Page 56 of Reluctantly Married

Adam stopped and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his muscular chest. “You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered into her hair.

Her pulse raced, and she fought to keep control of her head. “Mmm. Thanks.”

Adam leaned down and kissed the spot below her earlobe, and she swooned. Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure how a person would do that, but she couldn’t think of any other word for it. He kissed her jaw line, then brought his lips to her ear. “Doctor Lemon gave me one last trust exercise to do while we’re here.”

Her heart pounded in her ears so loudly, she could barely hear him. “What is it?” she asked, breathless from what his kisses were doing to her.

He grinned. “You’ll find out.” He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and began walking them back to the resort.

The dirty rat. He knew she was expecting the proposal. He knew exactly what she would be thinking. And he was toying with her.

She glared at him, and all he did was chuckle in response.

This was going to be a long weekend.

21

Adam knew exactly why Meganlooked like she was going to throw up as they boarded the plane. She’d guessed the purpose of the trip, and it obviously scared her to death. After the first misunderstanding, he decided to make a game out of it. Before breakfast he wadded up a napkin and stuck it in his shirt pocket, making it look like a ring box bulge. Every time he patted his pocket, Megan’s face blanched. When he finally reached in and took out the napkin, her wide eyes narrowed and the familiar ‘I’m going to kill you’ look came into her eyes. But then she relaxed, and a hint of a smile played on her lips.

As they walked along the pier, he knelt down on one knee, only to tie his shoe. She laughed at that one, and relaxed even more. By dinner, she was back to her old self, carrying on normal conversations and throwing her usual zings his way when he got under her skin. That was when he decided it was time.

The setting sun set the perfect backdrop. A light breeze blew as they sat on the deck of the restaurant and ate the most amazing grilled seafood. Megan sat back in her chair, staring at the streaks of pink and orange that lit up the sky.

He leaned forward and took her hand. “Megan, dating you has been an experience like no other.” A suspicious look passed over her face, but she replaced it with a smile. “From fine dining off the kid’s menu, to surprise karaoke, I never know what I’m going to get with you.”

Her smile turned into something more akin to a smirk, and she appeared to be biting the inside of her cheek, trying not to laugh.

“But through it all, I’ve grown closer to you.” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I’ve grown to love you.”

Her eyes widened, but then she relaxed, a knowing look on her face. He slipped from his chair onto one knee, pulling out a ring box from his pants pocket. “Megan Holloway, will you marry me?”

She blinked a couple of times, as if what he’d said hadn’t sunk in yet, then she gingerly took the box and opened it. She stared at the gigantic rock that ABC had purchased, a stunned look on her face. Then she plastered on a stiff smile and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, I will marry you!” Then she elbowed him and looked at him through her eyelashes. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Her reaction was totally fake. He knew it was going to be, but it still sent a small thrill through him to have her say yes to his proposal.His pretend proposal, he reminded himself. This wasn’t real. He had to keep that in his mind, otherwise he’d lose himself in this fantasy of marrying Megan.

But he couldn’t do that because Megan was not into him. She was playing a part. She’d made it perfectly clear the marriage was not going to be real.

And if he wasn’t careful, he’d end up with a broken heart.

As soon as Megan accepted Adam’s proposal, they whisked her away and reminded her that she had signed a contract promising she wouldn’t reveal the outcome of the show or she’d have to give back the hundred thousand, be responsible for other fees for damages, and give up her first born. She hid the ring, and she and Adam weren’t to be seen together. Even their morning show went to reruns.

Being out of the public eye for a couple of months helped Megan relax. It was almost like she wasn’t even engaged. She was flown to LA in a super-secret jet for a gown fitting, but other than that, she had nothing to do with the wedding planning. The rest of the summer flew by, and before she knew it, the show was on the air.

Megan was amazed at how, through editing and camera angles, they were able to make Adam look like he was completely smitten with her. Even she found herself rooting for Adam to win her heart. They had also managed to make Luc, Anthony, and Kyle look like real contenders. They had cut and spliced until the kisses with each guy looked heated and she appeared to be struggling to decide between them. When Kyle left the show, they made that into a huge cliff-hanger episode, implying that the reason he left was because he was in love with her and didn’t think he could win above Adam.

The show skyrocketed to the top of the charts, and Megan found herself in a whirlwind of activity. She was suddenly faced with the kind of popularity she’d never dreamed possible. People recognized her everywhere she went. Her email box quickly filled, and her phone rang constantly. It seemed absurd, but she decided to hire a personal assistant to handle all the requests for interviews and appearances.

The day after the proposal aired, she and Adam were flown to LA to hit the talk show circuit. Suddenly, they had to act like a happily engaged couple. Megan found herself backstage at the Ellen show, twisting her engagement ring nervously as she waited for them to usher her in front of the cameras. Adam was already talking to Ellen, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

A guy with an earpiece and black T-shirt motioned for her to follow him. She stepped out onto the stage, the bright lights and screaming fans hitting her. She forced a smile and a polite wave. The cheers grew louder.

Adam stood and crossed the stage. He pulled her into an embrace, and whispered into her ear, “You okay?”

She nodded, even though it was a lie.

He pulled back, grinned, then kissed her. It started out normal, but soon a passion grew, a hunger in his kiss she’d never felt before. Her pulse raced, and electricity tingled through her. When he broke the kiss, she raised her eyebrow in an unspoken question, trying to catch her breath.

“I’ve missed you,” he said in his sultry tone, much to the delight of the crowd, who went wild with hoots and cat calls. They made their way to their seats, her head still spinning from the kiss.

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