Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

She was about to step into the car when Frank called out. “You broke my heart, Mo.”

I sighed, letting the guilt wash over me. But then I looked at Brooke and saw my future as clear as day.

“I’m sorry about that, Frank. I really am. I want you to know that I love Brooke. I plan to spend my life making her happy. I plan to be the man you’d want for her.”

Brooke stood and watched us.

“She deserves better,” he said.

“I won’t argue that. But she’s chosen me, so I’ll do my damnedest to be worthy.”

“Jesus, when she’s thirty, you’ll be nearly fifty. How will you keep up? I’m forty-five, and she exhausts me.”

“If you’d stop treating me like I was twelve, and start treating me like an adult, you won’t be so tired all the time. Speaking of which, give me my phone back.” She moved around me and started for the porch. “I can’t believe I let you take my phone,” she grumbled as she stalked into the house.

I was left outside with Frank alone. Frank and his shotgun.

“You hurt my girl, I’ll shoot your dick off,” he said.

“If I hurt her, I’ll deserve it.” And that, I figured, was our first step back toward something a little less hostile.

“Well, that was interesting,” Brooke said next to me as we drove off toward town to get takeout and see Tucker.

“Remind me to not get on your bad side. You’ve got quite a temper on you that I never knew about.”

She grinned at me. “Don’t forget it, buster.”

We drove for a bit, and then she asked, “Did he threaten to shoot you again when I got my phone?”

“He threatened my dick.”

She winced. “Boy, it would be a shame to lose that.”

“I see how it is,” I said as I turned into the steakhouse that she insisted we needed to order from because Tucker needed to fully appreciate Nebraskan beef. “You just love me for my dick.”

She slid her hand over said appendage, which of course, liked the attention. “It is nice.”

I took her hand and brought it to my lips. “Hands off unless we’re going home to use it. And if that’s all that you love about me, that’s fine. I think of all my body parts, that one will change the least as I get old.”

She laughed. “You’re still worried about that.” Then she frowned. “So, dicks don’t get wrinkly and age?”

“I don’t know, actually, but I’m going to stick with no.”

“Well, then, we’re going to have a long and active marriage.” She kissed me. “Mo?”

“Yes, dear?”

She laughed. “Can I legally change my name? I want to be Brooke Valentine.”

I was already riding high, but at her request, my heart fucking soared. “Absolutely.”

I left her with Tucker and headed to City Hall, where I checked in with Sinclair, telling her I wasn’t leaving office just yet, and letting Trina know I’d be out until Monday. Then, I stopped by to see Jeannette and to tell her that I was married and in love with my wife, who, in turn, was married and in love with me. Finally, I ran errands, which included heading home to pick up my truck after asking my foreman to arrange for it to be cleaned and a few items thrown in the back.

When I picked Brooke up from Tucker’s, she stopped short when she saw I’d changed vehicles.

“What’s going on?”

I helped her in the truck. “I had a dream about you and me and the back of a truck.”