Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

“No.” Brooke yanked the paper out of my hand. “You’ve given him too much already.”

“I don’t want any deals or arrangements hanging between us, Brooke,” I said.

“There isn’t any,” she said.

“Still. The land is his.”

“Don’t do me any favors,” Frank snarled.

“You’re an ungrateful bastard, you know that, Dad?”

Frank jerked back. I did too.

“Mo has given you so much. And what do you do? You whine and kvetch and threaten to ruin him. You’re a terrible person.”

“Is what he has given worth more than what he has taken?” Frank snapped back.

“Aside from protecting your family legacy by saving your farm, he’s made your daughter happy. If you cared anything about me and my happiness, you’d get over yourself. But you don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

“I’m protecting you,” Frank said.

“I don’t need protection. Not from Mo. You didn’t seem to have a problem with him when you took his money.”

“That’s why she’s doing this,” Frank said to me. “She just wants to make sure you keep your money. It won’t last.”

Brooke let out a frustrated growl. “Do you hear a single word I’m saying?”

“I hear you just fine. But you’re young, Brooke. You should know better, Mo.”

“Dad!” she barked out, making us both flinch again. “Listen to me. I can see that you and Mo won’t be friends like before, and it breaks my heart. But you will be civil to him because he’s my husband.”

“I will do no such thing.”

She stared at him for a long moment. “Well, that’s too bad. I won’t be able to see you anymore—”

“Brooke, no,” I said. The last thing I wanted was for her and Frank to become estranged.

“See. He’s nicer than you or me. He cares about us and our relationship,” she said to Frank.

“He’s an old man taking advantage of you.”

“When we have children, I won’t allow you to see them if you continue to treat him like this.”

That made Frank pause, and then his eyes narrowed. “You fucker. You knocked her up.”

“No.” At least I didn’t think I did. I hadn’t used a condom with her. Ever.

“I think I’m going to scream.” Brooke clenched her fists. “I’m not pregnant, Dad. But Mo and I are married. We’re going to have children. Children who won’t know their grandfather if he doesn’t get his head out of his ass.”

I squeezed her arm, wanting her to know I appreciated her passion about this, but I didn’t want to keep Frank from her or any children we had. “Brooke, really. I don’t—”

“No, Mo. He’ll say unkind things to them about you, and I won’t have it.” She slid her arm through mine. “Let’s go. He’s made his decision.”

I looked back at Frank, hoping he’d make some move towards her. I could live with his animosity toward me, but I didn’t want to be the reason he and Brooke were estranged.

“I know what you’re thinking, Mo, but it’s like you said before. No one is coming between me and my Dad except him, just like I’m not between you two. It’s all on him.”

I nodded and reached out to open the car door for her. I supposed, over time, he might come around.