Page 56 of Resisting You
“Best fake wife ever,” he said grinning.
I scrunched my nose. “I don’t love that.”
He tilted his head in thought. “Best girlfriend-wife ever?” he tried again and I nodded, fighting my grin.
“Better.”
This time, it wasmyphone that buzzed.
With a final kiss, we separated, each grabbing our respective phones. My throat went tight when a text message from Kristen was on my screen.
Kristen:
We couldn’t ask for better press than this!
Below her message, a link was attached. I ignored the dread rolling around in my stomach and clicked the link.
Newlyweds Noah Blue and Dr. Rosa Alvarez Save Dog’s Life!
Beneath the headline there’s several images of us around town in Maple Grove, including the staged photos of us having a picnic with Noah’s family to us almost kissing at Beefcakes to finally an image of us rushing Birdie into Noah’s brother’s veterinary clinic.
I shook my head as a storm of varying emotions twisted in my belly. On one hand, it was a good article. Nothing too scandalous. But on the other hand, there were photos here that I thought were a private moment between me and Noah, illustrating how ravenous these photographers were.
Noah and I would never truly be alone.
They would never just leave us in peace, would they?
Another text from Kristen came through to both of us.
Kristen:
It’s exactly the story you both needed to win over your fans!
But that’s not why we did it, I couldn’t help but think.
Sliding off the counter, I looked down at Birdie who was happily chewing on his bully stick in the corner of the room.
“Did you know they were photographing us with Birdie that day?”
Two scowl lines form in the center of Noah’s brows. “No. I’m not surprised, though. Whenever they smell blood in the water, they circle until there’s a fresh kill somewhere else.” I swallowed the burning lump in my throat as he added, “It gets better, I swear.”
Until the next fresh kill is us again.
I was grateful for the knock at our door that could drag me away from having this conversation. I wasn’t ready for it. I wanted to stay a little longer inside our bubble. I wanted to stay as his girlfriend-wife a little longer before I had to face the stark reality that we weren’t meant for each other. Our lives were too different; we wanted different things.
Clearing his throat, Noah adjusted himself. “That’s probably Kristen.”
I nodded, taking a step back from Noah… both literally and metaphorically. I needed to guard my heart. Reinforce those walls I had built years ago. It was the only way we’d both survive this and come out of this scam of a marriage unscathed.
If I wanted to come out of it.The thought twinged in my heart. I didn’t know what I wanted. And that was the problem, wasn’t it?
From the corner of my eye, I saw Noah cross to the door and open it.
“Noah Blue?” A voice asked.
My spine went ramrod straight.No. It can’t be…
“Uh… yes?” Noah answered.
