Page 15 of The Game Plan

Silently – shell-shocked – I rise and accept the documents. “Three months?”

“Three months. And, Miss Jamieson, should you and Jax Harris try to rely on this marriage for a green card application…”

I blink after long, still seconds of us staring at each other. “Yes?”

“I’ll be all over the pair of you like a rash. I’ll leave no stone unturned. Because I don’t believe for a second that intoxicated minions get married for anything other than convenience.”

My neck is burning, legs suddenly weak. “Wh-what makes you think that?”

“Other than the costumes and slurred vows? How about the fact you’re not wearing a wedding ring?”

I titter. “Oh.” Then I rummage in the zip compartment of my purse, quick thinking, and take out my old engagement ring, slipping it onto my wedding finger. “I don’t want to lose it, that’s all.”

He scowls as he watches me leave and I…

Step onto the sidewalk where Lower Manhattan buzzes around me, while I’m completely dazed. Immediately, my notifications are going wild with hits on the tags I have set up for Jax from previous PR jobs.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

Our wedding is everywhere.

8

SEPTEMBER

Sienna

Lesser of Evils

“Thank you for letting me be here,” I tell Mitch and Lauren, who have been watching me work through every channel I can to tie down the video of Jax and me getting hitched.

“Don’t be crazy, we want you here. We want to help,” Lauren says, setting food bowls down to Fire and Ice before coming to me and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“The last thing Mitch needs is work drama. Especially this, after everything you’ve done to get me the role with the Dragons.”

“Like have a heart attack, you mean?” he mocks.

For the first time in hours, I smile, though I’m rolling my eyes at him.

This video is as contained as I could get it but the news is out there that hockey’s most ineligible bachelor is married. If there’s a saving grace, it’s that Dragons players are most famous within their own state and my parents aren’t really online, so it’s unlikely they’ve caught wind of this. I can do without their disappointment right now, too. But my professional reputation in New York and my image with my brand-new employer is in serious jeopardy.

I’m about to ask Mitch what on earth I do next but there’s a knock at the apartment door.

My stomach sinks. Could it be Carl? He lives in this building.

No. The reality is worse. Much worse.

“Jax!” I growl when Lauren opens the door to my husband. “Why are we still married and how in hell did anyone get their hands on that video?”

“Hi, sweetheart. How’s your afternoon been? Did you get your visa sorted?” He strolls into the lounge and I don’t miss the way Mitch’s shoulders stutter from his reclined position.

He switches off the TV, as if the performance Jax and I are about to put on for him is far more interesting.

And he’s right. While I don’t want to get Mitch’s heart rate up and it’s wholly unlike me to lose control, Jax Harris and his stupidity seems to be my Achilles’ heel.

“Jax, could you take one thing seriously, ever? I’ve spent the last two hours trying to save your ass from public humiliation.”

“My ass?”