Page 31 of Wed to You

“I’m not giving it to you. It’s not charity. Think of it as a business deal. You help me, I’ll help you.”

This was ridiculous. “Don’t you think people would figure this all out? It probably wouldn’t go over well with the judge if he found out you entered into a marriage of convenience just to keep Kaden.”

“No one will know that’s what this is. But even if they did, it shows my level of commitment.”

Her head dropped to the side and she pursed her lips in a “do you really believe that” expression. “How could they not know? We hardly know each other and all of a sudden we’re getting married?”

“We could say we kept the relationship a secret because you were his teacher. It wouldn’t be totally out of left field. People had to have seen us at pizza the other night.”

“You’ve thought this through.”

“I have. Kaden is the most important thing in my life.”

“So why me? I’m sure you can find a wife that won’t cost you a fortune in debt.”

He blew out a breath. “Probably, but I want someone local; someone who would make a good mother figure for Kaden.”

“Right, and who better than a kindergarten teacher?” Now all his questions about her life at lunch made sense.

“Yes. But it helps that we know each other and that I like you. We need to pull off a deception that suggests we’re in love. It’s easier to do if you like the other person.”

She got hung up on the word deception. “It doesn’t bother you that this is unethical? Is it even legal?”

“Marrying for love is a fairly new concept in the world. Historically, marriage was a business relationship. Second, it’s unethical that I won’t get a fair shake at this simply because I’m not his father. I’ve done everything for that little boy and none of it counts for anything against a mother, even though she abandoned him.”

That did seem unfair, but it didn’t completely overcome the big problems in his plan. “How long would this marriage last?”

He shrugged. “As long as it takes.”

Chelsea had had students in her class who’d been in custody disputes. Most of those cases went on for months. Some over a year. A few continued to reoccur. So if she agreed to this, she would be committing to it for some time.

“You said you talked to a lawyer in case she filed, which means she hasn’t yet. Shouldn’t you wait until she does before entering into a marriage of convenience?”

“You said it would already look suspicious. I suspect it would be even more so if I did it after she filed.”

“What if she doesn’t file?”

“Then your house is paid for and I dodged a bullet. But Tanya has gone out of her way to come here, which suggests she’s serious. She told me she’s talked to a lawyer, so it’s probably only a matter of time before she files for custody.”

He’d definitely been thinking long and hard about every detail of his situation. Which then led to the next question of how this marriage would play out.

“Would we live here?”

“Yes.”

“So, why would I need my house that you’re graciously going to pay off?”

“We’d keep it because it’s your family’s legacy. We could rent it out.”

He really had thought of everything. “So I’d have a room here?”

He shifted, his eyes narrowed. “No. You’d stay with me.”

She cocked her head and lifted a brow, while simultaneously telling her hormones to cool it.

“Look. Everyone, including Kaden and the people who work for me, would need to believe this is legit. To do that, you need to stay with me. I’ve got a big bed and promise not to touch you.”

Chelsea couldn’t stop the little sink of her heart at that, which was stupid. It must have shown on her face because he added, “Unless you want me to.”

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