Page 30 of Escorting the CEO
Which meant that my fake marriage was do or die.
“Sowe get married. Next week,” Rhodes said.
“Nextweek?”
He nodded. “I am putting a team of staff members on this. We’ll have the ceremony here while the board’s still here. The invitations, your dress, the seating, the food—all of that has to be handled right now. So I’m going to need you to be available at all times.”
“Of course.”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to invite your family—do you?” he asked.
I shook my head. Even though it broke my heart, it would be too risky to bring my grandmother and the kids to Barrington Manor. They would be confused and asking questions, and that would be downright perilous for us right now.
“I’ll tell them we eloped. Maybe we can have them up later in the summer for a celebration?” I asked weakly. They were never going to forgive me for this. I only hoped I could forgive myself.
“Of course.” Rhodes nodded. “But I think we need a cover story to explain why they aren’t attending.”
I blew out a deep breath.Because they’re poor? Because my grandmother will object when I’m about to recite my vows?Because Josie and Bo would take one look at this pool, cannonball in, and refuse to ever get out?
“Let’s just say that they’re traveling,” I suggested. “Because we didn’t want to wait, they sent their blessings and said they understand.”
Lies, lies, and more lies.
“How are you going to explain why we’re getting married so quickly?” I asked. “Doesn’t that look suspicious?”
“I’m going to say that I want to honor my father and brother’s wishes. And also, that it’s best for Luke if he has a settled family.” He took a deep breath. “And I had another thought…”
Something in his tone made me nervous. My stomach tied itself into a knot. “And?”
He lowered his sunglasses and looked at me.
“What if you’re having my baby?”
The world seemed to tilt. I almost spit out my lemonade.
First, a fake marriage.
Now ababy?
JUST A THOUGHT
RHODES
Maybe broachingthe idea of a fake pregnancy after four drinks wasn’t the best idea I ever had. Rory looked as if she might pass out.
“I just meant that it would be a plausible explanation for us rushing down the aisle,” I explained. “Otherwise, it looks like we’re just doing it for my inheritance.”
“I g-get that,” she stammered. “But we’renotpregnant. Sooner or later, everyone would know. There’s sort of a timeline.”
“I’m aware.” Again, maybe this wasn’t my most brilliant plan.
I let my mind wander for a moment, hoping for some sort of insight. Instead, my thoughts circled the girl. I was grateful for my sunglasses—I could study her without detection. She was flushed and visibly rattled by my proposal. Her hair was up in a messy ponytail, and she wore a T-shirt that had what looked like the dirt imprint of a tiny sneaker on it. She’d been out at the playground with Luke for hours. She seemed more in her element dressed like a sporty preschool teacher than she did in the designer silk dress she’d worn earlier.
When she’d arrived from the playground, she seemed more relaxed and happier than at any other moment since she’d beenat Barrington Manor. She appeared to genuinely enjoy spending time with Luke. Therehadto be a way to use this to my advantage.
“What about this?” I sat forward. “What if we say that we’re eager to be married so that we canstarta family—and give Luke cousins to grow up with?”
Rory immediately perked up. “That sounds perfect!”
