by Ivy Jordan
“What are you doing here?” I asked, curious about the reason for her surprise visit.
“I was in town, visiting Mr. George,” she said softly.
“Mr. George, the attorney?” I questioned, now really curious.
“Yes. I wanted to get some things in order, and now that you’re married, I had to make a couple changes,” she explained.
“Changes, what changes?” I questioned.
“In my will. I wanted to make sure that Blake was named, and any future children you may have were cared for as well,” she smiled brightly.
My heart sank deep into my chest. I could feel the guilt rolling through my veins. Fuck, why did she have to go and do that?
“I don’t want you to do that,” I blurted.
The old woman’s hands lifted to her hips, and she stared into my eyes with a sternness I knew not to argue with, at least not if I wanted to win.
“It’s already done,” she demanded.
“We’ll talk about this later,” I shrugged, hoping to find a way to change her mind without tipping her off that I’d duped her and my mother.
I felt horrible.
“If you’re leaving, you can walk me to my car,” she smiled.
“Sure thing,” I agreed, holding out my arm for her to grip.
I helped her into her black Kia after locking up the shop. I watched and waved as she pulled out, nearly taking down a street sign and pummeling a pedestrian on a bike. I chuckled as she smiled and drove off. How the woman still had her driver’s license was beyond me, but she managed to pass her last test six months ago.
I climbed into my truck, pulled out of my space, and headed home. I was anxious about date night, and even more anxious to see Blake all dressed up.
As I pulled into my driveway, I noticed Blake’s car sitting in the same spot where it was when I’d left for work. The light was on in the living room, and the television created a glow through the thin sheers in the window.
I walked inside, hoping to find her dressed and ready, but instead, found her on the couch wearing sweats. She was lounged along the cushions, her leg tossed over the back of the sofa, and her hair pulled into a loose bun atop her head.
“Why aren’t you ready?” I scoffed.
I couldn’t deny I was irritated and hurt. It was nearly six o’clock, and I’d rushed home to make sure we could get a good table at the only nice restaurant just outside of town.
“You were serious?” she questioned.
My cheeks burnt with anger and frustration as I stared at her with dismay. No, she wasn’t going to get to me. I was doing this. We were doing this.
“Yes. I was serious. So, I suggest you get dressed. Otherwise, you’re gonna be embarrassed sitting at dinner in your sweats,” I snarled, moving past her and towards my bedroom.
As I made my way to the hall, I called back to her, “We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
Chapter Fourteen
Blake
I knew Aiden was serious about the date, but a part of me was reluctant to go through with it. When he came home, busting through the front door, barking orders for me to get ready, it made my entire body tingle with desire. I loved how assertive he was becoming.
I’d already showered but threw on my sweats to look casual and uncaring when he’d come home. When he gave me ten minutes to get ready, it was all I really needed. My makeup was already done, my hair only needed a few brush strokes to fall perfectly down my back, and I already had a little black cocktail dress picked out, just in case we really would go on this date.
Aiden’s eyes widened when I walked out my room, dressed and ready to go.
“You look beautiful,” he gasped, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
“Thanks,” I smirked, not repaying the compliment, even though his dark features were perfectly accentuated in the deep blue button up shirt, dark jeans, and black cowboy boots.
“This is for us, a wedding gift,” he explained, pushing an envelope towards me.
“From who?” I questioned, shocked that we’d received anything for this fake marriage.
“Mr. Tate. He’s a hopeless romantic,” Aiden chuckled.
I took the envelope and carefully opened it, pulling out a gold-embossed card with a beautiful quote about true love. It was uncomfortable to read, and even more uncomfortable to pull out a gift card for a fancy home store.
“Wow,” I gasped, shocked by the generosity of the man I didn’t even know.
“Well, I guess you can do some shopping now,” Aiden smirked.
I wasn’t certain what my role as a wife should be. Was I supposed to do the shopping, the cooking, and the cleaning? Aiden had never really said anything about what he expected, other than for me to play along as the happy wife when his family was around. I had no idea what I was supposed to buy with this card. I placed it on the coffee table and grabbed my purse.
“Tell him thank you,” I said softly.
Aiden opened the front door for me and then walked me to the truck. He opened the passenger door, helped me inside, and then closed me in securely. I tried not to giggle as he climbed into the driver’s seat. He was acting so strange, so gentlemanly, like it was a real date.
“Don’t you think this is weird?” I asked him.
He shrugged his shoulders without looking in my direction. He pulled the truck out of the drive and headed down the main road that led out of town. “Do you?” he questioned.
I did. I didn’t. I wasn’t sure what to think about it.
“I guess it looks good to have a date night,” I responded, figuring that was part of the reasoning behind his insistence of the night.
“Sure,” he smiled in my direction.
Aiden continued his gentlemanly ways throughout dinner, standing whenever I left the table to powder my nose, and reaching across the table to hold my hands in his. I had to admit, I was caught up in the moment. Everything was perfect. Aiden was perfect.
“I have to tell you something,” Aiden announced after our last course had been served.
He squeezed my hands in his as his eyes filled with a strange worry.
