Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“We can just pull this off for a little while,” he says, all brash and bossy, which was sexy in bed but is irritating now.
I burn. No, I seethe. Who is this man who’s made this decision for me? “You just told the team owner we’re really married. Now we have to pretend to be married for…I don’t even know how long,” I say, sputtering, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Something else is gnawing at me. Something that’s far too vulnerable to even voice now.
“I was trying to help,” he bites out, like he can’t believe I’d be pissed at him.
But I’m livid. He gave me no say. This has shades of Xander all over again. Someone taking over. Someone telling me what to do.
I shove those vulnerable feelings deep down and stab my sternum. “I don’t need to pretend to be married to impress the team owner.”
Hayes’s brow knits in utter confusion as we march past a man muttering freaking pair of bananas to a clearly disobedient slot machine. “The last mascot was canned for snorting coke. I didn’t want you to lose your job for getting drunk after the third game.”
Damn him. He makes too good a point.
I breathe out hard, fuming because he’s right. It would look bad. “But you didn’t even give me a say in this! And is pretending we’re married the only solution? Couldn’t you have stalled to give us some time to make a plan or something?”
Hayes gestures subtly to Jessie, click-clacking several paces ahead of us on the marble walkway, polished in a burgundy suit and brand-new shoes. She’s dispensing instructions to Oliver, who nods like an obedient soldier.
“Did you see her? The woman already put two and two together,” Hayes says. “I didn’t want to cross her. And I didn’t want it to look bad for you.”
I love that he did this for me. But I hate that he did this for me too. This is a whole new mess I need to deal with while I look for new gigs and try to sort out my life. I slow our pace even more. “You didn’t just do it for me,” I point out, since he wasn’t completely altruistic. “You get something out of it too. You’re the new guy on the team, and you didn’t want to look like a fuck-up in front of Jessie either.”
He blows out a breath of admission. “Fine. I get something out of it too.”
I stare him down, glad he’s admitted the truth. “She invited you and your wife to a charity event,” I say, unfolding my arms to sketch air quotes. “It would have looked bad for you to say hey, we were plastered.”
His eyes harden with a new intensity. “I wasn’t drunk. I was barely buzzed in the chapel.” This is important to him, this emphasis on his almost sobriety. “I didn’t do anything last night because of liquor. I wanted everything that happened. The wedding because it was fun. I had a great time marrying you for fun.” He drops his voice to a harsh whisper. “And I wanted the rest of the night desperately because I wanted…you.”
I blink, taken aback by the strength of his tone and the reminder of his desire.
“And I still fucking do, so much it’s driving me crazy, so I’m sorry I made the decision for you, but Ivy, the last thing I want on earth is to hurt you. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I wanted to fucking protect you.”
A breath ghosts past my lips as I try to process what he’s saying. What it means. Those vulnerable feelings rise up inside me in a rush, and I’m tempted to ask quietly what’s next?
For the three of us…
But I already feel like I’ve let down my guard enough this morning with Hayes and with Stefan. I know how relationships go. I’ve seen it with my parents. Trust is a mirage. You can only trust a dog.
I hate that my cruel dad was right when he dispensed that little nugget of intel to my baby sister and me. I wish I were home, my pup curled up in my lap, writing articles about fashion trends, rather than stuck pretending I’m the Mrs. to his Mr.
There’s so much Hayes and I have to sort out. Like how long we’re doing this, what we’re saying to friends and family, but most of all, what it means for…three people.
Because I can’t stop thinking about Stefan and Hayes. I can’t stop thinking about the way I felt with both of them. I can’t stop thinking about how even though I know it’s a bad idea, I want to see Stefan again.
And Hayes.
But now isn’t the time to say I want to see you and your friend a second time.