Page 48 of The Exception

“Sure.” She lifted a shoulder. “If he makes you happy. I could see that one day.”

“What about tomorrow?”

She furrowed her brow. “What about tomorrow? Did you want to do something? Graham has his party, but otherwise, I’m free.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I’m getting married tomorrow. That’s what the party is—a small, intimate surprise wedding.”

“Very funny,” she said, opening the door to the terrace and stepping out onto it. She shielded her eyes from the sun, totally unaware that I wasn’t joking.

“I’m serious, Jo.” I closed the door behind us, grateful that Willow was down the hall in her suite. I needed to ease Jo into this conversation, as much as I could anyway. And having my new bodyguard hovering was not going to help.

Jo turned to face me, her gaze searching mine. Whatever she saw there made her eyes widen in surprise. I could tell she had a million questions. She looked as if she might burst. So I was surprised when all she said was, “But you only just started dating.”

Instead of telling her the truth, I said, “He asked me to marry him, and I agreed.”

She sank down on one of the outdoor sofas, patting the space beside her. I joined her, hoping she would understand. Hoping she wouldn’t judge me.

“Why?” she asked, and I could tell that she was genuinely trying to fathom where this was coming from. “And don’t tell me you love him. I know you, Lil. You might admire and respect Graham, but you don’t love him.”

“Aren’t admiration and respect a good foundation for marriage?” I asked, doing my best to avoid admitting the real reason.

She leveled me with a flat look. “And the real reason?”

“Why else?” I lifted my shoulder. “Money.”

She jerked her head back. “For the château?” I nodded. “I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize the situation was so dire.”

“It is,” I said, dipping my head to my chest. It really was. I’d made the best decisions I could, but it was still embarrassing to admit that I needed help.

“Even so… To marry someone you don’t even love. For money? That’s not you.”

There was no judgment in her tone, but her words still felt like a punch to the gut. A reality check. It wasn’t me. Or at least, I didn’t want to believe I was capable of using someone the way my family sought to use me.

“I’m running out of time and options, and Graham offered to help me save it.”

“Mm. And what does he want in return?”

“A wife.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why?”

“He has his reasons.”

“Um, I’m going to need a little more than that. You’re planning to marry this guy.Marryhim. That’s a huge commitment.”

“I know!” I blurted, then softened my tone. “I know.”

“So, he wants…a wife,” she said again. “But why does he need a wife so badly? And why you?”

“Why not me?” I asked, latching on to that as I hoped to bypass Graham’s reasons for marriage.

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Lil. It’s me. You know I’m not going to tell anyone. I would never do that, even if I hadn’t signed an NDA that all but promised my firstborn.”

“I know you wouldn’t, but I also signed an NDA.”

“Jesus.” She dragged a hand through her hair. “Who the hell even does that? Makes their future wife sign an NDA.”

People with something to lose. Something to protect.

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