Marry Me, Right Now : (Marriage of Convenience Romance, Toronto)

by Haley Travis

  “We think it’s really important for us to support new business, and a big job like this can actually help someone make their rent for the next two months,” Mia said cautiously.

  “That’s a lovely way to look at it, darlings.” Mother nodded, almost to herself, then stood up. “Let me fetch us some of those lovely cookies that Caitlin made yesterday.”

  The moment she was out of the room, Mia turned to me, reaching out to place her hand on the back of my neck. I relaxed completely as she ran my thumb down the back of my ear. She was actually driving me a bit crazy, but it was sweet that she was concerned about my tension instead of her own.

  “How are you doing?” she whispered.

  “Better now,” I grinned. She wandered her thumb up and down my ear one more time, then lightly pinched my earlobe before pulling her hand away. “Thanks. That really worked. But how are you doing?”

  She nodded and smiled as my mother returned.

  “Here we are,” she said, setting a tray of cookies in front of us. “Now, it’s time for us to talk about the guest list.”

  Mia took another sip of champagne while I explained that we’re trying to keep things as small as possible, and don’t want to make a fuss.

  “Do you have a wedding venue selected?” she asked.

  “Not yet,” I said, looking over to Mia.

  “We’re just starting to get on that,” Mia said.

  “It’s barely over a week away,” mother exclaimed. “Excuse me a moment,” she said, picking up her phone from a side table and walking quickly out of the room. In a moment we could hear her sharp voice commanding someone briskly.

  I placed my hand in the center of Mia’s back, and felt her lean back into it slightly. “Is this going well?” she whispered.

  “I think so,” I said. “If she didn’t like you, she’d be giving you backhanded compliments. If I were to guess, she likes you well enough, but she wants to get to know you better before passing judgment.”

  “Okay. That’s a good start, I guess.”

  Coming back into the room, mother waved her phone at us in triumph. “My best friend’s first husband owns the perfect venue. They’ll have to do some rearranging, but I’ve secured you the Cornwall Arms Hotel.”

  A choked little noise came from Mia’s throat. That was the ritziest hotel in the city, and was sure to be booked years in advance. “Oh my goodness, thank you so much,” she said before I could even react.

  “I don’t mean to overstep any boundaries, dear, but you must realize that we’ll need a good-sized venue that is in keeping with our social circles.”

  “Absolutely,” I said, trying to catch Mia’s eye to make sure she was really okay with it.

  “Thank you,” Mia said, “We really appreciate it.” She turned to me, nodding and smiling.

  “That’s what mothers are for,” she beamed. I realized that having her selection of venue meant that she was the savior, in her mind. Whatever made her happy was fine with me.

  M I A

  <<< 14 >>>

  PINK

  After the visit to his mother’s mansion, Jacob and I returned to his comfortable couch with two small glasses of pinot grigio, vegetables and dip, and my notebook.

  “Can’t we say no gifts?” I asked. “We certainly don’t need anything. Could we say instead of gifts, donations to the Children’s Hospital would be lovely?”

  “I’m not sure if my mother will freak out. I’m sorry, this is something that might really make her question everything. I bet her personal assistant would be happy to help with all of the receiving, the thank you notes, and everything?”

  “Oh my goodness – I wasn’t even thinking about that. I was just thinking that if there is any kind of registry, there’s no way that my friends could afford anything on it. I would feel terrible asking them for gifts.”

  “Yes, but isn’t that traditional?”

  I shook my head. “I know it’s hard for you to understand, but it’s a completely different world. Not only are they going to have to pay for transit there, but they might also have to pay for a cab home because it’ll be past one-thirty and the subways won’t be running. Many of my friends will have to borrow or buy something nice enough to wear to a wedding at that hotel. Some of them will feel like they have to get their hair done or whatever. So even without a gift, my friends are paying somewhere from fifty to two hundred dollars just to show up.”

  “Damn. I never would have thought of that,” he said, looking surprised. His hand instinctively honed in on the center of my back.

  “Is there any high class way your people buck tradition?” I asked, trying to laugh lightly.

  “Well, the donation thing isn’t bad. Were you serious about them needing to do construction on the hospital?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Maybe I could explain it to my mother that way. Something about how we want to start our new life together by doing something nice for our city.”

  I looked up at him, honestly a little surprised that he was willing to try. “It really would mean the world to me,” I said. I suddenly thought of something. “And in return, what if I phone your mother and ask if there are any wedding traditions that are important to her?”

  “Really? You would do that?”

  “Sure. I don’t have any particular ceremony in mind. If she wants to have a certain song, or a poem read, I’m sure it would be something tasteful.” I gave him a little wink. “Your mother is a bit intimidating, but if nothing else, she is extremely tasteful.”

