“You’re supposed to agree with me,” Aurora says through a stilted giggle. “Unless you secretly want to marry him.”
Feeling cornered, I bark out a laugh. “Oh, Aurora.”
“I know, I know.” She sighs. “From what you’ve told me, he’s a heartless bastard who doesn’t have a compassionate bone in his body. I know you well enough to know that you’d never marry someone like that.”
But, I did, and within the hour, I’ll be moving into his home with the hope that I’ll come out of this marriage as the same woman I am today.
Chapter Eleven
Trina
When the elevator doors slide open to reveal the foyer to Graham’s apartment, I shove the keycard in the back pocket of my jeans.
I changed clothes before I came over since I realized that I wasn’t going back to the office today.
My official workday is done, but this show that Graham and I are putting on for Mr. Abdon is just getting started.
I glance up to see something even more breathtaking than the penthouse.
My boss is standing to the left dressed in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. That’s giving me an unobstructed view of his muscular arms. His left forearm has a black and gray tattoo wrapped around it, but if I stare any harder, he’s going to take notice.
Who knew he was even more gorgeous dressed down?
“Trina.” My name snaps from his lips. “You made it.”
As if I had a choice.
It’s not just the one and half million dollars that dragged my ass and most of my clothing here, but it’s Mr. Abdon.
I don’t want to let him down.
Graham stalks toward me to grab the handle of my overstuffed suitcase. He picks it up with ease. “I’ll put this in my bedroom.”
I don’t wait for an invitation to follow him. I do it because I need to know the route when this day is finally over.
It’s a much less complicated path to his bedroom than it is to the guest one.
Once again, large wooden double doors await us.
“If this isn’t up to your standards, there are several other bedrooms.” He tosses me a look. “I expect you to let me know if you’re comfortable.”
Feeling as though I’m about to enter a palace, I smile. “I’ll be fine here, sir.”
He cocks a brow.
“Graham,” I correct myself. “I meant Graham.”
He turns one of the door handles and steps aside. “After you.”
I hold in my surprise as I enter his bedroom. This is not at all what I was expecting.
It’s much smaller than the guest room. A king size bed takes up most of the space. The view beyond the window is of the side of a building next door. It’s the only building on the block that’s taller than this one.
There is no fireplace or expensive artwork on the walls, but the ambiance is welcoming. It’s cozy, and the colors on the curtains on the window and the bedding are shades of gray with accents of black and white.
Graham steps around me to place my suitcase on the floor near the foot of the bed. “As I said, if it’s not suitable, I can relocate you to another room.”
I glance at him. “It’s fine. I like it.”
His finger juts out to point to two closed doors. “There’s a bathroom to the left, and the walk-in closet is empty. I moved my things into the adjoining room.”
That tracks my gaze to the right and an open doorway. “That’s over there?”
He nods. “Yes. We’ll keep that door closed unless there’s a reason for me to join you in here.”
Our eyes meet for the briefest of moments.
Barring an emergency with Mr. Abdon, there should be absolutely no reason for Graham to join me in here.
Even though I kind of might want him to at some point.
I chase that thought away because he sure as hell doesn’t think about me that way.
“I suspect we have another hour or two before Lloyd wakes up.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Take some time to unpack, and then we’ll get started in the kitchen.”
“All right,” I say quietly.
This is really happening. I’m temporarily moving in with my temporary husband.
Graham brushes past me on his way out of the room. Before he reaches the doorway, he turns back. “Thank you, Miss Shaw. This means a great deal to Lloyd.”
I have to wonder if it means anything to him.
“I appreciate you putting your life on hold for the next ninety days.” He drops his hands to his hips.
“Mr. Abdon gave me an incredible opportunity when he hired me. If I can do anything to make him happy, I want to.”
His eyes bore into me as he studies me from head to toe. “He made the right decision that day, Trina.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
Lloyd couldn’t have known when he hired me that one day I’d end up pretending to love, honor, and cherish his CEO.
“That was delicious, Trina,” Lloyd says as he wipes a linen napkin over his lips. “Chicken Piccata is a long time favorite of mine.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. After arranging everything in Graham’s kitchen, including putting away all of the groceries, I knew I had to whip up something quickly for dinner.
Chicken Piccata fit the bill. I paired it with a side salad and some crusty bread.
Graham chose a bottle of white wine, and by the time Lloyd woke from his nap, dinner was ready, and the dining room table was set.
I turn to him. “I’m glad you liked it.”
My gaze wanders across the table to where Graham is seated. It was his choice to sit Lloyd at the head of the table with us on either side of him.
I had to struggle not to stare at my boss through dinner. I don’t know what it is about him in his home, but it’s captivating. Maybe it’s because, for once, he looks somewhat relaxed and at ease.
I’m anything but since I’m still playing the role of Mrs. Locke with zero experience for inspiration.
“Trina.” Mr. Abdon reaches for my left hand. “Let me see that.”
I know he’s talking about the ring because it’s larger than life. I would have never chosen an engagement ring like this. I’m a firm believer that the size of the diamond doesn’t measure the commitment.
