Page 5 of Her Fantasy Husband

“I…” He was used to thinking on his feet, but his brain felt like mush. “…missed you too much?”

She gave him a grateful smile. “Aw, you’re so sweet.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Well, come meet my grandmother. She’s flown in from New York and was saying how she hoped to meet you this time.”

He supposed he had to turn around sometime. This was so fucking awkward. He gave a quick glance down his body. At least his erection had subsided sufficiently to not be a total embarrassment. He turned slowly.

A woman stood on the other side of the office—every well-groomed inch of her screaming “rich and elitist.” He disliked her on sight. She was returning his perusal with a similar lack of enthusiasm.

He gave what he hoped was a charming smile, though charm had never been one of his strong points. “Sorry about the kiss, ma’am, but it’s been awhile.”

She pursed her lips. “All of one day, I understand.”

Shit.“It felt like much longer.”

She looked down the length of his body, one eyebrow rising slightly. Did she hesitate at his crotch, or was he just feeling sensitive? He’d dressed casually for the meeting, mainly because he usually dressed casual and could see no reason to change the habits of a lifetime. But his faded jeans and black T-shirt clearly weren’t impressing her.

She sniffed. “Well, Alexia, it’s clear why you married him.”

Why didn’t he think she meant that as a compliment?

“Thanks,” his “wife” said from beside him. “Now, I’m sure Josh just popped in to say hi, and he has important things to do.” She rested a small hand on his arm and gave a tiny tug. She was trying to throw him out. But he had things to say, and he wasn’t leaving until he’d said them.

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, felt her small body stiffen at his side. “I can stay awhile, babe. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

She winced at the endearment. “I have a meeting in a little while. We can talk tonight.”

“That’s okay, honey, what I have to say will only takea little while.”

She gritted her teeth and opened her mouth to speak, but she was beaten to it by her grandmother.

“Mr. Slater—”

“Call me Josh.”

“Josh. And I’m Valerie. You must accompany Alexia when she joins us for dinner tonight. Meet the family at long last.”

Lexi spoke quickly. “Oh, I don’t think—

“Of course, I’d love to,” he said and then had no clue why, except maybe to wind her up. After all, she’d kissed him and now she couldn’t get rid of him fast enough.

“Wonderful.” The older woman turned to Lexi. “Isn’t that wonderful, Alexia?”

She pasted on a bright smile. “Absolutely fabulous, Grandmamma.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” he said. “I don’t know why we haven’t met before.”

“I have a few ideas,” her grandmother replied. “Now, I must be off. But I’ll see you both this evening. And why don’t you see if you can persuade Alexia into a dress, Josh.”

“I’ll do my best, ma’am.”

“I’m sure you will.”

They stood in silence as she left the room, the door closing softly behind her. Josh dropped his arm from around Lexi and stepped back. She didn’t move and didn’t speak. He wandered away, then turned so he could study her.

The girl he remembered from their one brief meeting in the registry office was still there. At the time, he’d not really paid attention to her. It had been obvious that they had nothing in common. She was just a rich kid, a business proposition, not his type at all—he liked tall, leggy blondes. She still wasn’t his type, but she had a lush little body, all soft curves shown off in faded jeans that clung to the swell of her hips, and a white T-shirt stretched over full breasts, her nipples poking at the material.

Had she been as aroused by that kiss as him? Or had it all been purely for show?

He forced his gaze upward. She had a mop of unruly red corkscrew curls, which she was continuously pushing behind her ears. She wore no makeup, but her skin was clear, except for the freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were huge and her most startling feature—golden, with flecks of brown, and fringed by thick, curly lashes.

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