Page 47 of I Knew You
Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? How? I won’t let you or Whit pay for my surgery if that’s what you’re?—”
“No,” I interrupted. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m also not saying you shouldn’t use Whit’s money because you should. But if we marry, you’ll have my health insurance. I’ll have to check on the specifics for surgery, but my insurance is pretty damn good. You could end up paying much less for all this.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock, but she didn’t miss a beat. “Best idea you’ve ever had, Dracula!”
I rolled my eyes at her use of my nickname, but I was smiling. Lakey, tongue wagging and sensing the joy, came right up to Julianna. Julianna took long strokes down her fur and spoke without looking at me. “So, it’s a deal. We get married in name only. A civil, quickie service at the courthouse…” Those words conjured up images of having Julianna in a dark corner, all to myself, able to touch her velvet skin and hear her intake of breath. “I’ll benefit from using your health insurance, and you’ll get money for Mill Creek Aid?”
“1.1 million dollars, to be exact,” I said. Her eyes popped wide.
“Do you think you’ll have problems getting the money? There won’t be any delays once we’re legally married?”
“I’ll make a call.” I was acquainted with a lawyer in town whom I trusted to do some reconnaissance work.
“That’s very mob-esque of you,” she said, teasingly.
What did a man say who planned to marry a woman for money and insurance purposes?
“Seriously, you don’t have to do this.”
She smiled. “Cold feet already?”
“No, not that. I’m not sure if having me on your record is a good idea. To have to tell someone you were married before. You know, when we eventually…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t want to say it. But if we were going to do this, we needed to establish that it was temporary. It was the safe and responsible thing to do.
Yet I didn’t want to be safe or responsible. I wanted to pull her to me, tell her all my wayward thoughts, and decimate any chance of us being merely friends.
“On my record?” She laughed. “Is there someone keeping tabs on me? I don’t think there’s a more noble reason to fake marry someone than to help them inherit a million dollars to build a community center. If someone later can’t understand that it sounds like I’d be hitching my horse to the wrong cart.”
I smiled at the metaphor that Grams used to use sometimes. Her Appalachian sayings were ingrained in our minds and hearts. “Okay. But if you change your mind anytime, you can tell me. Don’t feel obligated because of the money.”
She pivoted to me and put her soft hand on my rough face. My heart raced. “I’m not a child. This was my idea, don’t forget that,” she said, her features soft. “We can talk particulars later. Now, do you have anything here that I can fix for supper?”
I ran a hand over my jaw. I hadn’t thought of food. There was nothing much in the way of groceries in the house. I was a bachelor, and I lived like one.
She looked up at me with searching eyes. “Oh no. I have myappointment in Roanoke tomorrow. With all this, I didn’t even think about it. And I don’t have a vehicle.”
Of course, she didn’t remember. With me bursting into her life, the accommodation change, and now agreeing to get married, I was surprised that either of us remembered our own names.
“Use my truck. I’ve got a Jeep in the garage,” I cut in, shrugging, letting her know it wasn’t a big deal. She looked relieved, but her lips pursed.
“Why am I not surprised you have two vehicles? I can’t do that, though.”
“Can’t do what?”
“Take your vehicle.” She crossed her arms.
“I don’t think I asked.” I ignored the look on her face that told me she didn’t appreciate what I was saying. I continued, “It makes sense. Pick your battles, sweets. We’ll be married soon. We have to learn these things.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But since we’re handing out vehicles, can I drive the Jeep?”
I quirked my eyebrow. “It’s not that I mind, but the top is off, and I don’t think you’re going to want to drive around like that. It might mess up your hair and all that.”
“Au contraire,” she replied brightly, turning around from the empty fridge. “If the weather is okay, I’d love to take it.”
“Imagine the attention you’ll get,” I warned. “You want everyone driving around the city staring at you?”
Did I want everyone staring at her? The answer was a resounding ‘hell no’. But as I watched the smile on her face dim a little, I heard myself blurting before I could stop, “It’ll be sunny tomorrow. The key fob is hanging by the door. It’s got a full tank of gas. I’m curious to see how you like it.”
“Really?” She brightened once again.
