Authors: Amy Lillard
“
Paige, have you even asked yourself why he picked you? You don’t exactly have the social standing to fit in with his crowd.”
She smiled to hide the fact that she had been asking herself that same question all afternoon.
“Why not me? It’s a business deal. All I have to do is live in the house with him for one year and kiss him good-bye as he goes to work. The real terms of the marriage will be kept a secret. As long as the press doesn’t know, we’re home free.”
“
Yes,” Maddie murmured, but Paige could tell her friend was not convinced. “Maybe you should find out more about him.”
“
I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” Paige agreed feeling a small let down after her exciting news. It seemed strange to research her future husband. “Okay, you win. I’ll doodle him…right after dinner.”
“Google,” Maddie corrected.
“Yeah.” Paige nodded. “That too.”
****
“Paige, can you come in here, please?”
Paige stifled what she could of her surprised exclamation by covering her mouth with one hand.
“Are you all right?” Noah Anderson asked, leaning out of the open doorway of his office.
“
Fine. Just a little jumpy.” With her pre-wedding-to-the-most-handsome-man-on-the-planet jitters, she had hardly slept the night before. Not to mention all the women. Her trip to the World Wide Web last night had—among other things—revealed Blake Caldwell’s active social calendar. She had committed herself to marrying a rounder. “I didn’t expect you to be here this early.”
“
Lots of work to do today. Come on in when you get settled. We have some things to discuss.”
It took Paige only a few minutes to find her notebook and
make her way into Noah’s office. She had taken two steps into the room when she realized she had forgotten her pen. She turned to go back to her desk and get it, but stopped short when she saw Blake sitting in the same leather chair that she had sat in the day before.
Her mouth went dry
, and her legs weakened. Lord, she was never going to make it through this without having a massive coronary.
He looked more composed than he had the day before, which was more than she could say for herself.
She resisted the urge to smooth her hair back from her face and run her sweaty palms down her sides. She must remain cool and composed. All that was between them was a business arrangement, nothing more.
“
Come in, Paige. We have much to discuss,” Noah invited.
“
Just let me get my pen. I left it at my desk.”
“
You’re not here to take dictation,” Noah said gently. “We need to settle the terms of this arrangement.”
Paige took a deep breath to calm the erratic pounding of her heart and advanced into the room.
Blake turned as she approached. “Good morning,” he murmured, not quite meeting her eyes as he stood. “Please sit down. We have a great deal to do before the...wedding.”
Paige didn
’t miss his hesitation before voicing the word. Last night she had learned that Blake Caldwell was a sworn bachelor and, according to the papers had never dated a woman for more than two months. Now it had come to this.
She sat in the chair indicated, sinking down into its softness and closing her eyes against the maelstrom of awareness that engulfed her.
What would it be like to be married to Blake Caldwell? Really married to him. And he came home every night. And—
“
This is the pre-nuptial agreement.” a man’s voice she didn’t recognize crashed Paige back to reality. Her eyes popped open just as he pushed the papers into her hands. She hadn’t noticed there was someone else in the room besides herself, Noah, and Blake, but how could she? She was so aware of Blake she could hardly stand on her own two feet.
“
Allow me to introduce myself,” the man seated across from her said by way of belated greeting. “My name is Dan Masters, and I’m here to ensure the wishes of my client are carried through.”
“
Your client?” Paige asked.
“
Virginia Caldwell. I wrote her will, and I will be the one to make certain the terms are met.”
“
Terms?” Lord, she was out of her league. “I don’t understand.”
“
It’s all very simple, my dear.” Masters braced his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. He was very distinguished, his hair graying to the color of salted iron, but he was so condescending. Paige had the feeling he thought his client’s nephew was above marriage to the woman he had been presented.
“
Mrs. Caldwell dictated that her nephew must marry within one business quarter of her death. These gentleman—” he made a sweeping gesture with his hand— “have informed me that you are to be the bride. Before you is the pre-nuptial agreement that must be signed before such a union takes place.”
Paige looked at the papers then to Noah.
“May I read it?”
“
By all means,” Noah replied.
Paige scanned the words, but lost her way shortly after the party of the first part and the party of the second part.
She placed the papers on the desk. “I think I need counsel.” She couldn’t afford counsel, but she needed it. “Can this wait a few more days?”
“
No,” Blake said immediately.
Noah shot him a killer look.
“Paige, bringing in outside counsel isn’t a good idea. It’s very important to keep the terms of this marriage out of the papers. As I said yesterday, we do not have much time. A few days at the most. I will serve as your counsel. What do you need to know?”
“
Aren’t you here as Blake’s counsel?” She turned in her seat to face Blake. “I can call you Blake, can’t I?” What was she saying? They were to be married soon. What was she supposed to call him other than his given name?
