AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Pick anything you want,” I said with a sweeping gesture of my arm.
Maybe I was jaded from years of people using me for my money, because I expected her to go straight for the most expensive and flashy options on the lot. There were sports cars and SUVs that I would have been interested in myself, but those weren’t the ones that Mia gravitated toward.
She headed straight for the lower end, sensible sedans. I followed along, watching her walk along the rows of cars, reading the information taped to the windows about the vehicles. I had no idea what she was looking for, but she eventually stopped at a white car with tinted windows.
A salesman approached us as she opened the door to look inside, checking out the black leather interior. Since I was just the man with the money, I didn’t say much as the other guy took a seat on the passenger side and started selling her on the car’s features.
Good gas mileage, heated seats, built-in navigation system. I could tell that Mia liked what she was hearing. One fifteen-minute test drive later, and I was in the finance office, informing them that I would be putting the vehicle on my limitless black card.
When we walked out of the dealership, I glanced over and saw a serene grin on Mia’s face. It was a peaceful expression, like I’d taken care of a big worry for her, and I liked knowing that I’d given her that sense of relief.
It was unexpected, but it seemed that making her happy…mademehappy. I’d never really felt that for anyone else before, and I didn’t know how to react to it. It felt like the kind of thing that could really complicate our fake marriage.
I forced myself to stop staring at her beautiful smile and hand over the keys to the car. “Do you want me to have your old car towed somewhere? You might be able to sell it to the dealership if you want.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m going to keep it.”
“Why do you need two cars?” I asked curiously.
I owned six, but I was a billionaire. It was my understanding that most people just owned one.
“I don’t. I’m giving this new one to my mom.”
I didn’t expect that reply. I knew that she must have had a good relationship with her mother since Mia let her move in with her, but to give the woman a brand new car? That was a level above generosity.
“You had me buy this for your mom?” I asked, just to be sure. “But why?”
“She needs it. Hers broke down yesterday, and I’m sure you know her credit is ruined after the failure of her business and foreclosure of her home. It’s not easy for her to just buy a new vehicle.” She shrugged, as if her mother’s welfare was all that mattered to her. “Besides, you take care of people you care about.”
That’s what I was trying to do.
That thought made me pause. Did I care about Mia like that? Was that why I agreed to buy this car?
My eyes landed on her happy smile again, and I realized that it was possible. I knew I was attracted to her. I knew that I respected her for being a strong person and appreciated her hard work at the office, but this felt different.
Shit.
I needed to be careful, because starting a real relationship with Mia could ruin everything. This was the line I was trying not to cross while I fought against my own desire for her over the last two years, but now that I’d started us on this fake marriage journey, I wasn’t sure I could rein it in any longer.
But I meant what I said when I told her I didn’t do “love.”
The last thing this fake marriage needed was the epic failure of yet another romance because I couldn’t give a woman what she really wanted outside of the bedroom.
“Thanks for the car,” Mia said as we reached the shiny new sedan. “I’m going to be honest. At first, I thought you’d lost a few marbles when you asked me to do this fake marriage thing, but now…I don’t know. This is the first time we’ve spent any time together outside of work, and it’s been kind of fun. I think you might make a great fake husband.”
The teasing grin on her face made me want to kiss her.
I jammed my hands into my pants’ pockets and took a safe step back instead.
“I’m glad you feel that way, because I need you to clear your schedule for tomorrow night. You’re coming to meet my family after work.”
“Already?” She bit her lip nervously, which in turn mademewant to skim my teeth across that plump lower lip.
“We have a time limit to sell this romance to them,” I said instead. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
I spoke with confidence, and I hoped it was the truth.
* * *
