Page 77 of Faking I Do
“Suddenly you’re a big spender?” Mr. Cherish asked. “Anything else you want to tell me, son?” He practically spit out the word son, definitely intending it as an insult as opposed to an endearment.
“Lacey? You’ve talked to your father about this, haven’t you?” I asked, my gaze bouncing back and forth between them.
She sighed. “Yes and no.”
“Meaning?” I inched closer, waiting for her to reassure me that her dad wasn’t about to go grab his twelve-gauge and take matters into his own hands.
“I told him our good news.” She linked her arm through mine. “About the engagement.”
“And?” I prompted.
“Fine. I didn’t want to say anything because I’m terrified this is going to come back to bite us in the ass.”
“Go on,” her dad said, gesturing for us to sit down on a barstool at the kitchen counter.
“Bodie and I are faking the wedding so we can get some media coverage.” The words tumbled out of her mouth as she slumped onto a stool.
Her dad’s forehead creased. He opened his mouth like he wanted to ask a question then snapped it closed again.
“I know, it’s ridiculous.” Lacey waved her arms around her head. “But you once told me you wished you’d done more, tried harder, to make this into the kind of place you wanted to raise your kids. I took that to heart, Dad. If I have a way I can save the town, I have to try.”
“Lacey, honey.” Her dad took the stool next to her. “I didn’t mean sacrificing your happiness, your own future.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not suggesting that marrying me would be the worst kind of fate available to her, are you?”
Lacey stifled a laugh. “What are my other choices?”
Her dad reached for her hands. “Your willingness to put the town first, to put everyone’s needs in front of your own is admirable.”
She nodded, her gaze trained on their hands. Feeling like a total third wheel, I put a hand on her shoulder. “I agree with your dad on this one.”
“But it’s not necessary. I know you’ve got your heart set on turning the tide for Idont.”
“It’s Ido now, Dad. I found out today the motion passed and the vote made it official.” She lifted her head, the glint of a tear flashing in the corner of her eye. “When I decided to run for mayor, I made a promise to myself. That I’d do whatever it took to make Ido a better place. Now’s my chance. The town needs something to look forward to, something to put their faith in. The wedding venue could be it. They just need to see it in action.”
“I hope you’re right about this.” Mr. Cherish gave her hands a squeeze then hopped off the stool. “Bodie, for what it’s worth, thanks for doing your part.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome, sir.”
A firm hand landed on my shoulder and I looked into the unforgiving eyes of Lacey’s dad. “Just make sure the fake engagement stays fake. No funny business.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’ve got to keep this a secret, Dad. You can’t tell anyone,” Lacey said.
“Who would I tell?” Her dad gestured around the house. “The only person I see on a daily basis is you.”
“Luke.” Lacey lowered her head. “You can’t tell Luke a thing. Not until it’s over and the magazine article has been published. Promise?”
“What would he do, hop on a transport and fly home to break his best friend’s nose?” her dad joked.
I nodded to myself. That sounded exactly like something Luke might do if he thought I was taking advantage of his baby sister. Better to set the record straight before word got around. “Maybe we should tell him?—”
“No.” Lacey whirled on me. “Absolutely not.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “It’s your show. Now, come on, Act One is about to start and I need my leading lady.”
With a question in her eyes, she took the hand I offered. “Do I even want to know?”
