Page 27 of A Package Deal

My heart swelled and sank at the same time. “I assume this is fake…right?”

“Sure it is.” The smirk was back.

I narrowed my eyes, ready to blast him for being an absolute idiot for giving his temporary wife a real diamond and gold ring, but he stepped back and pulled the door closed with a soft click. I shook my head, trying to wrap my brain around everything that had happened today. Looking at myself in the mirror, I made a face. What the hell was I doing in a wedding dress? I reached behind me and slid down the short zipper and let the material fall to my bare feet. Maybe getting the thing off would help my nerves settle down. Yes, I got married. No, it wasn’t for anything other than a strategy to keep my daughter. Didn’t matter that Warrick seemed to be kinder than any human I’d ever met…or richer. Or more handsome.

With a frustrated growl, I turned away from the mirror and stepped into the bath. I couldn’t help the moan that came out of my mouth as the warm water enveloped all my aching muscles. I tossed my long hair over the back of the tub and rested my skull against the porcelain. The bubbles tickled my chest, the heat from the water below causing every square inch of skin to pucker into goose bumps.

It didn’t take long for my thoughts to slow down. Or my breathing to return to normal. My muscles unwound and my stress melted away. A bubble bath might not be actual magic, but it was close. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a bath. Not since Georgia was born. I swore that the next house I lived in, I’d make time for a bath, even if only once a year.

The door creaked and my eyelids flew open. My arms went to cover various parts of me, making water slosh everywhere. Warrick stood there with a stack of clothing.

“Get out!”

“Relax. I just brought clothes to change into. Unless you want to wear your wedding dress all day? Ahh, that’s really sweet, wife.”

If I’d had something to throw, it would have already hit him in the head.

He chuckled and the rich sound of it grated on my nerves. “I can’t see anything through those bubbles anyway.”

I shook my head, furious at the oaf whom I was now legally bound to. I also felt my nipples bead into tight peaks beneath my arm. My body was a traitor, clearly not understanding that the gorgeous man in the room wasn’t actually my husband. I mean, he was, but absolutely none of that kind of thing would be happening today or any day.

“Just get out, Dick,” I sighed.

The fucker winked at me, not in any hurry to leave. I wondered just how long the bubbles would stay intact.

“Will do, but don’t stay too long. We have to pick Georgia up in an hour and then I’m taking us all out to dinner to celebrate.”

Why did he never pose any of his ideas as a question? Always commands and orders with this guy. Then again, my experience with men told me they all did it.

“You’re quite bossy, did you know that?” I snarled.

“I know. But why argue when the end result is so good? You’re enjoying that bath, right? Pretty sure I heard a groan.”

I glared at him. “You little pervert. Got your ear to the door?”

He chuckled. “No, sweetheart, you were just that loud. Are you always…that loud?”

His innuendo was clear.

“Get. The fuck. Out.”

“Yes, ma’am.” And then he was gone, leaving me hotter than the bathwater.

Unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing I enjoyed the bath, I made myself get out and towel off. Which pissed me off. I would have liked to stay in there the full hour until we had to leave. Instead, I picked up the clothes he’d left for me.

“What the hell?” I whispered to myself. I didn’t recognize the shirt or the shorts. Or the undergarments. The shirt itself was made of some kind of expensive silk with lace at the shoulder caps. It was beautiful and simple all at the same time. Something I’d love to wear.

But not mine.

Where had he gotten these clothes? I slipped into the bra, rolling my eyes when the material felt like it was spun from angel dust. The damn thing fit perfectly too, gently cupping my breasts and somehow lifting them into something more than they actually were. The panties were no different. No scratchy bargain lace here. The back side was missing material, however, leaving my cheeks bare when I normally went for grannie panties I didn’t have to dig out of my crack every two seconds on the job. The jean shorts fit perfectly as well, but I didn’t recognize the brand.

I looked up, seeing my reflection in the mirror. The pale yellow of the blouse made my blue eyes look brighter and deeper. I looked like me, but different. Older. Prettier. More relaxed. For a second, I admired myself, letting my brain spin out of control and wonder what it would be like to actually be married to Warrick. Not for business reasons. Not temporarily. Would he lavish me with outfits all the time? Would he buy me more jewelry? Cars? Vacations?

The very thought of it was so enticing and so foreign, I made myself turn away from the mirror with a grunt of disgust.

Warrick could do whatever he wanted with his money, but I had to keep my wits about me. This was temporary. He didn’t have feelings for me, and no matter how hot I thought he was, there was no future for us. The lure of riches held no sway with me. Men had betrayed me over and over. It was only a matter of time before Warrick did too. Better to focus on Georgia and stand on my own two feet. That way no man could ever sweep the rug out from under me again.

Boundaries fully intact, I left the bathroom and all those juvenile dreams behind me.

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