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When the ceremony was over and we were pronounced husband and wife, we had the casual reception right there in the backyard. I could see the happiness on my grandpa’s face. This was exactly what he wanted and despite how crazy his demand was, I found that I was happy to have given it to him.
I hoped his belief that I was happily married would bring him peace.
The reception was a celebration with great food and music. Half the people there knew the truth about this wedding, that it was a sham, but it didn’t matter. There was a sense of enjoyment in the air.
For me, it was hard to wrap my head around the fact that I was a married man now. Mia was mywife.
As we sat together at a long table with our family and close friends, I kept up the charade, putting my arm around the back of her chair and holding her hand after we ate. If I were honest with myself, I would have to admit that I didn’t just do it to keep up appearances. I was caught up in the romantic atmosphere.
I wanted to touch her, I wanted to pretend that Mia was really mine. I wanted it for myself, not just for the sake of my inheritance.
Just for tonight. Just for the day of our wedding.
The reception lasted into the evening. I’d bought a case of wine for the occasion, and Hayden ended up trashed. The good thing was that he was funny when he got drunk, and Mia laughed until her sides hurt as he attempted to show off terrible dance moves for everyone, only to fall on his ass and get grass stains on his tuxedo.
It was a fun party, but by the time it came to an end, I couldn’t wait to be alone with Mia.
Everyone made sure to say their goodbyes. Mia’s mom lingered for a while, and I got the feeling that she wanted to make sure that Mia was truly okay with moving in with me. I’d had her stuff professionally moved in yesterday and most of it set up in the spare bedroom closest to the master suite, but I understood her mom’s hesitation. This was a strange situation, but Mia was keeping her apartment, so not only could her mom continue to live there, but Mia could move back at any time she needed to.
Finally, she left, and the two of us were alone in the backyard, the evidence of our wedding scattered all around. It was a mess, but I didn’t care. That’s what I’d paid a clean up crew for.
“So, that was something,” Mia said, standing on the edge of the deck. Her twinkle lights, strung from the roof of the outdoor kitchen to the fence, gave her skin a golden, sparkly glow.
I fiddled with the new ring on my finger as I moved closer to her. “Everything you imagined your wedding to be?”
Her smile was soft. “I didn’t really think much about getting married before. I mean, I always thought I would, but I never found the right person, you know?”
My throat suddenly tightened with those damn emotions I didn’t want to feel. “Yeah, I do.”
I was done talking. Without warning, I scooped her up into my arms bridal-style, drawing a startled laugh from her as her arms went around my neck to hold on.
“What are you doing?” she asked in surprise.
“Carrying my bride over the threshold.” I grinned like a sap.
A sultry, seductive smile curved those luscious lips I planned to kiss all night long. “And then what?” Her voice dropped an octave and she looked at me through her long, dark eyelashes.
I smirked, pleased that we were on the same page. “We’re going to my room tonight,wife.”
She pressed her lips to mine as I carried her inside.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Mia
Even as Logan carried me up the stairs as if I weighed nothing, there was a small voice in the back of my head that told me we shouldn’t be doing this. Sleeping together once in the heat of the moment was one thing—and it was fantastic—but now, things were different.
We were married. I was officially living here with him. That was all according to plan.
Sleeping together wasn’t a part of the arrangement.
I wanted Logan with a fierce desire that made me feel out of control, but I also knew that continuing on this path would complicate things for me emotionally. Sex wasn’t just a benefit of our fake marriage for me. But no matter how hard I tried to fight it, I could feel myself losing my heart to him.
Falling in love with my husband would be a huge mistake. Logan had made it clear that this marriage wasn’t about real feelings. I wasn’t sure if he was even capable of them. I’d been his assistant long enough to see the string of women he’d dated get rejected with broken hearts just when the relationship was getting serious. He either couldn’t commit or didn’t want to. That was why I was here, and it would be foolish to forget that.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the pulsing need between my legs or the intoxicating way his kiss made me feel like I was flying. And whether this was real or not, he was mine tonight. I’d slipped a wedding band on his finger just a few hours ago.
Now, bad idea or not, I was going to consummate my marriage to my boss.
