Page 36 of Love You Truly

“Would you cool it?” Beatrix smacks him across the shoulder. “You’re happy now. Leave Mallory out of it. And let Dash talk, for heaven’s sake.”

Jax looks chastened. He leans back in his chair, head down. “Fine. Sorry. You know I’m just messing with you, right?”

I nod. “And you’d better change your tune about her because she’s about to become a part of the family.”

I let that concept land without explanation, just to enjoy the chaos in the room for a minute. There are a lot of “what the hell?” and “sorry, what?” comments thrown about.

Then I explain our arrangement and how it benefits us both. My siblings seem appeased by the explanation, but then the questions begin again.

“Are you really going to be okay being married to her, even if it’s only temporary?” Beatrix asks. She can’t sit still when she thinks, and she’s already pacing circles around the room.

“I think it’ll be fine,” I say, realizing I haven’t thought everything through. The fake engagement seemed harmless enough, but when we’re married, we’ll be living together. She and I ought to talk about how to pull that off without annoying each other or getting in each other’s way.

Jax pins me with a stare, face a mask of seriousness. “All jokes aside, this is Mallory. She’s out for herself, and I don’t want you to lose sight of that. Just…don’t let your guard down, okay?”

I wave a hand. “I’m a big boy.” Besides, he sees what everyone else does in Mallory. I’m the one in the family who’s a good judge of character. “I don’t see red flags, so let’s not assume the worst, okay? All for the good of the business.”

I get some wary nods and a smile from PJ, who sits next to me. “I kind of love the idea, honestly.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

“Because I always thought you got a raw deal in terms of your reputation, and it’s not fair. This will shut people up, and they need some shutting up.”

I reach over and wrap an arm around PJ to hug her. “Thanks, PJ.” The youngest boy and youngest girl need to stick together. We’ve always had a special bond.

As to the rest of my siblings, they’ll just have to go along with it because Mallory and I are setting things in motion at the gala this weekend.

“As long as you’re good with it, so am I,” Beatrix says. My brothers nod in agreement.

“I am.” At least, I think I am.

CHAPTER 15

Mallory

Dash: Pick you up at seven

Me: I’ll meet you there

Dash: Wouldn’t a fiancé pick you up?

Me: Not tonight. You had to work late

Dash: I did?

Me: Yes. Making a little extra dough to buy me a present

Dash: Ah. Message received

I’m nervous. I shouldn’t be nervous because this is about the one-millionth fancy gala I’ve been to in my life, and I know how to do this. I know how to dress, work the room, smile at the appropriate people, and tug them along on the invisible string of hope.

Only tonight, I’m not going to hint at any of those things.

“At least the dress is gorgeous. The rest of you…kind of a mess,” Mary confirms, standing next to me and assessing me in the full-length mirror. We’re a mismatched pair, her wearing a pair of pale yellow overalls and red lipstick with her hair in a frizzy knot and me in a floor-length dress, bone-straight hair, and no makeup.

Rufus is splayed out on the floor, snoring like a bulldozer.

“Thanks, Mare. Not really the look I’m going for, though.” She’s right, however. The dress is perfect for tonight. Long, silky, black. It hugs every curve, and my four-inch stiletto heels make me look taller and slender.

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