Page 166 of The Faking Game

“And if the stalker is watching… if we want him to lose control and make a mistake… then I should look at you like we have the hottest sex known to man every single night.”

West’s eyes are a brighter shade than usual beneath the sun. They’re also cautious. He can hear the tone in my voice. “Where are you going with this?”

“You’ve been showing me off to your family. Your friends. At your party, in town, out at restaurants. We’ve been photographed together and written about. All of that to send a message to the stalker… but doesn’t that make itharderfor you to find a wife?”

His hand on my thigh tightens. “I don’t want to find a wife that way.”

“But you need one. And your family knows.” Irritation flares in my chest. “Your mom being so insistent, setting you up with women. That’s why, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you want her help? Don’t you want to keep Fairhaven?”

“Yes. My lawyers have been working on a solution.” His jaw works, and there’s nothing but grim acceptance on his face.

“When did you find out about it?”

“Two years ago. After my father died.”

“And you haven’t found a solution yet,” I whisper.

“No. We’ve tried, but the trust is… ironclad.” He’s stone beneath me, sharp and still, like he’s not enjoying this conversation. But he’s here. He’s answering my questions. “We have a prenup drafted. If there’s no other way, I planned to marry. But it would only be a legal marriage. And I won’t give my mother the giant society wedding she craves.”

Jealousy rips through me, like the sailing boats through the salty waves. “Would she live at Fairhaven?”

“No. It would be a sheet of paper, not a real relationship.” His eyes are on mine. “You’re angry.”

“Yes,” I say. “Funny, isn’t it? You’re the one who taught me how to be angry. Maybe you regret that now.”

“No. I will always welcome your fire, Nora. Burn me with it when I deserve it.”

I take a deep breath. “We’re arguing for real this time.”

“It would seem so, trouble.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was handling it.”

I trace the edge of his jaw, the role I’m meant to play slipping from my mind. “What kind of trust is this, even? Is it legal?”

“Unfortunately,” he says. “I have to be married by thirty or the estate goes to the next married male Calloway heir.” He takes a deep breath. “Which is Dave.”

I blink at him. “That’sbarbaric.”

“Yes. It’s archaic, an offense to my sister and, quite frankly, an offense to the entire family. Dad thought he had changed the trust, or so Mom says. It was meant to ensure Fairhaven isn’tsplit apart. Divided up by an ever-growing pool of descendants. It can only be passed down to one Calloway—and one that is married and set to produce heirs of their own.”

“Dave,” I murmur. “He was at that party…”

“Yes. You’ve seen him gamble.” West’s eyes glitter with irritation. “He would gamble away the estate on the day his name appeared on the deed. Sell it to the highest bidder.”

“West,” I say. “Whydidn’t you tell me?”

West sighs, his expression unreadable. “Because I was handling it. I’m still handling it.”

“That’s not a real answer. If you want my honesty, I want yours.”

He takes a deep breath. “I didn’t want you to worry. The clause doesn’t mean our lessons have to stop, and I didn’t want you to think that you’d only be under my protection until a certain date. If the stalker hasn’t been caught by then…” He pauses, his voice dropping. “You would have been welcome with me forever.”

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