Page 75 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“Oh, wow. Okay, that’s amazing!”

“But that’s not why I said yes.” I took a deep breath. “Do you remember the grant proposal I told you I was working on?”

“The one for the youth arts program?”

“That’s the one. He is going to fund it.”

“He is?”

“Yes. In perpetuity.”

“Damn, girl, he’s gotin perpetuitymoney?”

I nodded.

“So that’s how he got you? He’s going to fund your program if you marry him.”

“No, he got me because he said he’s funding it either way.”

“Oh damn, he is good.” She sighed. “No offense, but he does know that women would payhimto marry them, right?”

“Yes! I said, there are so many women that would happily marry him, and he said,but only one I want to marry.” I imitated his voice again.

Nadia lifted her hands and did a slow clap. “He is good. I swear, if you don’t marry him, I will. Whatever I have to do, I will marry him.”

I laughed even though I wasn’t completely sure if she was kidding or not. Either way, I didn’t like the way I felt when she said it. The thought of her, or any other woman, marrying Declan Wolfe made me want to throw up. But I pushed those feelings down. Because for the next ten weeks, I wouldn’t have to worry about it.

When we were married, he was mine.

26

DECLAN

I was running purelyon adrenaline as I paced in front of Hank Comfort’s farmhouse. I hadn’t slept in over thirty-eight hours, which was only partially due to jetlag. After leaving Ashley’s house last night, I’d flown back to Atlanta to get some things I needed for the wedding and to pick up something special from my jeweler. I was back here by seven this morning. I’d spent the entire day arranging everything for the ceremony tonight.

Typically, this would be work that Hannah would take care of, but I hadn’t told her what I was doing. I wanted to keep this as private as possible until the papers were signed. I wasn’t particularly superstitious, but I didn’t want anything to go wrong. The fewer people involved, the less margin for error.

The sound of gravel crunching beneath tires drew my attention. I glanced up and saw Gran’s Bentley Continental GT pulling up to Hank and Skylar’s farmhouse. Fred was in the driver’s seat, and Dorothy was riding shotgun.

When it pulled to a stop, I walked over and opened the passenger side door. I helped Dorothy out of the car then Gran held her hand out and placed it in mine as she stepped out of the car from the back seat. Her heels sank into the tiny rocks as shestood. Her floor-length, plum-colored gown had sheer sleeves that showed a hint of her thin frame.

Gran glanced around the farm with an air of assessing superiority. She’d always carried herself with a royal demeanor. I couldn’t count the number of people in my life I’d witnessed ask her if she was a duchess or held a title. She would always dismissively reply, “No, dear, I am just French.”

“Well, this is… quaint,” Gran observed.

“Yes, it is,” Dorothy agreed.

“So, this is all very…sudden.” Gran’s left brow arched. “I thought the two of you didn’t get along.”

This morning, when I informed Gran that Ashley and I were to be married today, she looked both pleased, surprised, and suspicious. She’d wanted to grill me on details, but she hadn’t had the opportunity because I’d had to leave to go get the marriage license. I hadn’t returned to the estate because I’d been busy with preparations, so this was the first time I’d seen her since I’d told her. She was clearly questioning the timing and authenticity of this relationship. But I had no plans to divulge that information to her.

The fewer people who knew the truth, the better. Ashley agreed with me, and the only people in her circle who were going to be privy to the conditions of our union were her sister, brother-in-law, and his brother, Jimmy, who was licensed to marry people and would be conducting the ceremony, and her friend Nadia.

I offered Gran my arm to escort her to the backyard, where the small ceremony space was set up. “Although we do not have a non-fraternization policy, we felt it was best to keep our relationship private.”

Her steely blue gaze bore into mine as if she had an X-ray machine to my soul. She did not. Although, if anyone knew me,it was my grandmother. The only other person who even came close was Hannah.

“I thought there was something strange going on yesterday between the two of you. When did this start? When did you meet her?”

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