[Anthology] A Clean Fake Marriage Romance Collection

by Victorine E. Lieske

  What he really wanted was a drink.

  Chapter 7

  Tara followed Rick into the house and back to his office. Something was bothering him, and she wanted answers. She’d seen the instant change in him after the kiss. The same thing that had happened at the club before he’d gone off and gotten plastered.

  He entered his office and opened a cabinet, pulling out a bottle. She should have guessed. She leaned against the doorjamb, one hand on her hip. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He turned to her with a start, guilt showing on his face. He didn’t say anything, so she continued. “You shouldn’t be drinking.”

  “I promised Phil I wouldn’t drink in public.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Phil? What did he say about it?”

  The guilty look intensified, and his hand wavered.

  She crossed the room, not brave enough to take the bottle from him, but hoping she could talk him out of it. “Look, it’s none of my business what you do after I leave. But while I’m here with Kylee, I think it’s best if you put away the alcohol.”

  He stared at her, his expression clouded. Then he nodded and put the bottle back. He closed the cabinet.

  They stood there for a couple of seconds, neither one speaking. Tara wasn’t sure how far she should push him. Would he talk about it if she asked? She mulled over what she should say. Finally, she gathered up her courage to speak. “I’ve upset you.”

  “No, it’s not you.”

  Tara allowed another few seconds to tick by. “Did you love her?”

  A sad smile flitted onto his face. “Yes.”

  “Unrequited love is the worst.”

  His gaze hardened. “Yeah.”

  The way he said it meant that wasn’t it at all, but she wasn’t going to pry. He’d tell her if he wanted to. As he turned to leave, she stepped in front of him, an idea popping into her head. “Kylee was asking if we could watch a movie tonight. Want to join us?” If she kept him busy, maybe he’d forget about whoever broke his heart.

  He paused, and then nodded. “Sure.”

  “Okay. I’ll feed her and we can watch it after that.”

  Rick stepped toward her hesitantly. “You could . . . eat dinner with me. I can tell Eliza to make enough for all of us.”

  He was reaching out to her, and she knew she should take hold of it, but she didn’t want to back down from her principles. She wrung her hands, indecision running through her. “I don’t want the staff waiting on me.”

  One side of his mouth pulled down into a frown. “You don’t mind going to a restaurant, do you?”

  “No.”

  “Why is this different?”

  She was about to say that running a restaurant was their job, but she clamped her mouth shut. He paid the staff here, too. But for some reason it felt odd to have someone wait on her at home. She finally settled with a lame, “It just is.”

  He looked like he was trying not to smile. “Okay. Fine. I’ll make dinner.”

  Her gaze snapped up to his. He was going to cook? Just to please her? The thought warmed her. “That would be nice. I can help.”

  “I’ll give Eliza the night off.”

  That made her even happier. “I’m sure she would appreciate that.”

  Rick smiled and loosened his tie. “Then I’ll go get changed into something more comfortable.”

  She nodded, delighted at the turn of events. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes.”

  TARA CHANGED INTO JEANS and a comfortable shirt. She brought Kylee down to the kitchen. When she walked in, Rick was opening and closing cupboards, rifling through them. Kylee climbed up on a barstool, clutching her favorite Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal. Eliza stood against the far counter, her arms crossed over her chest, frowning.

  “What are you looking for?” Tara asked.

  Rick continued his rampage. “I found a recipe online for garlic chicken. Thought I’d make it. But I can’t find the . . .” He looked down at his iPad. “Cornstarch. And Eliza’s not being helpful.”

  “You want to make it, then you can find the ingredients.” Eliza tapped her foot impatiently.

  “We just thought it would be nice to give you the evening off,” Tara said.

  “I don’t want the evening off. I’ve got a kid in college and tuition is due soon.”

  Rick glanced at her, a pained look on his face. “I’ll make it a paid night off if you tell me where the cornstarch is.”

  She raised her eyebrows, then walked over to a cupboard he’d already rummaged through and grabbed a box. “Here.” She shoved it at him, took off her apron and hung it on a hook. “Have fun.”

