they are from space.
“I don’t understand,” Mother says and looks at my father for an explanation.
“What don’t you understand?” Marian’s mother asks and stands up straighter.
“Is your partner Marian’s father?” Mother says.
If the moment was not so weird, I’d have burst out laughing.
Josh takes it all in his stride, and he laughs. “I’m not, but from what I’ve heard about Marian, she’s a wonderful girl, and I’d be lucky to have her as my stepdaughter.”
I like him. He’s not a wimp.
“Can we continue this fascinating conversation inside?” my father suggests, a glimpse of his old self emerging.
“Yes, of course,” my mother says, and we all troop into the living room.
It’s not the end. That’s not mother’s style.
“Are you getting married then?” she asks when we all sit down. My mother is like a dog with a bone. She doesn’t let go until she’s satisfied.
“About to,” Judy says and claps her hands together. “That’s the main reason why Josh and I are in LA. I want my daughter to be my wedding planner.”
The news is a surprise to Marian. “Mother, I can’t plan your wedding,” she says.
“Why not? I’ll pay you well,” Judy says.
“It’s not about the money. My contacts are here in LA. I can’t plan a wedding in Arlen.”
“You plan weddings in Hawaii and other exotic locations,” Judy points out.
My mother clears her throat. “Aren’t you a little too young for Judy?” She addresses the question to Josh.
“Mother,” I say.
“It’s fine,” Josh says in his calm way. “It’s true. I am a lot younger, but true love doesn’t discriminate.”
“Besides, my ex-husband, who is Marian’s dad, married a woman who is Marian’s age. I can’t wait to see how he reacts to my marriage.” Judy lets out a girlish gleeful laugh.
“Is it a competition then?” Marian says.
“Of course not,” Judy says. “It’s not like we’re going to try for a baby.”
“Your father has a baby with his new wife?” my mother says.
“Yes, she’s two years and a bit,” Judy says offhandedly.
Marian’s family dynamics make mine look tame by comparison. I look at Marian with new eyes and realize just how little of each other we know. I make a point to rectify that, and the only way to do it is to date her. Act as if we’ve only just met and get to know her.
“I’ll check on dinner,” my mother says weakly. She looks like she’s about to have a heart attack. “Declan, can you offer drinks to our guests,” she says and flees the room.
“You are certainly a big improvement on Leonard,” Judy says when my mother leaves the room.
“Mom,” Marian says in a warning tone, which immediately makes me curious.
“What? It’s true.” She turns to Josh. “You’ve seen Leonard about town. What do you think?”
Josh nods. “You’re right.”
“Who is Leonard?” I ask when I get a chance to put a word in.
Judy and Marian look at each other.
“You haven’t told him?” Judy says, looking aghast.
“No, there was no opportunity to,” Marian says and then turns to me. “Leonard is my ex-husband.”
I stare at Marian incredulously. I try to picture her married and fail. A burning sensation comes over my chest and a lump forms in my throat. I swallow it down. “You were married before me?”
Marian blinks rapidly. “I was.”
My mother walks back in. She immediately senses the tension in the room. “What?”
Marian turns to her. “I was just telling my husband that I was married before.”
My mother stares at Marian, shocked. “You’re a divorcee?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Judy says.
“It shows your track record for marriage is not good. Where does that leave my son?”
Chapter 13
Marian
What a terrible, drama-filled circus of a weekend. I wave enthusiastically as my mom and Josh drive away. Having spent a day and a half with him, I can see why he appeals to her, despite the age difference.
Still, I wish their visit had not coincided with my introduction to my in-laws. I have absolutely no doubt that Declan’s mom will never like me. She’s a snob and today’s lunch guests went against all her values.
First of all, Declan and I got married in Vegas after a drunken night of merriment. Yes, the whole story came out during lunch. My mom has no filter on her mouth, and I rarely lie to her.
On the way back from Santa Monica, I tried to get her to settle for a small wedding at the courthouse. She was having none of it. She wanted a wedding to rival the one my father and Terri had four years ago.
I walk back into the house, grateful for a moment of solitude. I do what I always do when I’m alone at home. I grab my laptop, get comfortable on the couch, and catch up with industry news.
What I should be doing is researching vendors and possible locations in Arlen, but I’m too emotionally wrung out to think about the headache that will be Mom’s wedding.
I love catching up on industry news, except that today, I can’t get into it. My mind keeps wandering to Declan. Is he rethinking our marriage after all the bombs I’ve dropped on him today? He’s probably wondering what he has gotten himself into.
The thought of losing him makes my chest contract. I tell myself it’s because of my baby. I can’t have him renege on our deal before I get pregnant. All this will have been for nothing.
