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“What choice do we have?” I ask him. “We both have things to lose.”

“Yeah, but I have more. And you know, if this comes out, I’ll tell Hudson and the others it was all my fault. I’d never let you take the fall.”

The way he says it, so softly it sends a shiver down my spine, is enough to make up my mind.

“You married me because I was being an idiot. It was my fault.”

He runs his thumb along his jaw, his other arm still caging me in.

“Can we get away with it?” he murmurs. I’m not sure if he’s thinking out loud or wants to know what I think.

I look up at him, my heart beating faster. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

He blinks. We’re so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. And then I break the tension by pushing lightly at his chest. “Come on. We’ve got a house to fake-marital-blissify.”

His lips quirk. “Is that a real word?”

I shrug. “It is now.”

We’re halfway to the kitchen when it hits me. “Wait! What excuse are we going to tell Bennett? About why he can’t stay with us tonight? We can’t tell him the truth.”

West doesn’t even break stride. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”

That should concern me more than it does. But I’m in a hurry to get this over with so we can get back to the house.

We walk into the kitchen like a united front, West holding my hand as though he can’t bear not to be touching some part of me. Bennett’s sitting exactly where we left him, looking awed by his surroundings. Like he’s stumbled into the real-life version of his favorite soap opera.

West claps a hand on his shoulder. “Bennett, my man. Change of plans. You’re going to spend tonight in my old apartment at the Grand Liberty Hotel.”

The kid frowns. “Wait. Why? I thought I was staying with you.” He sounds disappointed.

West’s tone is casual. Almost apologetic. “Yeah, we were going to take you back, but Eden just told me something important.”

My stomach tightens

“What?” Bennett asks.

I’m wondering the same thing myself. Because whatever it is, it better be convincing.

West slides his arm around my waist again. “She just took a test. She’s ovulating.”

I make a choking noise.What the hell?I look up at him, but he keeps going, undeterred.

“Tonight is... critical,” he murmurs to Bennett. “Remember what I said? If I can get Eden pregnant, our marriage won’t be an issue. Her brothers will have to accept me.”

“Pregnant,” I echo, feeling faint. Because I thought he’d tell Bennett the guest room shower was broken or something.

Bennett’s mouth opens. Closes. “You mean you’ll be... baby-making?”

“Absolutely fucking rampant baby-making,” West says, straight-faced. “Walls may shake. Headboards may crack. Eden will likely scream. Multiple times. We didn’t think it was fair to subject you to that kind of trauma on your first night.”

My eyes widen. I’m somewhere between hysterical laughter and a scream. Why am I suddenly feeling so hot?

Bennett must feel the same, because he flushes crimson, eyes wide with a mix of horror and awe. “Right. Yeah. Totally. I can stay at the hotel. That makes total sense. Zero questions. None.”He stands up, grabbing his bag. “So ah, yeah. You should go, do that. Have fun.”

West nods solemnly. “Good man.” Then he winks at me. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s take Bennett to the hotel and get you home. We’ve got work to do.”

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