Page 9 of Seduced in Ink

It was either come up with this stupid ruse that had come out of nowhere or strangle her mother.

At least this would end up with less bloodshed.

Maybe.

Cool air slid over his face as they stepped out onto the back porch. A couple of people were smoking before they put out their cigarettes and returned to the gallery.

Aaron let out a breath and turned to Madison.

She had her arms folded over her chest and was practically shaking.

“Madison.”

She put her hand out in front of her. “I’m going to need a minute. Or like four. Can you do that for me?”

“I can do that,” Aaron said, holding back a wince.

Madison started to pace, her blond curls bouncing around her face, her hips swaying in that very provocative way that always went straight to his dick. Not that he’d ever let himself think about that. At least not a lot. And now, just because he was sort of fake engaged for the next thirty seconds didn’t mean he was allowed to think about Madison in any way but like a sister. A cousin.

Not a girl he’d had a sex dream about where he fucked her hard against his shower wall, and then went down on her until he woke up, hard and aching—and quite embarrassed.

He studied her face, her high cheekbones, her large eyes that made her look innocent, curious, and sexy as hell. Not that he’d ever tell her that. Her hair was a shade of blond that he loved, though he knew the pink tips at the bottom were hidden amongst the curls so only those who knew they were there could notice them and not think they were just a trick of the light.

He loved that she had color in her hair just for her. But he hated the fact that she had hidden it tonight because of her mom and dad.

“What’s up with your parents?” he asked, forgetting that she had told him to keep quiet.

She let out a sigh and shook her head.

“Mark and Maeve McClard come from long lines of good families, good breeding, and sturdy stock.”

Aaron’s eyebrows rose. “Now you sound like you’re literally in the Highlands of Scotland, back in the days of kilts and war.”

“They would never be lowlanders, of course. Only Highlanders,” Madison said with a roll of her eyes. “I only said those words because my motherliterallysaid them to me when she was selling me off to the highest bidder.”

“Selling you?” he asked, grinding his teeth.

“She might not have said that exactly, but why would a man like Guy ever come to my side and even agree to the whole arranged marriage thing if not for that?”

Aaron let out a breath and took a step forward, gripping her shoulders.

“What?” she asked, frowning.

“Never,everdegrade yourself like that in front of me. A man like Guy? Fuck that. How desperate was he that he was willing to do whatever your mother told him to do?”

“Apparently,Ido what my mother tells me to do,” she mumbled.

“No, you don’t. You have the job you want. You own a business. And you’re marrying me.”

“No, I’m not,” she said with a laugh, her voice so low he knew it wouldn’t carry.

“Well, my entire family’s going with it, so you may have to continue with the charade.”

“Why did you do it? Why?”

“I don’t know,” Aaron said, lowering his hands before sticking them into his pockets.

“That won’t be a good enough answer for anyone. Especially not me. Why did you lie? Because what the hell am I going to do now?”

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