Page 20 of Love You Already

“They didn't make it to him right away. Todd, that's my agent, said the envelope was all torn up. He almost dismissed it, but then decided to check it out last minute. The certificate and pictures are inside. He checked it out to be sure it's valid and it absolutely is. The mail must have gotten lost somewhere along the way. Once they found it, they sent it over. It just so happened to come at the exact time I decided to take an extended summer break to Firefly Cove.”

Once again, the world shifts beneath my feet. “Move... to ... you moved here?”

CHAPTER 10

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

Lachlan

I nod at Rose as my grip tightens on her hands. She looks two seconds from passing out. I'm not the biggest fan of that idea. Despite barely knowing her, I feel compelled to take care of her. Maybe it's the title of husband hanging over my head. Maybe it's the attraction we feel for one another. I can't say for sure. All I know is I'd sweep her into my arms before I let her slink to the ground.

“For the summer, yes. This town is close to Houston, yet far enough away to escape. I know it's all a mess and confusing, but I think me being here is good. We can figure this all out together.”

It's her turn to laugh uncontrollably now. I'm not sure what to do as she falls apart. Even so, I do the one thing I think might help. Stepping even closer to her, I pull Rose to my chest and press her face to my chest.Her laughter dims as I hold her close.

“Better?” I ask once the last of her shaking stops.

She nods against my chest. “Yes, thank you. Sorry to freak out like that. I wasn't prepared for all of this.”

“Neither was I, Ace. It's been a lot to take in since earlier this morning.”

“I don't think any amount of time will make it any easier. And to think I was trying to form a fake boyfriend plan before you arrived. Now I have a whole ass husband.” She pulls her hands free from mine and throws her arms up as her eyes go wide.

What she says grabs my attention. I chase after the thought to stop myself from chasing after her hands. “Fake boyfriend?”

“Firefly Cove is a small town, which I'm sure you've already seen. They like to take care of their own and since I've returned, I've become a bit of a focus point for some. I've been set up on nearly a dozen blind dates and almost as many surprise visits to the bar from single, eligible men. Bridgett and I came up with the idea to get someone to pretend to be my boyfriend so the matchmakers in town would stop trying to get me a boyfriend.”

“I volunteer,” I shout before I think it through.

Rose's jaw drops. She recovers quickly, then shakes her head. “You can't be serious. We're already tangled enough. You want to add pretending to be my boyfriend to the mix?”

“I mean, yeah. I'd much prefer you use me, your husband, over someone else for this skit of yours. Besides, I enjoy spending time with you. I would have pursued you anyway if we'd just crossed paths in town. Why not play it up? This way, you can get these women off your back. I'm assuming women. If not, then let’s say people. Squad. Team. Whatever. The matchmaking crew of Firefly Cove can finally rest now that you and I are dating.”

“And what about the marriage issue?” She asks.

“We do whatever you want there.”

She sputters, her hands reaching up to push me. I don't move an inch. “You can't be serious. What if I decide to stay married to you? You can't say you actually want that?”

I shrug. “You're the best woman I've been with, both in personality and sexual activity department. I can't see a scenario in which I'll wake up one day and think that I hated marrying you. But if you're this worried about it, we can table the discussion until we get some of the dating pressure off your back. Todd has a team of lawyers on standby to deal with this however we want whenever we want.”

“Really? Just like that?” She seems skeptical.

My phone slips from my pocket with ease. I dial Todd, then place it on speaker.

“Hey, bud. How's it going? You make it to town yet?” Todd's booming voice fills the space of Rose's office.

I smile at her as I answer him. “Sure did, and I'm standing with my wife, Rose, right now. She didn't believe me when I told her you had a team of lawyers ready to help us.”

Todd chuckled. “Hey there, Rose. Nice to meet you, though I could have used a heads up.”

“Me too, Todd. You're not the only one blindsided here,” she replies with a giggle.

“True that. Our boy Lachlan is irresistible though. I totally get —”

“Enough of that,” I interrupt. “Can you just confirm that we're prepared to handle this if that's the route she wants?”

“Of course, I do. I'm a professional. Rose, sweetie, don't you worry about a thing. I'll take good care of you when you decide to leave this big oaf.”

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