  After she left the room, Tara turned to Rick. “Why was she upset? What did you say to her?”

  He made a face. “Why do you assume she’s mad at me?”

  “Well obviously she’s not happy about something. And who gets mad about not having to serve you dinner?”

  “Apparently Eliza,” he said under his breath.

  “Something else must be upsetting her. I’ll talk to her later.” Tara picked up his iPad and read the rest of the recipe. Together they pulled everything out while Kylee sat and spun back and forth on the barstool.

  “You start searing the chicken and I’ll measure out the ingredients.” Rick handed the skillet to Tara.

  She placed it on the stove and turned on the flame. After tearing the plastic wrap off the meat, she placed the chicken in the pan and went to find a spatula. The first three drawers didn’t have what she needed.

  “Did you see a whisk in those drawers?” Rick asked.

  After rummaging to find his whisk and her spatula, a smoky smell stung her nose. “Oh, no. Something’s burning.”

  She ran to the stove and picked up the skillet. Unfortunately, she picked it up too quickly and the chicken breasts went flying. One hit the tile floor and skidded under the stool where Kylee sat. The other bounced on the counter then fell to the floor.

  Kylee clapped her hands and laughed. “Do it again, Mommy!”

  Rick’s lips twitched. “A new way of seasoning?”

  “Yes. It gives your dinner a nice stone flavor.” Her face heated as she leaned over and retrieved the meat. She turned on the faucet.

  “Wait, what are you doing?”

  “Rinsing the chicken. This isn’t my first mishap in the kitchen, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.”

  Rick frowned. “Why don’t you throw them away? I’m sure there’s more.”

  “That would be a waste. They’re still good. Plus, your floors are cleaner than most people’s tables.” She stuck the chicken under the faucet and rinsed them off. “See? They’re good as new.”

  His frown deepened. “And only a little burned.”

  “Exactly.” She grinned at him. “No need to throw them away.” She put them in the skillet and this time searched for the spatula before putting them back on the heat.

  Rick shook his head, then turned around and continued to whisk his concoction. She thought she heard him mutter something that sounded a lot like, ‘Crazy woman,’ but she ignored him. Wasting good food was crazier than washing it off and using it.

  After she was done searing the meat, she put it in an oven-safe dish and Rick poured the contents of his bowl over it. She put the lid on and slid it into the oven. She then sanitized the counter and the floor where the raw chicken had landed.

  Rick stood there staring at her, but didn’t say anything. She rinsed off the dishes they’d used, then turned to him. “Want to wash or dry?”

  He looked at her with an incredulous expression on his face, one eyebrow raised.

  “Come on.” She whacked him on the arm. “It won’t kill you.”

  “Fine. I’ll dry.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a dish towel.

  Kylee grew excited as she saw the sink filling with bubbles. “I want to do dishes!”

  “Okay, honey, you can help.” Tara pulled Kylee’s stool over to the sink so she could play in
the bubbles. Tara grabbed a rag and washed the bowl Rick had used, rinsed it, then handed it to him. After he dried it and found where to put it away, she nudged him. “See? I knew you could do it. You’re a domestic god.”

  He shot her a cheesy movie star grin. “I’ve been called all kinds of things, but I think that’s a new one.”

  She stuck the skillet into the water. “Thank goodness there are no reporters here. Rick Shade Puts Away a Dish would be headline news.”

  He swiped his finger into the bubbles and smeared them on her nose. She laughed and scooped up a large pile.

  “I didn’t put that much on you. That’s not fair.”

  “You started it.” She came at him but he backed away.

  Kylee giggled and shouted, “Get him, Mommy!”

  She stood opposite him, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Kylee squealed and Rick turned his head. Tara took advantage of the distraction and jumped at him, smearing the side of his face with bubbles.

  “Hey!” Rick grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides. She laughed as she tried to free herself.

  “Oh, no,” he said in her ear, his voice low. “You’re not getting away with that.”

