Chapter Fifteen
Lucas
I grabbed the counter behind me after his words sank in.
“We get what?” I choked out the question.
He smiled that unbeatable gorgeous smile and looked down at the floor. “Not real. I mean, it would be real, of course. But this way, there wouldn’t be a TMZ-worthy scandal, and you would be legally tied to the baby if anything happened to me. It could work.”
“A business deal? Oh, I didn’t know...here I thought we were having a... I should’ve brought a lawyer and a notary along. Stupid me.”
I was butthurt again. It seemed like every time I was around Harrison, he reeled me in and set the hook.
“Lucas, don’t be like that. It’s just a suggestion. I’m not saying you and I can’t continue to date or see each other or whatever. And I’d never deny you time with the baby, but who knows what will happen in the future. I certainly don’t.”
He tried to take my hand again, but I pulled away. I needed space to think.
“When?” I asked, my decision made in seconds.
“Whenever you want. Don’t you need some time to think about it?”
I shook my head. He didn’t know what he was saying, but I knew exactly what my plan would be. He wanted a marriage for show. I wanted to marry him for real.
I had to make Harrison want to be my husband, not for the papers, but because he was as in love with me as I was with him.
We would have, we would be, a family.
I hadn’t been so sure of something since I knew I was born to be a chef.
“I don’t need time to think about wanting to be married to you, Harrison.” I closed the distance between us and covered his lips with mine before he could answer or protest or be grumpy with me anymore. I caressed his neck while he surrendered to me, our mouths moving in a passionate rhythm.
“I need you,” I breathed in his ear before taking his earlobe into my mouth and sucking on it while my hands roamed his chest and down farther to the button of his pants.
“No, Lucas. Not here.”
Not here. That wasn’t exactly a no.
“No one is coming. The place is locked for the night. Please. I need to taste you.”
After he said yes, I kissed and suckled my way down his body, stopping to pay some attention to his growing belly, but not for long. Hearing him groan my name fueled me on, and I desperately undid the button to his jeans and spread the fly wide, determined to get him into my mouth.
“Wait! What’s that?” Harrison pulled my head back. I stood up at the sound of a noise in the back of the restaurant. I dragged him closer to me while he straightened himself and fixed his pants.
“Who is there?” I called out loudly.
“It’s me.” Damn it. Warren.
“What do you want?” I yelled. Harrison chuckled. I assumed he was laughing at my aggravation.
“I need to set up for tomorrow. Is there a problem?” As Warren finished his sentence, he flicked on all of the lights that I had left low on purpose. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lucas.”
Harrison moved in front of me and jutted his hand out. “I’m Harrison. I’m assuming you’re the assistant, Warren?”
Warren blushed furiously. “Yeah. Nice to meet you, Harrison. I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone…”
“It’s okay. I was just about to bring Lucas back to the hotel. Unless you need him here?”
Warren, poor Warren. His eyes bulged before he shook his head. “No, he’s all yours. I mean, he is... I’ll shut up now.”
After a little more awkward conversation, Harrison and I got into his truck. There were too many things swirling around in my mind. I needed a drink.
Still, I wanted things set in stone before he changed his mind. “I’ll get the marriage license tomorrow if you are serious.”
He bit his bottom lip while turning onto the main road. “I was serious, Lucas. Even if it’s just for show…”
“So, you’re taking me home?” I asked, hoping.
“I’m taking you back to the hotel, and I’m going to my house. I’m so tired lately, and all of this is making me anxious. I’m as confused as you are, Lucas. But I’m not ready to give up. I want you to know that.”
I rode the rest of the way in silence while Harrison hummed along to the music. He parked in front of the hotel, and we both sighed.
“I know you mean this to be for show, Harrison, but I want you to know something.” I turned to him in the truck and took his hand in mine, kissing his palm before continuing. “For me, this is not show. I’m going to be the best husband and father on this effing planet. I’d give all up the shows, the signings, all the fans for you if you asked me to, right this minute. All of it.”
“I won’t ask you to do that.”
I kissed his hand again. “I know that. I do. But when I’m not being Lucas the famous chef, I’m yours. And before you know what happened to you, you’ll love me like I already love you. And we will have a real marriage and raise this baby as a family. Mark my words.”
He doubted me. I could tell by his face. I pulled the lever to open the door and looked at him for the last time that night. “See you tomorrow, almost husband.”
I grinned while walking into the hotel, already making a list of how I would win him.
Harrison would be mine, and not because some marriage certificate told him so.