Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

“She’d like to stay in her home.” Okay, so I was laying it on a bit thick.

“Plus, Sinclair would be in a better position to openly fight for the farmers,” Trina added. “The mayor isn’t wanting his office to put a thumb on the scale, so to speak. But if she was married to Wyatt, of course she’d weigh in to save her man’s legacy.”

Sinclair did another eyeroll and sipped her drink.

“One big happy family.” Ryder’s expression directed at Sinclair seemed to hold a secret meaning. They’d often done that growing up. Being twins, it was like they had a secret silent language.

She made a face at him that I interpreted to mean for him to shut his trap. It was then I registered what he said. One big happy family. Did Ryder think it was a good idea that I marry his sister? Even after all these years?

“You don’t have a problem with this idea?” I asked him.

Ryder looked me in the eye. “Nope.” He paused for a moment and added. “Never did.”

What the fuck did that mean? I looked at Sinclair to get a clue as to whether or not she’d told him about us.

The door opened and a couple of men strode in and up to the bar.

“What can I get you?” Ryder asked them.

“Two beers.” The one who sat next to Trina said. “Hey Trina, what’s up?”

She turned to talk to him. With both Ryder and Trina otherwise engaged, I stepped closer to Sinclair.

“Want to get a booth?”

She stared at me with suspicion.

It made me miss the days when she’d look at me like I was a superhero. Or with desire in her eyes. Now she just seemed wary of me. I wondered if there was something I’d done since coming back that merited her distrust or if it was just residual from when I left town ten years ago.

Perhaps she was afraid I was going to hit on her. But my ego couldn’t take much more rejection, so I said, “I just retained a lawyer. You don’t have to worry about marrying me. I just want to catch up.”

She stiffened. “You have a way of turning things around that make me the bad guy.”

She was right. I didn’t mean to, and at the same time, I couldn’t help how I was feeling.

“Come have a drink with me and I’ll apologize.”

She pursed her lips, but slid off the stool and went over to an empty booth. I sat across from her even though I wanted to slide up right next to her and pull her hair down to see if it was as long as it had been ten years ago.

“You don’t really think the getting married idea would work, do you?” she asked.

“Actually, I think it could. My lawyer is going to try and work around the marriage thing, but even she said my being single could be a problem.”

“She?”

“Jeannette Schmidt.” I saw a flash of heat in Sinclair’s eyes at the name. She knew I’d once dated her.

She pursed her lips in distaste. “Too bad you can’t marry her.”

“Too bad,” I agreed, only because I got the feeling Sinclair was jealous.

&nbs

p; “Do you suppose she’d be willing to give up her hopes, dreams, job, husband and kids to be with you? You ask a lot of the women in your life.”

She’d effectively pushed me back. I looked down at my drink to figure out what to say next. Then I looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry I was an asshole. Selfish asshole.” I clarified.

“Yes, you were. Are. You get away with it because of all that.” She made circles with her finger pointed at me.