Page 191 of Beautiful Collide

Can’t wait to see what she comes up with when she establishes a plan she thinks I should follow.

I watch her for a beat. She’s in the zone.

I can practically see the wheels in her head turning as she tries to devise a plan.

“If you keep thinking that hard, you might hurt yourself.”

She rolls her eyes. “Well, one of us has to.”

I laugh. “Not nice, Hex.”

But she’s right. We do need to think of something.

“It’s not,” she admits, her gaze drifting to the family photos on the wall. “What are they going to say about this?”

“Maybe they won’t find out.” Yeah, okay. And maybe I’ll retire from hockey and join the cast ofStars On Ice.

I stride across the room and toward the couch. Once there, I plop down on it.

“Seriously, Hudson,” she deadpans.

“No.” I stretch out, making myself comfortable. We have a lot to discuss, and who knows how long it will take.

“Shit.” She sighs before going quiet. I want to agree with her, but I need to stay strong and pretend this will all work out.

It doesn’t help anyone for us both to be confused.

“All right, Hex.” I break the silence. “Let’s talk about this mess.”

She stiffens, her arms tightening around herself. “Where do we even start?”

“Well . . .” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. How do I say this? If I blurt it out, she might get upset. Oh, who am I kidding? She will get upset no matter how I say this.There is no world where she doesn’t. “First off, you should know something.”

She looks at me, her eyes wary, like she’s bracing for bad news.

“We can’t get an annulment.”

“What?” She sits up so fast from where she was reclined, I’m afraid she might have pulled a muscle.

“This whole marriage thing?” I say, keeping my voice steady. “It’s good for me.”

Her brow furrows, and I can see the confusion and disbelief in her expression. “What?”

“Image-wise,” I clarify. “It’s good for my reputation. You know what people think of me. The playboy, the party guy, the guy who can’t keep his name out of the tabloids. But now? Now I’m a family man. Married to a teammate’s sister. It’s like the ultimate PR makeover.”

Her mouth falls open slightly, and I can tell she’s trying to figure out if I’m serious.

“Are you saying we should stay married for your reputation?” she asks, her voice sharp.

“Not exactly,” I say, holding up my hands. “I’m saying it’s worth considering not doing it right away. I just got my first endorsement offer that wasn’t from a condom company. Seven figures, Molly. That’s not nothing. And it’s not just about the money—it’s about showing people I’m not who they think I am.”

“Let me get this straight.” Her jaw tightens, and she shakes her head. “You want me to be your PR stunt?”

“That’s not what I mean.” Shit, that did come out wrong. “Look, this could work for both of us. It will be temporary, but we can figure it out. You’re already stuck with me, so—”

“Seriously, Hudson,” she snaps. “You get an endorsement deal, and what about me? What do I get out of this deal?”

I sound like a real asshole when she puts it that way.

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