I suppose, in this case, it doesn’t matter what the ring looks like.
Lloyd draws my hand close to his face. “This is lovely.”
I nod. I can’t thank him for the compliment because the ring feels like a weight I can hardly bear right now.
I don’t want to lie to the man who gave me a job without even checking my references. He trusted me that day. Now, I’m leading him down a path of dishonesty.
Lloyd suddenly drops my hand and pushes back from the table. “Will you excuse me for a minute? There’s something in my room that I need.”
Graham is on his feet before Lloyd is standing. “I’ll get it for you.”
“No.” Lloyd pats a hand on Graham’s shoulder. “Sit with your wife. Toast to your future and all the children you’ll have. They’ll fill this apartment with laughter and fun.”
I down a big gulp of wine because that’s way outside the realm of what I signed up for.
As soon as Lloyd disappears from view, Graham takes his seat. He raises his glass in the air. “To us and our future…”
“Don’t say it,” I warn with a wag of my finger in the air. “Marriage is one thing, but children are…”
Graham’s laughter interrupts me. “If you could see the look on your face, Miss Shaw. It’s priceless.”
I can’t hold back a grin as I touch my glass to the side of his. “To us making it through today.”
With a nod, he takes a sip of wine. “The first of many to come.”
Chapter Twelve
Graham
This feels oddly comfortable, but that word itself feels surprisingly uncomfortable.
I’ve lived alone for the past eleven years.
Technically, it’s eleven years and two m
onths. I broke out on my own shortly after my eighteenth birthday. Since then, I’ve eaten most meals alone. I’ve spent many of my evenings at my office or in the study here.
The exceptions to that rule have been when I’ve been dating a woman, but the caveat to that is that I’ve never brought a woman home.
I’ve always readily agreed when I’ve been invited back to their apartments.
“What do you think Lloyd went to get?” Trina quizzes with a bounce of her blonde eyebrows.
I have no idea.
For all I know, he scurried away so he could give my wife and me some privacy. Not that we need it.
This is the first full day of this marriage, and although it’s not as torturous as I imagined it to be, I’d rather be alone.
Solace is my soul mate.
That’s been my motto for most of my life.
“His harmonica.”
Trina’s gaze narrows. “He plays the harmonica?”
I lean back in my chair. “Like a champ.”
Her hand moves to brush her hair back from her forehead. It’s an innocent move, but the light from the chandelier above reflects off of the diamond on her finger.
It’s an unnecessary reminder that I’m legally tied to her for the time being.
“I hope he plays it for us,” she says in an almost giddy tone.
“You’re a fan, are you?”
She battles off a smile. “Who isn’t?”
I raise a hand above my head.
“Seriously?” she asks with surprise edging her tone. “It takes talent to play any instrument and courage to do it in front of an audience.”
“Says the woman who can play what instrument?”
A breathy sigh escapes her. “None. I’m not musically inclined.”
I’m inclined to ask her to gift me with another one of those sighs because my dick took notice of that.
I’m not hard by any means, but I’m edging toward increased interest.
I’ve never seen my assistant in anything but business attire. Tonight, she’s wearing ripped, faded jeans and a blue short sleeve sweater. It’s snug, so the soft curve of her breasts catches my eye whenever I give in to the overwhelming urge to glance at her.
With her hair down in waves around her shoulders, she’s stunning.
“What about you?” She tilts her head. “Can you play an instrument?”
I sip from my glass and then wait for a few seconds before I answer. “I play the piano.”
“The piano?” That piques her interest enough that she leans forward to prop her elbows on the table. “You play the piano, or you mess around on the piano?”
“Mess around on the piano?” I repeat back. “I haven’t tried that, but it’s sturdy. I suppose it could withstand the impact.”
It takes her a moment to unpack all of that. Her eyes wander over my face as she does, so I’m fortunate enough to catch the precise moment when she realizes that I’m talking about a good hard fuck.
“What did I miss?” Lloyd walks back into the room at the worst possible time.
“Nothing,” Trina snaps. “We weren’t talking about anything.”
I hold in a laugh before turning my attention to him. I slide to my feet to help him get seated in his chair.
As I do that, he drops something in my palm.
Goddammit.
Every other curse word invented runs through my mind as I stare down at what he deposited in my hand.
“Trina.” Lloyd turns his back on me so he can face my wife. “I noticed that you don’t have a wedding band.”
Trina’s fingers trace over the large diamond on her left hand. “This is an engagement ring and a wedding band all in one.”
It’s a good comeback, but it’s not going to stop what is about to happen.
Lloyd shakes his head. “The wedding band is the anchor. It anchors both the engagement ring and your heart in place. Without one, you’re not bound forever to Graham, so I have something for you.”
I fist my hand around the diamond-encrusted wedding band that Lloyd gave to me.
“What is it?” Trina whispers.
Lloyd glances up at me. “Give it to her, Graham. I put it on my precious Sela’s finger many, many years ago. I want you to put it on Trina’s now.”
