Chapter 18 #2
“They will hire people. They will contact people in your lives behind your backs. They’ll offer money and try to catch you in a lie. Let’s start with the basics. Do you have a cleaning woman?” he asked, looking between us.
“Yes. She’s back tomorrow. She’s been on vacation for the last two weeks,” Hayes said, and I sucked in a breath because I didn’t even know we had a cleaning woman.
“Perfect example. They’ll try to get to her.
They’ll ask if you’re sleeping in the same room.
If you’re affectionate in front of her. For all I know, they’ll have people looking in your windows.
Snooping around your workplace. Landscapers.
Employees. They’ll try everything.” He cracked his knuckles, his gaze moving from Hayes to me.
“You just make sure you are sleeping in the same room and there is not a single reason for them to doubt that this is real. There should not be clothing hidden in a guest room closet. The only bed that looks slept in is in your bedroom. That you share. Trust me, people get crazy over money, and they will snoop around and try to find things you wouldn’t even think of. ”
“That’s not a problem,” Hayes said. “But I’m gone three nights a week when I have my shifts at the firehouse.”
“It’s your job; they can’t argue that. Savannah should be seen at the firehouse, and you need to be seen out around town often, as well,” Easton said.
“If you don’t give them any reason to question you, they can’t do a damn thing.
I’m here to tell you what to do to protect yourself. If you listen to me, you’ll be fine.”
I nodded. There was a huge knot in my stomach, and my hands were sweating.
“They’ll go to your parents, as well, so just make sure everyone is thrilled about the marriage.” He glanced at his sister, who’d just reached for a muffin, and she chuckled before handing it to him.
“Oh, I haven’t told my parents.” I needed to be straight with him in case he was right.
The room fell silent, aside from Hayes, who spoke up immediately.
“We got married fast, and she was afraid her parents wouldn’t approve of us tying the knot without them.
We were planning a trip to see them for the weekend and tell them in person soon.
” He squeezed my hand because we both knew we had no intention of going to tell them in person.
“My dad has cancer.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I didn’t want him to have to travel here. And we didn’t want to wait to get married.”
Something crossed Easton’s gaze, and I couldn’t quite read it.
But there was an understanding there, and he nodded.
“Tell your parents today or by the end of the weekend. You can get on FaceTime or Zoom and do it face-to-face. If you want to plan a trip there soon, that’s fine.
But they need to know as soon as possible, or it will look suspicious.
They could reach out to them; we just don’t know.
So, let’s get ahead of this and get that taken care of immediately. How about your parents, Hayes?”
“My father and I haven’t spoken in years, so there would be no reason to tell him. My mother knows, and she is thrilled about me and Sav getting married, as is my sister. Our friends are also happy about it,” Hayes said.
“Good. So, Savannah calls her parents sooner rather than later and checks that off the list. You—er, continue staying in the same bedroom, even if you have an argument. There is no room for openings here. And absolutely no room for any indiscretions.” He gathered all the papers and slipped them into his briefcase.
“I’m going to read over these later today, and I’ll be in touch with any questions. ”
“You don’t have to worry about either of us having indiscretions. We’re ridiculously happy,” Hayes hissed, and everyone chuckled.
“Thanks for helping us,” I said, my voice quiet.
“Hey, Savannah, listen… Abe wanted you to have the money and the house. I have no idea why he put in such a ridiculous clause, but I’m happy that you two found your way back to one another.
” Easton smirked. “If he wanted Sheana to have the money, he would have left it to her. So don’t worry. It’ll all be fine.”
I nodded, and Hayes squeezed my hand the slightest bit. Most wouldn’t have noticed, but I did. He could tell that I was spiraling. He wanted me to believe that everything would be okay.
But would it?
Hayes had agreed to help me. He wasn’t having sex with other women in an effort to protect this secret, and now he’d be under a magnifying glass even more. And I’d have to move into his bedroom.
This was a complete mess.
We exchanged phone numbers with Easton, and he explained more about what to expect and continued to tell us how important it was to make sure everyone we interacted with knew that we were blissfully in love.
Hayes assured him that there was nothing to worry about because my fake husband was going to do whatever he could to protect this secret.
My secret.
“All right, I’ve got a client to meet in an hour, so I need to get out of here. I’ll be in touch.”
We said our goodbyes, and he was out the door.
“Don’t worry. He’s the best. You’re in good hands,” Nash said.
“I—er, I’m sorry for complicating everyone’s life, especially yours,” I said, shaking my head as I looked at Hayes. It was obvious that Nash and Emerson were suspicious that something was up, as I’m sure all of Hayes’s close friends were.
The man didn’t even do relationships.
Did we really think they wouldn’t find it odd that he’d gotten married in a couple of weeks?
This was all supposed to be simple, but now it all felt very complicated.
“Savvy,” Emerson said, and I turned to look at her. “We aren’t here to judge. We support you both, no matter what.”
“Agreed.” Nash nodded.
“We’re married. We’re happy. That’s all anyone needs to know.
That’s all that fucking matters.” Hayes pushed to his feet and tossed his empty coffee cup into the garbage can.
“And you’re getting that money. And your dad is going to get into that trial, and he’s going to be okay.
Because you deserve that, Sav. You’re the best person I know.
You’re my wife, and you fucking deserve everything good. ”
Everyone gaped at the man who was usually short on words.
“I’ll be damned. Our boy is a sap for his wife, and I’m here for it.” River pushed to his feet. “Now, let’s get out of their hair. They’re newlyweds, after all.”
Emerson whispered in my ear that she’d do some research about the trial for my father after I gave the short version about his illness. We all hugged goodbye, and then it was just me and Hayes standing in the entryway of his home.
Of our home.
I looked up at him, unsure of what to do next.
“Let’s get your things moved out of the guest room. Tonight, you’re sleeping in my bed. Our bed. Don’t even try to argue with me, because we’re doing this.”
And he wouldn’t get one argument from me.
My husband was calling the shots now.