Chapter 11
Victor
After our fun in the tree house, the wedding ceremony, and then that kiss that’s haunted me ever since, I haven’t seen much of my new family.
It has been an entire week, and Serenity dances around me like she’s at a competition and aiming for a gold medal.
Or more accurately, she avoids me. If she enters the room I’m in, she exits with only a small smile.
If she’s in the room first and I come in, she bolts.
At this point, I’ll never be able to bond with Summer. Or is that Serenity’s goal? She doesn’t want Summer to get too close to me considering this arrangement is temporary, but I’ve already made the decision I’ll never abandon her.
I sigh. Now, to convince Serenity of that fact.
“What has you so deep in thought, Son?” my father asks from his spot on the sofa.
I clear my throat. “Nothing. I’m only looking forward to the wedding. Mrs. Frederick’s one and only child is getting married.”
My father nods. “I wish I could attend with you. She has been a great ally over the years.”
“Please don’t worry about these kinds of matters. I’m capable of handling—”
My father grunts—in pain or because an argument is brewing, I’m not sure—and he says, “I know you’re capable, but you shouldn’t have to handle everything by yourself.
” His dark eyes light up for a brief second.
“That’s why I’m so excited you found someone to marry.
And she sure is a spitfire. She’ll walk into battle with you for certain. ”
A mixture of guilt and relief consumes me. I’ve never been big on deceiving, not even my parents, but I was so scared and desperate I wasn’t thinking properly. Now, I’m stuck with this lie for another fifty-one weeks.
Serenity’s beautiful face pops into my mind. Her green eyes are like a looking glass into her emotions—never hiding them. Her fierce attitude and her unwavering duty to protect her daughter. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman.
Too bad this relationship is all for show.
A nurse bustles into the room to check on my dad. She monitors his blood pressure almost every hour. If my mother were actually here, we wouldn’t have had to hire nurses for around the clock care. She’s always out at some party or whatever fancy has grabbed her attention.
Once the nurse leaves, my dad shifts his attention back to me. “The doctors told me as long as I cut out all the delicious, fried food, I’ll have more years.”
My heart swells. At this point, I figured he was in the clear, but hearing him say it is another matter entirely. “I’m glad.”
He looks around as if to make sure the coast is clear as I take a sip of water. “Now, tell me, when will your beautiful bride bless you with an heir.”
I cough, all my water spraying out of my mouth. “We haven’t talked about more children. Summer is our priority.”
And I mean it. Summer may not be mine by blood, but I will always do right by her. Even at the end of this.
“Well, you two may want to have that conversation sooner rather than later.”
I nod but don’t reply. What else can I say? We won’t be having any children together. When our contract ends, it will already be hard enough to spend time with Summer when they move back to Granite Falls. Not to mention, getting Serenity into my bed would be a challenge.
***
My father’s request plays on repeat in my brain as I wait for Jay outside my parents’ house. Though I’m happy my father is still alive, I couldn’t stay there any longer without giving myself away. It’s natural for him to want grandchildren, but we’re lying to him.
I loosen my tie. It suddenly feels like it’s tightening more and more until I’m about to suffocate.
My SUV pulls into the driveway and stops beside me.
I slide inside before Jay can get out. No need for him to open my door when I’m a fully capable grown man.
I turn to face Serenity, and my pulse quickens as I soak her in.
She sits in the other seat, already dressed in her silk dress that I ordered the day she signed the contract.
The forest green fabric hugs all her curves in the right places and dips in a deep V, revealing her generous cleavage.
I gulp. It certainly wouldn’t be a hardship making babies with Serenity.
She eyes me as I’m taking her in. “You look like you’re undressing me in your mind.”
I chuckle. “I love how you always say what you’re thinking. Good thing you sent the measurements because this dress fits you perfectly.”
“If by perfect you mean that my lungs are being crushed, then yes, it’s perfect.”
I laugh harder. “Does it make you feel better knowing that you can burn it after the wedding?”
She tilts her head to the side and rubs her chin. “I think I can get behind the burning of this dress after it nearly suffocates me to death.” Then she points to her feet. “What about my shoes? They’re like four inches! I think you’re also trying to off me with these torture devices.”
“The attendant at Bergdorf picked those out for you.” I take in her black heels. God, it’s like her legs go on for miles in those. “You can’t blame me. I don’t know the first thing about women’s fashion.”
