Fake Marriage Box Set

“Let me see.” He put his finger under my chin and lifted my face to his before I cold protest. I pulled back from the much too intimate gesture.

“Never mind. I think I got it,” I announced, still blinking. I started to walk again.

“I think you need a joke,” he stated.

I raised my eyebrows and listened.

“What is white and black and red all over?”

I laughed because I knew the answer. “A newspaper, boring.” I smiled.

“Nope, pandas in a chainsaw fight.” I laughed.

“Only you would incorporate a chainsaw into that joke.” I reached for the handle and released him as I walked into the coffee shop where John and two other co-workers were waiting to eat lunch with us.

Four hours later, I scanned in the last document from Granddad’s purely paper filing system. I literally did a happy dance all over the office until John and Stephanie appeared at my door and began applauding my dance skills. Chris followed close behind.

“We are finally paperless, ladies and gentlemen!” I announced. “Now, I am heading home and I won't see you guys for a couple of weeks, okay?”

“You work on your grant. If there are any problems, I’ll get in touch with you.” John high-fived me then turned and walked across the hall into his office, and I got the hell out of Dodge and headed to Granddad’s house.

I spent the next day working from Granddad’s home office, getting his computer set up and integrated with the new system at the main office. I was excited to surprise Luke since he wasn't expecting me until Friday.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Luke

I heard her truck coming down the driveway late Thursday night. I watched as she pulled her bag from the cab and walked over, sitting it on her porch before heading to my door. She saw me and opened the door walking quickly toward me. I stood and put an arm up stopping her.

“Hey handsome,” she smiled and tried to walk into my arms again.

I dodged her.

“Luke, what’s wrong?” she looked confused.

“Why don't you te

ll me the truth?” I growled.

She stood there looking innocent, unaware I’d seen what she was up to. Of course she would look that way. Have a little fun with the poor country boy for a while, but always have her eye on the bigger prize. I was done. After I had been cheated on by my only serious girlfriend, I swore to myself that I would never let it happen again, and there I stood with a girl who was so good at it that she didn't even realize she’d been caught.

“Luke, talk to me. I'm not sure what is going on.”

I turned and walked into the kitchen, the sound of her footsteps behind me. I pulled a glass from the cabinet and the whiskey from the top of the fridge and poured me a full glass. I tipped the liquid back and reveled in the burn.

“I don't understand why you’re angry with me.” Her arms were crossed in front of her, and when I looked at her face she was rolling her bottom lip between her teeth like she did when she was worried.

“Oh, I don't know, Emerson? Maybe because you insist on hanging out with a man you know I don't like.”

“Luke, I don't understand what you are talking about.”

“And have dinner together and lunch,” I rambled on. “And sharing umbrellas and walking arm in arm.”

“What?” Her forehead scrunched up.

“Oh, didn't think I knew about how close you and Christopher really are?”

“Were you in Portland yesterday?” Her eyes widened, but she still maintained her confused facade.