by Tia Siren
I chuckled at his joke until I realized he was serious. I knew the guy was wealthy, but I wondered how much money he had. It didn’t matter because his money wasn’t the answer to the problem. I didn’t care if he was a millionaire. I didn’t want a single penny of that money, but it would certainly benefit Iris.
“That sucks. Meanwhile, Iris is in a strange home with strange people taking care of her. I really hate that.”
“I do too, which is why I’m willing to do anything to get her out of there,” he said, looking me in the eyes.
I nodded. “I am too. I think I’m ready to hear more about your fake marriage plan.”
“You are?” he asked. The shock at my statement was evident on his face. “Good, because I was ready to pull out all the stops to convince you.”
I nodded. “I am. I’m not saying I like the idea or even think it will work, but I’m willing to listen. Hit me with what you have in mind.”
“I think if we get married, we can prove to Janice that we are financially stable, and you would be at home with Iris. It’s the best of both worlds. There is no way any judge would turn us down. Her beef with me was my lack of experience with kids or nurturing qualities. She doesn’t think you’ll work out because you don’t have a job. Together, we make the perfect couple to adopt and raise Iris.”
I glared at him. “I have a job, and I don’t know if I’m willing to be a stay-at-home mom. I do have a college degree I would like to use.”
“Later, after we get custody and get them off our backs. Then we’ll hire a nanny and you can work,” he said, casual and blasé about something I found to be important. He clearly didn’t.
I looked at him, thinking it was all too easy. “What about you? What do you gain or lose in all this?”
He shrugged. “I gain Iris. I get to know my sister’s baby, and she stays with family.”
“And are you still going to be partying? Do you have a steady girlfriend or are you still hopping from bed to bed?” I asked, curious about his status for personal reasons too.
He shrugged. “I don’t have a girlfriend, and I wouldn’t be bringing women home.”
I nodded, fighting the twinge of jealousy I felt when he didn’t say he wouldn’t still be out fucking around.
“This marriage, it’s fake in every sense of the word,” I stated.
He leaned back in the booth, sipping his coffee. “If you insist. Or we can make it more enjoyable for both of us.”
My jaw dropped. “Yes, I insist! Listen, if you think you’re going to sweet talk me into bed again, this conversation is over. I am only considering this because I want what’s best for Iris, and I know that’s me.”
He shrugged. “Me too. Trust me, getting married is not exactly what I had in mind when I came down here.”
“Then it’s a marriage on paper. I’m not having sex with you. We’re not going to be sharing a bed or acting married when we’re behind closed doors,” I insisted.
“Fine with me. You act as if I’m trying to get you in my bed.”
I stared at him with disgust. “History tends to repeat itself. I’m wiser now and not so naïve. I’m not going to fall for your charms.”
He shook his head before leaning across the table. “Avery?”
“What?” I said, leaning back against the booth to get away from him and his piercing eyes. I crossed my arms protectively over my chest as if that would somehow shield me from him.
“I didn’t sweet talk you into bed. You came on to me. You were the one following me all over that party and flirting with me. You were a very willing and eager participant if I remember correctly,” he said in that silky-smooth voice that screamed sex. “And, if I remember right, you had a really, really good time.” He winked.
I glared at him. “I think you remember incorrectly. I was eighteen and a virgin,” I hissed. “I didn’t know if it was a good time because I had nothing to compare it to.”
He smiled. “I know. And now?”
“And now what?”
“You’ve had sex with other men, right? How’d they compare?”
I gasped. “You’re-you’re—” I stopped talking. I couldn’t find the right word.
He took that as a compliment. “I’m good. The greatest you’ve ever had?”
My eyes widened. He actually looked proud of himself. I so wanted to kick him in the shin. He must have read my mind. I heard his feet shuffle under the table.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“What?” I asked innocently.
“You’re going to try to kick me. Don’t. Quit acting like a damn two-year-old. My god, you better not teach this shit to Iris.”
“As if you know what a two-year-old acts like. Remember, you need me because you are clueless about children,” I reminded him.
He shrugged. “You’re right. That is why I need you. I only need you to help me get Iris. I’m not looking for the perfect little family. I don’t want a family. Families just bring headaches and—”
He stopped talking. I had a feeling he was going to say heartache. I wanted to comfort him and tell him not all families died young, but I didn’t exactly have a lot to go on.
Instead, I nodded my head. “I understand,” I said softly. “I’m not looking for a family either. I want Iris.”
“Then it’s settled. I’m going to get the ball rolling.”
“How are you going to do that?” I asked, wondering what in the hell he had in mind.
“Lawyers. Very expensive lawyers are going to make this plan come to life. You’re on board, right?”
I reluctantly nodded my head. “I am.”
“Good. As soon as I get the details ironed out, I’ll call you. We have to move fast on this,” he said, pushing his half-empty coffee cup to the edge of the table.
He stood up and walked out of the café. I sat in the booth, watching him go, wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. I took another drink of my coffee before ordering that cheesecake I had been jonesing for. I definitely needed some sugar after agreeing to marry what I would say was a close relative of the devil himself.