We haven’t spoken since I left Santa Monica at four in the afternoon. I have a feeling that Mrs. Carter has a lot of influence on him. What if she turns him against our relationship? Mr. Carter seemed removed from the whole thing as if he was in a theatre watching a play, and we were the cast. My stomach churns as I realize the impact today could have on my plans for the future.
I’ve taken to having the most ridiculous dreams. Dreams that I would die before I told anyone. I dream of living in a house by the beach with my husband and child. At first, the images of the husband and baby were blurry, but now I recognize my husband. It’s Declan.
Madness. I just have to keep reminding myself of my track record for relationships. I’m simply not good at them. I’m a workhorse. My strengths lie at work, not love. If I’m not picking an entirely unsuitable man, I’m falling in love with a cheater like the last boyfriend I had in college. Turns out I was the only one who didn’t know that he had a girlfriend in every residence hall.
I inhale deeply and muse over my current problem with Declan. I could apologize for how he found out about the divorce. But if I do that, I have to say
that I planned to tell him, but the truth is that I wasn’t planning to. I’d already concluded that my past did not concern him.
The second and last option is to play it by ear. Wait for him to mention it first, and then we can take it from there.
I reach for my phone to text him:
Hi husband, how are you doing?
I wait, but his response does not come. I’m about to give up when my phone vibrates.
Hi yourself. Don’t you mean husband number two?
And I have my answer right there. He’s upset. I rub my hands against my pants to dry the sweat gathered in my palms. I keep looking at Declan’s message as if it will give me a response. After a few minutes, I finally figure out a reply:
I can explain.
His text comes back moments later:
I’m counting on that. Are you free for lunch tomorrow?
Even if I weren’t, I would clear my itinerary for this.
I am.
I hit send and sit back, feeling as if I have a date in the courtroom the following day. I’m a little excited to show Declan where I work until it hits me that I’ll have to introduce him to everyone.
Panic swells up inside me, threatening to swallow me belly-first. My employees are not just my colleagues. They’re my friends too, especially Maggie, who has been with me from the very first day when we flung the boutique doors open for business.
I owe them an explanation as to how I’ve suddenly sprouted a husband. My head pounds as a headache comes on.
***
I’m out of the office most of the morning, meeting with vendors and confirming meals and flowers and a million other details that go into having a successful wedding. I return to the office at half-past twelve, feeling stressed from the rush to get back.
I have a feeling that Declan won’t take it well if he doesn’t find me. I head straight to the washroom and try to make myself presentable. I retie my ponytail and put on a fresh coat of lipstick. When I feel more composed, I return to my office.
He hasn’t confirmed that he’ll stay at my place for the week, but I’m hoping that he will. For project baby, of course. I’ve installed a new app on my phone that tracks fertility cycles, and it shows that I’m ovulating this week, meaning that the chances of project baby taking off are very high.
If Declan does stay, I won’t be callous about it this time. I’ll work from home for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
The moment that Declan enters my office, I know it. Don’t ask me how but my breathing escalates, and my heart beats faster. I hear voices from the open offices at the front before a knock comes on the door, and Kimberly peers in.
She wears a puzzled look. “A gentleman who claims to be your husband says he has an appointment with you. I think he’s a nut case.”
I shake my head. “He’s right. He is my husband.”
Her eyes almost pop out of her head. She moves to the side, and Declan strolls in.
All air leaves my lungs as I take in his casual but sexy look. Declan has the kind of looks and body that you cannot miss. First of all, he has confidence in spades, but there’s also the way his shoulders fill out his shirts, and when he gives me a dimpled smile, it sets my fantasies ablaze. His presence seems to take up all the free space in my large office.
“Declan.” I stand up and go around my desk.
He takes me into his arms briefly and kisses me. Hope soars in my chest. If he had plans to back out of our deal, he would not show me any affection.
“This is a very nice setup,” he says, looking around. “I noticed the same name in the boutique downstairs. Is it a sister company?”
“Yes, I started with the boutique, and when it picked up, I moved upstairs and left my trusted manager Maggie to run it.”
“You’ve done well for yourself,” he says, holding my gaze.
My heart thuds madly. Just a look from Declan and I’m transported back to our passionate moments. I almost moan aloud as I picture Declan between my legs doing the most delicious things with his tongue.
A smile tugs at the corners of his sensuous lips, and I freeze. Can he read my thoughts?
“If you like, we can go now,” I say, my voice shaky.
“Sure,” Declan says.
I pack my laptop and grab my handbag. Declan takes my hand as we leave the office. I know I’m red with embarrassment at the show he’s putting on.
We stop at Eric’s desk. “Eric, I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Declan Carter.”
He stands and strikes out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter.”
“Likewise,” Declan says, grinning. “Please call me Declan.”
