Page 13 of Accidental Proposal

“Yes, you will. I am not asking you to be my wife forever. I am asking you to be my wife for a year. Nothing more, nothing less.” I only needed her so my parents could get to know her. Then, when I took the business, she would be gone. I couldn’t care less where she went after that. I explained to her why I needed her and what she would get afterwards. I could tell she was really thinking about it, and I grinned mentally.

After dropping her off at her apartment, I knew she would say yes. This place was a dive and in a terrible part of town. A part of me wanted to make her say yes right now so I could get her out of this place faster, but I didn’t. She needed to make this decision on her own. Driving back home, I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. I knew if she took the deal, she was going to make it harder than it needed to be.

I pulled into the garage and sighed. I was right. Jenna was making this harder than it needed to be. She didn’t seem to get I was only doing this because I had to, not because I wanted to be with her. During the last few nights, I’d purposely stayed away from the house because I didn’t want to get questioned. I didn’t have everything figured out yet, and I couldn’t answer her questions.

Yes, last night shouldn’t have happened. I shouldn’t have brought Breanna over and slept with her with Jenna in the house. But, at the time, I wanted Jenna to know I wasn’t going to be all cuddly and nice when I didn’t have to be. This deal was strictly professional. It didn’t help though, when she would look at me with those piercing green eyes of hers or when she smiled. I wouldn’t ever admit it out loud, but her stubbornness was refreshing. I liked that she argued with me.

Shaking my head at myself, I walked into the house. I would not fall for Jenna, I promised myself. As I walked down the hall, I heard music and saw light coming from the living room. Frowning, I walked toward the living room and saw credits rolling for a movie. I didn’t see Jenna asleep on the couch until the light from the TV flashed across her face. Her long eyelashes framed her cheeks, and her pink lips were curved into a smile like she was having a good dream. Staring at her sleeping made something ache inside of my chest.

I glanced at the clock and saw it read 12:30. As gently as I could, I slid my hands under her butt and her upper back. I lifted her up and carried her toward her room. I felt her move in my arms, and I froze but relaxed a second later as she snuggled deeper in my chest. I softly laid her on the bed, pulling the blanket off of her sleeping form and placing the covers on top of her. I brushed a stray blonde piece of hair away from her face and smiled softly at her. I had only known her for a week, but she already had a small hold on me.

“Goodnight, Jenna,” I whispered softly down at her before making my way out of her door, shutting it softly, then heading to my room.

Chapter Seven

Jenna

“But, Mommy, I want to go with you!” my five-year-old self said. My little hands were on her wrist, trying to pull her back toward me. Her blonde hair fell around her face as she knelt in front of me. Her green eyes stared into mine, and I tried not to cry. It was dark, and I was tired. I wanted to go back to bed.

“Honey, I will be back soon. I just need you to stay right here until I get back,” she said, putting her hands on my little shoulders.

“I don’t want to stay here,” I whined again, holding my teddy bear in one hand and her arm in another.

“Jenna. Be a good girl and listen to Mommy,” my mom said sternly. Her soft tone was replaced with something else. She had been doing that a lot lately, being nice one second, then being cold and rude the next. It wasn’t always directed toward me, but these last two days it had been. I looked down at the ground and nodded softly. I would always listen to Mommy. “I want you to know I love you, Jenna. I’ll be back soon.” She stood up and laid a quick kiss to my forehead. Giving me one last look, she turned and walked away, leaving me on the doorstep of some house.

I watched her go, clenching my teddy bear tightly against my chest as tears rolled down my chubby cheeks. Even though I was only five, I somehow knew she wasn’t going to come back. I watched her until I couldn’t see her anymore. I sat down on the steps and stared in the direction she’d gone. Hours passed, and soon the sun started to come up. My tears had stopped and dried on my cheeks, my eyes drooping shut every minute, but I would force them open in case my mommy came back.Mommy will be back.I sat there, waiting to see her tall figure come around the corner.

I woke up with a start and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them away, feeling my chest ache. I hadn’t had that dream in a while. I used to quite often when I was younger, but over the years it disappeared. With a soft sigh, I slumped back in my bed.Wait? I’m in my bed?I jerked up and looked around my room.I don’t remember coming in here last night.I remembered watching a movie and falling asleep on the couch, not here. Confused, I got out of bed and walked out of my room, oblivious to how my hair looked and that I was only in my PJs.

Surprisingly, Liam was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee and eating what looked like eggs. I saw it was only seven in the morning. I headed to the coffee machine, in dire need of some. My head hurt and my eyes ached. It felt like I’d cried in my sleep.

“Good morning,” Liam said from behind me, surprising me. I almost spilled the coffee I was pouring.

“Morning,” I croaked out, my throat dry. I brought my cup to my lips and took a quick gulp, wetting my mouth and needing the caffeine.

“Did you sleep okay?” I was really surprised that he was talking to me, but not wanting him to stop, I turned around.

“I did, thank you. Did you help put me in my bed last night?” I asked, leaning against the counter in front of him. He looked up, and I saw him look over my attire, then back to my eyes.

“I did. I came home late and found you asleep on the couch. Thought you would be more comfortable in your own bed.” As he talked, I couldn’t help but like the way his voice sounded. It was kind of deep but smooth and seemed to wash over me like water.Wonder what his morning voice sounds like?

Shaking the thought away, I replied, “Thank you, my bed is a lot more comfortable than the couch.” I sent him a smile, to which he nodded. Hey, it was progress.

“I hired an assistant for you,” Liam said a minute later. I raised my eyebrow at that. I needed an assistant? He must have seen the look on my face. “She’s not really an assistant. More of a, what do you girls call it…makeup fashion person.” He waved his hand around. I bit back a grin at his words. “She’ll help you pick out clothes, do your makeup for special occasions, and later help with your schedule.”

“My schedule?”

“Yes. When we come out with our engagement, people are going to want to see you and meet with you. You’re going to have to be a social elite. Being a Stanford, you have to attend events and become involved in certain activities.” The idea of having to become a social elite didn’t sound so good. I didn’t want to go to parties and talk to snooty rich people. Just the thought of it made me want to crawl into a hole and stay there.

“I have to?” I asked, giving him my puppy dog eyes.

“Yes, you will. And nope, puppy dog eyes don’t work on me,” he said, standing up and gathering his plates.Damn it.

“Fine,” I said defensively. “What is my assistant’s name?”

“Lennon Anderson. She will be here around nine, and she will be taking you shopping for some clothes. This Saturday we are going to my parents’ so they can meet you.”

“Isn’t that a little too soon?” I asked. I wasn’t ready to start meet his family and immediately start lying to them.

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