Page 13 of Marry Me, Right Now

“He wants to modernize this?” She sounded horrified, her eyes wide. I nodded.

“I’ll do it.”

My gaze locked with hers. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I can live in an alternate universe and be pampered for a year to save a gorgeous house like that. I’m in.”

My arms circled her in a bear hug before I could even think. “Mia, you’re amazing.” At first I had only meant it to be a friendly hug, since I was so excited that I couldn’t control myself. But then I smelled her hair and realized that my arms were around her. Was her body pressing into mine? Everything about her was so lovely it was hard for me to get a grip.

Sitting back on the couch, I took a sip of water. “Do you have to be home tonight at any particular time?”

“No. But the last subway is at one-thirty.”

“Don’t be silly, I’ll send you home in a car.” I tried to smile reassuringly, but she looked unsure. Then I noticed that she was staring at her notebook strangely.

I

could see in her eyes that she had another question but was afraid. “Listen, Mia, this is going to be truly intense for both of us. The only way that we’ll get through this is if we’re a team, and we’re honest with each other. We’re going to have to do a lot of lying to others, especially to our closest friends and family. That is really going to suck sometimes. We’re going to have to stick together.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“So please, say the thing that you’re hesitant about. You can’t offend me.”

Her round eyes turned to me with a shy glance that filled me once again with the desire that I’d been trying so hard to ignore. “Um, okay,” she said, taking a sip of water and trying to be brave. “Living with a strange guy is going to be, um, awkward. And...” She looked so uncomfortable it was breaking my heart.

“Please,” I said, picking up her hand from her lap and giving it a little shake before I could stop myself. “Please tell me everything now. It will make things easier later, I promise.”

“I’ve never lived with a guy before and I don’t know if you’re expecting me to prance around in my undies and entertain you or whatever,” she blurted.

She looked so nervous and fragile that I desperately wanted to wrap her in my arms and make her feel safe, but that certainly wouldn’t help at the moment.

I dropped her hand. “That’s a very reasonable concern, and I’m glad you brought it up.” Leaning back a bit, nodding, I said, “I’ll admit, you caught my eye because you’re positively gorgeous.” She blushed so prettily, her rosy lips taunting me. “Being your husband is going to be an absolute honor, and you seem like a sweet person. Living with you for a year might be challenging, but I’m sure we’ll find ways to make it work, and even have some fun. But I will not expect anything from you beyond looking cute and married in public. I will do everything in my power to make you as comfortable as possible at all times.”

She seemed to be listening very intently, analyzing every word I spoke. “Mia, I would never hit on you because it would be wrong in this situation. And I wouldn’t risk us both losing the money, the house, our reputations. And I would never, ever want to hurt or offend you.”

She nodded, smiling a little. “Okay.” Her shoulders unclenched as she took a deep breath.

“Now, having said that, we’re going to have to act like we’re madly in love. Which means we’re going to have to kiss a few times in public, cuddle, and reach for each other all the time. It’s going to have to seem natural.” I reached over to hold her hand, and she didn’t seem to be put off. “When we’re in public, I’m going to hold your hand, put my arm around you, and whisper in your ear to make you giggle. You’ll have to act the part too. Can you do that?”

Her sweet grin made me melt, but she seemed determined. “It will have to seem automatic. Like we can’t stop.”

“Precisely.”

She squared her shoulders, as if she was about to begin a difficult mission. “Tell me something that drives you crazy. If you lose your train of thought in our web of lies, what’s something I could do that would instantly make you feel so mushy that it will diffuse the situation?”

“Great idea,” I said with genuine admiration. I stood up, pulling her with me, and guided us to the open area by the window. Confessing something so personal to her was actually making me a bit nervous, but knowing that she would have to reciprocate would make it worth it.

“When a woman touches me behind the ear, or strokes my earlobe between her fingers, I absolutely lose my train of thought.”

Her eyes lit up as if I just handed her a bowl of her favorite candy. “Well, I’m just going to have to test that to be sure.”

She stepped toward me, and watched my pupils dilate as she ran her middle finger along the back of my ear, then gently stroked the earlobe between her thumb and forefinger. My breathing instantly hitched, and I could almost sense my eyes glazing over.

“Wow,” she giggled. “That is hilarious.”

“You could stop now,” I said quickly, and she dropped her hand immediately. “Seriously, that sends shivers up my spine and I feel it in my knees. Please don’t use that unless it is absolutely necessary.”

She crinkled up her nose for a second. “I suppose it’s my turn, then.”

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