Page 9 of Patch's Bride
I’m honestly taken aback by how reasoned her arguments are, but I don’t let it distract me from this boundary I’m intent upon setting. “Point taken. However, what I’m trying to say is regardless of how much my mother wants you for her daughter-in-law, I’ve already decided I don’t want you for my wife.”
I can tell that stung her pride, so I quickly add, “It’s nothing to do with you personally. I’ve always thought you were a nice, kindhearted person. From my perspective, our ages make us incompatible. No matter how well we get to know each other or if we find things in common, we’re at different places in our lives and nothing will ever change that.”
“That’s fine. You’re probably right about us being too different,” she responds tightly.
“Well, I don’t believe I put it quite that way. But what I want to do is offer you an arrangement, just one that doesn’t involve a romantic relationship or sex.”
“Go on,” she says flatly.
“Like my mom said, we can get married at the courthouse but not in church. I know Father Michael won’t be very happy about that, but you can just tell him I’m questioning my faith and you’re trying to lead me back to salvation.”
“He’ll want to schedule a meeting. You know how he is about letting members of the flock stray.”
So,” I continue, “If you agree to be my wife temporarily, I’ll do everything within my power to make sure that your stepfather drops whatever crazy ass plan he has to use you to settle his debts and that he stays the hell away from you. Once he understands you’re off limits, then we can get the marriage annulled for whatever reason. Non-consummation, something like that.”
“If I understand this correctly, we’d be married on paper only.”
“Naturally we’ll be living in the same house and in order to protect you, you’d need to stay by my side. That means I’ll give you a job at my office. This would be a good opportunity for you to learn a skill. Then when our time together is over, you’d have a means of supporting yourself.”
“No friendship or anything like that. Just co-workers that happen to be married,” she says, and if I’m not mistaken, she looks a bit disappointed. Which is crazy because she clearly doesn’t want to get dragged into a fake marriage either.
I shake my head. “You and I are already friends. That doesn’t need to change. It’ll be more like a little sister, big brother vibe when we’re alone but in public we need to sell the illusion that we’re married.”
“Then when things blow over with my stepdad, we just annul the marriage. We’ll both move on with our lives, no strings attached, right?” she asks.
“Yep. That’s the general idea. You’ll thank me later for not trying to keep you. If you think about it, my mom’s solution makes perfect sense. If you marry me, you get protection and I guess I get to be a big ass hero.”
She finally smiles. I don’t know if it’s because of my sad attempt at humor or because she accepts this is a temporary arrangement and she’s not gonna be stuck with a grumpy-ass doctor with a poor taste in jokes as an old man. “I agree to be your temporary wife on paper for protection. I don’t like lying to Father Michael, but I’ll do what I have to do in order to stay safe.”
“Okay then, let’s go see what we’ve got to do to get fake married on paper in the state of California.”
“We just need to keep things friendly without catching feelings for each other,” she says.
I just nod because there is no way I’m gonna catch feelings, even if she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. On paper and in real life, we just wouldn’t work together.
She glances over her shoulder at the closed door and whispers. “Your mother is gonna be pretty disappointed when we annul our marriage.”
“She’ll just have to manage,” I say, meaning every word of it.
Chapter 4
Beth
Ifollow Solomon outside to talk to his folks. He’s being very direct that marrying me falls in the category of good deeds in his mind—even if he’s not religious anymore. In other words, he’s willing to be my protector but not a real husband. I know he said it was because I’m too young for him, but I think the real reason he can’t see me as a potential wife is because he little-sister-zoned me years ago in his own mind. And it’s hard for him to get past that now that I’m all grown up. I get it. I really do. But it sucks.
Because even though my life is a nightmare right now, I realize that I still have those feelings for him I used to have.
The front door clicks shut behind us, and we step out into the chill morning air. I tug my sweater closer around my body and try to keep up when he stalks outside, looking all big and bad. I remember him as a runner, light and fast on his feet. But the last year or so, he’s been packing on muscle. I’ve always thought he was attractive and totally out of my league. Now, he’s even more so.
But I’m a grown woman, more than capable of shaking off my childish crush now that he’s made his lack of romantic feelings known. I like the idea of us developing a closer friendship. That sounds like a win in and of itself. And God knows, I’m in desperate need of a good friend right now.
We pass by his bike in the driveway. It’s large and black, with polished chrome trim and leather saddlebags hanging over each side. I’ve seen his Harley a thousand times, but never upclose. I’ve also daydreamed about riding on the back, like biker chicks do in the movies. This secret wish is a sharp contrast to my mousy, buttoned-down personality. No one would suspect I have such wild fantasies. I can hardly believe it myself.
His parents see us coming, turn off the water hose and step out to meet us. His mother’s expression is anxious, but she waits for Solomon to speak first. My best guess is that Mr. Patchett has cautioned her against trying to steamroll their son again. With a man like Solomon, that could easily backfire.
He doesn’t hesitate. He gets right to the point with no messing about. “We talked it out. The marriage is a go. The sooner the better. I want to start setting boundaries with her stepfather right away.”
His mother swallows thickly, nodding. “Good decision, honey.”
