Chapter Thirteen

Avery

I was early for meeting Jake. My job search had failed miserably, and I was tired of the rejection. I was hoping to get to the café early enough to scarf down a piece of cheesecake before he showed up. The man looked like he had zero fat on him. I couldn’t say the same, and I didn’t feel like being judged for the few extra pounds that could be blamed on my love of cheesecake.

The waitress came by, and I was about to order my treat when I saw him walk through the door. My eyes focused on him. When the waitress turned to see what had caught my attention, she too ended up staring at him.

Jake spotted me right away and strolled toward me. I hated that he was so fucking gorgeous. I didn’t want to be attracted to him. I had no control over that. The man was hot. It made me hate him even more to see him looking so put together in his white button-down dress shirt and slacks. It must have been a real bitch to look that good without even trying.

I had caught a glimpse of my own reflection in my rearview mirror before coming in. I was a mess. I had tried so hard to look professional and put together. All that had faded about two hours into knocking on doors, trying to get an interview.

Jake sat down in the booth. The waitress was still staring at him as if he were the sweetest eye candy she’d ever wanted to taste.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked him, forgetting all about me.

“Coffee, please,” he said with that practiced smile.

“And you?” she asked, looking at me.

I sighed, knowing the cheesecake was not an option. “I’ll have coffee as well.”

It wasn’t like I was going to sleep tonight. I took a deep breath and steeled myself to look at him up close. I was shocked by what I saw. He looked rough. I had assumed he was taking all this in stride, but judging by the dark circles under his eyes, it hadn’t been so easy for him. I had been a bitch.

“You doing okay?” I asked gently.

He smiled and nodded. “I am.”

He was lying. My heart went out to him. I should have known he wasn’t as cold and heartless as he pretended. He and Tracy had been close growing up. They had drifted apart in the last couple years, but they still had a bond. I knew Tracy loved him, even though they had been in a fight when she died. I imagined that would be a hard fact to live with. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters and would never understand that sibling bond.

The waitress carried the coffee pot over and filled our cups before leaving.

“So, what’s this about?” I asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

He grinned. “My proposal.”

I rolled my eyes. “Great.”

“Look, I’m sorry I couldn’t meet the other day. I was dealing with some other issues. I was really hoping there was another way around all this.”

The man looked and sounded sincere. I hadn’t been expecting that. “It’s fine. It was a moment of weakness on my part. I shouldn’t have called. It was dumb.”

“No, it wasn’t. I was hoping I could pay off a judge or arrange some backroom deals and get Iris. It doesn’t look like that’s going to be an option.” He sighed.

I chuckled at his joke until I realized he was serious. I knew the guy was wealthy, but I wondered how much money he had. It didn’t matter because his money wasn’t the answer to the problem. I didn’t care if he was a millionaire. I didn’t want a single penny of that money, but it would certainly benefit Iris.

“That sucks. Meanwhile, Iris is in a strange home with strange people taking care of her. I really hate that.”

“I do too, which is why I’m willing to do anything to get her out of there,” he said, looking me in the eyes.

I nodded. “I am too. I think I’m ready to hear more about your fake marriage plan.”

“You are?” he asked. The shock at my statement was evident on his face. “Good, because I was ready to pull out all the stops to convince you.”

I nodded. “I am. I’m not saying I like the idea or even think it will work, but I’m willing to listen. Hit me with what you have in mind.”

“I think if we get married, we can prove to Janice that we are financially stable, and you would be at home with Iris. It’s the best of both worlds. There is no way any judge would turn us down. Her beef with me was my lack of experience with kids or nurturing qualities. She doesn’t think you’ll work out because you don’t have a job. Together, we make the perfect couple to adopt and raise Iris.”

I glared at him. “I have a job, and I don’t know if I’m willing to be a stay-at-home mom. I do have a college degree I would like to use.”

“Later, after we get custody and get them off our backs. Then we’ll hire a nanny and you can work,” he said, casual and blasé about something I found to be important. He clearly didn’t.

I looked at him, thinking it was all too easy. “What about you? What do you gain or lose in all this?”

He shrugged. “I gain Iris. I get to know my sister’s baby, and she stays with family.”

“And are you still going to be partying? Do you have a steady girlfriend or are you still hopping from bed to bed?” I asked, curious about his status for personal reasons too.

He shrugged. “I don’t have a girlfriend, and I wouldn’t be bringing women home.”

I nodded, fighting the twinge of jealousy I felt when he didn’t say he wouldn’t still be out fucking around.

“This marriage, it’s fake in every sense of the word,” I stated.

He leaned back in the booth, sipping his coffee. “If you insist. Or we can make it more enjoyable for both of us.”

