Page 64 of Accidental Fiancé

Before she answered, I said, “You know, I thought you were asking a superhero question but I was wrong. You're asking a supervillain question, which is making me second guess everything I thought I knew about your comic book collection.”

Marcus laughed. “Maybe when I was younger, I was into the heroes. These days, I'm old enough to know the villains are the interesting ones.”

Well, that just made him and Chloe make a lot more sense.

“If I had to be invisible for a day, I would probably go to Tiffany's and try on all the engagement rings,” Chloe said, bringing us back to the point. “A girl has to be prepared, right, Maggie? Let me see your ring again.”

Maggie raised her hand, flashing the diamond at her. “See?”

“I thought you said it was big enough to be a difficulty when you were baking. I can't imagine that getting in the way.” She tipped her head at me. “Thoughtful of you to get her a ring so small, otherwise, she might have lost it in a muffin.”

“Looks plenty big to me. Too big, really. She has tiny hands,” Marcus chimed in.

“I'm going to the restroom.” Maggie left us behind, probably too pissed to speak. It was all over her face.

Apollo waved at his brother from the deep end, beckoning him over. Marcus tensely grumbled, “Great, now I get to explain why I told everybody about Apollo's DUI.” He removed his shirt before diving in and swimming to his brother, leaving me alone with Chloe. Goody.

She flattened her lounger and laid back. “Didn't need to ask you truth or dare. I already know your truth.”

I feigned boredom while everything inside of me tensed up. “And what's that, Chloe? What do you think you know?”

“You're faking your engagement.”

An incredulous laugh chirped out of me. How the fuck did she know that? “Is that right? Someone should have told my jeweler he could have used cubic zirconia instead of the diamond.”

“Oh, the ring is real enough. But you two? No. And you're going to pay me a million dollars a day for me to keep this quiet during Yaya’s birthday week, or I’ll tell everyone the truth.”

Chapter 23

Maggie

Bedtime had been uncomfortable, to say the least. I went into our shared bedroom and waited for Julian to show up but I dozed off before he arrived. I woke up when he finally came in. “Oh hey.”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.”

“It's fine. Coming to bed?”

“I can sleep in the chair if that's what you'd prefer.”

My brain was foggy. “Why wouldn't you sleep in the bed?”

“I just figured you wouldn’t want me to. It's up to you.”

“Don't be silly.” I pulled the blanket down a little for him by way of invitation.

“I’ll get washed up.” He left for the bathroom, and I was left with questions.

Why wouldn't he sleep in our bed? Did we have a fight? But then Chloe's face came to mind, and reality cracked through my haze.

We're not a couple. Why do I keep forgetting that?

When Julian came to bed it took all the strength I had not to cuddle him. What happened earlier in the closet was an unexpected one-time thing. Neither of us acknowledged it and I wasn't sure what I would say anyway.

I had no idea what had been about to come out of his mouth when Chloe threw open the door. I had my suspicions, of course. But none of them tracked with reality. None of them made any sense. Julian Black did not love me. He wasn't in love with me. The sex? That was just two horny people wrapped up in a moment. He was trying to comfort me. Or distract me. But it wasn't about how he felt.

We have a contract in place that clearly defines how he feels.

I was just another tool to him. Another person to buy and sell. A way to keep his family off of his back. It was one thing when we were just friends doing each other a favor. But the moment money entered into the situation, it changed everything.

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