A Fake Marriage Romance Collection

by Victorine E. Lieske

  Just thinking about his smile made her feel all giddy. He had a hard exterior, but she knew it was because he’d been hurt in the past. Inside, he truly cared about people. She stared out the window at her parents’ front lawn. Yes, she loved him. That was the only explanation for the way she felt.

  And she had no idea what she was going to do about it.

  Chapter 21

  Rick stabbed a piece of beef and put it in his mouth. The thing almost melted. He held back a moan. He’d never tasted anything so good. “This is delicious.”

  Joyce smiled, her cheeks turning pink. “Thank you.”

  Kylee sat beside Tara with a dictionary under her because Joyce had worried she couldn’t reach. Kylee gleefully spooned mashed potatoes in her mouth.

  “Mom loves to cook,” Tara said, taking a bite. “For some reason, I didn’t get her talent.”

  “I think in order to learn to cook, one has to spend time in the kitchen.” Joyce gave her daughter a playful smile.

  “Sorry, I never got too interested in it.”

  “She was more interested in studying. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA, did she tell you that? She was valedictorian of her class.” Joyce straightened her back.

  Tara’s face flushed. “No one cares about high school, Mom.”

  “That’s an impressive accomplishment,” Rick said. He was beginning to realize what a sacrifice it was for Tara to work while Bobby went to college.

  Tara shrugged away his admiration. “Doesn’t mean anything now. I’m just a maid.”

  Joyce dropped her fork and it made a clanging noise. “You’re not just a maid. You’re the wife of a movie star. Surely you can do anything you want to do.”

  Tara’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes, well. I meant I was just a maid before.” She coughed and slouched down in her seat.

  Kylee giggled and dropped her fork on her own plate, so it made another loud noise. Tara touched her daughter’s hand. “Grandma dropped her fork on accident, honey. Don’t do it on purpose.”

  Rick took a sip of his water and wondered if Tara wanted to enroll in some classes. He filed it away to bring up later. “Joyce, tell me a little more about yourself. What is it you do?”

  “I work down at the county clerk’s office. Just pushing papers and answering phones.”

  Tara raised her eyebrows like she hadn’t known this. “How long have you worked there?”

  “About two years.”

  The front door opened and Douglas walked in. He deposited his keys in a bowl and walked into the kitchen. No one moved. Only the sound of the living room clock ticking permeated the room. A moment later he came into the dining room with a fork and plate and sat down. He proceeded to fill his plate, not saying a word.

  Kylee wiggled in her chair. Tara leaned over. “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”

  Kylee nodded, and Tara took her daughter into the other room. Douglas continued to eat. Joyce sat quietly, watching her husband. The term awkward didn’t come close to the situation.

  Rick decided the silence was too much for him to take. “You two have a lovely home.”

  Joyce smiled at him. “Thank you, Rick.”

  “What made you settle here in Iowa?”

  Douglas picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. “We both grew up here. No reason to leave.”

  “How did you meet?” Rick figured if he kept asking questions, at some point the awkwardness would evaporate.

  “We met in high school. On a blind date,” Douglas said.

  “Actually, you only thought it was a blind date.”

  “What?” Douglas stared at his wife.

  “I wanted to go out with you, but I was afraid you’d say no, so I schemed a little.” She picked up her water glass and took a sip, a smug look on her face.

  “And I’m just now finding out about this?”

  “Had no reason to tell you after we hit it off.”

  Tara walked back into the room with Kylee, and Douglas burst out laughing. Tara raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”

  “Apparently your mother has hidden the real story of how we met for the last twenty years.”

  Tara lifted Kylee onto her seat. “What do you mean? You didn’t meet on a blind date?”

  Everyone looked at Joyce. She fidgeted in her chair. “I asked my best friend Patty to help me get a date with this cute guy at school. Patty was a cashier down at the hardware store where his uncle worked, so she talked to Mike and set things up.”

