Page 43 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

“Umm…” My heart beats like a bass drum, trying to break through my chest. My face flames. “So…ummm… Yeah,” I stutter.

Lifting my glass I gulp the rest of the water and then wipe my palms across my pants. I feel a gentle squeeze on my arm and when I glance up it’s to find David’s eyes boring into mine. He nods.

I glance around to find everyone watching the interaction, including Emmy quietly holding the pig in her mouth, and my lip tugs up.

Here we go.

Chapter Seventeen

David

“Myauntrecentlypassedaway and left me an inheritance with an unconventional stipulation,” Cat says cautiously, chewing on her bottom lip. “I have to get married.”

Ava gasps before the biggest grin spreads across her face. Duncan looks at me with wide eyes, his lip dipping at the corner. I swallow hard and turn my gaze back to Cat without glancing in Scarlett’s direction. Terrified of what I’ll find in her eyes. “David and I…” Cat falters.

“Agreed that a marriage of convenience could help both of you?” Ava gently finishes, her voice vibrating with excitement.

“Did you talk to Finn?” Duncan jumps in, his voice gruff. “Was this his idea?”

I can feel the weight of Cat’s gaze as she turns to me, and I shake my head. “It was mine.”

“Yours?” Ava and Duncan ask incredulously before turning intense, unbelieving stares my way. Then they turn toward Cat, who shrugs a shoulder. Looking back at me, their mouthsslightly agape. “Yours?” Ava’s eyebrows quirk, just as Duncan mutters. “I don’t believe it.”

My lips twitch at their reaction, raking my hand through my hair. “Mine,” I confirm. I blow out an exhale. “It’s a solution that helps solve both of our temporary problems.”

Duncan’s eyes narrow, his gruff voice barely a whisper. “Are you sure this is the best situation for Scarlett?”

“Daddy.” My stomach knots at the sound of my daughter’s voice, and I turn to face her. Her hazel eyes unreadable. “You’re getting married?”

“Only for a little while,” Cat answers, before I can get words past the lump in my throat. “Your dad is helping me, and I’ll be helping him.”

Scarlett’s eyebrows knit together as her gaze shifts from Cat to me. “Will it be real?”

“Yes,” Cat answers softly. Her eyes filled with concern, and my heart flips at the care she’s taking with my daughter. “And no. Yes, we will be married, and yes, I will live with you and your dad, but it will be because we’re helping each other.”

“Will you be like a mom or just a friend who lives here?” Scarlett’s head tilts as she chews her lip, trying to understand.

“A friend,” I say a bit too quickly. “But everyone will think she’s your new mom.”

“It will be pretend,” Ava interjects, as she wraps her arms around Scarlett’s waist, pulling her close.

“Like you and Uncle Dunky?” She beams at Ava.

Duncan’s head drops to his hand, and he growls. “Scarrrlett.” Ava’s mouth curves up, and she reaches over and rubs Duncan’s back.

Scarlett’s eyes sparkle as she glances back and forth between me and Cat before asking excitedly, “Will there be kissing?”

Kissing? I shift my gaze to Cat, only to find her stunned expression mirroring mine. I swallow hard and clear my throat.Our eyes lock, before she quickly glances away and pushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“We haven’t…umm…talked about that yet,” Cat answers, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Doesn’t there have to be kissing, Aunt Ava?” Scarlett turns to Ava, whose smile is a bit more mischievous than I’d like.

“There does, but remember what we said about kissing and the movies?”

“It’s fake?” Scarlett responds. “But look at you and—”

“Scarlett,” Cat’s voice is soft as she interrupts my daughter. Everyone turns to look at her. “How do you feel about someone else being married to your dad?”

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