Page 82 of His Christmas Wife

“One thing I’ve missed is family dinners. It would be nice if the two of you could make a habit of joining me on Sunday afternoons? It doesn’t have to be here. A restaurant is fine. And even a couple of times a month would be welcome.”

Every moment, the situation became even more horrible to deal with. She sincerely liked Ophelia and enjoyed her company. If the relationship with Frost was real, she’d agree in an instant. “I—”

“We’ll check our calendars, Gran.” His interruption was smooth and easy as he stood. “Shall we, darling?”

In less than five minutes, he’d helped her into her coat, goodbyes and Christmas wishes had been exchanged, and she was seated beside Frost as he made a U-turn on Philip Street.

“What did you think of Gran?”

As if it were a time bomb, she clutched the box containing the tiara. “She’s wonderful.”

“You impressed the hell out of her.”

He couldn’t possibly know that.

As he drove, he made small talk that she responded to in the shortest number of words possible.

Then he pulled into a parking spot in front of her complex—meaning he expected to be invited inside, something she couldn’t allow. If he touched her, she might fracture. She sucked in a shallow breath to summon the strength she needed to get through this. “This charade is over.” Her voice cracked.

“What the hell?” After cutting the engine, he turned toward her. Even in the dark, she felt the impact of his scowl. “Kaylee—”

“I mean it, Mr. Frost.” She retreated behind formality. Then, frantically, she shoved the box at him, and he refused to take it. “This is yours. I mean—” She blinked back tears. “It’s your wife’s. Yourrealwife.”

“Wait. We need to talk.” His voice was implacable, but she didn’t back down, couldn’t. Everything was on the line.

She wrenched off her fake wedding ring.

“Fuck it all, Kaylee. Stop. Please. I’m begging you. Can we talk?”

She placed the box on the console and dropped the ring inside.

When he grabbed hold of her hand, she wrenched it away.

“Goddamn it!”

Had she expected this to be easy?

“The ring is yours, no matter what.”

“No.” Frantically she shook her head. Her thoughts ran together, and the urge to run filled her, making her pulse thunder in her ears. “It was never anything more than an expensive prop.” The lie nearly choked her. To her it had been so, so much more. Which had made it difficult to wear. At some point, deep down, she’d fallen in love with him and wanted the whole thing to be real.

“Look…” He sucked in a shallow breath. “Why don’t we talk about this tomorrow? You agreed to cohost my New Year’s party. That was part of the deal. Maybe—”

“You can keep your money.”

“Think about this, I implore you.”

“I’ll find another way. Or stay home. I can’t keep pretending.”

“There’s nothing pretend about our sex, the way you respond to me.”

Frantically she shook her head. “Sex is only one part of life. People have feelings.”And mine are being shredded. “Your grandmother… God.” A tear squeezed from the corner of her eye. “She believed it. Which is what you wanted. But, damn, she’s going to be hurt, and I never signed up for that.” Frantically she tried to blink away the tears, but they fell, unchecked. “She thinks we’re going to have kids. Gave me a family treasure. How…” Kaylee gasped for air. “How could we have done this to her?”

He reached to wipe away the dampness from her face, but she captured his finger. “Don’t. Don’t touch me.”If you do, I might come undone.

Driven by desperation, she forced the door open.

“At least let me walk you inside.”

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