Page 70 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

“So how is this actually going to work?” I ask. “There’s…I don’t even know where to begin.”

Logan just shrugs. “Neither do I. But I know someone who might…”

“Holy shit, this is amazing! My guy graduated from PR dating to PR marriage!”

On the drive over here I had a sliver of hope that Kat would be the rational adult in the room. That she’d talk me and Logan out of this ridiculous idea.

Not so much.

In fact, after hearing our story, she might be the most into it out of anyone present.

“Really?” I ask, hoping to break her from her excitement. “You don’t see any massive red flags or warning bells about this?”

“Oh, they’re glaring, blaring, and as red as the bottom of my favorite shoes, but that doesn’t make it any less amazing. For both of you.”

Good Lord, what am I getting into…

“Okay, I can see you’re freaking out,” Kat says, leading me to one of the chairs in front of Logan’s desk. “Let’s talk this out.”

“Please,” I say, suddenly feeling a migraine coming on. “First of all, before we go any further, do we think this willactuallywork?”

“I’ll be honest, I don’t know,” Kat says. “I’m not a lawyer and certainly know nothing about divorces and custody agreements. But, I do agree that if Josh’s biggest advantage over you is that he’s married and can provide a stable home—which is horseshit, but here we are—then marrying Logan evens that out.”

“He also said I travel too much and have to arrange rotating childcare because of that. And that essentially Vivian will be staying home to help raise him while he’s at work. I don’t have anything to counter that…”

“Easy,” Logan jumps in. “We’re at work when he’s at school. When you have to travel, I make sure that I’m home. And vice versa. Also, when you run the company, you control most of your travel. Plus, and remember, I’m obscenely wealthy. Paying for a nanny, or supplemental child care, is nothing.”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to have you spend your money on us.”

“If we’re married, what’s mine is yours.”

“No! Absolutely not!” I exclaim. “First of all, we’ll be signing some sort of contract, or prenup, or whatever it may be. This isn’t real, Logan. We’ll be marriedon paper. We’re not combining finances. We’re not splitting bills. And I have money too. Not as much as you, but I do well for myself. If we need a nanny, I’ll pay for a fucking nanny!”

There. I said it. The biggest hill for me to die on.

I might need his help in this way, but I don’t need his money. I don’t need his name. I just need to prove to a likely super-conservative family court judge that I’m married and stable so I can keep primary care of my son.

That’s it.

“She’s right,” Kat says. “I mean, you two can figure out the money thing. But contracts do need to be signed. NDAs need to be arranged. I need to know who we’re telling, how we’re spinning this, and what the story is for the press. Because Logan Matthews suddenly getting married is going to make news.”

I look over to Logan, who already has his eyes on me. “Are you okay with that, Maeve? You’ll be in the papers. On the blogs. People will look at you. Paparazzi will follow you. They’ll think you’re just another in my long string of women.”

I think about it for a second. “I don’t love the idea of being followed, watched, and written about, but if that’s the price to pay to keep Jayce, I’ll do it.”

“I understand it’s a lot. And if you are adamantly against it, we’ll find another way. I don’t want you to lose Jayce. But, this helps us both. I become a family man and keep the distraction train rolling. You get a husband, a family unit, and can fight fire with fire against your ex.”

I let that sink in. He’s right. And as much as I’ve tried to think of ways over the past how-ever-many hours of making sure Jayce stays with me, I hadn’t been able to think of a thing that wasn’t quitting my job.

Which I refuse to do. It was never a problem until now. Which also tells me something else is up.

But I don’t know what that is, and I don’t have time to go chasing theories. What I do know is that Josh is married. And he does have a traditional family now. So as much as I hate this, and wish there was any other way, this is what I have to do.

I have to become Mrs. Logan Matthews.

guide to love rule #46

When marrying a man for convenience and you have to kiss your now husband, don’t use tongue.

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