Page 74 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

She lifted her hands in the air. “How did you not know what he looked like? You never saw a picture of him before now?”

“No.”

“They don’t have any family pictures in that house?”

“Stella said that after her son, Declan’s dad, passed away, her husband closed up the house. I think he took everything down.”

“Oh, that’s sad.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, wait. What happened? What did you say to him when you saw him? What did he say? Did he know it was you this whole time?”

“Nothing. I was in shock. He was, too. I didn’t say anything. He didn’t say anything, either. He just turned around and went into the office. Then after the launch, I went to give him my letter of resignation, and that’s when he suggested we get married.”

“So you quit, and he said,marry me?” Nadia’s mouth tilted to a full Cheshire Cat smile. “Damn, that must have been some one-night stand.”

“No, it wasn’t like that. Stella found her late husband’s will, and on Christmas Day, the business and most of their assets will be given to whichever heir is married, and if both of his grandsons are married, then it will go to the oldest, which is Declan.”

“So if he’s not married, then the business goes to the cokehead brother that’s been in rehab?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of fucked-upSuccession, royal family, bullshit is that?!”

“That’s what I thought.”

“I will never understand rich people.” She shook her head. “So he wants you to marry him so his brother doesn’t get the business?”

“Yes.”

“Not because he’s in love with you and hasn’t stopped thinking of you all these months?”

“No, in fact, he doesn’t even believe that marriage should be based on love. He thinks marriage is a commitment, an agreement between two people that should not be built on a feeling because feelings are fickle.”

Nadia tilted her head to the side and sucked in a breath, hissing through her teeth. “I mean, he’s not wrong.”

“Yes, he is.”

“He’s not, but whatever.” She waved her hands dismissively. “What are the terms?”

“He wanted me to move to Atlanta, but I’m staying here since Skylar’s having the baby. He’s going to be traveling for the next two months, so it wouldn’t matter anyway. I have to go to his Christmas party, and he’s going to come to Harlan and Daphne’s wedding. But he’s just going as my date. We’re not telling anyone that we’re married except the people here. You know. Jimmy is marrying us.” Hank’s youngest brother owned a tourist boat that people often got married on, so he was ordained and agreed to marry us on the down low. “And then obviously Hank, Skylar, and Luna know, but Lu Lu just thinks it’s a party. Stella, Fred, and Dorothy are coming, but I don’t think Declan told them that our relationship has an expiration date. And that’s it. I’m not going to tell anyone else.”

“So that’s all the terms and conditions?”

“Oh, and we’re not seeing anyone else. He said, ‘When we’re married, you’re mine.’” I lowered my voice in an attempt to do an impression of Declan’s deep register.

Nadia put the back of her hand to her forehead and fell onto Skylar and Hank’s bed as if she’d fainted. “Holy shit, that’s so hot!” She fanned herself as she sat back up. “I think I just got pregnant. So is that why you said yes?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is that why you said yes to marrying him?” She folded her hands and pleaded, “Please tell me that you did it for that Zaddy D.”

“No, I did not do it for his dick.” I wasn’t even sure I should partake in the Zaddy D.

“Why then, what made you say yes to the dress? I mean, if there were a Miss Hopeless Romantic pageant, you would win the crown, so you signing up to get divorced in ten weeks is not really your style.”

“He’s paying off all my student loans and credit card debt.”

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