“Bergdorf? You seriously wasted thousands of dollars on this dress that I’ll only wear once?” Her face turns an adorable shade of red. “Never mind. I’ve changed my mind. I won’t burn this. No, I’ll sleep in it.”
Shit. Think of anything other than Serenity sleeping in this dress. What about her in nothing?
I clear my throat. “If that’s what you want. Or I can buy you some new pajamas.”
Her posture goes rigid. “Why would you need to buy me new ones? I already have the comfiest pjs in existence.”
“Yes, and they look about ten years old by what I’ve witnessed.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and narrows her eyes at me. “So, now you’re judging me? Is this how our relationship will go for the next year?”
Raising my hands in front of me, I say, “No, I thought I was doing you a favor.”
“Just like I said with Summer, I don’t need extras, and I don’t need any favors.
I’ll do what you hired me for and earn what’s stipulated in the contract, nothing extra.
” Then she turns and dials a phone number.
I assume the new nanny whom Serenity picked herself—after I ran every background check known to man—answers because she asks to speak with Summer.
I’m not stupid. I know when I’m being dismissed.
A few minutes later, we pull into the hotel, and Serenity wraps up her phone call with Summer.
I offer my hand to Serenity as she climbs out of the vehicle. She stares at my outstretched arm like she’ll catch a disease if she touches my skin. She presses her mouth into a thin line but eventually accepts my help.
Maybe one day, I’ll figure out why she dislikes me so much.
For now, I wrap her hand in my arm and ask, “Did you read everything in the file I gave you?”
“Yes, but I don’t know how you expect me to remember who is who and who attended what university.” She rushes her words. “That all seems like useless information when I don’t know them.”
“The more you know the better.”
Serenity pulls me to a stop. “I don’t think your board will be impressed if I know everything about them down to their childhood homes.” Her chest hitches. “It seems more like I’m studying them, and it isn’t realistic.”
“Don’t worry so much. This is going to work out as long as you don’t look like you want to strangle me like you do right now.”
“Well, it’s hard not to want to wrap my fingers around your neck and squeeze when I feel like I’m about to fail a pop quiz.”
“It’s just details for you to know in case it ever comes up in conversation. No one will rattle off questions about their history.”
“I get it. So, what about Rose, your ex?”
My jaw clenches. “We’ll try to avoid her at all costs.”
She’s biting her bottom lip in the most adorable way, smearing her red lipstick. “Fine, let’s go inside and get this over with before I die from asphyxiation.”
I tsk. “You aren’t a thoughtful girlfriend if you’re only concerned about yourself.
” She starts toward the front entrance of Tinner Hotel, the most sought-after place to host weddings.
But I tug her back to me, pulling her flush to my chest, and rub my thumb across her lower lip that was begging to be touched when between her teeth.
My heart—which never seems to awaken except when I’m around Serenity—beats so rapidly it could win a hundred-meter dash.
Her eyes widen so before she can lecture me on unnecessary touching, I whisper, “Mr. Tille and Rose are coming up behind us, so please don’t pull away. ”
Her pupils dilate, and she clutches my suit jacket. “Uh, I—” she cuts herself off. This is the first time I’ve ever heard her stumble over her words.
Mr. Tille winks at me before disappearing inside the hotel, and if looks could kill, Serenity would drop dead from how Rose is glaring at her. I don’t think Mr. Tille cares about me not marrying his daughter as much as Rose does.
In order for everyone not to figure out I lied, this has to seem real. And the way Serenity is reacting to me, it definitely appears that way. Even Mrs. Frederick beamed when she saw Serenity and me enter the ceremony.
Serenity’s lips part slightly as her eyes narrow in on my mouth.
Just like when she first moved into my house.
I’d give her another million dollars for her to tell me she wants to kiss me right now.
But I don’t push it. It’s better we keep some distance between us before we start blurring the lines.
I release her. She stumbles a step and shoots me a glare. “Next time, give me a warning you’re going to touch me.”
Quirking an eyebrow, I ask, “So, there’s going to be a next time?”
“Absolutely not.”
“You smeared your lipstick.”
“You probably did it when you touched my lips without my permission.” Her voice comes out breathless. The usual venom that laces her words is gone. “Let’s go inside.”
She turns to march off, but I grab hold of her hand, and when she turns to look back at me, I say, “People might think we were kissing.”