Page 21 of Cold as (N)ice

“I can’t promise I’m the best person to be a father,” he admitted, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. “But I like Stephen. He’s a good kid. I would be willing to give it a try. You need a break, someone to help with the children, and youwon’t have to worry about money.” He exhaled, the weight of the decision evident in the tension of his shoulders. “Right now, I think we need each other to bail the other person out of a mess—and we can do this as friends.”

“Are you sure?” she whispered, her voice trembling, her heart thundering in her chest.

“No,” he said with a short laugh, the sound tinged with nervousness. He ran a hand through his hair, the vulnerability in the gesture striking. “My life and my job are on the line, but I’m jumping regardless. You’re already making this house into a home—cooking, cleaning. Just do it in Quebec, with me, instead.”

The corners of her mouth twitched upward in a watery smile, and for the first time in weeks, she felt something akin to hope as she met his own nervous gaze.

“You have my back… and I’ll have yours,” he said gently. “I swear it. Be my trump card so I can secure my future – and I will secure all three of yours.”

“Barrett…”

Irene stared at him, her heart pounding in a way she hadn’t felt in years. There was a vulnerability in Barrett’s eyes that caught her off guard, something she hadn’t expected from the man who usually exuded confidence. His hand trembled as he held hers, the subtle shake not from nerves alone but from the weight of what he was about to do.

She barely registered the coolness of the ring as it slid into view, catching the dim light between them like a secret waiting to be shared. Her breath hitched, her voice coming out in a soft, disbelieving whisper.

“Oh my gosh…”

Barrett took a steadying breath, his eyes searching hers as though trying to gauge whether she’d run or stay.

“Can we run to the courthouse in the morning and fake it for the media?” he asked, his tone gentle but urgent. The words seemed to fall into the quiet like a stone into still water, rippling outward. “Can you smile, wave, and put on a show so they don’t realize that this is all to solidify my spot on the team?”

She froze, her mind racing.

There was so much packed into that single request: the vulnerability, the hope, the desperation. She didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity of it all or cry because it felt like stepping off a cliff into something she wasn’t sure she could handle. She had just gotten out of a marriage a year ago – nearly tripped back into it – and now was being asked to marry a man for anythingbutlove.

Ouch.

“Yeah, I can fake things for the media,” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her hands trembled as he took the ring and slid it onto her finger. It was cool against her skin, a tangible reminder of how surreal this moment was. He chuckled nervously as the ring settled loosely on her finger, a small sound that made her chest ache with an emotion she couldn’t quite name.

“We can size it once we get settled,” Barrett said, his smile tremulous and endearing, the kind of smile that made her believe that perhaps he was just as scared as she was. She was getting a glimpse behind the walls he’d had up for so long, and it was staggering to behold. “I promise, with this contract, I’m the last guy you will ever have to work for.”

Irene let out a nervous laugh, the sound brittle but genuine. Her emotions were a tangled mess—confusion, doubt, and a strange, unexpected flicker of warmth all fighting for space in her chest. Barrett hesitated, his gaze locked on her as though weighing whether to press on or give her an out.

“I guess you’re right,” she admitted quietly. “Maybe weshouldtalk more.”

He nodded, relief softening the tension in his shoulders. “We can start talking over dinner and looking at those houses emailed to me because when word gets out—” He paused, his jaw tightening visibly. “Irene, it will go downhill fast. It’s honestly going to be a whirlwind bordering on a hurricane – but I’ll handle everything I can. You just have to smile, nod, keep quiet, and act like a doting wife. My current team will probably cut me, and then we’ll be on the way to Canada. We’ll figure out the rest…”

Her heart stumbled.

“My apartment,” she gasped, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. She hadn’t even considered the practicalities of this madness yet.

“There’s probably a clause to let you out,” he said, his voice steady as though trying to anchor her. “If not, I’ll pay out the lease.”

“This is crazy,” she murmured, shaking her head.

“Want to do crazy stuff together as make-believe partners and friends?” His expression softened, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

The simplicity of his question left her breathless. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she settled for a weak smile. It was pathetic to think that she was so stuck that she’d accepted his offer.What about love, romance, all the bells and whistles? Nothing like having a little security, I suppose, she mused silently before looking at Barrett. “I guess we should go break the news to Stephen…”

Barrett’s grin turned mischievous, a spark of his usual confidence returning. “We should probably turn on the news so he can see the video footage of him today at the school,” he said, his voice light with amusement.

Her brow furrowed. “Oh?”

“I might have pulled a few strings with Mike, making sure the footage today turned out good for Stephen.”

“Turned out good,how?”

“Who do you think is going to get to break the news about the wedding—and my new team?”

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