Page 38 of Wed to You-
“What people think isn’t important anywhere. But if you’re worried, we’ll just say we’ve been together nearly a year and engaged since...I don’t know...Valentine’s day, but only now that school is out are we saying anything.”
“I guess I just didn’t think it would be so quick.”
“Tanya says she’s getting a lawyer and I believe her. It’s only a matter of time before I’m served papers.”
“You don’t think people will be suspicious?”
“They might, but if we stick to the story and act like it’s true, we’ll be fine.”
“Do you do this a lot?”
“Get married? No. I’ve never done it.”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I mean lie. Put on elaborate shams?”
“Everyone lies. But I’ve never done anything like this.” He rested his hands on her arms. “I can’t tell you how important it is that he stay with me.”
“I know.” His commitment to Kaden and dedication to keeping him were the only things she was completely sure of.
His eyes softened in understanding. “Look, I get that this isn’t what you imagined when you thought about getting married. I’m probably not the kind of man you saw yourself with.”
She frowned, wondering what he meant by that.
“I know that even though you’re getting the financial security you want, you’re uneasy about all the potential ramifications.”
That about summed it up.
“But it doesn’t have to be awkward or uncomfortable. I like you, Chelsea.” His hand rose to palm her cheek. “If Mitch hadn’t intervened, maybe this wouldn’t be so out of left field.”
Her eyes narrowed, partly because she didn’t believe him, and partly because she thought it was mean of him to tease her like that. A man like Jagger didn’t fall for a woman like her. He’d already said so when he proposed. “You don’t believe that.”
His head jerked back slightly. She stepped away from him and began walking along the bank.
“The point is,” He caught up with her, walking beside her, “this doesn’t have to be hard. At least it’s not for me.” He took her hand and pulled her to a stop.
“I said I’ll do it and I will.” She pulled her hand from his grip, not liking that his touch muddled her mind.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring, thrusting it at her. She looked at the ring, sitting in the palm of her hand, and her chest tightened. This engagement wasn’t real, but still. “It’s pretty.”
“If you’d rather we make a big deal by shopping for one together, we can.”
Gee, thank you,hung on her lips, but she bit her tongue. Of course, this wasn’t going to be a romantic proposal. But it was barely civil. Tears threatened, and she turned to look over to the river where Kaden was making lightsaber noises while swinging a stick.
“It’s my grandmother’s.”
Her head whipped back to look at him. This was a fake marriage. She shouldn’t taint an heirloom with that. “Jagger, we can’t use this.” She held her hand out for him to take the ring back. “I don’t need a ring. Many women don’t have engagement rings.”
“We need this to look real. This will do it. It’s the only ring I haveright now. If you don’t like it, we can shop—”
“It’s beautiful but it should go to someone you love.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I have this ring instead of my father because my grandfather knew he’d never really love anyone or give it to someone worthy. At this point, I’m not certain I’ll never find someone to love, but I’m sure you and this situation, keeping Kaden, makes you worthy.” He plucked the ring from her hand and slipped it on her left ring finger.
She looked at it, her heart hammering in her chest even as her head told her it was fake.
Jagger held her hand in both of his and brought them over his heart. “I’d like to tell Kaden too.”
A little dazed, she nodded.
