I guess I should feel lucky that Mr. Garamond obviously doesn’t read trashy gossip magazines. If he had any interest in them whatsoever, he would’ve recognized me the moment I stepped off that elevator.

The story has died down a little in the weeks since Luke and I “married,” but some of the online sites and the trashier magazines are still printing the blurry-ass pictures of Luke and I as we left the Vegas chapel.

If Luke hadn’t actually ended up buying the damn company I now work for, it never would’ve been an issue. The pictures were grainy enough that even if someone asked, I could’ve just passed it off as someone who looked like me.

But now? Now that people are actually seeing him and I together? Not a freaking chance.

We head down the corridor together, his hand placed embarrassingly on the small of my back as he guides me along.

I turn and hiss at him to stop, but he just smiles that infuriating smile of his and shrugs nonchalantly, as if to say, what? I’m not doing anything.

I roll my eyes at him. He’s acting like a disobedient child.

“Everyone’s staring at us,” I whisper at him. “Stop it. You’re just making things worse.”

“Stop overreacting,” he replies. “Everyone stares at me all the time anyway. I’m the big boss man, remember? I’d be more surprised if they weren’t staring.”

“Well, you might be used to it,” I huff grumpily, “but I’m not. I only just started here, and the last thing I need is to be the subject of all the office gossip.”

“You’re my new PA, remember? People would be gossiping about the two of us no matter what. Even if we weren’t . . .” He trails off, a small, barely-hidden smile playing on his kissable lips. His eyes sparkle with mischief.

Damn it. Why does he have to look so hot when he’s turning my whole life into a dumpster fire?

I know what he was about to say. Married. But I’m not about to finish his sentence for him. I can already tell he’ll turn that into a joke too.

“Let’s get out of here already, I can feel everyone’s eyes on me and I hate it.” I quicken my pace, hoping to put some distance between us. But his hand remains on my back, spreading heat up and down my spine. Distracting.

We step into the elevator, and I thank my lucky stars that we’re the only ones on it once the doors close.

“All I wanted was a fresh start,” I tell him. “I wanted to put all this behind me, work hard, make something of myself.”

“You can still do all those things.” He shrugs. “Assuming you still want to just go ahead and throw away our marriage. Whatever happened to ‘‘til death do us part?’ Or ‘in sickness and in health?’ Huh? I’m appalled that you’re taking those vows so lightly.”

He’s mocking me, and I feel the heat of anger rising in my face.

“Don’t pull that crap on me, Luke. We were both drunk, and—”

“I wasn’t that drunk,” he interjects. “I was driving, remember? I just thought it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

I shake my head and stay silent, except for another deep sigh.

Why does he have to be so difficult? This all seems like a huge joke to him, but this is my future I’m talking about here.

And he doesn’t even know about the baby.

Reflexively, my hand goes to my tummy. Luke notices.

“Hungry, huh?” he says. “The hummus and falafel at this place are to die for, I promise you. I go there all the time.”

I just nod, feeling sick.

We step off the elevator, and I practically run through the lobby so that he has to jog a little to keep up with me. It’s a lame attempt to try and distance myself from him, but I’m certain that the gossip about the two of us has already spread all the way throughout the company. Probably got down here faster than the elevator did.

I feel a little better once we’re out of the building. A busy lunchtime crowd is spilling onto the streets, and it doesn’t feel like everyone is staring at us.

Luke leads me into a little restaurant down a little side street. A young, bearded waiter’s eyes light up when we duck inside.

“Mr. Alder,” he exclaims in a thick accent. “My favorite customer. Please, come this way. Your usual table is available.”

“Thanks, Abdel,” Luke says.

We’re led to the back of the small restaurant, into a little private booth with soft cushions. Luke quickly orders, and we’re left alone.

For a little while, we sit in silence, me sipping my water, him with a Diet Coke. It feels strange to be alone with him again.

His striking emerald eyes pierce mine. There’s real intelligence there; he’s not just a spoiled rich kid, that much is for sure. He’s the CEO and he deserves that position.

