by Holly Rayner
He was up in a flash, his hand held out to her once again. Indulging in the game, Marianne once again slid her palm against his as he lifted her out of the booth and led the way to another open doorway. A different bouncer nodded to them and opened the rope for them to head back out onto the main dance floor.
The music pulsed through Marianne’s entire body as Jay brushed past the crush of bodies, guiding her to the very center of the dance floor. Once they were there, he turned her to face him and then twirled her around.
She laughed as she swirled in a circle, completely trusting him not to let her fall. He held his grip on her hand, twirling her back in to him, where she found herself pressed tight against his body. Together they found a rhythm, moving as one as Marianne’s mind and body released all cares and stress and tension and she simply allowed herself to indulge in the human experience of dance.
She tossed her head back and laughed, tugging at her elastic ponytail until her hair cascaded down her shoulders. She’d always wanted to get the chance to literally let her hair down, and she ran her fingers through silky strands as she allowed herself to feel free. Another set of hands ran through her hair, and she glanced up to see Jay staring down at her, totally entranced.
She beamed up at him, moving closer. Somehow that was still possible, close as they were, and as she found comfort in his arms, the whole world around them pulsing and moving in a chaotic rhythm. Suddenly, the whole world seemed to wrap them in a bubble, and went perfectly still.
She watched as his eyes darted to her cherry-red lips, then back up to meet her gaze. There was a question there.
Do we dare?
Marianne stood her ground. She did not back away. She didn’t move at all. Against all better judgement, she granted him silent permission to do as he wished. He cradled the back of her head in the palm of his hand as his gaze once again lowered to her lips. He caressed her bottom lip with his thumb, and then slowly, achingly slowly, dipped his head to capture her lips with his own.
Marianne stood still once more, her body reacting in confusing ways to his touch. On one hand, she wanted nothing more than to wrap herself around him and give into whatever this was. On the other, she knew that there would be consequences to this, and it would be wise to stop it now.
He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue, and all reason disappeared.
Marianne wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, granting him permission without words to kiss her until the end of time. The heat around them was nothing compared to the heat exploding inside of her. A passion she never thought she was even capable of erupted as she pressed her body against his, relishing in the heady sensation of physical connection.
In that moment, Marianne knew she was in trouble. She wasn’t faking anything anymore. She was falling head over heels for Jay Parish, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Ahem.”
A couple of people next to them gave them pointed glances as Jay ended the kiss, leaving both of them breathless. The gentle nudge brought them both back to reality, and Marianne blushed as she glanced away, then moved off the dance floor. Jay followed close behind until they reached the VIP area once again, where it was quiet enough to have a conversation.
“I…I should go,” Marianne stammered.
She could hardly trust herself to speak. She was so weak in the knees she was afraid she would collapse.
And Jay would catch her. She knew he would.
“Marianne, wait,” he said.
His voice was hoarse. When she looked up at him, his hair was tousled, his lips a little lipstick-stained from making out with her. In a word, he was sexy.
Dangerously so.
“I…I fear I’ve overstepped,” he said. “I told you that this would be strictly platonic, but then just now, with your hair like that, and dancing with you…I couldn’t help myself.”
He shrugged, and he seemed so helpless in that moment. Marianne walked over to face him and placed a gentle hand on his, capturing his full attention.
“It wasn’t just you,” she breathed.
“Really?” he asked.
She let out a laugh. The whole situation was so surreal, she almost pinched herself to double-check that this wasn’t just another one of her dreams.
“I mean, I don’t know if you noticed, but I was kissing you back,” she said.
His eyes narrowed into a hooded gaze, and in that moment, his desire for her was blatantly obvious. Even as obtuse as Marianne was when it came to men, even she could see the passion burning behind those ocean-blue depths.
She shivered.
“I noticed,” he said.
They stared at one another for a while, and Marianne had no idea what to do.
“Where do we go from here?” she asked. “It would appear there’s a boundary that’s been crossed in this deal. Unless this was all part of the ruse?”
Please say it wasn’t.
Jay shook his head vigorously.
“Of course not. I’m afraid…as we spend more time together…” he didn’t finish, searching for the right words.
He held tight to her hand and released a breath.
“Marianne, my feelings for you go beyond this marriage or any kind of business deal. I…I don’t know how…”
When he didn’t finish his thought, Marianne planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“It’s okay,” she said. “You don’t need to explain. Why don’t we just plan our next date, and we’ll see how it goes?”
He considered that, then snapped his fingers.
“Or, how about we plan our next date, but have it just be for us. No appearances, no pretense. A real date, just me and you, tomorrow afternoon. What do you think?”
Marianne beamed up at him, and, finding her courage, she planted another kiss—this time, right on his perfect mouth.
“I think that would be wonderful,” she said.
He smiled down at her, wrapping his arm around her waist as they headed toward the entrance to the club. When the cool air hit her, Marianne was thinking a little more clearly. She held her hand out for a cab, which promptly pulled up to the curb.
