Page 50 of Love in Fine Print

“It means that you can do what you want, with who you want, but be discreet.”

For some reason, that did not fucking sit well with me. The thought of her going out and having clandestine affairs, even if this wasn’t a ‘real’ relationship, made me sick to my stomach. If that was going to be the case, it was a deal breaker.

“So, you’re going to be dating other men while we're married?” I clarified.

“No.”

“So why is this in here?”

“I wouldn’t presume to expect you to forego sexual partners for twelve months.”

Little did she know, I’d already forgone sexual partners for twelve months. Longer than that, actually. It was closer to twenty-four months.

“Did you read the intimacy clause?” she asked.

“The only time that physical contact is permitted is in public and while in the presence of others.” I didn’t have to look that one up. I had memorized it. Verbatim. It was the one that gave me permission to kiss and touch her.

“This isnotgoing to be an intimate marriage,” she reiterated.

“I understand.”

“So you’re willing to give up sex for an entire year?” she questioned.

“I can do it if you can.”

I saw the spark of challenge in her eyes.

“Fine. Is there anything else?”

“No. I think that’s it.”

“Great.” She typed something into her computer.

A second later, Trevor walked in the door and closed it behind him. If I didn’t know any better, I would swear he’d been right outside the entire time.

“Is that the distant sound of wedding bells I hear?” he asked.

I looked back at Olivia.

“Trevor is a notary. He’ll be notarizing the contract,” she explained.

“My understanding was that no one, other than the two of us, would know about this arrangement. “I thought we weren’t supposed to?—”

“Trevor signed an NDA when he became my assistant. But even if he didn’t, he’s the one man I would trust with my life.”

I could see that her statement held weight. It was clear that she didn’t trust people easily. And every cell in my body wanted to be the man she trusted with her life. After all, I was about to be her husband.

21

OLIVIA

I staredat the chair my soon-to-be husband had just vacated.

Had that really happened?

Had I really negotiated and signed a legal contract for a fake marriage?

Had I really had Trevor come in and notarize the aforementioned legal contract for my fake marriage?

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