He smiled at her gently, almost indulgently.
“Everybody else does.”
“
I’m sorry. I’m not normally this obtuse. It’s just that...” she trailed off unable to say what really bothered her.
It’s just that when you’re near me I can’t seem to think at all
. “It’s just that this is all very new to me,” she said instead.
“
That makes two of us.”
Once again Blake
’s gaze focused on her nose. He picked up the pre-nuptial agreement and handed it to her. “Look this over and ask when you come to something you don’t understand. Take your time.”
Paige read the paper carefully, trying
to make sense of the legal jargon. Then her eyes centered on a number, and her mouth went dry again. She turned her gaze to Blake with her mouth agape.
“
A hundred and seventy-six million dollars? If you marry me, you’ll inherit a hundred and seventy-six million dollars?”
“
176.3,” he solemnly corrected with a half nod.
She looked around the small group for their confirmation.
Both Masters and Noah nodded in agreeing unison.
Maddie
’s words of the night before came hurtling through the fog of her brain. “Why me?”
Blake shrugged, still not meeting her eyes.
“Why not?”
“
I read the papers. You could have any woman in this town, in this state. What about—” She had been about to ask,
What about Anna Rivera?
Her name had been linked to his most often in the past few weeks, but the answer hit Paige like a runaway freight train. There was only one reason why any of the many women Blake had ever dated wouldn’t marry Chicago’s most eligible bachelor. “You’re gay.”
“
No, I’m not.”
“
I understand, and it’s okay. I can keep a secret.” Her entire being had been disillusioned, but she managed to keep her voice calm and level. Maddie was right; of all the good ones were gay.
“
Paige, the only secret I need for you to keep is that my aunt is blackmailing me into marriage.”
“
Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“
I’m not ashamed!”
“
Good. There’s no reason to be. Millions of people are gay.”
“
I am not gay!” Blake thrust his fingers through his hair.
“
But you just said—”
Before her despondent heart could beat even once more, he came around the chair.
Before she could blink, his hands were on her arms pulling her to her feet. Before she could say or do anything his lips met hers, and Paige’s world exploded into a million fragments of light and color. She understood nothing but the feel of his lips on hers, coaxing and probing. She opened her mouth for him. Accepting all he offered. Melting against him. Putty in his hands. Oblivious to their audience.
Noah cleared his throat.
Blake’s lips left hers abruptly as his hands released her arms. Paige collapsed into her chair. His eyes, their hazel intensity almost golden, locked with hers, and she felt herself still twirling in the whirlpool of desire. She had come in awed by his presence, and now...well, now she was more than awed. Did he feel it too? Was that why he stared at her, that peculiar expression on his handsome features?
“
A very touching display I must say,” Masters said interrupting the quiet, heart-pounding moment. “But I do believe the time has come to sign the papers. I don’t know about the rest of you, but this is not my only appointment today.”
Blake dragged his gaze from hers, but Paige
’s temperature didn’t lessen even a tenth of a degree.
“
I’m not gay.” Blake repeated, his eyes meeting her nose once again.
“
Definitely,” she whispered.
Noah cleared his throat again.
“Paige, do you have any questions about the pre-nup?”
She wasn’t sure she could articulate them if she did. She shook her head.
“Then we’ll need you to sign it in triplicate.”
“
Okay,” she stammered, finally finding her voice. “But I don’t have a pen.”
“
Here,” Noah said. “Use mine.”
Her fingers trembled as she signed her name.
She stared at the scrawl and watched as Blake signed his name underneath hers.
It was only a business deal and only for one year, so why did she feel as if she had just signed her heart away for an eternity?
Chapter Three
Paige stared at the painting Maddie had hung above the fireplace in their apartment. It portrayed the ocean in great sweeping strokes of pastel greens and blues that lapped against a tranquil beach of beige. It was designed to be soothing, but Paige’s thoughts were as turbulent as a hurricane.
She closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself walking along that beach.
She tried to smell the ocean breeze that stirred her hair. Tried to feel the waves caressing her ankles as she waded into the surf, but all she could think about was Blake and the feel of his lips on hers.
The door to the apartment opened and brought Paige
’s thoughts back to her surroundings. She wasn’t on the beach; she was sitting on the couch. Blake wasn’t there; Maddie was. And the imagined scent of the ocean had been replaced by the delicious and real aroma of take-out Chinese.
“
Dinner.” Paige rose to her feet. “It’s my night to make dinner.”
“
I’ve taken care of it already. I stopped by the Golden Dragon on the way home. I knew you would forget with all the things you have on your mind right now.”
“
Oh, Maddie, you wouldn’t believe all I have to do.”
