Page 20 of The Fiancée Farce
Tansy hadn’t expected Gemma to lie, but she hadn’t anticipated her being quite so blunt about it, either. Tansy pasted on a smile she prayed didn’t wobble. “Right. But I guess beggars can’t be choosers.”
Gemma went still. “I’ve never begged a day in my life, and I have no interest in starting now.” She crossed the room, stopping in front of Tansy, head and hips cocked as her gaze traveled from Tansy’s face down to her feet and back again. “And youaren’tmy type, because up until one month ago, my type was ‘temporary.’” Gemma picked up her checkbook. “So, how much?”
“What if it’s a lot?” She wrung her hands together. “Likea lota lot.”
Gemma sighed through her nose. “The idea of spending my family’s money on saving a small, independent bookstore from being cannibalized by a behemoth of a corporation warms the cockles of my heart. Whatever the sum, I can guarantee you it’s asmall price to pay to make sure my cousin doesn’t runmyfamily business into the ground. So are you going to tell me how much or should I just leave it blank?”
Tansy broke out into a cold sweat at the mere idea of having that sort of carte blanche access to Van Dalen funds. She shook her head. “I need”—deep breath—“six.”
Gemma stared. “Sixwhat, Tansy? Hundred? Thousand?” Her lips twitched. “Sheep?”
“Sheep?” Tansy balked. “What would I do with sheep?”
Gemma laughed. “You tell me. Thisisbasically my dowry we’re discussing.”
She rubbed the front of her throat. “Six, um, million.”
Gemma didn’t even bat an eye. “You got it.”
And just like that she wrote out the check. “There.” She signed it with a flourish. “As you can see, I’m more than willing to put my money where my mouth is.” Gemma tore out the check and carried it back over to her desk, tucking it inside the top drawer. “I’ll give it to you once you’ve held up your end of our bargain.” She looked at Tansy over her shoulder and shrugged. “Because no offense, Tansy—I like you, I do, I just don’t know you well enough yet to trust you. And if I give this to you now, there’d be nothing stopping you from ghosting me, and I really can’t afford to have that happen.”
That was fair. Except... “What’s stoppingyoufrom reneging once I marry you?”
Once she married Gemma.Holy hell, this was happening.
“Once you marry me, what’s mine is yours.”
“What about a prenup?”
“Unnecessary.” Gemma waved her off, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.
“Unnecessary? Aren’t you worried I’ll—I’ll—”
“Take half my money?” Gemma shrugged, completely blasé. “You’re welcome to it.”
Tansy tamped down a spark of irritation, crossing her arms. “I don’t understand you.”
This wasa lot, okay? A lot to take in, a lot to wrap her head around. Factor in more figures on a check than she could dream of and Gemma’s indifference to it all, and Tansy felt anything but sure-footed.
Gemma laughed breezily, falling back against her pillows. “Are you calling me an enigma?”
Maybe she was. “I guess I’m just waiting for the catch.”
Gemma held up her hands, palms facing out. “No catch.”
That was all well and good...ifshe could take Gemma at her word. “No offense, butIdon’t exactly trustyou.”
Gemma’s eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch as she studied Tansy, the silence in the room deafening. Tansy nibbled on the inside of her lip, her only concession against the overwhelming urge to fidget. It was either that or break eye contact, and she refused to do that.
“Good,” Gemma said after a moment. “You shouldn’t.”
Tansy frowned sharply.
“Which isn’t to say youcan’ttrust me, only that trust is something you earn, and I haven’t earned yours yet,” Gemma added. “In fact, I’m glad you don’t trust me. It shows that you’re discerning, and I like that. But don’t worry. I’ll earn it.”
Tansy crossed her arms. “You sound awfully confident.”
Gemma smiled. “I am.”
