Page 42 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

“Okay,” she says, clearly not understanding.

“My visaexpired.” I try again.

The meaning of what I’m saying finally dawns; her eyes pop open, and her mouth drops. “Oh. OH! Will you still be allowed to play for the Mavericks?”

A crooked grin falls across my lips. Of course, Susie would think about football first. I’m not sure I’d expect anything else of the woman I’ve gotten to know over the last month.

Shaking my head I quickly give her a rundown of everything Finn and I have discussed.

His assistant did confirm that my two quickest options are family vouching for me or marriage. With the first option, I can stay in the country but wouldn’t be able to continue playing for the Mavericks.

So that leaves marriage as the best option.

“Are you telling me that you were going to ask me to marry you?” Susie says, clearly teasing me. But she takes one look at my face and her expression turns serious. “Oh my gosh, you were?”

Heat creeps up my neck, and I shrug. “It was Finn’s idea.”

“Surrre.” She chuckles. “Blame it on your agent. Are those books you’re reading secretly romance novels, Adam Chase Daniels? You know, a bunch of those tropes include marriage of convenience where one of the main characters needs help in the form of marriage.”

“So I’ve been told,” I mumble. I feel my face getting hotter, which only makes her laugh louder.

This is torture of a special kind.

Bringing my hand to my face, I run it through my hair and groan. “I told Finn this was the worst idea. Thank you for taking the chance to meet with a possible serial killer. Finding out that you are Amelia was a fun surprise. On another note, I’m sorry that—”

“Adam,” Susie says firmly as she takes my hand. “It’s not the worst idea. It’s just a lot to take in. I already know I like you.”

“You do?” I quirk an eyebrow, bowled over but wondering if I’m being punked. I look around but don’t see any cameras. “Are you joking right now?”

“Am I the only one who feels something between us?” She withdraws her hand from mine and looks down at her cup. That simple action leaves me feeling like a gust of wind slammed intome. I reach out and pick up her hand. Her gaze falls on our joined fingers.

“No,” I say with all the emotion I have for her coming through my voice. “I found you enchanting from the moment you went on your first ramble.”

She gasps and rips her hand away to cover her face. Embarrassment, obviously from her bright pink face.

I gently grab her wrist and pull it away to see her eyes. “Susie, if you weren’t Josh’s sister, I would’ve asked you out after our first meeting weeks ago.”

“I’m still Josh’s sister.” A soft smile crosses her face. “And I’m sure that bro-code of yours still applies to ‘fake marriages.’”

Hearing her use the word fake hits me like a punch to the gut. Yes, it would be rushed and for a purpose, but it wouldn’t be fake for me. It would be more like being married so we can date to see if we want to spend the rest of our lives together.

I’m pretty sure I already know the answer to that question. It’s just a matter of whether she feels the same.

“I’ll worry about Josh another time. Besides, my intention was to marry this girl I met named ‘Amelia.’ So technically, I’m not asking Susie Owens. I’m asking if ‘Amelia’ is open to the idea of a rushed marriage. I’d really like a chance to get married and then date her.” I watch her face run the gamut of emotions. “But please don’t feel any pressure. No rush. I’m just going to be deported soon.”

A huge smile splits my face, and she grins back, a bit of surprise falling from her face.

“How did you come up with the name Amelia? Is it after Amelia Adams?” Susie’s eyes widen to the size of soup bowls and I realize what I just said. I work to cover my blunder quickly. “Olivia and Nicole are always raving about her books. I don’t read her or anything.”

She scrunches her nose and laughs. “Of course, you don’t; that wouldn’t be very manly of you now, would it?”

“Low blow, Miss Owens. I would be manly regardless of what type of books I read.” I lift an arm and flex, then wink at her, and she giggles. “No, but seriously, how did you come up with Amelia?”

“Amelia was my grandmother’s name,” Susie responds. “It’s also my middle name. Suzanne Ameila Owens.”

“Kind of funny that we used our middle names, isn’t it?” I let my eyes roam over her face slowly. Bold, I know, but right now, I don’t care. I just proposed to her. Does anything I do after that matter?

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that we both used our middle names in Blitz Brigade. In fact, I’m starting to think that everything about meeting Susie Owens is fate.

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