Page 28 of Just My Fake Husband

“Something like that.” And to be sure, there’s a level of self-service to this, too. I can’t live with this level of guilt. I have to make things right and become the man my father needs me to become.

“There’s something you should know,” she says.

Her face is so grave, a zip of panic flies through my veins. “What is it?”

“So a couple of years ago, I decided to invest in something that turned out to be . . . not great. And so that’s honestly why I had to sell the house. To pay that off. I was trying to make our situation better and instead, I made it much worse.” Her gaze is on her shoes.

“Well, what kind of investment was it?”

“You’re mister secret keeper. I don’t need to tell you.”

“I told you my secrets. There’s nothing I’m hiding. If we’re getting married, we should be honest with each other.”

She turns and walks over to the fireplace mantle. She whisks a finger along the top and I imagine there used to be knickknacks there that are now boxed up. “I was a silent partner in an oxygen bar start-up in Boulder.”

“Oxygen bar?” I know I shouldn’t laugh. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting that.”

“Hey, I took Skye there a couple of times and think it really helped her processing times. I thought it was a worthy cause. Therearehealth benefits, you know.”

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“That brings up another point. I’m terribly unlucky. You should know that before you agree to get into bed with me.” She smacks her hands over her eyes. “Ugh. You know what I mean.”

I can’t curb my laughter any longer, so I let it loose for a moment before I regain my composure. “All of this has been duly noted. I still want to marry you.”

She fights an unruly smile. “So do we shake on it or something?”

“Pinky promise? Blood oath?”

She’s not amused. “Your nonchalance isn’t boding well.”

“It’s probably some coping mechanism I don’t want to dissect right now.”

“Yeah, it is. Guaranteed.” She’s looking me over like I’m the worst thing ever. However, her eyes, through the tears, show a level of resolve that, frankly, sorta scares me.

“We’ll be in touch, then,” I say.

“You know how to find me.”

“I’ll come by your work as soon as I get the contract made up.”

She blanches. “My work? No. Absolutely not.”

“Why not? As your fiancé, I’d be visiting you at work all the time.”

“You’re not—” she takes a cleansing breath. “Are we really saying we’re already engaged?”

“We’ll figure all that out tomorrow. The backstory and stuff. Besides, it would be helpful for people to see us together before we make the announcement. It’s going to be kind of fun.”

She gives me another withering look.

Something about being around River feels a whole lot like fun, even when we’re planning the demise of our own marriage.

And this will definitely cause our demise.

Chapter 10

River

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