“What is it?” I asked, curious as to his stressful appearance.
“My abuela stopped by the shop today. She’d seen a lawyer and informed me she added you and any future children we may have to her will,” he explained.
I quickly pulled my hands from his, shoving them in my lap.
“Can I get you another drink?” the waiter asked, ready to pour more wine into my half-empty glass.
“No, thank you,” I said quickly.
“Just the check, please,” Aiden told the man, who quickly smiled and disappeared.
I couldn’t believe that she would do that, that he would let her do that.
“You have to make her change it,” I insisted.
“I wish I could. She’s a very stubborn woman, and after all, you are my wife,” he pointed out.
“Your fake wife,” I snipped, a little louder than I anticipated.
I got up, pushed from the table, and left Aiden to sit and wait for the check alone. It was one thing to do this to make his mother and grandmother happy, but to take advantage of them this way, no way. This wasn’t right.
I was already in the truck when Aiden came out, sitting in the passenger seat, waiting to be taken home. We didn’t speak the entire way, and the radio was so low, it was tough to even make out what song was playing. I just kept thinking that this wasn’t right, that we couldn’t do this. This was a mistake.
When we arrived home, Aiden tried to stop me from entering the house so quickly by grabbing my arm, but I pulled away.
“I’m going to bed,” I said foully.
Aiden didn’t try to stop me. A part of me wished he had. It was a perfect night. My heart was so confused, and I didn’t want to be angry at him. I loved him.
Three days passed after our date, and we’d barely spoken a word to one another. Aiden got up early, and I slept in. Once he left for work
, I’d hunker down over my laptop to finish work, even though my mind, or heart, wasn’t in it, and when he’d come home late at night, I’d already be in my room, hiding.
I knew we couldn’t continue to live like this. Eventually, his mother or abuela would stop by, and we’d have to act naturally around each other. I still wasn’t ready to face Aiden, but I knew I had to find someone to talk to, and Alyssa was the closest thing to a real friend I had in the small town.
My knuckles rapped against the front door of Liam and Alyssa’s house. Liam’s truck was missing from the driveway, and as the shuffling was heard from the other side of the door, I hoped that it was Alyssa, and not him that was home.
The door opened, and Alyssa smiled widely as she pushed open the screen door to let me inside.
“Liam’s gone,” she said sweetly.
“I came to see you,” I admitted.
She smiled. Her eyes were warm and inviting, her smile wide and beautiful. I could see why my brother’s heart never let go of her.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
I watched the concern in her eyes growing, and I knew she feared the worse.
“Yes. I just need a girl to talk to. Is that okay…that I talk to you?” I asked nervously.
“Yes, of course. You can talk to me anytime, about anything,” she replied.
“I wasn’t sure if it was weird or not since I’m Liam’s sister. I need you to promise not to tell him what we talk about. Is that okay?” I questioned, anxiously.
Her smile tightened, and her eyes narrowed as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder. She guided me into the kitchen, seated me at the small wooden table, and turned towards the sink.
“Would you like some coffee?” she asked.
“Wine?” I chuckled.
She nodded, reaching above her towards the rack that held several bottles.
“Red or white?” she smiled.
“Red, please,” I replied.
I waited while Alyssa poured us each a full glass of a sweet red wine. She took the seat beside me, slid a glass towards me, and let her eyes linger on mine while she waited for me to start the conversation.
I didn’t know how. What was I going to say? Could I trust that she wouldn’t tell my brother?
“So, this is embarrassing,” I admitted, immediately taking a long sip of my wine.
“Does this have to do with Aiden?” Alyssa inquired.
“Yes,” I blushed.
Alyssa took a long sip of her wine, and then leaned back against her chair. Her lips curled into a wild smile, her eyes filled with excitement.
“I’m intrigued,” she grinned.
That was obvious.
“I have to admit. I’ve had a crush on Aiden since I was a young girl,” I blurted.
“You mean, you’ve been in love with Aiden since you were a young girl,” Alyssa giggled.
“You knew?” I gasped, shocked that she hadn’t said anything before now.
“Of course, it was obvious,” she grinned.
My cheeks burnt with embarrassment as Alyssa smirked in my direction.
“This was a huge mistake,” I sighed.
“The marriage?” Alyssa asked, her eyes widening as she spoke.
“Yes. I shouldn’t have ever put myself in this situation,” I griped.
“Things aren’t working out?” Alyssa questioned.
“Maybe a little too well,” I smirked, quickly taking a long gulp of my wine.
Alyssa giggled. I’d hit another point of interest, and her smile was obviously filled with even more intrigue. “Then, what’s the problem?” she pushed.
“We accidentally ended up in bed together, twice,” I confessed, unable to hide my smile.
“So? You are married,” Alyssa insisted.
I knew she was trying to make me feel better about what happened, but it wasn’t going to be that easy. The marriage was part of the problem. I was in love with my husband, but my husband married me to get his abuela and mother off his back.
I tried to explain how I felt to Alyssa, but nothing I said made her back down from what she considered to be ‘not a problem.’
“He obviously wanted it too, so that’s something to build on,” Alyssa said, convinced.