“
You were certainly getting a lot accomplished sitting on the couch and staring off into space.” Maddie sat the bag of food on the table and began to unpack the white cartons.
Paige thought of the ocean and Blake. Fantasies like that would get her nowhere fast.
“I just don’t know where to start.”
“
That’s why I’m here. We’ll start with dinner, then move on to the other things you have on your list. You do have a list, don’t you?”
Paige shook her head.
“Then we’ll make one while we eat. I brought your favorite,” she said, opening the carton for Paige to see. “Vegetarian lo mien and...” she pulled a wax package out of the sack. “Fried wontons.”
“
Maddie, you’re a life saver.”
Maddie shrugged one shoulder.
“What are friends for? Besides, it isn’t everyday your best friend gets married—even if it is temporary.” She picked up both Styrofoam cups of soda and handed one to Paige. “To twelve month marriages,” she toasted. “May they last...twelve months.”
Paige drank and tried to squelch any lingering fantasies that her marriage to Blake would last any longer than the designated year.
****
“
Okay.” Maddie tapped the eraser end of her pencil against the stenographer’s notebook. The table had been set, their plates filled with large helpings of steaming Chinese, and dinner had turned into a list making affair. “You’re going to need a dress.”
“
We’re just going downtown to the justice of the peace. I don’t need anything very fancy.”
“
Paige, it’s your wedding. Do you take this man, etc., etc., until one year do you part. Amen. The way you talk this may be the only wedding you ever have. The least you deserve is a special dress.”
“
I guess you’re right. I hadn’t really thought about it that way. I’ve still got the dress that I wore to your brother’s wedding. It’s suitable.”
“
I don’t want you to be suitable. I want you to be a knockout.”
Paige smiled but refrained from voicing the fact that she never been a knockout
.
“
That dress will be fine.”
But now Paige had her own reservations. If this was the only time that she was getting married—even if it was only for a year—she should have a beautiful dress. And she knew just the one.
She jumped to her feet and started for the bedroom.
“Where are you going?” Maddie called behind her.
“You’ll see.”
And there it was, in the back of her closet a dress that she had been working on for a while, never knowing when or if she would ever get the chance to wear it.
She eased it off its padded hanger.
It still needed a zipper, but it was without a doubt the most beautiful dress she had ever made.
The bodice was simple, scooped-necked, torso-fitting. The sleeves and the skirt were made from yards and yards of the same tea-stained lace as the bodice, fashioned into layers of handkerchiefs that came to points at her ankles and elbows and swirled like a misty, lace fog.
She stripped out of her clothes and slipped it over her head. Even with it hanging loosely on her frame, she felt beautiful. Well, at lease beautiful for her. Holding the dress in place, she made her way back into the living room.
“Oh, Paige,” Maddie sighed. “That’s perfect.”
Paige twirled this way and that, loving the feel of the lace as it brushed against her skin. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded. Let me get this off. It’s going to need a zipper before the ceremony.”
Paige went back into the bedroom to change, emerging a few moments later with the dress and her sewing kit. She could barely contain her excitement at finally being able to wear the dreamy dress. It almost made it worth staying in the States for the next year. Almost.
She settled down on the couch and threaded her needle.
“What about your job?”
“
He’s already taken care of my job. I went into the agency today to see if I had any more assignments, and poor Mrs. Fenster was still blushing from the force of his charm. She said, and I quote, ‘Isn’t this romantic? We didn’t even know you knew Mr. Caldwell. And now the two of you are getting married.’ Then she clapped her hands together and blushed even redder.”
“
Mrs. Fenster? Isn’t she the lady at the desk right when you walk into the office? The one that weighs about three hundred pounds?”
“
The desk or the lady?” Paige quipped, doubling the knot and making the first stitch to tack down the zipper.
“
You know what I mean.”
“
The very same. Though you’d better change her weight to two-eighty. I swear, he charmed at least twenty pounds off of her.”
“
That charming, huh?”
“
He kissed me today.”
Paige
’s quietly spoken revelation brought Maddie to her feet. “He what?”
“
He kissed me today. Charming is not the word for him. Try mind boggling.”
“
Oh, this is great. Just great.”
“
It was just a kiss.” Paige wished she could believe that herself. It wasn’t her first kiss, but it was darn close. “Anyway, he only kissed me because I accused him of being gay.”
“
You
what
?”
“
Accused is probably too strong of a word. It was more of a suggestion.”
“
What ever made you
suggest
he was gay?”
Paige shrugged and took another stitch.
“He could have any woman he wants, and yet he’s being forced to marry. I sat there today, and I kept hearing you say ‘Why you, Paige? Why you?’ over and over again. The only answer I could come up with was that he had to be gay.”