  Her heart thumped in her chest at his close proximity. “Okay, okay. I surrender.”

  He let her go and she ran to the sink, grabbing more bubbles.

  The surprised look on his face, combined with the white mass of bubbles that had slid down his cheek and was now hanging from his jaw, made her giggle.

  “You’re not playing fair.” He rushed at her and Kylee pealed with laughter. Tara took off around the other side of the island. Rick picked up a dirty measuring cup and scooped up some dish water.

  “You wouldn’t,” she said.

  “I would.” He stood stone still for a moment. The second his arm began to move, Tara ducked. Greta entered the kitchen and got a face full of soapy water.

  Greta gasped. “What is going on in here?” She wiped at the water on her face.

  Kylee laughed and Rick picked up the towel and tossed it to Greta. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t meant for you.”

  Tara couldn’t help but join in Kylee’s laughter. “Sorry, Greta,” she said between giggles. She flicked the soap suds off her hand and into the sink. “We were just messing around.”

  Greta’s gaze bounced between Rick and Tara for a moment before she said, “I see.” She patted her face with the towel. “I just came to check on things. Eliza said you gave her the night off. Is everything okay?”

  “Fine,” Rick said.

  “Her cooking has been to your liking?”

  “Oh, good grief,” Tara said. “Is that what she was worried about? We just wanted to make something ourselves tonight. Eliza is an amazing cook, but she doesn’t have to wait on us hand and foot.”

  Greta nodded, looking at Tara. “Eliza said you wouldn’t let her cook for you earlier, either. Will you be taking over the kitchen tomorrow as well?”

  Rick looked over to Tara, like he was leaving the decision up to her. Tara didn’t want to take over the kitchen. That was not what this was about. But apparently giving Eliza some time off was offensive. Seemed like no matter what she did, she lost. She sighed. “No.”

  “Very well.” Greta tossed the towel on the counter and left the room.

  “I feel like we’ve just been reprimanded,” Tara said.

  Rick laughed. “Maybe so.” He came over to her and wiped her nose with his finger. “You still have some suds on you.” His smile was genuine. Not the fake one he donned for the cameras. She liked how it looked on him.

  “Thanks,” she said, trying to breathe normally. “We’d better make the rice.” She had to stop acting like a schoolgirl around him, or he’d think she had a goofy movie-star crush on him. Which was ridiculous. She had no such thing.

  Chapter 8

  Rick stabbed a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth. Tara looked at him expectantly. “Any good?”

  The salty flavor made him spit it back out into his napkin. “Ugh. It’s terrible. I did something wrong.”

  “It can’t be that bad.” She put a bite in her mouth and immediately spit hers out as well. “Oh, way too much salt.” She pushed Kylee’s plate away from her.

  “I’m hungry,” Kylee said, reaching for the plate.

  Nice. He ruined dinner and now the kid was going to starve. He stood. “I’ll order pizza.”

  “Pizza!” Kylee clapped her hands.

  Tara took the girl’s plate and scraped off the chicken into the trash. Then she gave it back to her. “You can eat the rice and green beans.”

  Rick pulled his cell out of his pocket and dialed his favorite pizza place. It wasn’t until he was in the middle of ordering that he realized he didn’t know what the kid liked. He turned to Tara. “What does Kylee like on her pizza?”

  “Plain cheese.”

  “Really? Plain?” He raised an eyebrow, but ordered it anyway after Tara nodded.

  When he hung up the phone, Tara laughed. “You must not know many kids.”

  “Nope.”

  Tara tried to coax Kylee into eating her green beans, but the girl was shaking her head, lips pinched tight, pigtails swinging. “No, I want pizza.”

  “The pizza is coming. You can have some if you eat your green beans.”

  Kylee clamped a hand over her mouth and shook her head again. Rick held in a smile. There was no way Tara was going to get her to eat them.

  Tara blew out a frustrated breath and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. When she wasn’t looking, Rick reached over and snatched a green bean and plopped it in his mouth. Kylee dropped her hand and her mouth formed a little ‘o.’ Rick winked at her and put his finger up to his lips while chewing up the bean.

