Page 44 of Just My Fake Husband

Out of my peripheral vision, the Deputy Clerk is gawking at us. It dawns on me that we can’t be acting like that was our first kiss. I smile sweetly, placing my hands on his lapel and going in for one more quick smooch.

Milo pronounces us man and wife and Gabriel and I look at each other. His clear blue eyes are wide, his mouth is twisted down in a frown. He looks all discombobulated like,Did that just happen?

Yes. Yes, it did.

And now I have to go have a wedding night—at arm’s length—with a man I barely know and who will, in twelve short (or very long?) months, be my ex.

Chapter 15

Gabriel

River’s posture is rigid as she stares ahead while she and I are driving away from the courthouse.

Jana took Skye back to Caring Souls and Milo went back to the resort, so it’s only the two of us.

“Did you send the photos to your family?” Her tone of voice is as breezy as if she’d asked me what I’d eaten for breakfast. Except she’s in a wedding dress and we just got married, so the tone isn’t fitting at all.

The photos she’s referring to are the ones Jana and Milo took. A few right after the ceremony—probably with my luck, during the kiss—and a few out on the steps of the courthouse. It doesn’t matter who knows what we just did. Let the news spread far and wide. It’s a done deal. No one can try to talk us out of it now.

River Judkins is, technically, my wife. And she looks stunning and sexy in that gown.

I clear my throat, focusing on keeping the car steady on the winding road ahead. “I haven’t sent the photos yet. I thought I’d wait until tomorrow morning. There’s going to be pandemonium. Everyone’s going to think we’ve lost our ever-loving minds.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from the Tates.”

I only grunt, glancing over at River before recommitting to keeping my eyes on the road from now on. Again, my mind fixates on how unbelievably beautiful she looks in the dress and if I’m not careful, I’m going to be having thoughts of what an orthodox wedding night would be like.

And I cannot go there.

This whole thing isunorthodox, and my action plan for this year is to remember that.

I heard her on the phone with the person she trusts most, Jana, last week. It was clear she doesn’t want to be married. And even though I know that logically, I’ve known it all along, a small part of me wondered if we’d eventually come to terms with it and maybe enjoy it when it’s all said and done.

I wondered if maybe we’d even fall for each other. But she’s only doing this for the money Skye will be getting.

Which makes sense. I have my own ulterior motives, too. I made that clear right up front. She knows what this is.

But for her to feel so much . . . animosity . . . toward me. Well, it’s hard to take that in stride sometimes.

So, yeah. Buttoning up every thought of her as anything but a business partner—someone I’m orchestrating a brilliant means to an end with—is essential.

“I love the ring,” she adds quietly, stretching her arm out and twisting her hand back and forth.

“It looks good on you. And the pink nails are nice, too.” Why does my voice sound funny, like I’m trying to convince my teacher not to send me to detention?

“What do you think of your ring?” Her mouth twists to one side and what I thought was vulnerability now seems like teasing.

I bring my left hand up and curl my fingers into my palm so I can see it. “I need to get a better look at it, but I like it. Thank you.”

“My options were limited. But come on, who else can say their wedding ring has a sword in a stone and the word ‘Excalibur!’ engraved on it?”

“Is that what that is?” I clear my throat. “That’s cool.” We’re in this stage of extreme politeness, which is either kind of funny or very pathetic.

A ring with a medieval sword on it could be a good omen. Then again, she might have gotten it to mess with me.

In any case, I’m impressed.

“What did you think of the ceremony?” I ask, realizing before the sentence is fully out of my mouth that I sound like her earlier, like I could be asking something casual like if she wants ice in her drink.

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