  He laughed, patting me gently on the back before retracting his hand. I was starting to become so comfortable with him touching me that it was familiar and warm.

  “Okay. You handle any of her weird wedding requests, I will handle the non-gifts, and I think we are almost in good shape for this shindig, aren’t we?”

  “Well, we’ve already gone over the wedding dance. That’s just going to be us shuffling around, right?”

  “Yes, nothing fancy.”

  “Good. I’m not the girliest girl, so walking in a fancy dress and heels will be quite enough for one day. Adding a dance into the mix would put me over the edge.”

  Jacob’s head suddenly tilted to the side, and he grinned at me oddly. “Hey,” he said, standing and leading me to the big window that overlooked the city. “There’s something else important we need to do.”

  I looked out across the glass and steel buildings of Toronto, where the CN Tower was lit up with bright pink lights.

  I turned back to Jacob, but he was on one knee, holding up the ring. My mouth fell open. “You didn’t…” I gestured to the tower, then the huge pink diamond in front of me.

  “No! Oh no. There’s a website that explains what color the tower is going to be lit up every day and why. Today is actually pink for some charity but I thought it was cute.”

  I sighed, relieved. I knew that he was rich and well connected, but changing the color of the tower for his proposal was a bit much.

  “Mia, will you marry me for a year and a bit, to save my uncle’s house, secure us both some money, and have some fun adventures along the way?”

  His gorgeous eyes were so sweet, so earnest, that I found myself choking up. “Yes.”

  He slipped the ring on my finger, and as soon as he stood back up, I hugged him. Having his arms around me was more powerful than I could imagine. I held him tightly for a moment, and when he pulled away to take a look at my face, I was grinding my lips together.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded, holding my eyes wide. “Are you trying not to cry?” I nodded again, making a funny face, slightly disgusted with myself for being so silly.

  He pulled me into his broad chest again. “It’s okay. That’s likely good. There are going to be all sorts of overwhelming and romantic and downright weird things to get through. Let everything be natural.” The way his hands were stroking my back was sending waves of desire through me that I had to mentally shove away. He smelled too luscious, and I
’d never been held so perfectly.

  My chin tilted up. “You won’t laugh at me when I’m being a girl?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll laugh at you all the time for all sorts of reasons, because you make me laugh. But tearing up at a proposal isn’t one of them.” I blinked hard, and he glided his thumb under my left eye where a tear was threatening to spill. “Just let me help you, okay? Whenever something is a bit much for you, please tell me.”

  Our lips were so close it was almost painful not to lean in that extra few inches. He may have thought the same thing, as he suddenly shifted back a bit.

  “Are you okay with crowds of loud people?” he suddenly asked.

  I was surprised at the change of topic. “Sometimes. I can get a little overwhelmed.”

  “We’re going to be the center of attention at the wedding. Any time you need a break, pull me aside. People will think we’re having a romantic moment, but really we can just go out to a quiet hallway and be still. Okay?”

  I nodded. “Thank you. And any time you need to get away from someone, look for me, and obviously I was just waving you over. Right?”

  He led us back to the couch, and I noticed he sat much closer. “It’s funny, I’ve had many partners on various projects over the years, and I’ve never come across anyone who was genuinely willing to do their fair share. You’ve stepped up and gone so far beyond that I don’t even know what to do with you.”

  “Marry me immediately, apparently.”

  We laughed together, then I leaned back and took a tiny sip of wine. Then I set the glass down, thinking. “You keep just enough wine flowing that I’m far chattier than usual, but never tipsy.”

  “I keep an eye on the time, and calculate one drink per forty minutes.”

  My head fell back as I laughed. “I’m very comfortable with you. Maybe that’s why.”

  “I’m just a mellow guy,” he said.

  M I A

  <<< 15 >>>

  COCKTAIL PARTY PREP

  I’d only been engaged for a few days, and my life had changed in ways I would never have expected. Searching for a tiny basement apartment had consumed my entire world. Now I lived in a gigantic airy condo, with a doorman who fetched my packages, a cleaning lady who was also a cook whenever we liked, and a fiancé who kept bringing me little gifts.

  I was also now part of a ‘we’, but I was still trying to process that.

  My hair had been trimmed and given a clear gloss treatment that made it gleam under bright lights. My nails were ready for a close-up photo whenever anyone saw my new ring. My huge closet was filled with new clothing, thanks to Jacob’s personal stylist. She had taken my measurements, asked what I already had, and added to my ‘collection of pieces’ with basics she assured me I needed, and a few ‘statement pieces’, whatever that meant.

  Surprisingly, Manya had analyzed my style quite well, and except for a few tiny party dresses that seriously needed at least two inches added to the hemline, she had nailed my style perfectly. ‘Simple and effortless’ she called it. I hadn’t thought that I’d had any style at all, but apparently buying the plainest clothing at the second-hand shops, avoiding logos, and wearing eighty percent black, made me a minimalist. Who knew?

