Page 22 of Just My Fake Husband

But of course she hasn’t. Who would have? I can only tell her I’m sorry and ask her to tell me more about them, what they were like.

She says a few things, like how her parents loved learning and were responsible for how sharp and well-rounded Skye is.

Soon, it’s getting dark, and the tow truck still isn’t here.

“Let me make a call,” I tell her, knowing Sebastian can probably get things going. He’s got to know somebody who can help.

I walk down the road a few yards to get a better signal, call him, and join her back at the car. “Sebastian’s taking care of it. Let me take you home, and we’ll go to the mechanic shop in the morning once they’ve had a chance to look at it.”

“It’s fine. You go home. I’m good to wait.”

“River, don’t be stubborn.”

“You’re the stubborn one, not letting me wait. This is my car. I need to make sure it’s okay. Besides, I have a bottle of water and a paper sack of my dad’s old lemon drops in the glovebox. I could survive for days.”

“Come on. Let’s go.” I shake my keys. “I’m not going to leave you on the side of Lakeside Road.”

“It’s Longdale, which means I’ll be fine to wait here by myself. Skye won’t get home for a while.”

“Bears and mountain lions aren’t going to mess with your car, but they most certainly will mess with you.” I start walking toward my car, the gravel crunching under my feet.

“Yeah, because bears and mountain lions are like you. You are a plague that won’t stop messing with me.”

“That’s me. The plague,” I toss behind me. I push the remote start-up and the engine purrs to life. “Get over it and get in my car.”

“Whoa. Stranger danger.”

I spin around. “River. Come on. Sebastian’s contacted the guy but he’s on the other side of the county helping out with an accident. It could literally be hours.”

“Why? You hoping to talk me into your marriage scheme?”

I scratch the back of my head. “I was wondering when that was going to come up.”

“So? Were you hoping to talk me into it? Is that why you’re here?”

I’ll give her this, she knows how to push my buttons. “How was I even supposed to know you were broken down by the side of the road? I stopped because that’s the decent thing to do.” I don’t mention that I did a double take when I saw her because no one can notice how nicely she fills out those jeans without wanting to stop. It would be impossible.

Her mouth forms a thin line before she speaks again. “Decent? Is it decent to ask me to marry you so you can get back into your dad’s good graces?”

I swipe my hand across my mouth. “I don’t know why you’re picking a fight with me, but I guess not.” I shrug. This woman. “I guess it isn’t decent. And so, I’m sorry. I thought it might be beneficial to us both.”

“I still don’t understand why me? You could have anyone and you’re asking me? Because let me be honest here. I don’t date, okay?” Her arms spread wide before slapping against her thighs.“I haven’t in years. I take care of Skye and I work. That’s about it. It’s the way it has to be. So not only would it be completely unbelievable considering I never date anyone, but that mere fact means I can’t just be casual about stuff like this. Asking me this was . . . you just don’t know me at all.”

“You’re right, I don’t. But I would like to get to know you.” I pause. “And to answer your question, there is no one else, River. I can’t ask someone in Denver . . . there’s too much of a chance it would get out. If anyone so much as suspects anything fishy about this, it’s all over. So, for one thing, you’re the only marriageable person I know who isn’t in Denver, but isn’t too far away, either. Because I have to be close to Foundations but not too close, you know? And it would make sense that we’ve been dating. You work for my brother, so it’s plausible we would know each other. No one has to know that we just met.”

She sniffs and fixes me with a hard stare.

“You’re a good person, River.” I start ticking things off my fingers. “You have a good reputation. You’re attractive.”

A whisper of a smile graces her face. “Oh really?”

“Yes. That’s not exactly a revelation.”

“It’s not?” Her brows go in the air.

“It’s not.”

“Why would the person you marry have to be attractive, though? Are you saying someone’s only marriage material if they’re attractive?”

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