Page 37 of Fake To Forever

“True love is overrated,” she says teasingly as she shrugs her shoulders. “Besides, you’re going to be a gazillionaire’s wife.”

“Billionaire,” I correct her. Not that the amount of money he makes is important.

“Same difference,” she huffs out. “I’m a little jealous, to tell you the truth. You get to marry a hot billionaire and your brother won’t even go out with me.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. Marie’s been crushing on Garrett for awhile now, and she’s not all that subtle about it when he’s around. He hasn’t done much to reciprocate her attention, though I’m pretty sure he thinks she’s cute.

“Well,” I say, smiling slyly. “You will be my maid of honor. And he’ll be the best man.”

“So we’ll have to interact,” she says excitedly. “Sounds like a challenge.”

“Exactly. One that I’m sure youwillinglyaccept.”

She turns to me with a sly smile, shrugging her shoulder. “You’re damn right. Was this your master plan all along?”

“Yes,” I reply flatly. “My master plan was to marry a man in name only, a man I don’t really know, just to get my brother to date you.”

“I know you're kidding, but it’s really a benefit for me,” she adds with soft laughter. “Not just Garrett, but look at this pool.”

“You can reap all the benefits with me.” I pause. “Except for my marital duties.”

We both go totally still at that. I can’t believe I just said that. Marital duties? Sex hadn’t even crossed my mind when I’d said yes to Christian. I mean… it’s definitely crossed my mind regarding him, but I never really thought about the possibility of sleeping with him as part of this whole arrangement.

“Is he expecting marital duties?” Marie asks, voicing the question knocking around in my own head now.

“No… he assured me that wasn’t an expectation of this arrangement.”

“He’s kind of into you, though, Haven.”

Images of that night in his home flash through my mind. The taste of his kiss upon my lips, the feeling of his hands sliding across my body. I haven’t really stopped thinking about it since it happened. And though every part of me wants to desperately visit that situation again, it leaves me conflicted.

How can a man like Christian make me feel the way he did?

Pushing the thoughts from my mind, I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. This is just a business arrangement, and that’s probably how it should stay. It’s only for a year and then we go our separate ways. The last thing I want to do is let myself feel something, only to get heartbroken. I don’t have time for that sort of thing right now.”

“Haven… I know everything is hard for you right now with your mom. But you don’t have to give up your life,” she says softly, catching me off guard. I know deep down she’s right, but hearing her say it is something else.

“I know, Marie. I’m not trying to.”

She nods, as she lays back to float upon the water. “Just think it over. Don’t automatically dismiss the possibility that this could become more.”

Laying on my back to float, I stare up at the night sky. Even if I wanted to completely dismiss it, I wouldn’t be able to. Silence falls between us as we both enjoy the serene feeling of the water and the cool evening. My mind drifts over the many possibilities of what the arrangement with Christian is going to bring.

The sound of crunching gravel on the driveway forces me to perk up gazing towards the direction of the front of the house.He’s home.Marie notices too, glancing over at the driveway before turning back to me with a knowing smile.

“Well, that’s my cue,” she says, swimming over to the edge of the pool and climbing out gracefully. She grabs her towel and starts drying off, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

“You don’t have to leave just because he’s back,” I call out, though I know she’s probably right to go. There’s so much I haven’t figured out yet, and now that Christian is here, the reality of everything feels even more intense.

Marie just waves off my concern with a casual smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got an early morning tomorrow, anyway. Besides, you two probably need to talk.”

We probably need to do a lot of things, doesn’t mean it’s gonna get done tonight.

“Marie…” I grumble. She gives me a final reassuring smile before heading inside to grab her things.

As she disappears into the house, I’m left alone in the pool, the water suddenly feeling a little cooler without her there. I look into the house through the large back windows and see Christian walk inside, his expression unreadable. My heart races, the weight of everything we’ve agreed to settling heavily on my shoulders.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

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