Accidentally Married

by Jean Oram

  “Have you?” he insisted.

  “Of course. Haven’t you?”

  He toyed with the frozen chocolate chip cookie. “I thought I was once or twice. But Maggie thinks maybe I was just in love with the idea of it all.” He bit into the cookie and made a face. “These are really hard.”

  “They did just come out of sub temperatures,” she pointed out.

  “How do you know if love is real?” His question wasn’t tentative, but the look in his eyes was.

  She shrugged, then froze, cookie halfway to her mouth. “Wait. Are you falling in love with me?” She was toying with him and he knew it, but he remained serious.

  “I got caught up in tonight. It was fun. It’s easy to pretend I’m in love with you.”

  Pretend. Right. That was an important word.

  “In case you’re wondering, I’m not in love, either,” Jill said. “Tonight was fun. But we’re just friends.”

  Friends who kissed like they could set a house on fire with the heat they created.

  Burke gripped her hands, holding them tight. “I like that we can talk about anything. I like where we are and I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. That all of this is okay.”

  Jill softened. “You’re too perfect, you know that?”

  “You know that I’m not.”

  “And yet I still find you difficult to resist. And that makes you perfect to me.”

  Burke smiled, the ever-present tension he’d carried as though it was a part of him, suddenly gone.

  Burke had spent the night in Jill’s guest room. They’d stayed up late watching movies and working on filling jars with freshly made botanicals. Once done, they’d sat at the kitchen table eating by-then-thawed cookies and discussing her products. He’d convinced her to pare down her list to the more popular ones, as well as try boosting her prices. More profit, more focus. Streamlined. He’d also convinced her to offer bulk order deals even though she hadn’t been so certain about that.

  “What are you up to today?” he asked, popping bread into her toaster. He should return home, take care of things. Make sure his neighbor, who was cat sitting, wasn’t fed up with Fluke’s destructive ways yet.

  But a big part of Burke wanted to stay right where he was. Not because he was putting too much into it, as Maggie might try to claim, but to try and figure out why things felt different with Jill. Why he was enjoying being with her so much.

  “Are you sticking around?” Jill seemed surprised, but she didn’t look away from the egg she was flipping, her focus narrowed onto it.

  “Thought I might, if that works for you.”

  “Well, I have this partnership with this guy…” Her gaze cut to the side.

  “And…?” He hated the way jealousy was rearing up inside him, the way he was waiting for her to say more.

  “He’s totally blown my business wide-open.” She smiled. “So I’m working today.”

  “Oh.” He was embarrassed by the relief he felt. She’d been talking about him, not some other guy.

  She buttered the toast when it popped, then placed the toast and eggs at the table. Without thinking, he leaned over and kissed her as she moved past him to her side of the table.

  “What was that?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “A kiss.” An impulsive one.

  “Why?”

  “Domestic moment. Sorry.”

  Jill gave him an amused smirk, but said nothing as she sat with her breakfast. “Fake domestic bliss. My favorite.”

  It might be just for show, but it felt pretty good.

  “It’s also my mom’s birthday and I still need to get her a gift,” she said, taking a bite of her toast.

  “Hmm.” He reached across the table and hooked his pinkie through hers. She watched him through her lashes.

  Unable to resist, he stretched across the table to place a long, wet kiss on her mouth. She responded and before long they were pushing their plates out of the way so she could climb onto the table and crawl toward him.

  He kissed his way across her cheek, where she had a smear of homemade marmalade. It was tart and sweet at the same time. “You taste delicious.”

  “It’s the marmalade.” She was breathless and he wondered what she was thinking, dreaming of.

  “No, it’s you.”

  “You might have to double-check your facts.” Her lips were on his, then moving down his neck. Hungry. Impatient.

  “I like a woman who cares so much about ensuring a fair assessment.”

  “Multiple tests.”

  Taylor barked once, loudly, making them jump. Seconds later, someone knocked at the door.

  Jill, who had her hands cupping Burke’s face, paused. “I should get that.”

  “Or not.” He kissed her lightly.

  The person knocked again, then called, “Jill Armstrong?”

  “I guess maybe you should get that.” Burke helped her out of his lap.

  She padded to the door in her bunny slippers with the big sharp teeth and rabid-looking eyes.

  “What’s this?” she asked as she opened the door.

  She was handed an envelope. It was a different deliveryman than yesterday, Burke noted.

  “Have a good day,” the man said with a bow before returning to his idling car.

  “Idling is hard on the environment,” Burke called over Jill’s shoulder. He closed the door as she opened the envelope and read what looked to be a congratulatory wedding card.

  “‘You ruined your first marriage, but I’ll ruin this one. He was mine first.’” Jill looked up at Burke, the flush draining from her cheeks.

  It seemed as though Autumn Martinez was going to be a bigger issue than he’d realized. And to protect Jill it meant he was going to have to step back instead of what he wanted to do, which was to step closer.

  “Burke, I’m not sure us staying married is helping things.” Jill paced her kitchen.

  “Take a breath,” he said.