“You okay?” the waitress said, bringing me the cheesecake.
I nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
I ate my cheesecake and pondered my future. I wondered what all the marriage would entail. Would we have to live together? I groaned at the thought of having to see him every day.
By the time I got home, it was late. Sally was in the living room reading when I walked in the door.
“Hi,” I said when I spotted her.
“Hi there. Any luck today?”
I shook my head. “No. Not really.”
I hesitated, knowing I should tell her about my deal with Jake, but I felt really embarrassed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, closing the book in her lap.
“I’m, um, going to marry Jake Colter.”
Both her eyebrows shot up, nearly reaching her silvery hairline. “You’re going to do what? Please, sit down and tell me everything.”
I sat on the couch, took a deep breath, and told her our plan. She was smiling by the time I got through it.
“Well, I guess you’ve had a very productive day.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know about that. I think I may have just sold my soul to the devil.”
“I think it’s all going to work out fine. Keep an open mind. I bet you’re going to be so busy with that little baby, you’re not going to have time to worry about that man.”
“I hope so. I know this is the right thing to do for Iris. I just hope I don’t end up regretting it too badly.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Time will tell.”
“I’m going to bed. I’m crashing off my sugar high. Hopefully I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
“Good night, dear.”
I headed to my room and thought about where I would be living in the next week or two. I had no idea how long it would take for Jake to take care of things like he had talked abo
ut. I should have asked for more details. I didn’t know if he was talking tomorrow or a month from now. How much longer was I going to be free to make my own decisions?
I wasn’t sure if what we were doing was illegal, but I was willing to take the risk. This was for Iris. I could do anything for her.
Chapter Fourteen
Jake
I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. My palms were sweaty, and I felt hot around the collar of my shirt. I fought the urge to loosen my tie. I couldn’t. I had to maintain appearances. This was too important to screw up.
“Are you coming?” I asked when Avery picked up the phone, doing my best not to sound too impatient.
“I just pulled into the parking lot.”
“Did you wear a dress?” I asked, knowing it was a stupid detail, but this all had to look good.
She sighed. “Yes, I wore a dress.”
“I’m outside, on the steps. Hurry up.”
She grumbled before hanging up the phone. It wasn’t long before I saw her carefully climbing the steps to the courthouse in a pretty white dress. It was a summery beach-type dress that looked perfect on her figure. It was then I realized how pretty she was. I had always been too busy being pissed at her or guarding my shins to really notice how beautiful she was.
“I’m here,” she said, slightly out of breath from her climb up the courthouse steps.
“Good. Here, put this on,” I said, sliding a giant rock on her finger.
“What’s this?” she asked, pulling her hand away.
I shrugged. “I can’t have you going in there without an engagement ring. This has to look legit.”
She nodded. “I know. I got it. Let’s get this over with.”
Drew was standing near the front doors, smiling like an idiot.
I took a deep breath, knowing there was no way I was going to get around the introductions.
“Drew, Avery. Avery, this is Drew. He works for me and is here on business. He’ll be acting as our witness.”
Drew extended his hand before leaning in and kissing Avery on the cheek. “I’m also his only friend, but he doesn’t like to admit that.”
“I’m not surprised,” she said.
“Can we get through this without you insulting me or kicking me?” I said.
“Now who won’t let go of the past?” she snapped.
We managed to get through security and to the judge I had on standby. With Drew watching, I married Avery. She slid the silver band on my finger, and a short time later, we exchanged a chaste kiss. Even though our lips barely touched, I felt an electric shock tear through my body, and it had nothing to do with static electricity.
She pulled away, and when I opened my eyes, she was looking at me strangely. I reminded myself over and over that this was for Iris. I couldn’t let the ring on my finger freak me out, even though it felt like a ring of fire connected to the pits of hell. I’d worry about the consequences later. I would also think about my body’s primal response to the kiss later. That had been strange. Good, but strange.
“Let’s go get some lunch,” I suggested. “It will give us a chance to go over everything that needs to happen from here on out.”
“Good; I’m starving. The guy never feeds me,” Drew quipped.
Avery smiled. “I’m sorry. Now that I’m his ball and chain, I will do what I can to ensure he gets you on a feeding schedule.”
Drew laughed, and I felt a slight twinge of jealousy. I ignored that as well and ordered Avery to ride over with us in my car. She hesitated and tried to say she would meet us, but I refused to take no for an answer. I was kind of liking my husband power. I knew she only caved in because Drew asked her nicely, but the point was she was doing what I wanted.
The restaurant was upscale but not so fancy it was uncomfortable.
“How long have you known him?” Drew asked Avery, referring to me.
She rolled her eyes. “By him, are you referring to my dear, sweet husband?”
Drew laughed. “I am.”
She put her hand to her chin and looked at me. “I don’t know, ten, fifteen years. I mean, he was around when Tracy and I were little, but he was always too cool to hang out with us.”