“I can take you home,” Jay said.
She turned and kissed him again. His arms tightened around her, and for a moment, Marianne considered not going home at all.
Hence, the cab.
“Text me your ideas for tomorrow. I’ll see you then,” she said, breathless.
She jumped into the back seat of the cab and watched Jay’s handsome, bewildered face as she pulled away and headed in the direction of home.
She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, savoring the lingering sensation of Jay’s kisses against her lips.
Oh boy, was she in trouble now.
Chapter 15
Jay
Jay stood in front of his bed stark naked as he fretted over the selection of clothing items he’d set out for his afternoon date. On one hand, he could wear something super casual, like workout pants and a comfortable shirt. It was what he enjoyed wearing the most, but he also didn’t want Marianne to think he was a slob.
Not that she would. The woman was a mother, after all. Surely, she understood the benefits of comfortable clothing.
In the middle of the bed he had a pair of jeans and a clean gray T-shirt. Simple, good for an outside, casual date, but not too casual.
Then, he had a freshly pressed suit, which he always had on hand. Would it be weird of him to overdress for an afternoon in the park? Based on what he knew about Marianne, she likely wouldn’t be impressed. She’d probably laugh at him for being so unnecessarily formal.
Also, why was he fretting about clothing?
Jay ran a hand down his face and stared out at the vast grounds of his estate. He supposed he could have invited her to his place for the picnic, and perhaps in the near future he would, but for now, it seemed best to keep it simple.
Simple was best.
Jay reached for the center ou
tfit—the jeans and T-shirt—and dressed for the afternoon. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror briefly, toying with his hair slightly before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Logan stood at the counter, loading a large wicker basket with a delectable selection of foodstuffs for lunch. When Jay walked in, Logan looked up and began going over inventory.
“I think we’ve got everything here,” he said. “Champagne, strawberries, slices of ham and cheese and fresh bread…”
“It all looks great,” Jay said. “Thanks.”
Logan nodded and finished loading the basket. Once he closed it and latched it tight, he nodded at the doorway.
“You want me to put this in the car?” he asked.
Jay shook his head, sliding his arm through the handle of the basket, which was reasonably heavy, and making his way toward the garage.
“I’ve got it. Thanks. Please enjoy the afternoon off, and I’ll see you later.”
Logan nodded, and Jay noticed a twinkle in his eye. It gave him pause.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Logan said.
After a weighted pause, the young man shrugged.
“It’s just…I’ve never seen you go to such lengths to impress a woman. You must really like this one.”
Jay grinned, thinking of Marianne. She was perfection. She was the sun and moon and all the stars in between. He couldn’t sleep the previous night for thinking of her, of the way she’d fit perfectly in his arms.
Yes. He liked this one.
“Let’s just hope she feels the same way,” Jay said, putting voice to one of his fears.
Jay was no stranger to heartbreak, either, and he’d been let down more times than he could count. Every time he thought he’d met a woman of character, someone he could really talk to, relate to, they’d always found a way to sabotage the entire relationship.
The one time he’d gotten close to engagement, the woman had made moves to ensure that were he to die in the very near future, that she would inherit the entirety of the estate. She’d emailed Jay by mistake when she was conversing with her lawyer about it. That was the end of that.
Still, while their relationship had begun on the pretense of financial security for Marianne, Jay didn’t get the sense that the money was fully what she was after. Marianne seemed content to live simply, so long as her needs were met and her daughter was cared for. In fact, she seemed generally uncomfortable with the lavishness of his lifestyle, much as she tried to hide it.
The woman was honest to a fault. And he loved that about her.
Jay entered the three-story garage and decided on a low-key sedan. It would be understated, and besides, there was plenty of room in there for a picnic basket. He set the massive thing down and opened the passenger side door, hefting it in before he closed the door. The echo resounded through the garage, and Jay slid into the driver’s seat, ready to see his lady love once again.
The engine rumbled beneath him as he pulled out and made his way to the highway, making quick work of driving back into town. He parked alongside the north edge of Benson Park and checked his watch.
She would be there any minute.
He stepped from the car and retrieved the basket, slowed down slightly by its weight. He hefted it all the way up a small hill that overlooked the baseball diamond and then set the basket down. As he was unloading everything, his phone dinged in his pocket, and he pulled it out to find a message from Marianne.
Be there in a minute!
Jay was smiling. Even remote contact from her was enough to lift his spirits. He grabbed a red-and-white checkered blanket and tossed it into the air, gripping the edge so that it flattened out on the lush green grass. Then, he set to work setting out plates, cooling the champagne in an ice bucket and preparing the food. He stepped back and took it all in, hoping that she would like it.
“Wow.”
He turned and his breath caught in his throat.
Marianne stood at the top of the hill in a white summer dress, her brown hair curled and swaying along the curve of her shoulders. Her green eyes were more verdant than the grass underfoot, glistening and gleaming in the light of the afternoon sun. They were also filled with affection…for him.