  Kylee giggled and Tara looked between them. “What did you do?”

  He swallowed, put on an innocent face, and shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t do anything.”

  Tara looked away again and he plopped another bean in his mouth, exaggerating his chewing. Kylee laughed hysterically and Tara snapped her head around, her hands on her hips. “Now I know you’re doing something.”

  He swallowed and shrugged again. “What?”

  She looked down at the plate. “What are you doing with the beans? There were seven.”

  “Kylee must have eaten them.”

  Tara gave him a flat look, while Kylee shook her head and pointed at Rick. “He ate them!”

  He opened his mouth in mock shock. “You told on me.”

  She giggled and Tara whacked him on the arm. “You’re undermining my parenting.”

  He shot her an apologetic look. Then he got an idea. “Hey, Kylee. If you eat one, I’ll eat one, and we can keep doing that until they are gone, and then your mom won’t be mad at me anymore.”

  Her pig tails bobbed as she nodded and stabbed one with a fork. She popped it in her mouth and mimicked his exaggerated chewing. He chuckled. “Very good.”

  He ate another one, and waited for her to do the same. They took turns until they were gone, and Tara smiled. “Thanks.”

  He liked the way she looked when she smiled at him. He vowed to make her do it again. “You’re welcome.”

  Tara washed the rest of the dishes; he dried and put them away. The pizza arrived, and they ate it in the kitchen. When they were done, Tara wiped the sauce off Kylee’s mouth.

  “You ready to see my theater?” he asked Kylee.

  “You have a theater in your house?” Her eyes grew big.

  “Yep. Come on, I’ll show you.” He reached his hand out and Kylee hopped down from the stool and took his pinky finger.

  His theater was down a set of stairs, and he turned on the floor lighting when they got to the bottom. The room had an aisle down the middle, leather recliners in rows on either side. He led them to a cabinet in the back of the room. “What do you want to watch?” He opened it to show them his collection of DVDs.

  Tara frowned at his case. “Not many kid-ap
propriate movies in here.”

  He pointed to one. “Wizard of Oz?”

  “Too scary.”

  “The Avengers?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Too violent.”

  He lifted one shoulder. “We could stream something.”

  “Good idea. That’s what I was going to do on my laptop.” She pointed to the giant screen. “But this will be fun for Kylee.”

  They went to the front row where his leather couch sat. Rick picked up the remote and scrolled through the kids movies until Kylee pointed and grew excited. “That one!”

  Tara sighed. “You want to watch that one? Again?” She was obviously displeased with the choice.

  “Yes!” Kylee crawled up on Rick’s lap. “Please?”

  Rick leaned over and whispered in Tara’s ear. “What’s wrong with Frozen?”

  “Nothing. The first twenty times.” She gave him a tired smile. “But that’s okay. Go ahead.”

  He clicked on the movie and it began. He had the strangest urge to put his arm on the back of the couch, like an awkward teenager watching a movie with his crush. What made that pop into his head? Was he thinking he’d put the moves on Tara? Sure, she was pretty. Beautiful, even. But she’d made it clear their relationship was not to be physical.

  Kylee snuggled into his chest, her head tucked under his chin. He put his arms around her, mostly to keep them occupied and away from back-of-the-couch urges.

  He enjoyed the movie more than he thought he would, and when it was done, Tara leaned over and whispered, “She’s asleep.”

  He peered down and sure enough, Kylee had fallen asleep curled up on his lap. She looked like an angel, all sweet and innocent.

  Tara stood, and he followed suit, cradling Kylee to his chest. Tara reached out for her daughter, but he shook his head. “I’ll carry her,” he whispered. She nodded and turned to walk up the aisle. Silently, he followed Tara up the stairs to the guest bedroom and laid Kylee on the bed.

  “I’ll get her in her pajamas,” Tara whispered.

  He nodded, and went into the hallway. He was about to head to his room when he found himself turning back to Tara. “Hey.”