Panic darts over my wife’s expression. “Oh no, we couldn’t, sir. That’s too special.”
“Nonsense,” he cuts her off. “Graham is going to put it on you. I have a feeling it will fit perfectly.”
I see no way out of this, so I round the table and reach out a hand to my assistant.
She takes it tentatively before she allows me to help her to her feet.
“Say a few words,” Lloyd instructs. “Let us know how much Trina means to you.”
Well, shit.
I take her left hand in mine and slowly slide the band in place next to her engagement ring while I look into her striking blue eyes. “You’ve made one man very happy, Trina. It takes an extraordinary woman to make the commitment you’ve made to me.”
Her gaze searches my face before it drops to the wedding band on her finger. When she glances back up, I see tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
“You must kiss the bride,” Lloyd shouts. “Give me a replay of the wedding kiss.”
Like hell I will.
I scoop a hand behind my wife’s neck, drop the other to her hip, and I take her mouth in a kiss that I want Lloyd to remember for as long as he lives.
Chapter Thirteen
Trina
I will never forget this kiss.
Who knew Mr. Locke had this in him?
The man knows how to leave a woman breathless. I’m proof of that.
I let my body guide me as my hands leap to his shoulders.
My lips part before he dives his tongue in for the briefest touch against mine.
It shouldn’t leave me wanting more, but it does.
He breaks the kiss, and I instantly wish that I could transport back in time to that moment right before it happened so I could experience it again because that was the best first kiss in the history of first kisses.
We stare at each other as Lloyd claps.
He says something but the pounding beat of my heart echoes through me, drowning out everything else.
Graham steps back. “Trina will treasure the ring forever, Lloyd.”
My gaze drops to the diamond band on my hand. Its meaning holds so much value that I can’t look at it without tearing up. I take a deep breath and glance at Mr. Abdon to find him smiling broadly.
“I think Trina likes it as much as Sela did.”
Guilt grips me from the inside out threatening a confession, but I swallow it back. I need to remember that this is what Mr. Abdon wants. We are fulfilling his dying wish, even if it feels utterly wrong in every possible way.
A noise sounds through the penthouse. It’s an alarm of some sort. Graham and Lloyd don’t look panicked, so I take my cue from them since I’m supposed to live here.
“Someone is here,” Graham says nonchalantly.
What?
Someone is here? I didn’t sign up to play the role of his wife for an audience larger than one. This show we are putting on is for Mr. Abdon only.
Graham tugs his phone out of the pocket of his pants. He glances down at the screen. “Dessert has arrived.”
I was hoping that we’d skip right to bedtime after dinner.
This has been the second longest day of my life. Yesterday took top honors since I woke up single and ready to mingle and ended the day married to a man who doesn’t know anything about me other than how exceptionally well I do my job.
“I can’t wait.” Lloyd rubs his palms together. “Tell me that you ordered Sela’s favorite dessert of all time, Graham.”
I hope to hell he did, or Mr. Abdon isn’t going to be happy.
“I did,” Graham reassures him with a pat on his shoulder. “I’ll have the doorman bring it up. I think you’re going to like it, Trina.”
“Not as much as the kiss,” Lloyd adds. “There’s no denying how much you liked that, Trina.”
I didn’t think it was that obvious, but apparently, it was.
I sit myself back down while my husband heads toward the elevator.
Something tells me that this day is far from over. I’m going to need more wine to go with my dessert.
I nibbled my way through a piece of over-baked cheesecake topped with some sort of strawberry jelly masking as red syrup.
After his first bite, Mr. Abdon called it “a wonderfully, decadent treat.” If he genuinely thinks it is, I need to bring home a cheesecake from my family’s bakery.
Not home. I don’t live here. I’m staying here as part of the agreement I made with my boss.
I glance to where Mr. Abdon is running a fingertip over the last crumbs on his plate to scoop them up.
“Would you care for another piece, Lloyd?” Graham asks.
That would be his third, and while I still have no idea what medical issue he’s battling, I can’t imagine three pieces of cheesecake being what any doctor would order.
“Why don’t we save what’s left for tomorrow?” I stick my nose in the middle of their conversation. “I’ll put it away.”
I can do that now since Ida sent over an array of storage dishes in every size imaginable. I doubt Mr. Locke will use even one after our marriage ends. He’ll go back to eating out.
“I like that idea.” Lloyd pushes to his feet. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
Graham stands. “I’ll see you to your room.”
I get up from my chair too, but before I can say goodnight to Mr. Abdon, he’s got his arms wrapped around me.
“Thank you for dinner, Trina.” His voice cracks. “Thank you both for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” I whisper, trying to keep my tone level even though emotions are racing through me.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he says as he breaks our embrace. “I hope you and your hubby have a good night.”
I have no idea what my husband is about to do with the rest of his night, but my plans involve a bubble bath, some Netflix, and a self pep talk focused on getting through tomorrow as my boss’s wife.
BULL (The Buck Boys Heroes Book 1) Page 5