When he looks away, he winks at me. I introduce Declan to Kimberly. I’ve never felt as stupid as I feel at that moment. I can see the questions in their eyes.
On the stairs, we meet Maggie, and I groan inwardly.
“Hi, boss,” she says, stopping a stair below us.
“Hi, Maggie,” I say. “I’m glad we’ve run into you. I was just about to pop into the store to introduce you to my husband.”
Maggie grips the staircase, but she’s cool and recovers seconds later.
“Declan Carter,” Declan says and shakes her hands.
“Maggie James,” she says with a wide smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’ll see you later,” I say and tug at Declan’s hand.
Relief floods me when we step outside.
Declan glances at me and chuckles. “That was a nightmare, wasn’t it?”
I laugh along. “It was, and I know they’ll have a ton of questions when I get back.”
He leads me to his car. “So where are we going?” I ask when I settle in the front passenger seat.
“First Bar,” Declan says and flashes me a dimpled smile that makes my heartbeat quicken in response.
It’s a normal reaction; after all, Declan is a very attractive man. What we have between us is amazing chemistry caused by our physical attraction for each other. That’s all. People get attracted to each other all the time.
“I bet you’ve never heard of it,” Declan says, his tone cheerful.
I’m glad we’re back to our normal flirty relationship.
“Never heard of it.”
Declan asks about my mom and Josh.
“They had a safe drive back to Arlen.”
He swings the car into Second Street, and I immediately spot the fire station. As well as I know the guys who work there, I’ve never been. I meet them outside of work, mostly at their homes. I’ve never had a reason to visit the fire station.
Declan slows the car and navigates it into a street parking space.
He hurries out and comes to my side to open the door for me. As I step out, his woodsy scent engulfs me, and I’m tempted to step into his arms and rest my head on his chest.
Instead, I head to the entrance of what I see now is a bar decorated at the front with firefighting paraphernalia. I’m aware of Declan’s gaze on me, and I exaggerate the swing of my hips. As we enter, he places his hand on the small of my back, sending tendrils of something deliciously wicked streaming through my system.
“Marian,” a familiar voice bellows, and Jason stands up from a table near the entrance and saunters toward us.
I laugh as he envelops me in a bear hug and my feet leave the ground.
“What are you doing here, beautiful lady?” Collins says, hugging me next. I’m passed around the uniformed firefighters like a favorite toy.
Declan man hugs the guys, and then we stand in a circle chatting. Amazingly, Declan and I both know all the guys, and yet we hadn’t met.
“So, I guess it’s true what we heard?” Michael says, dipping his hands in his pockets. “That you guys got hitched in Vegas?”
Chapter 14
Declan
It’s nice to finally be alone with Marian. Some of the guys look at her as a younger sister, but I didn’t miss the looks of interest in the single guys. I’m luc
ky that someone hasn’t snapped up Marian before now, and I’m glad everyone knows that we are married. Archaic, I know, but all men have it. Deep down, we are beasts, and we like to mark our territory.
I take in Marian’s official but sexy top that teases by showing a small amount of her cleavage. “You look incredible,” I tell her. “I’m tempted to take you to Pine Place and devour you.”
Her eyes widen before she adopts a cynical look. “We’re alone now. We don’t need to act like a couple in love.”
“I’m not acting,” I tell her. “I want you.”
A pink shade tints her cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re saying these things to me in public.”
“You’re my wife,” I remind her.
“Your fake wife.”
Before I can answer, Jim, one of the bar owners, comes to take our order, and I introduce Marian.
“You’ve got a special place here,” Marian says, and the silver-haired man grins, pleased with the compliment.
He goes on to tell her how he and his partner, Marcus, started it after they both retired as firefighters. I’ve heard the story many times before, but I listen, nonetheless.
They love their jobs, and I love how they can stay close to the community and do something constructive with their lives.
After he leaves with our orders, Marian turns to me. “We’ll pop in next door to look at the shop, won’t we?”
“Yes, if you like.”
She nods. A solemn look covers her pretty features. “Can we talk about my previous marriage and get it out of the way?”
I’m surprised that she’s brought it up and my admiration for her knows no bounds. When Marian’s mom dropped that bomb, my blood had gone cold and then hot. Now, embers of the same return but in a milder form. My stomach churns at the thought of Marian with someone else.
“Sure,” I tell her.
“Leonard and I were married for five years,” she says.
“What happened?” I say.
A closed look comes over her features. She shrugs. “Same thing that makes a lot of people divorce. We were wrong for each other.” That’s not much of an answer, but I won’t push it. I realize that divorce is a highly personal matter.
One Hot Fake: An Accidental Fake Marriage Romance Page 8