Page 42 of Robert

“Can we wait…? Ah, here comes the meal.” He seemed relieved to see the server. Sonya waited until the waitress had left before asking the question again.

Michael bit into the burger and sighed blissfully. “You should eat it while it’s hot. Man, they do serve the best red meat this side of town.”

“I really don’t have time for this…”

“I screwed up royally.” There was a mournful expression on his attractive face and his light blue eyes were bleak. “I am counting on the friendship we share and hoping you won’t kill me.”

Setting aside the fry she had plucked from the plate, she stared at him with a frown. “Michael what are you going on about?”

He took a breath and a bite of his burger and swallowed. “I was rummaging through my desk drawer this morning, just searching for tax documents to give to my accountant. The thieving bastard ripped me off last year…”

“Michael…!”

He lifted bony shoulders in a shrug. “I am prevaricating. Anyway, I was searching for the documents when I found my license to perform marriages.”

“And?”

Picking up the glass of water, he gulped it down before putting away the glass.

“I thought it had expired. I was ordained – not just on the internet, but when I was playing the part of the priest in that series, I decided to go all out. I went to the seminary and took several courses, because I wanted to feel the part, to live it andit helped me to play Priest Julian Montgomery. It made it more natural.”

“Why are you telling me this?” She asked impatiently, not yet grasping the significance of his rambling.

“You are married.”

“I know I am. You performed the fake ceremony,” she pointed out patiently.

“No.” He shook his head and took another gulp of the water. “I mean, you are well and truly married – by accident. By some bizarre turn of events, you and Robert Faulkner are truly husband and wife.”

Sonya had picked up her glass with the intention of taking a sip when the reality of what he was saying hit her like a ton of bricks. “Excuse me?”

Michael grimaced at the ominous look on her beautiful face and wondered how he could put a positive spin on things. “I had no idea that my license had not expired. I screwed up Big time.” His expression brightened.

“But no harm, no foul. You can simply get an annulment. It’s easy to…” His voice tailed off at the look on her face. “Unless that’s not going to be possible because you and Robert…, you…” He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes briefly. “You consummated the marriage.”

“I am married?” Sonya felt as if her world was spinning out of control, and she was standing in an alternate universe. “Are you sure?”

He nodded miserably. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am.”

“How could you be so stupid?”

He bristled at her tone. “In my defense, I thought I was no longer licensed to perform a ceremony. You were the one who wanted to pretend to be married in the first place.”

“Oh my God.” She whispered. “Oh my God.”

“It’s not my fault. Not really. I did you a favor. Sonya…”

“I have to go.” Pushing out of her seat, she grabbed her jacket and tote. “I have to go.”

“Sonya. Wait! I…”

She stumbled out and had no idea when she got to the parking lot. Wrenching the door open, she hopped in and sat there with her hands gripping the steering wheel. She was well and truly married. It was not something she could get out of in a few months.

She was married! Oh God! Robert! An anguished groan escaped her, and she had to fight back the panic. How was she going to tell him? Instead of an annulment, they were looking at a divorce and because it had not exactly been a marriage, the lawyers had stepped back and no documents had been signed.

Biting back a moan, she closed her eyes as she thought about the tangle of communal property. She had not signed a prenup, which meant that she was entitled to half of everything he had. He had agreed to do her this very big favor and would be repaid by losing half of his fortune, his considerable fortune.

She had money yes, but that was nothing compared to the resources he had worked so hard to achieve. She had done this to him. And here she thought she was doing something unselfish. She had trapped a man into marriage because she was determined to have her way.

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