Say what now?
Along with the expletive, I jump from my chair, like it’s burning my ass, putting distance between me and Shep and his audacious words. The few customers in the shop stop what they’re doing to turn and stare at me, causing my cheeks to flame red. Not wanting to cause more of a scene, I let out a fake laugh. “Sorry.” Smiling, I try to brush off my behavior. “My friend here just told me a joke that was very… funny and completely unbelievable.” I narrow my eyes at him while returning to my seat.
“You expect this fake marriage to be consummated?” I ask incredulously, my eyes feeling as if they’re going to fall out of their sockets. “You really do like having your cake and eating it, too!”
Shep struggles to keep from smiling that devilishly sexy smile that makes me weak in the knees, and it only pisses me off more.
“You know what I mean,” I hiss. “Stop making my words dirty.” I try to make my words sound affronted, like I’m taking offense to his suggestion of marital sex, but I’m anything but. No, in reality, his seductive tone and insinuation makes my skin burn with the memory of his touch.
“We’ll be married for an entire year, CeCe. Why wouldn’t we sleep together? You plan on staying celibate for that long?”
What he doesn’t know is I’ve been celibate for much longer than that. When were we together? About two years ago? Yeah, that’s how long it’s been for me, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to admit that to him.
“You don’t think you can go without sex for a year?” I challenge him.
“Fuck, no,” is his immediate reply.
“Oh, so then you’d cheat on me? Nice.”
He lets out an exasperated breath. “Of course, I wouldn’t cheat on you. No matter how you truly feel about me, you need to know I’m not a cheater. But,” he pauses for effect and I find I’m dying for him to finish his speech. “If we get married, it must be convincing, especially when it comes to my parents. We have to be able to seem like we know each other…intimately, and that we’re, you know, in love. Plus, I love sex and I’m really good at it, which you’re well aware of, so why the fuck wouldn’t we use our situation to fulfill our needs?”
There he goes, playing that pipe and charming me right out of my wicker basket. Bastard.
Wait, how did I become the snake in this scenario?
I sit and pretend I’m mulling his words over, but in reality, I’m trying to get the idea of sex with Shep out of my head. If I’m being truthful, I’m having a hard time thinking of reasons this would be a bad idea. Unlimited sex with Shep for a year without any real consequences, plus five million bucks when it’s over? Okay, that line of thinking made me feel like a prostitute so let’s not go there. But, really, what would the downside be, because there has to be one.
My mama always told me that if something seems too good to be true, it is.
“Let me think about it,” I finally say, uncrossing and then recrossing my legs, trying to appear as unaffected by this proposition as he is.
“Excellent,” he muses, a wide smile stretching across his perfect face.
The confidence radiating off of him screams victory.
“Don’t start celebrating yet,” I tell him, bringing him down a notch. “I said I’d think about it. It’s a big decision and I’m afraid if we rush into it, we’ll both miss something important to discuss beforehand. If we do this, how soon will we need to get married?”
“The sooner we marry, the sooner the clock starts ticking.”
So, real soon. Right. That makes sense.
“Okay, give me a couple of days and then let’s meet for dinner to discuss and make our final decision. Deal?” I ask, sticking my hand out to him to shake on it, but instead, he grabs it, kissing the top.
Fuck, he’s good.
“I’ll see you in two days, Ms. Calhoun.”
As soon as he leaves, I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and open the group chat I have with Carys and Avery.
Me: Regulators, mount up.
Chapter 7
Shep
Marriage.
Am I seriously considering getting married? And to CeCe Calhoun, of all people?
Don’t get me wrong, she’s the perfect candidate for this endeavor, but we have history, in addition to best friends who are a real couple. If this ends badly, it could cause a shit ton of drama and that’s nothing either of us wants.
Instead of focusing on the excuses not to go through with this, I decide to think of the positive reasons for marrying CeCe.
For one, she’s not from Dallas and knows nothing of my family. I wish I could say that wouldn’t change, but I know for a fact the second my parents hear about my upcoming nuptials they’ll be making plans so quick both of our heads will spin. Maybe we should elope…
Second, this plan we’re toying with is mutually beneficial. We both, in time, would receive money that will greatly improve our lives. Being far from naive, I don’t see a downside to this point.
Lastly, if ever there was a woman I could see myself tied to, it would be her. After she stops hating me, of course. She’s beautiful, smart, hard-working, and sexy as fuck. Simply stated, she checks everything off my list—everything I know about, that is. But I have a feeling, if there were more qualifications, she’d check those, too. There’s just something about her. It’s a shame I’m not relationship material. I honestly hope our time together doesn’t ruin her ideas or desires for a real relationship when this is all over, because I genuinely believe that CeCe deserves happiness.
Real happiness.
In short, I hope we’re both able to enjoy our time together, followed by the spoils of our marriage, and then move on with minimal damage.
I’m such a romantic, I know.
Although, I’m strongly optimistic about doing this with CeCe, I feel like I need to share this turn of events with Maverick. I know without a doubt, he’ll try to dissuade me but I’m hopeful he’ll understand and lend his support once he hears me out.
When I walk into the lobby of the Blue Bayou, I can’t help but be hit with memories of my weekend with CeCe two years ago. After hanging out with Carys and Maverick at their apartment out back, we kissed for the first time in the corner by the bookcase. Quickly after, we stumbled up the stairs, barely able to keep our hands off each other, and headed straight for my room. We didn’t leave for two days.
Damn, that was a great weekend.
However, just like everything else in life, it had to end.
I know that sounds morbid, but it is what it is. We had fun and then it was time to go back to the real world. But, to not have that kind of time restraint with CeCe—an entire year with her, rather than just a weekend…the possibilities are endless.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Fancy Pants.” Jules greets me in his usual style and I can’t help but laugh. He’s not wrong, my pants are fucking fancy, but I have a feeling he’d call me that even if I were wearing jeans. “Maverick is in the office. He said to send you right in.” Jules motions to the room just behind him, reminding me of how Vanna White spins those letters on Wheel of Fortune.
“Thanks, Jules.” I give him a nod of my head and step to the office door, knocking as I open it.