Fake Marriage Box Set

Andrew groaned. “That reminds me. We're going to have to put out some sort of press release. The media will be all over this one. I'll no longer be the sexiest young bachelor in the country.”

I blinked over at him. “You're kidding, right?” I couldn't honestly tell from his tone, but based on the words, I hoped he was kidding. If not, he was more conceited than I had realized.

Andrew burst out laughing. “Of course, I'm joking,” he said. “Well, the media will be all over this, once they find out, but no, we don't have to put out a press release. I want this to be just between you and me for now. And Emma.”

“And Emma,” I agreed, smiling. “Emma's going to be thrilled.”

“Because her Mama and Daddy are getting married?” Andrew asked. “Will she even understand what that means? She probably already thinks we're married.”

“No,” I said. “She'll be thrilled because she'll get to be the flower girl in our wedding, and she's going to get to dress up like a princess. I might even let her wear a tiara. How cute would that be?”

“You're planning the wedding already?” Andrew asked in surprise.

“I've been planning my wedding since I was of marriageable age,” I told him seriously. Then, I laughed. “Not really. But Emma will be the flower girl, and I'll have to ask Misty to be my maid of honor and Katherine to be my bridesmaid.”

“Do you think we can keep it small?” Andrew asked, frowning. “I only want the people who I really care about to be there.

“Of course,” I said.

“Politically, if I start inviting people from work, everyone from work is going to want to go. And everyone that I grew up with will want to go, especially if they hear that we're having an open bar. I just want to keep it between us.”

“Let's elope,” I suggested. “The only person who I'd really like to invite, outside of Misty, is my mom. We could do that, just you, Katherine, Emma, my mom, and I.” Then, I paused, feeling my face flushing. “Sorry, I'm getting too ahead of myself, aren't I? You specifically said that you weren't looking to marry me tomorrow or anything.”

Andrew laughed and pulled me closer until my body was pressed tightly against his. “I don't mind,” he said. “In fact, I like the enthusiasm. It's cute.”

“Good,” I said.

We kissed chastely. I pulled away before it could get heated, squirming a little. “I really don't think that I can come again,” I told him.

Andrew laughed again. “I don't even think I could get half hard again. Not until morning. I'm exhausted.”

“So, I'm doing a good job of earning it, then?” I asked wickedly.

“More than good,” Andrew told me, kissing me again.

We settled against the pillows, and I watched Andrew's eyes slide closed. I couldn't take my eyes off my ring just yet, though. “Hey, Andrew?” I asked, voice barely a whisper.

“Hmm?” he responded.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he murmured. “More than you'll ever know.”

Epilogue

Andrew

I watched as Lexi took a few dozen pictures of Emma dressed in her new outfit. The girl looked adorable in a plaid skirt and crisp white top, with ribbons in her braids.

“Can you believe it's already her first day of school?” Janice asked from my elbow.

I shook my head. These past years had gone by fast. If I'd thought, three years ago, that I could hardly imagine my life without Emma and Lexi in it, it was nothing compared to how I felt now.

But I was going to have to get used to Emma not being in the house for most of the daytime, now that she was headed to school.

We drove up to the elementary school, and Emma craned her neck back to look up at the building. “Whoa,” she said. “Daddy, is this whole building my school?”

I laughed. “Of course not, sweetie,” I told her. “There's a lot of different offices and companies on different floors. That would be a lot of kids to meet, otherwise.”