  “All this time I thought Uncle Mike knew you from his youth program.”

  Joyce looked at her husband through lowered lids. “Mike coached junior league football. He made up the story about the youth program.”

  Douglas roared with laughter again.

  Kylee giggled, at first a little nervously, but her giggles made everyone else laugh.

  “What’s funny, Kylee?” Tara asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said while giggling. Everyone cracked up.

  The tension dissipated after that. When they were done eating, Rick offered to help with the dishes, but Joyce and Tara shooed him into the living room with Douglas. He wondered if they needed time alone to chat.

  Rick sat down on the couch as Tara’s father reclined in his chair. Unfortunately, the awkwardness came back in full force. Douglas picked up a newspaper and Rick fingered the Good Housekeeping magazines stacked in the bottom of the coffee table. With nothing else to do, he picked one up and began leafing through it.

  After ten minutes of looking at recipes and furniture, Rick tossed the magazine back and rubbed his hands together. “So, do you miss being on the force?”

  Tara’s father lowered his newspaper and stared him down. “I’d rather talk about my daughter. What are you doing with her?”

  Rick choked and pounded his fist on his chest. “Excuse me?”

  “I’ve read the articles. I know what kind of man you are. Why are you married to my daughter?”

  Rick glanced outside. They get tornadoes in Iowa, right? Why couldn’t one come ripping through town right about now? He tugged on his collar. “Don’t believe what you read in the papers.”

  A scowl crossed Douglas’s face. “Were you drunk when you proposed?”

  Dinner sat in Rick’s stomach like a rock. “We were at a club. I had a few—”

  “And were you drunk when you dragged her to a Las Vegas chapel?”

  Rick held up his hand. “No. I hadn’t been drinking the night we got married. We—”

  “Do you love her?”

  The question hit him in the gut. He did love her. He just didn’t think she loved him back. He cleared his throat and spoke from his heart. “Yes. I love your daughter, and I adore your granddaughter. I would never do anything to hurt either one of them. Your daughter is smart . . . and funny. She sometimes takes life too seriously, but I love that about her, too. I love the way her hair falls down her back when she lets me pull it out of that blasted bun. I love her smile, the way her lips curl up, and the way it lights up her eyes.”

  Douglas studied him for a moment. “Good. Because if you treat her like that other punk did . . .” His voice cracked but his threat never materialized.

  Rick shook his head. “Of course not,” he said. “I’d never . . .”

  Tara cleared her throat and Rick turned to see her standing in the archway between the living room and the dining room, her arms folded. He wasn’t sure how much of the conversation she had heard. “Dishes are done. Does anyone want cheesecake?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Rick said, glancing over at her father. Douglas nodded.

  They ate dessert, the conversation staying away from important things.

  Tara laid her sleeping daughter on the guest bed and pulled the covers up, tucking her in. She turned the nightlight on and closed the door. If Kylee woke up in the night, she’d be on the other side of the wall and would hear her cries.

  Tara stood in the hallway, her hand on her heart. She’d heard what Rick had said to her fat
her. No wonder they paid him the big bucks. He was an amazing actor. She almost believed him when he professed his love.

  And her father? Had he really gotten that upset about Bobby? It was the first time she’d seen any sign of him getting emotional over her. She knew he’d been mad when she married Bobby, but she thought it was because she was going against his wishes. This was the first time she realized it might be something else.

  She slipped into the room that was her childhood bedroom. Everything was the same, down to the photos of her friends she had tacked to the corkboard around her mirror. They’d even left her old TV on her dresser. Rick sat on the bed in his usual lounge pants and t-shirt. “Did she sleep through you putting on her pajamas?”

  “Yes. We wore her out with all the running in the backyard.”

  “I must admit, I was a little jealous. I wanted to swing on that tire.”

  Tara laughed. “I might pay good money to see that.”

  He sobered. “Can I ask you something?”

  Tara picked up her nightgown and leaned against the doorjamb of the tiny adjoining bathroom. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to go back to school?”