Jay cleared his throat, struggling to compose himself.
“Wow, you look…” he said, unable to finish the sentence.
Marianne gave him a moment to try, and then giggled as she approached him, placing a gentle hand on his forearm.
“It’s nice to see you, too,” she said.
She lifted up on her toes and pressed a kiss against his cheek. Feeling daring, Jay turned his head, capturing her mouth with his.
Instant passion coursed through him, but he kept the kiss chaste. When he pulled back, he held her face between his thumb and forefinger, savoring the sight of her so close.
“Radiant. That was the word I was looking for,” he mumbled, pressing a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose.
She blushed, the rosy color enhancing her beauty as she glanced down shyly, then looked back up at him.
“Thanks,” she said.
They stood like that for a few extra moments, savoring the sensation of holding each other close. Finally, Jay knew that if he didn’t move away, he’d lose himself in kissing her, and this wasn’t exactly a night club. He stepped back, putting some distance between them, but not too much, and gestured toward the spread.
“I thought you might like a lunch picnic in the park,” he said.
Marianne’s eyes were bright as she took it all in, and she pressed her hands to her heart.
“I love it. It looks wonderful!”
Jay’s spirit soared at her words. It was the exact reaction he was hoping for.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” he said.
She nodded and took a seat on the blanket, staring out at the baseball diamond. A gathering of kids was growing, their parents settling down in fold-out chairs as they prepared to watch.
“I thought we could take in a local game,” Jay said with a grin, and Marianne laughed.
“I should have brought Zoe with me. She loves baseball. Of course, she would have insisted on playing.”
Jay reached for a knife and slathered some chocolate hazelnut spread on a strawberry before handing it to her. Marianne took it and bit into the succulent fruit, closing her eyes.
“Mmm. I’ve never had this with strawberries before. It’s delicious!”
“I believe it goes even better with champagne,” he said, popping the bottle and handing her a glass.
She took it, allowing her fingers to brush against his. The sensation of her touch was fire, and Jay had to inhale to keep his passions in check.
“Strawberries, champagne, chocolate. You really know the way to a girl’s heart,” Marianne said, glancing at him with a grin.
He noticed a small smear of chocolate at the corner of her mouth.
“Hey, come here. You have a little something…” he said, gesturing toward her mouth.
Her fingers shot up to her lips as she leaned closer to him, seeking his help. Jay took full advantage of the opportunity and kissed her right where the chocolate was.
When she pulled back, a little dazed, he winked at her.
“Yummy,” he said.
She blinked, then scooted a little closer to him.
“You can say that again,” she breathed.
She rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the baseball players toss a ball back and forth before the game started.
“Tell me about Zoe,” Jay said, truly curious. “What else does she like, other than baseball?”
Marianne wrapped her arm around his as she continued to gaze out.
“Oh, so many things. Zoe is everything I could have asked for in a daughter. She’s amazing, she’s adorable, and she’s absolutely crazy about animals. She asks me for a new pet every other day,” she said with a laugh.
The fondness in her voice for her daughter was so moving.
“B
ut it’s more than that. She’s smart and funny and tough. She won’t let any of life’s hardships bring her down, and she always lifts me back up when I’m feeling weighed down by the world.”
Jay reached over and placed his hand on hers, gazing down at her.
“And do you often feel weighed down by the world?” he asked.
She considered the question, then shook her head.
“Not recently,” she said.
A wave of satisfaction rushed through him. It was because of him, then, that her burdens were lifted, that she found joy in life where she might have only known hardship before. Jay wanted Marianne to know nothing but happiness for the rest of her life, and he would do whatever it took to make sure that happened.
Fake marriage or not.
“You’re very lucky to have her,” Jay said.
This time, Marianne looked up at him, seeking his gaze and finding it.
“Don’t you have any family, outside of your parents?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“No. Once they died, I was left alone, but they left their legacy of high expectations with me, so I finished college and took over the company simultaneously.”
“They died when you were in college?” she asked.
“They did. Plane crash. It was very unexpected.”
He was used to telling that part of the story.
“I lost my whole family that day, all in one fell swoop. After that, I cut everyone out of my life and focused on doing what they’d asked me to do—make sure the company stayed afloat and successful. I worked day and night to ensure that the family legacy would withstand the tragedy of their loss.”
She squeezed his hand a little tighter.
“But what about you? You’re more than a legacy, Jay. You need what everyone needs—a home. Family. Love.”
He gazed down at her, lifting his hand and running the backs of his fingers along the edge of her jawline.
“I would have given anything for those things. I just didn’t know how to make them a reality at the time. I tried to find love in various places, but it never worked out, and as for children, well,” he hesitated, then pressed on. “I’ve always wanted to be a father. To give a child what I lost so early in my own life. I’ve just never had the chance.”
