Page 39 of The Playboy's Most Unexpected Baby

“Yes, you’re fine,” Rogan said. “I’ll see you at our next meeting.”

Charlie stood, reaching out for Olivia’s hand. They had decided together that it made sense for them to hold hands in these meetings, as a part of the show. But for Charlie, it was more than that. He relished the opportunity to take her hand. It made him feel connected to her in a way that he could rarely permit himself to enjoy. The only thing that made it okay in this situation was that hehadto do it for the sake of keeping up the act.

He found himself wishing that one of his siblings would say something to challenge their relationship so that he could take another step to prove that it was real — putting his arms around Olivia, maybe. He felt his heart beat faster at the thought.

It didn’t happen. Instead, Cait took his arm. “We need to speak to you,” she said.

“All of you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. So speak.”

She glanced at Olivia. “Privately.”

“No, I think whatever you want to say, you can say in front of my wife.”

“We’re still family, Charlie,” John said quietly. “We can have a private conversation, can’t we?”

“It’s all right,” Olivia said quickly. “I don’t mind waiting by the car, Charlie.”

“You really don’t have to do that.”

“It’s okay. You should be able to talk to your siblings.” She gave Cait a smile. “I know you three don’t like me that much. I hope that will change.”

“We never said we didn’t like you,” Cait said defensively.

“You didn’t have to say it. And I’m happy to go away so you can all talk as a family. I just hope you know that it’s never been my intention to cause any division, and I hope that’s something we can all move beyond.”

She smiled at them and headed out to the parking lot without another word.

Cait watched her go. “You should tell her that we can tell she’s sucking up to us,” she said once Olivia was out of earshot. “It’s not cute.”

Charlie sighed. “You know, whatever you think about her, sheismy wife. I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. It’s rude.”

“Whatever, Charlie. What I want to know is this — are you going to keep up this charade?”

“What charade?”

“You know damn well. The six-month period is going to end, and we want to know what happens after that. You’ve been putting on a hell of a show with that woman.”

“I’m starting to wonder whether she’s even in on it,” Scott spoke up. “Have you told her this isn’t a real marriage? Or did you trick her into it? Does she think she’s really married to you, and when you’ve gotten what you want out of all this, you’ll just ditch her?”

Charlie felt sick. “That’s really the kind of person you think I am? I knew you had a low opinion of me, but I didn’t know you thought I would do something like that.”

“You do things like that all the time,” Scott pointed out. “When’s the last time you had a relationship with a woman that lasted more than a few days?”

“Fine, Scott, but I don’t trick them into it. I don’t like commitment, but I don’t take advantage of women. Who the hell do you think I am?”

“Don’t act like you’re above tricking people.” Cait’s eyes were narrowed. “You’re here lying to all of us. And you’re going to say that it isn’t a lie, but Charlie,we know it is. You know and we know, so you might as well just be honest about it, because I’m tired of this crap.”

“I’ve been honest,” Charlie said. He couldn’t help thinking about the future, about the day when he would have to face his siblings and admit that they were right and that this whole thing had been a sham. That would be a painful pill to swallow, and they would never let him forget it.

He almost gave up right then. He almost told them the truth. It would be better — cleaner — to just admit it now. At least if he did that, they wouldn’t be able to be quite so smug as they would if they were to find him out later.

But he couldn’t confess. The thought of it was excruciating — and besides, he needed to see this through. It wasn’t just for his own sake anymore. There was Olivia to think of. She was counting on the money she would get when they sold the house, and if Charlie came clean now, that wouldn’t happen. Her mother wouldn’t be able to quit her night job, and Izzy wouldn’t be able to go to school out west.

Charlie had only ever wanted to stick it to his siblings, but now there was a real reason for fighting this fight. Now there was a reason he could actually believe in.

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