  Tara had not expected that at all. She thought about how to best choose her words. “I have to focus on Kylee right now.”

  “Amanda can watch Kylee. If money were no object, would you enroll in college?”

  Tara picked at her fingernail. She’d love nothing more than to go to college, but unfortunately, money was an object. It wasn’t realistic, even with the hundred thousand he was going to pay her. She had so much debt stacked up from Bobby taking her to court, most of it would go to paying that off. And what little would be left would be eaten up in a down payment on a small place to live. “I think my time has passed.”

  Rick stood and crossed the room, leaning one hand against the wall. His close proximity made her heart jump. He smelled good. “Of course not. You’re young and smart. You’re not past anything. What were you planning on majoring in before you married Bobby?”

  Tara broke his gaze. “I wanted to study French literature.”

  A slow smile spread across his face. “You’re ambitious. One thing I like about you.”

  “Just one?” Why did she say that? She needed to stop flirting.

  His grin widened. “There’s many more.”

  She knew he’d flirt back. They’d been playing this game ever since they ran off to Las Vegas two weeks ago. She had to stop, though. It was hard on her heart. She took a step back. “Well, school was just a dream. I have to raise a daughter, and the money you’re paying me is all going to settle my debt and get us a new start. There won’t be any left for college.”

  His smile vanished, and his jaw worked. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but simply nodded and backed up.

  She hugged her nightgown to her chest. “I’m going to change and get ready for bed.”

  “Okay.”

  After she was done in the bathroom she made her way through the dim light to the bed. Rick was on the far side, already under the covers. They’d been sharing a bed since the wedding, and Rick hadn’t made any moves on her, but this was not a king-sized bed. She’d have to sleep right next to him. She swallowed and climbed in.

  “I can sleep on the floor if you’re uncomfortable.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, her voice squeaking. Smooth.

  Rick chuckled. “I’ll sleep with my back to you. Would that help?”

  “Thanks.” She turned over as well, their backs now pressed against each other. The warmth from the contact seeped through her nightgown. She sighed. Sleep might take a while to come to her tonight.

  “If you wanted to take a few classes . . . while we’re still married, I mean . . . I think it would be a great idea,” he said, his voice quiet in the darkness.

  She bit her lip. Would she even dare to start something like that, just to have to stop when they divorced? She’d hate to start something she couldn’t finish, but it would be stupid of her not to take him up on his offer. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Don’t think for too long. Fall registration is happening now, I’m sure.”

  She smiled even though he couldn’t see her. Start college? Her excitement grew at the thought. She could really start classes in a few months, if she wanted to? That was almost too good to be true. She clutched the covers. “Thanks, Rick.”

  He didn’t answer.

  Chapter 22

  Rick sat back in the lounge chair, a cold Diet Coke in his hand. The bright sun made it hard to see without squinting. He slid on his sunglasses. Kylee squealed and giggled as Tara pushed her on the tire swing. Douglas and Joyce sat with Rick on the patio, watching their granddaughter.

  Joyce turned to Rick. “What movie are you working on?”

  He forced a smile. “I’m between movies right now, but there are some things coming down the pike that look promising.” He’d said the words so many times, he could say them without thought.

  “Ooh, really? Can you talk about them?” Joyce’s eyes lit up.

  “No, not really.” Easy way out of that.

  Her gaze fell. “Oh.”

  Dang. Now she was disappointed. He leaned forward. “But if you can keep a secret, I did audition for a new Disney film. I’m not allowed to say which one, but the script is epic.”

  She grinned conspiratorially. “I won’t tell a soul. How exciting!”

  Kylee wiggled down from the tire swing and ran to Douglas. “Come play with me!” She tugged on his hand.

  He hesitated, but then a smile spread across his face. “Alright.” He crossed the grass with her and lifted her gently onto the tire swing, almost like she was made of glass.