  “I am taking a breath! There’s no way this isn’t going to blow up. There’s no way Tiffer is going to see you as a stable man worthy of partnering with. I don’t even care what my family or the gossips in town think about me falling into another marriage where…” She waved a hand through the air, unable to come up with the correct words to sum it all up. “I worry everyone is going to think we used them. That our marriage, instead of just being a whoopsie, is going to seem like a big scam.”

  The large bouquet from the well-wisher caught her gaze. People were happy for them. Offering gifts and congratulations. That was even worse than them thinking she simply kept choosing the wrong kind of men. It was going to be difficult to face everyone once their marriage was over, but not for the reasons she’d originally anticipated. She didn’t care anymore if the gossips thought she was incapable of finding love.

  Burke pulled her into the comfort of his arms and her feelings of losing control ebbed.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked.

  “Let me see what I can do. I might be able to settle this down.”

  “Autumn?”

  His hands slid her back as he released her. “Yeah.”

  “She doesn’t want to let you go.”

  “I heard a rumor that her dad’s kicking her out of the mansion, that he’s tired of her entitlement and games. I think she’s panicking and clinging to me in hopes of me replacing her dad’s stability and wealth, if that makes sense. So she sees you as a threat to her own personal security.”

  “What did you say to her to make her think you want to be that man?”

  “I wish I knew. But I’ll figure out how to fix this.”

  Jill leaned in, thinking he was going to kiss her forehead, but instead he stepped away, saying, “But in the meantime, we have work to do today.”

  For the next few hours they worked diligently, getting ahead of the curve for the upcoming week.

  Around four in the afternoon Jill pushed back from her spot at the table. “I’m beat.”

  Bur
ke checked his watch. He’d been quiet all afternoon, sporting a pensive expression.

  “You okay?” she asked lightly.

  The expression broke. “Yeah. Hey, didn’t you say you have to get your mom a birthday present?”

  Jill jumped up. “Oh my gosh. I completely forgot!”

  “I’ll help.”

  Within minutes they were walking down a quiet residential street toward the shops, patches of still-brown grass exposed where the snow was melting.

  By five Jill had collected a scarf from Fran’s boutique, brownies from Mandy’s and a voucher for a paddle boarding lesson from Jen at Wally’s Sporting Goods. As well, the new librarian had released her latest romance novel the day prior, so she snatched up a signed copy of that, too.

  “What else do you need?” Burke asked. He’d been carrying her bags, being a good husband. It made her wish she had more errands to run.

  Jill checked off her mental shopping list. “All done.”

  They headed back the way they’d come, and as they passed the jewelry store, Jill tried to act natural and not allow her gaze to slide toward the window display. Where she instantly noticed a beautiful, discontinued sapphire ring she’d been pining for. It was well beyond her current budget, and she’d placed it on hold almost a year ago, going in every few months to make a small payment whenever they threatened to refund her.

  One of these days she would have to let it go and take the refund. Especially since it had made it back into the main display and was no longer tucked away for her.

  She shook herself out of her trance, realizing she’d stopped walking to stare at the thin band of diamonds and sapphires. She went to keep moving, but discovered Burke had stopped, as well.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked. He was standing in front of the store’s glass door.

  “I don’t think that man is wearing any pants,” he said.

  Jill looked through the glass. “Oh, no.” She pulled out her cell phone and quickly dialing Ethan Mattson. As she waited for him to pick up, she glanced down the street, noticing the helium-filled balloons waving in the breeze outside Lily’s newly rebuilt restaurant. It still sported the name of the previous owner, Benny, as in Benny’s Big Burger. Only Lily had dropped Big Burger from the name—something that had never fit with the little restaurant that was anything and everything except fast food.

  Jill shut off her phone and turned to Burke. “Can you go get Ethan? I think he’s probably at the grand opening for his wife’s restaurant down there.” She pointed toward Benny’s.

  “And tell him what?” Burke was already walking down the street, looking over his shoulder, waiting for her answer.

  “Tell him Gramps is on the loose.”

  Jill entered the store, not sure how she could help. Gramps didn’t get ornery or aggressive, he just sometimes felt the need to not wear pants over his boxer shorts. He was living in the nursing home now, but every once in a while he slipped past the reception desk, keeping the town on their toes.

  The clerk behind the counter saw Jill and asked, “Here to try on the ring?”

  “No, not today, thanks.”

  “Make a payment or accept a full refund?” he asked hopefully.

  She shook her head. “But soon, okay?” She turned toward Ethan’s grandfather. “Hey, Gramps. How are you?”

  “None of the Mattsons are answering their phones,” the clerk whispered, referring to Gramps’s family. He gave the man’s lower half a pointed look and Jill nodded.

  “Pretty good,” Gramps said over the clerk’s whispers. “Was feeling a bit warm earlier. I had some of Lily’s wonderful mashed potatoes, but they were a bit hot. Got me sweating.”

  “The weather is unseasonably warm again today,” she said supportively. “How’s Lily’s grand opening?”

  “Good, but she’s been having nightmares. Hopefully, they’ll pass now. It was my need for mashed potatoes that had Ethan saving her from that fire in her restaurant, you know.”

  “Really?”

