Page 16 of Be My Wife

He nods.

“So you were looking for a sister-wife?”

“No.”

“The hippie commune?”

“I live in an apartment.”

Confusion strikes. “Then where is this marriage thing coming from?”

“I told you, I have an inheritance I need access to.”

“Ah.” Understanding dawns. “Money.”

“There’s someone who needs it. Desperately.” He shrugs. “A lot of it, but liquidating the assets will take time.”

“How much time?”

“About seven days.” He blows out a breath. “Seven days of marriage and she lives.”

I suddenly feel guilty for not jumping on the marriage bandwagon. If this is about saving someone else’s life…

Come on, Liz. You don’t even know him.

My inner voice has a good point.

I swat away my compassion. It’s always that stinking nurturing side of me that pushes me into relationships with man-babies I thought I could raise into men.

Of course I always fail.

A woman isn’t supposed to teach a man how to be a man. She can’t. It’s impossible.

“I’m really sorry, but I can’t get married to you. We don’t even know each other. It’s… I only wanted a date to my cousin’s wedding not a whole husband. I…” My words falter. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He leans back. Studies me. “There’s no need to apologize.”

“You have a tight deadline…”

“I’m sure other arrangements can be made.” Despite the bravado in his voice, I can tell when his eyes dart away that he doesn’t really believe it can happen.

Who would?

A wife in less than twenty-four hours?

That’s crazy.

This is…

I mean, he’s insane.

My appetite completely gone, I call for the waiter. “Can I get this to go?”

“You can stay,” Brogan says, reaching for his wallet. “I’ll go.”

“No. We should both—I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

“And I’m sorry for wasting yours. Your family sounds…” He pauses. Looks up. “Intense.”

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