  I really needed to throw myself into the role for our big cocktail party tonight, where I’d be meeting Jacob’s closest friends for the first time, and we’d be announcing our engagement. Manya had placed all of my ‘event pieces’ in one section of my huge closet, which I took to mean they were expensive special night outfits. I still couldn’t bring myself to call a dress a ‘piece’.

  There was a dark blue dress that was nearly black, and nearly long enough for my comfort. A great blend of the old and the new versions of myself, but with matching sky-high heels, a thick rose gold chain necklace, and my new flashy ring, it was definitely an updated look.

  Half an hour before guests were expected, I went out to the living area just as fresh flowers were being delivered.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss,” the courier said, looking genuinely terrified. “I know that they were to be here two hours ago.”

  I flashed him a huge smile. “Don’t worry about it. These things happen. Thank you very much.” I palmed him a twenty from the table drawer in the foyer as I had seen Jacob do. He practically bowed to me on the way out, looking extremely relieved. Perhaps he was accustomed to high society bitches freaking out at every little detail. But good grief, they were just flowers.

  Carrying them to the living room coffee table, I ducked in and around the two servers in the kitchen to find the scissors and the glass vases, which I had discovered in my tour to find an old fashioned teacup yesterday.

  Within ten minutes I had the flowers broken down into five different arrangements, scattered around the condo. Jacob came in just as I was cleaning up the trimmed stems and paper wrappings.

  “What’s this?” he asked, seeming far more shocked than was necessary.

  “The flowers just arrived, so I arranged them and set them up. Do you like them?”

  “They were supposed to have arrived hours ago, already arranged.”

  “Well, I took care of it. My grandmother and I used to create magical bowls and vases from wildflowers in her backyard. The same principles apply with fancier flowers.” He looked at me very oddly. “What?” I laughed.

  He shook his head. “Sorry – it’s just that my mother would have freaked out if a delivery ran late on a party day.”

  “Freaking doesn’t get the job done, does it?” I gestured to where I’d placed the arrangements. “Do they look okay?”

  “Wow. Mia, they look professionally done.” He took the trash from me and snuck into the kitchen flurry to throw it out for me, then came back to clasp my hands.

  “I admire the way you are so self-reliant,” he said, looking at me with that strange wonder that was getting more frequent.

  I couldn’t help giggling. “I come from a world where if we don’t do things ourselves, they don’t’ get done.”

  His eyes lowered, and he waggled his eyebrows as he checked out my dress. “That is pretty sexy. Are you trying to hit on my friends?”

  “No, I’m too tired for that after all of that exhausting flower arranging. I’ll just stick with you.” He seemed to adore when I teased him, his eyes sparkling with delight.

  Giving my hands a little shake, he dropped them. “Ready for the show?”

  Shrugging, I said, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Remember, they’ll accept everything we feed them. They already like us.” He caught the frown that I tried to smooth out the second it took hold. “What’s wrong?”

  “Your friends like you. What if they think I’m not good enough for you? They’re likely all high society people.”

  Sitting us down on the couch, he pulled me close, speaking in a low voice so the caterers couldn’t hear. “They liked my last girlfriend well enough, even though she was a crazy bitch who only wanted me for my last name and my money. But she laughed at their jokes, bought rounds of drinks, and kept everything light at parties.”

  “So I just have to be a bubbly bimbo?” I laughed.

  “At first, a little bit couldn’t hurt,” he joked. “But once they see how great we are together, and that you can actually discuss things of substance, and have your own opinions, they’ll adore you.” His eyes grew tight for a moment. “Just one thing though. A couple of them do brag about things they’ve bought. If you could try not to judge them too much, at least not visibly, it would be helpful.”

  “I shall do everything in my power to be excited for them, and ask important questions such as what color is their seventh car.”

  Jacob’s arms wrapped around me in a little hug. “You’re the best,” he whispered in my ear, before getting up to go open a few bottles of wine to breathe.

  I went to check my hair and lip gloss, then heard someone knock at the door. Showtime.

  JACOB

  <<< 16 >>>

  COCKTAIL
PARTY

  Mia seemed born to be a party hostess. Not only could she arrange flowers at a nearly professional level, she continually gave little hints to the servers to circulate the perfect hors d’oeuvres, pour certain wines, and to keep a pitcher and glasses in the center of the breakfast bar counter so that it was a visible reminder to have an occasional glass of water.

  She was a vision, her long cinnamon hair tossing over her shoulder as she laughed at my friend’s jokes, her gorgeous eyes flashing with interest as they described their latest ostentatious purchases. But her greatest trick was to find two people who I would have guessed had nothing in common, and give them a connector topic to discuss.