My jaw dropped. “Yes, I insist! Listen, if you think you’re going to sweet talk me into bed again, this conversation is over. I am only considering this because I want what’s best for Iris, and I know that’s me.”

He shrugged. “Me too. Trust me, getting married is not exactly what I had in mind when I came down here.”

“Then it’s a marriage on paper. I’m not having sex with you. We’re not going to be sharing a bed or acting married when we’re behind closed doors,” I insisted.

“Fine with me. You act as if I’m trying to get you in my bed.”

I stared at him with disgust. “History tends to repeat itself. I’m wiser now and not so naïve. I’m not going to fall for your charms.”

He shook his head before leaning across the table. “Avery?”

“What?” I said, leaning back against the booth to get away from him and his piercing eyes. I crossed my arms protectively over my chest as if that would somehow shield me from him.

“I didn’t sweet talk you into bed. You came on to me. You were the one following me all over that party and flirting with me. You were a very willing and eager participant if I remember correctly,” he said in that silky-smooth voice that screamed sex. “And, if I remember right, you had a really, really good time.” He winked.

I glared at him. “I think you remember incorrectly. I was eighteen and a virgin,” I hissed. “I didn’t know if it was a good time because I had nothing to compare it to.”

He smiled. “I know. And now?”

“And now what?”

“You’ve had sex with other men, right? How’d they compare?”

I gasped. “You’re-you’re—” I stopped talking. I couldn’t find the right word.

He took that as a compliment. “I’m good. The greatest you’ve ever had?”

My eyes widened. He actually looked proud of himself. I so wanted to kick him in the shin. He must have read my mind. I heard his feet shuffle under the table.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“What?” I asked innocently.

“You’re going to try to kick me. Don’t. Quit acting like a damn two-year-old. My god, you better not teach this shit to Iris.”

“As if you know what a two-year-old acts like. Remember, you need me because you are clueless about children,” I reminded him.

He shrugged. “You’re right. That is why I need you. I only need you to help me get Iris. I’m not looking for the perfect little family. I don’t want a family. Families just bring headaches and—”

He stopped talking. I had a feeling he was going to say heartache. I wanted to comfort him and tell him not all families died young, but I didn’t exactly have a lot to go on.

Instead, I nodded my head. “I understand,” I said softly. “I’m not looking for a family either. I want Iris.”

“Then it’s settled. I’m going to get the ball rolling.”

“How are you going to do that?” I asked, wondering what in the hell he had in mind.

“Lawyers. Very expensive lawyers are going to make this plan come to life. You’re on board, right?”

I reluctantly nodded my head. “I am.”

“Good. As soon as I get the details ironed out, I’ll call you. We have to move fast on this,” he said, pushing his half-empty coffee cup to the edge of the table.

He stood up and walked out of the café. I sat in the booth, watching him go, wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. I took another drink of my coffee before ordering that cheesecake I had been jonesing for. I definitely needed some sugar after agreeing to marry what I would say was a close relative of the devil himself.

“You okay?” the waitress said, bringing me the cheesecake.

I nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

I ate my cheesecake and pondered my future. I wondered what all the marriage would entail. Would we have to live together? I groaned at the thought of having to see him every day.

By the time I got home, it was late. Sally was in the living room reading when I walked in the door.

“Hi,” I said when I spotted her.

“Hi there. Any luck today?”

I shook my head. “No. Not really.”

I hesitated, knowing I should tell her about my deal with Jake, but I felt really embarrassed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, closing the book in her lap.

“I’m, um, going to marry Jake Colter.”

Both her eyebrows shot up, nearly reaching her silvery hairline. “You’re going to do what? Please, sit down and tell me everything.”

I sat on the couch, took a deep breath, and told her our plan. She was smiling by the time I got through it.

“Well, I guess you’ve had a very productive day.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know about that. I think I may have just sold my soul to the devil.”

“I think it’s all going to work out fine. Keep an open mind. I bet you’re going to be so busy with that little baby, you’re not going to have time to worry about that man.”

“I hope so. I know this is the right thing to do for Iris. I just hope I don’t end up regretting it too badly.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Time will tell.”

“I’m going to bed. I’m crashing off my sugar high. Hopefully I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

“Good night, dear.”

I headed to my room and thought about where I would be living in the next week or two. I had no idea how long it would take for Jake to take care of things like he had talked about. I should have asked for more details. I didn’t know if he was talking tomorrow or a month from now. How much longer was I going to be free to make my own decisions?

I wasn’t sure if what we were doing was illegal, but I was willing to take the risk. This was for Iris. I could do anything for her.