Page 16 of The Marriage Mission

Noah turned to her grandmother. The two of them grinned at each other. Jacqui felt like she was caught in a trap. Noah still hadn't let go of her hand. She got the sense that even after the deal was done, he would keep a piece of her. If he let her go at all.

Her grandmother’s eyes darted to the legal pad on the desk, where the terms of their agreement were hastily scribbled—proof of the business deal beneath the romantic façade. In a swift move, Jacqui slid off her chair and sat down on the legal pad, concealing it beneath her. She was playing a dangerous game, but she wasn't ready to throw in her hand.

Pulling Noah toward her, Jacqui initiated a kiss meant to seal their pretense in front of her grandmother’s prying eyes. The kiss was meant to be innocent, a mere performance. But as Noah responded, pulling her closer, the kiss deepened, warmth spreading through her, tangling her thoughts and senses. His lips moved against hers with an insistence that sparked a fluttering in her stomach, stirring feelings she hadn't anticipated.

What has she gotten herself into?

The question whirled through her. It scrambled her mind as Noah’s hands settled on her waist. It fried her brain as he drew her even closer and sipped deeply from her parted lips.

This was supposed to be a simple agreement, a mutual benefit. Yet as they kissed, pretending for the world—or at least for Nãinai—it felt dangerously close to something neither contract nor pretense could define. As they finally broke apart, Jacqui was left breathless. But the ruse was done. Her grandmother’s eyes were wide with approval and triumph. The look in Nãinai eyes said,One down, two to go.

ChapterEleven

"I'll see you in court!"

Noah held up his hands in front of him. It was the universal sign of surrender. Though he wasn't sure if he was trying to show that he meant no harm or if he was trying to protect himself. She looked pretty upset.

"Objection, your honor!"

"What?" Noah crossed his arms over his chest. "I just asked if you wanted a cracker."

"Hisname is not Polly. It's sexist to think all parrots are girls." This came from the woman sitting behind the massive oak desk. Like her avian friend, her feathers were clearly ruffled. Both bird and woman glared at Noah with dark eyes. Like the bird and his beak, the woman's lips pursed, like she, too, wanted to take out a chunk of him.

On the other side of the massive desk came a heavy sigh. Jacqui looked over at Noah as though he were a child acting up at the zoo. Then her annoyance shifted, and she looked past him, cocking her head just liked the bird did. She gave a bright, apologetic smile.

Noah's feet moved toward her, wanting to scoop her up into the nest of his arms. Wanting to peck at her mouth, at her ear, and her neck. Until he realized that head-cock and smile were aimed at the bird. Not at him.

"I'm sorry about him," said Jacqui.

"Consider it null and void," screeched the parrot, whose name Noah still didn't know. He cast a glare over at the bird. It puffed up its green feathers and glared back.

"Can we get back to business?" asked the bird's owner and the woman they were here to see. "You're paying by the hour."

Noah took his seat, his gaze immediately drawn to the eclectic array of bird-themed decorations that filled the office. From delicate sculptures of sparrows to vibrant paintings of exotic parrots.

Birdy was a sprightly woman with sharp eyes that missed nothing. Her desk was cluttered with files and papers like a nest. Noah continued to scan the room, his interest piqued by a particularly intricate sculpture of an eagle in mid-flight positioned on a shelf behind Birdy. The woman was taking this nickname to an extreme. Or maybe it was her obsession with birds that had come first, and then the nickname?

“Jacqui, given your assets and the restaurant, you'll want to ensure that everything is squared away in your favor should there be any… unforeseen circumstances in the future.”

Jacqui nodded, her expression serious. “The prenup needs to state that my property, including the restaurant and my home, remain with me, no matter what.”

"I have no interest in running a restaurant," said Noah.

The two women turned to him, both cocking their heads. Jacqui cocked hers to the left as she regarded him; Birdy cocked hers to the right and studied him. Noah got the sense that neither woman believed his assertion.

"Still, we'll need to make sure that's all spelled out legally," said Birdy, flipping open a folder.

When Jacqui had insisted they see her lawyer, Noah hadn't balked. Mainly because it meant he'd get to spend more time with her. Also because it reconfirmed that he was marrying a woman with brains. It made his chest puff up that his wife-to-be would make sure to protect herself from him.

Not that she had to. Noah planned to do all the protecting in this relationship. Not just with the repairs. He had a plan to build something new with Jacqui.

"I'm happy to sign whatever document will make my wife comfortable."

"I'm not your wife."

"Not yet."

Noah's words weren't a threat. However, Jacqui jerked back like she'd been struck.

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