“He wanted to take me on a date, and it was amazing, and now he wants to go on another,” I sighed.
Alyssa rolled her eyes in my direction. It was obvious that she didn’t understand there was a problem.
“Blake, it sounds like he’s falling for you. Maybe, just maybe, he’s always had a thing for you, too,” Alyssa persuaded.
My heart raced at the thought that Alyssa may be right. I didn’t want that, did I? I did. I didn’t. No. It was fake. It was a fake marriage, and the sex was just that: sex. He was lusting after me, asking me to go on dates just to ease his guilt and keep up appearances, not because he was falling for me.
“Anna-Maria put me in her will,” I blurted.
“That won’t matter once you two actually fall in love,” Alyssa teased.
I finished my wine with one last gulp. Alyssa immediately grabbed the bottle, pouring me another glass.
“Not like this. I regret ever doing this,” I whined.
“Oh, there are parts that you don’t regret,” Alyssa grinned.
I tried to retain my laughter, but giggles exploded from my lips. Alyssa joined in, causing me to laugh out loud. It was true. I didn’t regret the sex, either time. It was amazing. It was more than amazing. It was the best sex I’d ever had.
“Why don’t you just let it go and enjoy dating your husband? What could it hurt?” Alyssa grinned.
Maybe she was right. Maybe there wasn’t anything wrong with dating Aiden. If I could keep my heart in check and avoid getting hurt, then maybe it would just be a really good time.
I felt better after we talked, and the two glasses of wine had me feeling loose, so I called Aiden while Alyssa urged me on, asking him out on a date.
Chapter Fifteen
Aiden
Pounding on the front door startled me awake. I flipped back the blankets and jumped out of bed. As I searched through the room for something to put on, I realized Blake had disappeared into her own room once again. Our date the night before had gone great, and the sex afterward was better than the last. Why did she keep leaving me in the middle of the night?
I threw on a pair of sleep pants and rushed towards the door. As I slung it open, ready to give whoever it was a piece of mind for showing up so early, I froze in my abuela’s presence.
“Good morning, abuela,” I greeted her loudly, hopefully loudly enough to alert Blake.
“I’m sorry it’s so early, did I wake you?” Anna-Maria asked, looking over my shoulder and down the hall towards the bedrooms.
“Abuela is here,” I called down the hall loudly for one more alert as I guided the old woman into the kitchen.
She carried a wicker basket; aroma of freshly baked goods oozed from under the linen, making my stomach growl with anticipation of what she’d brought.
“Leave her sleep; you don’t have to be so loud,” Anna-Marie giggled.
I shrugged, trying to act cool. I sat at the table, watching her unpack her basket. She placed a loaf of banana bread on the counter, and then pulled out a large container with a sealed lid. I knew what it was without asking: her famous chorizo and egg casserole. My mouth watered as she popped the lid.
“Where are your plates?” she questioned, opening the cabinet above the sink.
“To the left,” I directed, quickly getting up to help.
Blake walked into the kitchen, her eyes still filled with sleep, but thankfully dressed in a long t-shirt and pair of sweats. Even a mess, she was beautiful.
“Good morning,” she mumbled, moving towards my abuela with her arms wide open for an embrace.
I loved the smile Blake created on the old woman’s face. It meant the world to me.
“I didn’t mean to wake you, dear, but I brought breakfast,” Ann
a-Marie offered, motioning towards the table where I sat with the large container in my hands.
I grinned, realizing they were staring, expecting me to share.
“You’re gonna love this,” I said excitedly, scooping out a large helping onto Blake’s plate.
I finished dividing up the casserole between the three of us while Anna-Marie found a seat across from me at the table. Blake sat down beside me, her eyes lingering to mine, giving me that ‘what the fuck?’ look. I chuckled as I leaned towards her, kissing her on the cheek.
“Just try it,” I insisted, knowing she wasn’t a fan of anything with so many peppers.
She looked towards Anna-Marie, and then back towards me before she took her first bite. A smile appeared on her face, and then her eyes lit up with approval.
“This is amazing,” she gasped, immediately diving in for another bite.
“I’ll make you a recipe book with all of Aiden’s favorites,” Anna-Marie smiled.
“Thank you,” Blake mumbled.
I wondered if she was put off by the fact my abuela expected her to cook for me. She hadn’t since she’d moved in. I wasn’t even sure if she liked to cook or even knew how.
“I assume Aiden told you about my will arrangements,” Anna-Marie spoke calmly.
I watched as Blake shifted in her seat, obviously uncomfortable by the topic. I was too. I didn’t want to fool my grandmother, take advantage of her, or lie to her, but I’d done all three.
“Yes. I think it’s very sweet but unnecessary. I’d feel much more comfortable if you didn’t have me listed,” Blake spoke up.
“Nonsense. I won’t be here forever, and I want to make sure my entire family is taken care of,” she insisted.
“Thank you for breakfast. I should probably get dressed and start work,” Blake mumbled, scooting out from her chair.
I quickly grabbed her by the waist as she started to dart from the kitchen, pulling her down onto my lap, and preventing her escape.
