One Hot Fake: An Accidental Fake Marriage Romance by Sarah Brooks (free novel reading sites .TXT) 📗

Marian falls asleep five minutes into the drive home. She looks so peaceful when she’s sleeping. I hope that everything’s okay with her. The last couple of days, she looked wound up with tension.

I didn’t want to intrude by asking her what the matter was. I figured that if she wants to tell me, she will. That’s how I operated with my previous girlfriends. I give people space to work out their issues.

Of course, I wish she would confide in me, and I hope that she feels comfortable enough one day. When we get home, I carry her easily from the car to the house.

I keep my promise and undress her one item after another, except that she’s completely out of it to see.

Chapter 36

Marian

Though it’s been a good week, I’m glad that it’s Friday. No, let me rephrase that, I’m glad it’s Friday, but I’ll be happy when the day is over. I worked up the courage to call Mrs. Carter yesterday, and lo and behold, she agreed to meet me for lunch. Better yet, she’s going to be in LA today, so I don’t have to drive to Santa Monica. Not that I would have minded terribly. It’s grown on me, and it would have been a chance to pop in and see Declan as he went there this morning.

Just thinking of Declan makes me smile. If I had any doubts about him, they are slowly ebbing away. I’ve also had another session with Dr. Frost this week, and it was another eye-opener. I’m learning things about myself that are shocking but enlightening me.

The phone on my desk shrills, bringing me back to the present. I pick it up and smile when I hear the voice of one of my new clients, Jane. She’s sweet and soft-spoken, and so far, she’s made everything fun and easy. Two weeks into working together and we’ve already settled on a venue and agreed on the décor and other small but important details.

“What can I do for you, my dear?” I ask her after we’ve exchanged pleasantries.

She lets out a nervous laugh. “You’re going to think we’re the weirdest couple,” she begins. “We need a little help with something. I have five bridesmaids, right? That means Bob needs five groomsmen?”

“That would be ideal, yes,” I say, unsure where the conversation is headed.

“Well, Bob has no groomsmen,” she says.

“Oh,” I say. I’ve never come across such a situation in all my years of working as a wedding planner.

“So, we were wondering, can you help us?” she says. “Find groomsmen, that is.”

“Sure,” I say defaulting to my automatic response when I’m asked for help.

It helps also that Jane and Bob are such a sweet couple. I want to make sure that their wedding is a success. “I’ll get back to you on this. Don’t worry; everything will be fine. We’ll think of something.”

She lets out a sigh of relief and gushes her gratitude.

After I disconnect the phone, beads of sweat form on my forehead. Why do you do this to yourself? But I love a challenge.

I tap my pencil on the table as I wrack my brain. Friends. No. Asking five male friends to be groomsmen for a man they don’t know is crossing the boundaries of friendship. Even free booze wouldn’t lure them unless they were college boys.

My pulse quickens as an idea begins to form in my mind. Hire. Actors. This is LA, after all. I bang the table. “Bingo.”

Grinning, I reach for my phone and scroll through the contacts list until I reach my friend Amelia’s number. I hit call and wait for her to answer.

“Marian, it’s going to rain today,” she exclaims.

I laugh with delight. “It’s been too long.” We catch up for three minutes, and then I explain to her what I need. Amelia is an agent, and if there’s anyone who can help me find decent-looking actors to be groomsmen, it’s her.

“Easy peasy,” she says. “And you’re in luck. I have a few who came in this morning to audition. You can swing by in the next hour and have your pick.”

I clap my hands together. “Perfect. I’ll be there.”

I can’t stop grinning as I get on with my to-do list. There’s nothing like solving a problem in one swoop.

Just as I’m about to leave the office, my cell phone rings. My heart skips a beat when I see Mrs. Carter’s name. Is she calling to cancel? I can’t see any other reason for her to call when we’re meeting in an hour or so.

“Hello,” I say, trepidation in my voice.

“Marian, this is Mrs. Carter,” she says in her confident, bossy voice. “I’ve finished my errands early, and now I’m standing outside what I believe are your offices.”

“What? You’re here,” I jump from my chair and go to the window. I peer out, but of course, I can’t see under the awning. “Do you want to come up?”

It’s sweet of her to come all the way to my office.

“No. I’ll wait for you down here. We can have an early lunch.” She disconnects the phone, and I stare at my cell phone in disbelief. I swallow down feelings of hurt.

I guess it’s too much to expect that my mother-in-law would want to see where I work. Maybe even meet my colleagues? I grab my handbag, and as I go down the stairs, my phone vibrates with a text. I reach for it and quickly scan the message from Amelia.

You are going to love your new groomsmen.

I stop mid-stair. What an idiot, I completely forgot about my appointment with Amelia. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. What am I going to do? What will I do with Mrs. Carter?

There’s only one thing to do, I decide as I continue descending the stairs.

“Hello,” I say to her with a bright smile. “Welcome to my neck of the woods.”

She manages a tight smile. My enthusiasm goes down a notch. This woman doesn’t like me, and she’s determined not to