"With all the back-and-forth we’ll be doing, you need one," I said evenly. "Besides, no one’s going to believe we’re married if you keep driving that old car."
She looked like she wanted to throw something at me.
"There’re so many flaws in this plan, West. Have you ever read a damn book? There’s no way we’re pulling this off."
"We will," I said, voice low and sharp. "If you get in the goddamn car, take what I give you, do what I say, and be where I need you to be."
Her eyes lit with fury, and she jabbed a finger toward me. "I know this is fake, but you better watch your tone. Fake wife or not, I’m not putting up with that demanding bullshit."
I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my mouth. She had fire and she never let me forget it.
"At the very least," I added, "let Marshal take you where you need to go today."
"Fine," she hissed, stepping in close, nearly nose to nose. "Marshal can take me home so I can lie to my dad about the absolute mess I’ve gotten myself into."
I opened the car door myself, and with one last glare, she slid in without another word. I almost pitied Marshal. She’d rip him to shreds before they hit the first stoplight. I couldn’t understandwhat there was to hate about anything I had given her, but every time I did, she revved up for another explosion. All I could do was stand there and watch the taillights fade while wondering what the hell I could do to make her not hate me every two to three hours.
She wasn’t easy to manage. I hadn’t expected her to be. But I hadn’t expected her to get under my skin either.
When they turned and I could no longer see them, I took the stairs back up to the roof. Every step felt heavier, longer. Hugo still had the chopper idling so I climbed in and strapped my headset on, before pinching the bridge of my nose as we lifted into the sky.
Halfway back to Atlanta, Hugo glanced back at me.
"Everything okay, sir?"
"It’s all good," I muttered. Then sighed. "But I’m starting to think being married isn’t going to be as easy as I thought."
He didn’t answer, just laughed. A knowing, seasoned kind of laugh. Hugo had a wife and kids. He knew what kind of ride I was in for.
What he didn’t know was that in a few weeks, it would all be over. That secret was saved for a handful of people and Hugo wasn’t on that list. It would be easier on him if he believed Blue would always be my wife, because it was going to be his job to get her home every week.
And something told me that if he believed for a second that I wouldn't care, he’d toss her out over the suburbs without a parachute. Because Blue was a handful.
Chapter Fifteen
BLUE
Marshal droppedme off at home without even asking for directions, or an address. I shouldn’t have been shocked, but I was. It was just one more reminder that I was no longer the one steering the wheel.
Still, I said nothing. I just got out and walked up to my front door, fully expecting him to pull away. But he didn’t. The car just sat there idling, waiting, vigilant. I was already halfway back down the steps to tell him to leave when the front door swung open.
"Come on in, don’t just stand there," my dad called out with a grin. "I’ve been waiting all morning for you to get home. Come meet Lisa."
Lisa?
I blinked, completely thrown off. Who the hell was Lisa?
Forgetting all about Marshal, I followed Dad into the house, watching as he navigated his chair out of the entryway and into the living room. Rounding the corner, I spotted a warm-looking woman wearing a nurse’s uniform. She was folding towels—towels I had left in a basket two days ago.
"What’s going on?" I asked, my voice tight.
"Don’t act like you don’t know," Dad chuckled.
But I really didn’t.
"I’m Lisa," the woman said with a friendly smile, stepping forward to shake my hand. "I was hired by Brooks Investments to oversee your dad’s care. We were both under the impression you arranged this."
"I–," I started to say, but stopped. I didn’t know how to respond. This was clearly West’s doing, and he hadn’t even consulted me. But if I was going to make everyone believe I was married to that man, I needed to pretend like I had a clue. I made a mental note to call West before I headed to run errands. I was going to let him have it.