It’s funny—ever since I remembered that I’d married him, it has been so easy to forget what a good time we actually had that night. I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to fix the mistake of the marriage that I’ve forgotten just how much I actually like him.

“Look, Luke,” I begin.

But before I can finish the sentence, our food arrives. Thick, creamy hummus, wet with olive oil, pieces of red pepper sprinkled on top. Steaming flatbreads, straight out of the oven. Little spiced lamb kebabs.

“Eat first,” Luke says. “No point in having such a serious conversation on an empty stomach.”

The food is amazing, and it’s only once I start eating that I realize how hungry I am. My little episode of morning sickness earlier, plus the generally frenzied start to the day, means I didn’t even have time for breakfast. The delicious, hearty food perks me up.

“It really is good,” I admit begrudgingly. “Good choice.”

Luke smiles, his mouth full of lamb.

A little while later, our plates empty, he leans forward and puts his interlaced hands on the table.

“Okay,” he sighs. “Let’s talk. You first.”

I take a deep breath. “Well . . . don’t get me wrong. I really did have a great time that night. Honestly, it was amazing. It’s just a shame that it had to end the way it did. It was a silly, drunken mistake.

“I’m sure you’re a great guy, really, I am, but I’m just not looking for anything serious right now. My life is kind of . . . well, really a mess. This new job was meant to be a fresh start. Getting married to a complete stranger was not a part of my plan.”

“It was your idea,” he says matter-of-factly, although I think I see hurt flashing in his eyes for a split second—I could be wrong, though. “You were the one who told me to drive there, you were the one who took me by the hand and led me in, and you were the one who picked out your dress and the flowers. I was just along for the ride.”

My eyes widen. “And do you just get married to every single girl who asks you?” I say. “You could’ve said no at literally any point. What was I going to do, force you to marry me at gunpoint? I was drunk, and I got carried away. Things never should have gone as far as they did.”

He’s silent for a few moments, contemplating. The clock on the wall noisily punctuates every second with a loud tick.

“You’re right, in a way,” he eventually says. “It was a crazy thing to do. Probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve sky-dived naked. But I just felt this . . . energy from you. All night long, you were coming up with these wild suggestions that I never would’ve even considered, and we had an absolutely awesome time. By the time we pulled up to that chapel, I was just along for the ride.”

I look down at my hands, shaking off the image of Luke in his birthday suit, falling down from the sky. Focus, Tess.

Shame creeps into my chest. I’d built up this image of a playboy rich kid in my mind. I’d never even considered his feelings in the matter.

But I can’t let that stop me or change my mind. This needs to be done. We’ll both be better off once it is.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “Sorry that I got us into this mess in the first place. But I’m going to get it fixed, and then we can both move on. Strictly professionally.”

“Sure,” he says quietly, nodding. “Strictly professional.”

I feel the need to change the subject. “Speaking of which . . . I assume your offer of a position as your PA wasn’t a joke?”

“Never been more serious about anything in my life,” he answers quickly.

“Okay,” I reply. “So what will the role involve? I’d like know so I can get prepared.”

He thinks for a few moments. “I’m not quite sure yet. InFini is a new acquisition, so I’m going to need some time to figure things out and see where I want to take the business. If you can just make yourself available to me, I’ll make sure to keep you busy.”

He grins at me, the mischievous spark back in his eyes. We both laugh, and it seems like some of the tension between us is eased.

Maybe this won’t be so bad.

“I should be getting back.” I check my watch. “I was already late this morning, and I don’t want to repeat that.”

“Nah, I’m going to drop you off at home,” he says. “I saw how uncomfortable you were back there, what with everyone staring at us and all. You can take the rest of the day off.”

“You noticed that?” I say.

“Sure,” he shrugs. “It’s my job to. I’m your husband, remember? Got to keep my wife happy. Happy wife, happy life.”

Or . . . maybe it will.