From Fake to Forever (Newlywed Games 2)

His palms started to sweat. “I have to get back to work. I’ll let you know about dinner.”

Bettina’s glowing smile stuck with him the rest of the afternoon. As did the cramp in his stomach. He couldn’t sign the papers, not even if Meredith got the designs back. And he had the worst feeling she’d hear the phrase “no divorce” and it would paint him as ruthless and cold-blooded...and exactly like Avery.

At which point she’d likely express her disappointment again over who he’d become. And then he’d have to think about how he longed to be a better man, the one she encouraged him to be.

Actually, as soon as he mentioned staying married a little while longer, she’d probably smile and say something provocative about him using this as an excuse to get her into his bed.

God, he hadn’t thought that far ahead. But it only made sense that she had to move into his house, didn’t it? That’s what married people did. And how dumb would it be to suggest she stay in his guest room? But if he suggested she sleep with him, what did that imply?

Obviously, it implied he was asking her to move in with him and be his wife. In every sense. Because he wanted to be around her, live with her, sleep with her, like they were in a relationship. Something hitched in his chest as he imagined waking up next to Meredith every morning, her gaze sleepy and full of promise.

Yes. That’s what he wanted.

No. He couldn’t let her think that. There was no way he’d ever have a marriage based on anything other than how it could help him further his merger plans. People who fell in love eventually fell out of love and damaged everything around them, and he’d never willingly do that to anyone.

Nor could he give her the impression this was a desperate ploy to get a few more days with her, though he liked that aspect of it more than he should. If only this had happened before they’d started sleeping together again, the complications would be far fewer. And he’d never have to admit, not even to himself, that he wanted to seize this opportunity to keep her around.

Fortunately, he and Meredith saw eye to eye on the purpose of their marriage.

* * *

Meredith was starving and Jason had taken his sweet time getting to her hotel after work.

He finally knocked at ten after seven.

The darkness in Jason’s gaze had her immediately itching to smooth the line from between his eyes. Tension was evident in the rigid set of his shoulders.

“Is this going to be a running theme, then?” She nodded to his empty hands. “I can start being in charge of dinner. Unless you wanted to skip eating again? Because I’m okay with that.”

He didn’t laugh.

“We’re going out,” he said shortly.

She glanced down at her yoga pants and off-the-shoulder T-shirt, which she’d changed into an hour ago. “I’m dressed for takeout.”

“It doesn’t matter. Avery knows we’re married. And she told Bettina. The secret will probably be public knowledge by midnight. If it takes that long.”

Meredith cursed. That explained his snippy mood.

The news probably wouldn’t take very long to filter down to Texas, either, and then where would she be? Her father’s lawyer had given her a very short time frame to settle this divorce, and he’d been clear—tell her father or he’d do it for her.

Now the press might beat him to it. She cursed again.

“Yeah.” Jason’s smile was grim. “That’s exactly what I said.”

“How did Avery find out? Oh, no. Not the—”

“Security camera.” He nodded and pressed the spot between his brows, hard. “My best guess is we weren’t as careful as we thought. Or if not that, she wasn’t out of sight when I got out of the car at Hurst the other night. Somehow she saw us together and started poking her nose into my business.”

“What does that mean? I can’t be your spy anymore. Right?”

And if she couldn’t be his spy, that meant he had to sign the divorce papers whether she got the designs or not.

Fabulous. Though she was a little sad to have no excuse to go in Avery’s place to her meeting tomorrow. Despite the stolen nature of the designs, Meredith had been looking forward to seeing what happened in a fashion-house deal.

Was that why Avery had agreed to let Meredith go—because she already knew that Meredith was Jason’s wife?

The back of her throat soured. So much for her stellar espionage skills. She’d looked forward to crowing over her victory with Jason tonight.

He sighed and propped a shoulder against the door frame as if his legs couldn’t hold him up any longer. “It means my mother’s freaking thrilled that I got married. She wants to take us to dinner tonight. I couldn’t say no.”