Page 16 of Finding Forever

“Why?”

“Because we’re going to make this look like a love match. We met at the gala, fell in love, and—when we reunited at your stepfather’s house—realized that we couldn’t live without each other and we eloped. That’s what the papers will be reporting in the morning.”

Her mouth fell open in a silentoh.

“But why such an elaborate story?”

“Makes it harder for your stepfather to cry foul and make it seem like I somehow took advantage of his sweet, naïve stepdaughter. If we sell it as a fairytale romance—and we’re convincing about it—it’ll be a PR nightmare for him if he tries to discredit our relationship.”

“Canhe do that? And will it damage your reputation? Idon’t want that. I don’t want to cause that kind of trouble for you.”

“Look, we have to prepare ourselves for the reality that he’ll likely try. He’s probably going to claim that you’re emotionally and mentally vulnerable and that I used those vulnerabilities to further my own ends. Especially since we’re gaining Lambecrete, a company we’ve very openly been attempting to buy.”

“What would spending time with your siblings achieve?” Fern was reluctant to involve even more people in this deception.

“It’ll demonstrate that you’ve been accepted as part of the family already. Abernathy can’t touch you when you’re with us, Fern. I promise you that.”

“And a few family get togethers will prove that I’m now a much-loved, valuable member of the Hawthorne clan?” The words sent a pang of longing through her. She hadn’t been a much-loved, valuable part of any family since she was twelve, and she found herself wishing she was indeed treasured—for more than her financial assets—by this man and his family.

“Well no. But it can’t hurt. And I haven’t spent much time with my siblings over the last year or so—it’s hard when we live on different continents—I might as well get in some quality time with them while I’m wasting precious time taking a forced vacation with my temporary wife.”

So much for that naïve hope of being treasured by a husband. It certainly wasn’t going to be by this particular husband. She swallowed down her irrational shaft of hurt and sternly reminded herself to be realistic about her situation.

And despite her silly disappointment in his response, his honesty, as well as this glimpse of the affection he clearly felt for his siblings, surprised her. Cade didn’t strike her as someone who revealed much of himself. Her impression of him so far was that of a serious, staid man who was stingy with his words and his smiles.

This was a welcome, wholesome, glance behind that stuffy exterior and she ached to learn more.

“Why isn’t your father joining us?” she asked, mostly to keep him talking.

“For one thing, it would be weird for him to join us on our supposed honeymoon. And for another, Dad and our legal team took the company chopper from Copenhagen back to our head office in Edinburgh. We may have signed the documents, but Lambecrete’s ownership transference is going to be a lengthy, complicated affair. Especially if—or I should saywhen—Abernathy decides to contest it. And my father and the team will get a head start on the troubleshooting process.”

“How can they do that without you? Don’t they need you for that?”

His lips quirked into that almost smile again. “Nice to know my wife believes me so indispensable.”

“You’re the head of your father’s legal team, aren’t you?” she asked, valiantly beating back the flush that rose in her cheeks.

“My associates have it in hand.”

“How long will we be staying in Cape Town?”

“Long enough to be photographed around town, as a couple, and with my family. A couple of weeks maybe, before we fly home.”

Home? The word made her pause and she frowned as she once again acknowledged that she knew absolutely nothing about this man. She’d first met him at an ancient castle-like mansion—apparently their ancestral seat—in Edinburgh and she now wondered if that drafty, intimidating, mausoleum-like place would be their home.

“Where’s home?”

“London. I have a townhouse.”

“I see. And I’ll be living there—uhm—with you?”

“For now.”

“Right. And what about uh… intimacy?” Her skin was on fire with embarrassment, but this was the first time she’d really had time alone with him since this all started, and there were a lot of very important logistical matters that they’d not yet addressed.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re going to be married for at least three years, right?” she said, eyes on her neatly interlocked fingers which were folded into a tight prayer like grip in her lap. “What aboutsex?”

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