“Wow. You are the last person on this earth to have known him when he was a kid. What was he like?” Drew asked.
“Hello? He’s right here. You’re talking about me as if I’m not,” I said.
“Exactly like that,” Avery replied. “Cranky. Always cranky and always so serious.”
“I was not,” I shot back.
“I believe you,” Drew said, laughing over my irritation.
I sat back and watched the two of them chat like they were old friends. Avery was a completely different woman with him. Once again, I felt jealous of the easy way they could talk. She wasn’t spitting fire at him or trying to kick him in the shins. She could say she wasn’t mad at me all she wanted, but it was obvious she was. It was the only reason I could think of for her instant dislike of me.
I smiled, thinking about who had really won the game between us. She could hate me all she wanted and tell me how much she disliked me, but it didn’t matter. We were married now. She was stuck with me until death did us part or I could divorce her.
“Why are you smiling?” Drew asked.
I kept smiling. “Oh, thinking about the future.”
Avery looked at me, and I could see that fire in her eyes. “The future?”
I nodded. “You’re stuck with me.”
“On paper, buddy. I don’t have to like you, and I only have to be nice to you when certain people are watching. Don’t get too cocky.”
Drew raised his eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the woman’s distaste for me. I knew it was shocking. I had never encountered such hostility from a woman before.
“So, you’re still mad at him?” Drew said in a low voice.
She looked at him, horrified. “He told you?”
Drew nodded. “He didn’t give me the details, but yes. I told him he was a jerk.”
She smiled. “Good. He was. He still is. I can’t believe I married him.”
“Him is sitting right here!” I reminded them both.
They both laughed, and I had to sit there and take it. I could read Avery like an open book. She was mad because she’d obviously had a crush on me back then. She had thought we were going to be together and have some happily-ever-after nonsense. That had been her own naivety. She couldn’t possibly hold me responsible for her thoughts and hopes.
In the end, she did end up marrying me. That should have given her some solace. Maybe it wasn’t the wedding of her dreams, and it certainly wasn’t going to be the happily ever after she was looking for, but she got me. And I would take care of her, which reminded me we had important matters to discuss.
“If you two are done with the Jake-bashing, can we discuss what happens next?”
“Like what?” Drew asked. “I don’t think she wants to take a honeymoon with you. It was hard enough to get her to share the same car to lunch.”
I shot him a look. He and Avery burst into laughter over my irritation.
“Good. Great. Are you two kids ready to play grown-up now? This may surprise you, but this whole thing was done for a reason. It isn’t a joke. Can we please get down to business?”
Avery nodded. “You’re right. What’s next? Do we call Janice and tell her we’re married and we want Iris?”
I shook my head. “We need to get a house. Remember, she wants Iris to have her own room, and it needs to look homey.
She nodded her head. “Okay. That could take some time.”
“No, it won’t. I’ll have something by the end of the day or first thing tomorrow.”
She scoffed in disgust. “Of course you will. Whatever Jake wants, Jake gets.”
“I’m not going to apologize for being determined and wealthy. I do want this, and I will get it.”
“So you get a house, then we tell Janice?” she asked.
; I looked at Drew, watched him grimace, and dove right in. “We’ll both need to move into the house.”
“What? I thought that wasn’t until later? You want me to move in with you?”
“We’re married. Don’t married people generally share a home together?”
“They share a bed together as well, but we are not doing that,” she stated firmly.
I looked at her and watched her squirm. She kept insisting on the no bed thing. The woman had sex on the brain. I hadn’t brought up sex or sharing a bed together. It was always her. She seemed convinced I was some sex-crazed maniac who couldn’t wait to take advantage of her. I needed to dismiss that notion right away.
“Avery, I have already agreed to a no-sex marriage. I think you are confused about why I wanted to marry you. Trust me, I’m not trying to get you in my bed. I don’t have to try with any woman. I’m not going to try to persuade you or take advantage of you. I don’t need to. Trust me, there are plenty of women who will eagerly and willingly climb into my bed. Your body is safe. Get over it.”
Drew looked at me, then Avery, and then back at me, shaking his head slightly, telling me I had fucked up.
“Oh, really. Do you plan on bringing your parade of women home? The home where I will be? How exactly will you explain that to them and then to the state? And, Jake, I will never trust you about anything,” she seethed.
I could see how pissed she was. I hadn’t truly meant to piss her off, but good god, the woman would not get over the sex thing.
“Let’s all take a deep breath. Avery, Jake didn’t mean to offend you, did you, Jake?”
I shook my head no.
“Jake, Avery has some valid concerns. I think she wants you to apologize for whatever happened in the past. If he apologizes, could we move past all that stuff and get you guys a nice new home together?” he said with a cheesy smile.
“I don’t need an apology.”
“Good, because I don’t think I need to apologize. I am sorry I was a dick. I’ve already told you that. But, really, let’s move on. You have to pretend you can stand to be in the same room with me if we want to sell this. The animosity you feel toward me practically flows out of your body,” I told her, hoping to make her realize she wasn’t fooling anyone.