  Tara came and sat down on Douglas’s chair. She wiped her forehead. “Man, she wears me out.”

  “Just like you when you were that age,” Joyce said.

  Tara smiled. Rick loved the way it reached her eyes. “I did love to run, didn’t I?”

  Douglas laughed at something Kylee said.

  “I know he’s still angry I married Bobby. But he seems to be mellowing out a little since yesterday’s outburst,” Tara said.

  “He just wants what’s best for you. You know that, don’t you?” Joyce said.

  Tara nodded. “Yes, I think I understand it better now. When he kicked me out, I thought he was mad at me. Hated me, even. Now I see he was trying to protect me from myself. He was trying to keep me from getting hurt, but he didn’t know how to do it.”

  Joyce worried her hands together. “We saw how immature Bobby was. How self-centered he could be. He loved you in the way a person loves a hamburger. He wanted to use you to satisfy his hunger. But a marriage needs to be built on more. You need the kind of love that puts the other person first.”

  Rick blinked. He’d never thought about it that way before, but it made perfect sense. Was he putting Tara first, or wanting to use her? Obviously, he hadn’t started out loving her at all. The whole situation was for their mutual benefit. But now that he had feelings for her, he wasn’t sure where he stood.

  Her long-term goal was to move back to the Midwest. He could see the draw. Clear skies, green grass, and the air smelled fresh and clean. Would he be acting selfish if he proposed she stay with him in L.A.?

  He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he was treating Tara like a hamburger.

  Douglas came back over to the group of adults. A scraping noise rang out as he pulled another folding chair over to them. Kylee was now picking dandelions.

  “How long are you planning on staying?” Douglas asked.

  “I thought we’d leave tomorrow, if it’s okay to stay another night,” Rick said.

  “That’s fine.”

  “We’re glad you came.” Joyce lowered her gaze. “We weren’t sure you would.”

  Rick reached out and took Tara’s hand. He wasn’t sure why, but he thought maybe she needed the reassurance. Tara looked like she was working up the courage to say something. F
inally, she said, “I’m sorry for running off with Bobby.” She lifted her gaze to meet her father’s. “You were right about him.”

  Her father set his jaw. His fingers tapped on the sides of his chair. “I shouldn’t have kicked you out.” He didn’t look like he was done, so no one said anything. Time seemed to tick by slowly as everyone waited for him to finish. “I was wrong.”

  No one moved for a few heartbeats. Then Tara blinked a few times. “It’s all in the past.”

  A tension hung in the air for a moment before Joyce said, “Where’s Kylee?”

  Rick quickly scanned the backyard but didn’t see her. Tara jumped out of her chair. “Kylee!” she called.

  The backyard wasn’t fenced in, but hedges surrounded the area. It would be most likely that she wandered on into the front yard. Rick walked around the side of the house, checking the bushes and behind the air conditioning unit to see if she were hiding. “Kylee?”

  With no sign of the little girl, his concern grew, especially when he saw Tara, Douglas, and Joyce coming around the other side of the house without her.

  “Kylee!” Tara yelled, her face pale, her gaze scanning the street.

  “Mommy!”

  Bobby stepped out from behind the neighbor’s tree, carrying Kylee on one hip. Kylee grinned, one arm hugging Bobby’s neck. “Daddy’s here.”

  Acid boiled up in Rick’s stomach and he marched over to Bobby. Tara ran and took Kylee. She wrapped Kylee in her arms protectively and backed away from her ex.

  Anger pulsed through Rick. He swung a fist and punched Bobby in the right eye. Bobby went down like someone cut his puppet strings. Rick wasn’t expecting that at all, and just stared at him sprawled out on the ground. Joyce sucked in a breath and Tara said, “Oh!”

  Bobby clutched his eye and moaned. Then he stood and pointed to Rick, his pain suddenly gone. He looked at something across the street. “Did you get that?”

  A man stepped out from the shadows holding a camera with a zoom lens. “Yep.”