  “I don’t quite remember, but that feels about right. How is that new husband of yours? I heard he’s some big deal.”

  “I think he is.”

  “Don’t leave him.”

  “Sorry?”

  “Us men don’t deal well with that.”

  Well, they seemed to do well enough with leaving her.

  “My wife left me almost fifteen years ago and I’m still trying to get over it.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought she’d passed on.”

  “Same thing. Left me here all alone.”

  Feeling a rush of emotion, Jill gave him a tight hug.

  “Oh, no. Don’t go all leaky eyes on me. I’m a tough one.” He hugged her back just as tightly.

  “Love sucks.”

  He chuckled, his voice deep and raspy as he answered, “Well said, my dear Jill.”

  The door to the street opened, and Ethan came rushing in. “For the last time, Gramps, those are not shorts.”

  “They have shorts in the name, buster. Boxer shorts.”

  Ethan went to his grandfather’s side. “Where did you leave your pants?”

  “In the restaurant. Lily’s mashed potatoes made me hot.”

  “Thank you,” Ethan said to Jill, as he guided his grandfather from the store. “Let’s get you back into them.”

  “I’d rather have a nap. I have the best naps after a dish of potatoes.”

  Jill headed toward the door, where Burke was waiting for her.

  “Sure you don’t want to try on the ring?” the clerk called.

  She gave a small shake of her head, hoping Burke hadn’t overheard.

  “Ring?” he asked, once they were on the street.

  “Just a gift to myself.”

  “Oh.”

  “I haven’t bought it yet. I’ve been admiring it for some time, but so far can’t afford it.” Now it sounded like she expected him to buy it.

  “It’s nice to treat yourself. Especially if it’s something you really like.”

  “Thanks.”

  He smiled and Jill felt relief that he didn’t seem to be freaking out over the fact that his wife-who-wasn’t-his-wife was drooling over rings.

  She smiled back. He really was the best fake husband there ever was.

  As they reached the flower shop, Burke tugged her inside.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I want to get something for your mom.”

  “I thought you were heading back to the city?” She hadn’t presumed he’d be joining the Armstrong clan tonight.

  “I thought we were doing this marriage thing?” he asked.

  “Well, if we are, then these presents should be from both of us, don’t you think?” She gestured to the bag he was still carrying.

  “Let’s add flowers to the mix. As a hostess gift if nothing else.”

  “All right.” She went to the cooler to select a prearranged bouquet, touched by how thoughtful Burke was. Even though it would make it harder to explain when they broke up.

  She sighed, staring at the flowers.

  “Let’s arrange our own,” Burke suggested, coming up beside her.

  “Let’s not.”

  “It would be special. Can we or are you closing soon?” he asked Sasha, the woman behind the counter. She’d recently completed her online course in floral arrangements and had shifted from waitress to florist.

  Burke rewarded Sasha with a charming smile and within seconds she was showing them how to create a bouquet despite Jill’s protests.

  Burke flirted and goofed around, his hands deft as he built the perfect arrangement. He took a sprig of baby’s breath and tucked it behind Jill’s ear.

  “Beautiful,” he announced.

  “The bouquet is definitely passable,” she said.

  “I was talking about you.”

  The florist sighed softly. “You two give me hope that if I wait long enough the right man will come along.”

  “Oh. Um
, good,” Jill said awkwardly.

  Burke chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. “The best comes to those who wait.”

  “Ginger has a sale on dresses in her bridal shop,” Sasha said, as Burke paid for the bouquet. “You should buy one.”

  “We’re already married,” Jill said, backing toward the door.

  “No, no. You have to do the whole wedding thing for the town. Everyone is so excited that you finally found someone. I mean, Mary Alice isn’t convinced it’s real, but it’s easy to see why you two came together.” Sasha beamed at Burke. “You’re both so in love.”

  “Right. Very in love. Thanks.” Jill hit the street, Burke following behind.

  “You all right?” he asked.

  “Everyone in town is going to be so confused when we break up.”

  He sobered, giving her a look that seemed to mask something deeper. “I think we all are.”

  Burke didn’t know what to think. Was he getting in too deep? Or was this meant to be? Maybe the two of them were just fabulous actors who had fooled the town…

  Or maybe there was something hiding in their relationship, just waiting for him to notice it.

  Instead of heading home like he should have in order to talk to Autumn and deal with his kitten, as well as work, he’d invited himself along to the Armstrong family dinner.

  He followed Jill inside her parents’ home, the scent of roast beef overpowering the bouquet he was carrying.

  “It smells wonderful,” he said, as the birthday woman peeked around the corner from what must be the kitchen. Her hands were deep inside large oven mitts and her hair was done up like she was going to a gala.

  “Come in, come in. I’m just pulling the roast out of the oven. I’ll say hi in a minute.”

  Burke steadied Jill as she removed her boots, the gift basket wobbling in her arms. He glanced up when someone said, “You must be Burke.”

  The woman coming down the hall looked so much like the Jill he’d married almost a year ago that he found himself taking a step back. She was gorgeous like Jill. Combine that with Jill’s spark and it was a double whammy that made it obvious to him why they’d gotten together in the first place.