Fitz’s lips twitch in what might’ve been a smile. “It’s a very thorough agreement.”
“Good,” I say, flipping through the first few pages. “It’ll need to be. I want Ledger completely cut out of Maple Haven. No loopholes, no claims. We get married, pretend to be happy, and we’re done.”
“Understood.” Fitz nods, his pen gliding across a notepad as he jots down my edits. “You of course are not going to be able to touch his assets either.”
“That’s totally fine,” I say because this isn’t about taking anything from him. Just . . . benefits.
“There is a contract where it stipulates that you two will have sexat leasttwice a day,” he continues.
“A what?” I almost choke on my own saliva. “He added that?”
“Yep. He won’t sign the prenup or the marriage certificate until you sign this one.”
“That’s—”
“The only thing he’s asking in exchange for this favor,” he says. “You could call him and just cancel the deal.”
“No, I’ll sign the stupid stipulation.”
Teddy, meanwhile, is already rattling off options for table linens and catering services, her energy borderline exhausting.
“What about the cake?” she asks, tapping her stylus against her iPad.
“The cake’s covered,” I say quickly. “My best friend Aiden is a baker. She’ll make it.”
Teddy blinks. “Your best friend? Are you sure she’ll have time? Wedding cakes are quite labor-intensive.”
“She’s the best baker I know,” I reply firmly. “And she’s already on board. She’ll also be my maid of honor.”
“Very well,” Teddy says, though she looks like she’s making a mental note to keep a backup bakery on speed dial. “How about her dress? Can you send me her measurements so I can have the maid of honor dress ready for her? Let me know if you need me to book her flight to town. We can take care of that too. The groom will cover those expenses.”
“Yes, please. I’ll give you a list of what she needs,” I say, not adding since the groom is paying.
The morning flies by in a blur of fabric swatches, seating charts, and floral arrangements. By the time Teddy shows me a picture of a sleek white wedding dress—simple, elegant, with delicate lace—I’m too tired to argue.
“The seamstress will arrive tomorrow for your fitting,” she says with a satisfied smile, tapping a note into her iPad. “You’ll look stunning.”
“Great,” I mutter, feeling like I’ve just been bulldozed.
As Teddy and Fitz pack up, I collapse onto the couch, my head spinning. This is spiraling faster than I can keep up with. I’m getting married in four days, to a man who makes my blood boil and who somehow thinks I need a Pinterest-worthy wedding to seal the deal.
But as I glance at the prenup on the table, one thought keeps running through my mind.
This isn’t just for me. This is for my mom. For her legacy.
Ledger Timberbridge might drive me crazy, but I’m not backing down. I’ll walk down that aisle, sign the papers, and spend one year married to the world’s most irritating man.
And then?
I’ll take Maple Haven.
Ledger’s smug face flashes in my mind, his voice teasing as he said, “Spouses with benefits, darling.”
I groan into my hands. This is going to be the longest year of my life.
ChapterSeventeen
Ledger
