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He sighs. “Are you done?”
“Not even close!”
Caleb laughs once, and takes a sip of his beer. “I thought I’d fucked the attitude out of you. Guess I’ll have to try harder next time.”
I hop off the stool, fully ready to slap this devastatingly handsome man who’s still dressed in nothing but underwear and a t-shirt. I hate the fact that I want to rip that shirt off just so I can look at him. “I see I wasn’t clear enough a couple of minutes ago. There isn’t going to be a next time.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he says with an infuriating smirk on his face. I really am going to slap him now. My hand is already in motion when he catches my wrist. “I’ll give you the house.”
“What?”
He raises both eyebrows. “I’ll give you the house,” he repeats slowly.
Relief and joy pour over me, matching the force of the river outside. It’s happening. After all this time. “Really?”
Caleb nods and takes another sip of his beer. “On one condition.”
“Name it.” I can’t think of a single thing that would stop me from saying yes when I’m this close to my dream.
“Marry me.”
It takes a moment for the words to sink in, and then rage like I’ve never felt before ignites like a whirlwind inside me. I thought I hated him before, but that was nothing compared to what I’m feeling right now. This isn’t a joke to me, and I don’t appreciate him toying with me. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
He holds out a hand. “One month, Ally. You marry me for just one month.”
“Why would I do that? My God, you don’t even know me. Why would you even want that?” I ask.
“Let’s just say it’ll be worth it to me. The reward will exceed the value of this house if all goes as planned.”
I look at him, trying to detect anything on his face that could make me understand what he’s saying. I understand the words, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“What’s the catch?” I finally say.
A swift smile appears on his face. “No catch. Nothing. You marry me tomorrow. Move in and live with me for two weeks so we can be seen together, and then you come with me to the Hamptons. Two weeks there and you put on a show for my family. A convincing show. Convince them that we’re madly in love. Then we fly back here and you’ll be rid of me within three days.” He says it all so casually all I can do is stare at him with my mouth hanging open. “And after that, you’re the owner of your house again. I’ll even throw in the money to complete the renovations and restorations.” He reaches out and drags his hand down my arm. I both hate and love that it makes me shiver. “We have the kind of chemistry that my family will believe, and it’s important that they do.”
I want the house, but there’s more to this than he’s telling me. There has to be. “And why is it so important that your family believe we’re a couple?”
“It’s complicated, but long story shirt, we’re not on good terms. They want me to settle down and have a traditional lifestyle. Tradition—especially their kind of tradition—isn’t something that I’ve ever been interested in.”
“So…what happens if they think you’re married?”
He laughs, but there’s no actual humor or life behind it. This goes deep, and I have the urge to reach for him. I don’t know how far I can or should push him. But if I want my house back, and I’m considering being tied to this man to playact for his family, I need to know what’s actually going on.
Caleb’s eyes are focused on one spot on the kitchen island. “Well, they gave me an ultimatum. They gave me a year to get married. Find someone suitable, as my mother says, or they won’t sign over the inheritance my grandfather left me. They’re the stewards. They can’t touch it, but neither can I without their permission. And settling down is their condition.”
He clearly has more to say, but he hesitates. I nod, urging him to continue. “I don’t … It’s not just about money.” He sighs. “I’m sorry, it’s complicated. I told them to fuck off. That was a couple of months ago and we haven’t spoken since. Anyway, I came here to Nashville with no plans to go back, because I never thought that I’d find anyone that would satisfy them.” He looks up at me then. “Until you.”
“I want to get married,” I say. “I want children. For real.” I look in his eyes and quickly add, “Not with you. That’s not what I meant.”
He laughs. “I get it, I get it. And you can have them,” he says. “I want you to have them and raise them in this house. I know you care about this place more than my family has cared about anything in their lives. Hell, in the divorce I’ll even give you a settlement that will fund the best honeymoon of your life. A real one, without me, of course. Just … please.”
