Page 20 of Marrying Off My Husband

He wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. “No.”

“Spencer, be nice. She’s a sweet girl. Go, go.” I gave him a swat to encourage him as I hurried down the hall.

A glance over my shoulder showed Spencer peering into the living room again. I raced up the stairs and hurried to the railing overlooking the downstairs.

Voices floated up to me, and I clapped a hand over my mouth to cover a giggle at Spencer’s fake surprise.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

“Hi, sorry…I’m Eve, a friend of Louise’s.”

“Spencer,” he answered.

“Oh, I’ve got the earrings right here!” I shouted over the railing, not wanting him to ruin this by saying anything more.

I overheard Eve explaining the earring situation as I raced for my bedroom, grabbed a pair of pink gems, and made my way downstairs.

“Oh,” I said, feigning surprise as I stepped into the living room, “you two have met. That’s perfect.”

And they did look perfect together—a handsome couple, if I did say so myself.

Spencer offered me a nervous grin as I sauntered closer, handing over the pink gem earrings to Eve. “Here you go, darlin’. These should complete your ensemble.”

Eve accepted them with a shy smile, her eyes flicking between the earrings and Spencer. “Thank you, Lou. They’re beautiful.”

I grinned. “Like you two. You look so adorable together.”

Eve’s delicate features crinkled, her confusion obvious.

“Just as I suspected,” I said, leaning back to eye them up.

“I’m not sure I follow,” Eve said, her smile faltering.

I gave her a teasing laugh. “Oh, Eve, don’t be so modest. Seeing you two together just confirms what I knew in my heart. You’re just perfect for each other.”

Eve glanced at Spencer, who eyed me with a silent plea to stop. I ignored him, of course. Her expression mixed surprise with discomfort as she shifted her gaze back to me.

“And since you’re both here and getting along so famously, may I suggest something a little bold?”

“What?” Eve asked.

I leaned closer, my voice lowering to conspiratorial whisper. “I want you to be with my husband.”

CHAPTER 6

SPENCER

Ihurried downstairs to peer into the living room as Louise’s vivacious voice carried through the house. She was here…and it sounded like she’d brought the woman she wanted me to date. I couldn’t wait to see how awful of a choice she’d made. What socialite had she found that she deemed a good match for me.

My mind vetted the options as I bounced down the stairs as quietly as I could. Thoughts of the disastrous dates Louise might have concocted played like a horror movie in my mind. I imagined a leggy blonde with a penchant for sun-bathing and money. Or maybe a sultry brunette who enjoyed loud dance clubs and high-profile social events–exactly the kind of scene that drained me just by thinking about it. Oh, yeah, and she’d also like money.

Either option made my skin crawl.

I’d seen plenty of these types sauntering around the clubs in too-tight dresses and pounds of make-up in search of their next catch. I was determined not to be one of them.

The memory of my last horrible date, an experience filled with awkward silences and forced conversations, reminded me why I was so resistant to stepping back into the dating scene.

If Louise had picked a dame like that, I’d flat out refuse to date her. I’d have to give in at some point if I wanted her to succumb to my plan, but I wouldn’t do it for anyone who didn’t look at least remotely like a non-gold-digger.

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