“
And so he kissed you to prove that he wasn’t? Oh, Paige, this is terrible.”
“
It was just a kiss.”
“
A kiss that has you all dreamy-eyed.” Maddie pointed a stern finger at Paige. “You stay away from him.”
“
Maddie, I’m going to marry him, remember? For better or worse, for one year for two million dollars?”
“
You’re going to need that money. When this is all over, we’ll hire the best cardiac surgeon in the world and have him fix your broken heart.”
“
Don’t be such a pessimist, Maddie. It’s just another ‘temp’ job.” Paige said the words and wished she could follow her own advice. After her reaction to him today she knew the next twelve months would be anything but a breeze.
“
What about the doctor? You two are going to the doctor and stuff, right? You know...just in case. You never know what may happen with the two of you playing man and wife and sleeping together every night.”
“
We both had blood tests to—sleeping together?” Paige dropped her needle but managed to stop short of jumping to her feet. “Oh, my God, I didn’t think about that.”
“
Well, you’d better. If he wants to keep the terms of the marriage a secret you can bet you’ll be in his bed every night just like a normal wife. He couldn’t have the servants talk, now could he?”
“
I just hadn’t thought of that. I mean, I’ve thought about it. I just never
thought
about it.”
“
What about your mom and Lydia? What are you going to tell them?”
“
I hadn’t thought about that either,” Paige agonized. “Maddie, what am I going to do? I can’t tell my mom I’m getting married in three days, and she’s not invited to the wedding. And I surely can’t tell her the marriage is a business deal and will end in a year.”
“
When they call I’ll tell them that you’re house sitting or something. If Blake keeps this marriage as much of a secret as planned, then they’ll never even know that you were married, or divorced. It’s as simple as that.”
“
Yes.” Paige wished she believed it herself. But if they did find out, how would they ever understand why she had hired herself out as a professional wife?
****
Paige cast a look at Blake from the corner of her eye. He looked cool and detached. Almost angry. So she turned her gaze back to the judge and tried to listen to what he said. Something about troths to be plighted and vows to be repeated. She said the words not recognizing her own voice.
“
I now pronounce you man and wife.”
She turned to face Blake, his hazel gaze locking with hers.
Her heart pounded, then his lips covered hers with the same fevered intensity they had that day in Noah’s office.
Paige felt herself liquefying against him, clinging to him with both nervousness and desire.
Then his lips were gone.
Blake avoided her gaze and turned away without speaking.
He shook hands with the judge and slipped him his fee.
Paige lifted a hand to her lips.
It was going to be one long year.
****
“I never thought I’d see the day when a divorce attorney was the best man at a wedding. Kind of a bad omen, wouldn’t you say?” Noah asked as the wedding party walked out of the judge’s office and down the hallway.
Blake frowned
, trying to erase the feel of Paige from his memory. “You alone are a bad omen.”
“
Then what do you call that?”
Blake pushed open the heavy door of the courthouse, allowing Paige and Maddie to exit before him.
Reporters swarmed up the massive concrete steps. He saw microphone ID’s from three local TV stations, along with the Tribune, the Times, and two national tabloids.
Blake cursed under his breath and grasped Paige
’s arm and dragged her behind him through the throng of reporters and camera men. Blinding flashbulbs exploded around them, further igniting his anger.
“
Mr. Caldwell, is this your new bride?”
“
Mr. Caldwell, is it true your aunt’s will forced you to marry?”
“
When did you meet?”
“
Mr. Caldwell—”
Blake forced his way through the crowd until he reached Noah
’s Lincoln Towncar. He paused to take a deep breath so he didn’t immediately strangle Paige. She was the only one who could have tipped the press—her or her friend. He needed to get a grip on his temper; it would not help his case of defense to kill her in front of so many witnesses with video cameras. Some things were meant to be carried out in private.
“
I thought you understood this was to be kept out of the papers.” His voice was tight with barely controlled anger. He was furious, and he planned to stay that way. He would too, just as long as he didn’t look into her eyes. He centered his attention on the tip of her nose.
“
Blake, I—” she started over the din of the reporters’ hounding questions.
“
Shut up, Paige.” He was tired, and it was only mid-afternoon. He had not planned for his wedding day to go this way. Nice, quiet and simple. That’s how it should have been.
Noah opened the back door of car for the newlyweds, then opened the front for Maddie.
Blake forced his manners to the surface, then forced Paige into the luxurious back seat before folding himself in behind her.
“
I didn’t tell anyone,” Paige said. “I wanted to keep it as much a secret as you did.”
Her words sent an odd pang through Blake
’s stomach, something he didn’t have time to analyze. Nor did he want to.