Page 37 of Tied Up in Riches

Marcus arches a brow.

My dad and I have weekly phone dates, so of course he knows about my boss, and it just made sense to tell him he’s my boyfriend when we made that deal. It’s not like I was rambling about a crush or anything. “We probably need rules,” I blurt, changing directions.

“Rules?”

“Yeah, you know . . . like where the line is. So we’re believable as a couple, but you don’t feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m not concerned. I can’t imagine a situation where we’d have to have sex in front of people. Unless this country club is more of the illegal sort of club.” He raises a brow.

“Right. I mean, no. It’s not. And definitely no sex. You are my boss after all.”

“Didn’t you just read a book where the girl had sex with her boss?” He smirks.

“Well, yeah. But that was a book.”

“Aren’t we pretending to date just like in a book?”

“Oh. Hmm. I see your point. Still, no sex.”

“Alright.” He chuckles. “No sex.”

My stomach drops, disappointment shooting through me. Why was I kind of hoping he’d object to that rule? “Okay, next rule . . . No talking to other girls while you’re here. My mom can spot sneaky from a mile away.”

“I’m not talking to other girls.”

“Yeah, remind me why that is again.”

“This is my first time having more than two days off in over a year,” he states, like that is enough of an answer.

“Right. Lexy said she tries to set you up a lot.”

“She does.”

“Do you go?”

“Most of the time, I’ll take them to coffee.”

“And . . .” My eyes drift to the car window behind him. Cotton candy pink wisps through the sky as we drive, the sun an orange glowing ball sinking into the horizon. It’s out of this world, and I let its beauty ground me, easing my anxiety from wishing that I could be one of the girls Marcus took to coffee and not because it was part of his newly appointed job as my fake boyfriend.

I focus back on him in time for his words to register. “And nothing.”

Nothing what? Nothing in common? No sparks? This man can be infuriating. “Tell me about your family.”

“What do you want to know?”

“How did your parents meet?”

“They both worked at an elementary school.”

“That’s so cool. Did you go to the same school?”

“Yup.” It’s annoying how he doesn’t elaborate. I hate having to dig for information.

“Must have been nice to have them around a lot.”

“Your parents weren’t?”

“Dad was the best parent he could be while also trying to appease my mom’s need for more financial security. At least until they got divorced. Mom has worked at the country club forever. She goes above and beyond for all the guests which is time-consuming.”

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