Chapter 5
FIVE
Cara
“Why are you picking out a real wedding ring for Grant? This isn’t a real wedding, according to you,” Ruby asks as she holds up the platinum wedding band. She continues to examine it in the light as she waits for my response.
I take it out of her grasp before handing it back over to the store clerk. I’m meeting Grant at the courthouse later today to get legally married. It’s as real as can be, regardless of what Ruby or anyone else thinks.
The sanctity of marriage has always been important to me, which is why I’ve never actually been or wanted to get married.
For some reason, despite my better judgment, I trust that Grant truly believes this is the best route for us to take. I’m relying on this man whom I despise on the best day. I don’t think he would mislead me like this.
There’s something he isn’t telling me about his past with the Carolinas mafia, but I know, for the sake of finally catching the Kingpin, that I have to trust my partner.
I shiver at the thought of him, of all people, being my partner until death do us part.
“Who are you talking to in there?” Ruby asks.
I look over at my assistant and see an amused look. She often catches me in my head, playing out different scenarios.
“No one,” I finally answer.
I roll my eyes and focus on the store clerk.
“I’ll take this one, please.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back with the final total.”
Ruby leans against the glass case filled with different men’s wedding bands.
“Who would have guessed?” she asks.
“What?”
“I told you so.”
I cross my arms over my chest, confused by what she’s referencing.
“I told you that you were going to marry this man someday,” she teases.
“Oh, fine. You did. I’ll give you that. There’s only one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“This isn’t forever.”
“The multi-thousand-dollar wedding band sure tells a different story.”
Uncrossing my arms, I give her an annoyed look as I plant a hand on a jutted-out hip.
“I’m marrying him because it makes sense given our profession and the job we’re about to go out on. Nothing more or less. It’s a simple contract.”
“A simple contract,” she draws out.
“Yes. Plain and simple. As soon as the job is done, we’ll get it annulled.”
“Have you talked to him yet about this plan? Or how about the papers I had drawn up for you that you have refused to look at?”
The store clerk comes over, and I hand him a credit card without looking at the bill. I’m buying this ring regardless of its cost or anyone’s opinion. I can’t have my pretend husband wearing a ring that the agency gave him to wear.
“I don’t care if it makes me look dumb; I’d rather not bring up the idea of a prenup.”
“This marriage is just a contract; it isn’t one for love. You need to protect yourself and your assets.”
“Grant Sinclair may be a thorn in my side, but I trust him to do what’s best for me. He wouldn’t take all my assets or money.”
Ruby’s mouth tightens, and I know she’s debating whether to say what’s on her mind.
“Are you prepared for him to ask you for one?” she finally says.
“Here you go, Ms. Collins.” The store clerk hands me back my credit card along with a slip of paper to sign. Once I pass it back to him, he hands over the wrapped ring box in a black gift bag.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he responds.
I take the bag and start to head out the front door, with Ruby following behind.
Putting my sunglasses on, we walk toward my car to head back to my house. It’s time for me to get ready for my wedding.
“You haven’t answered me,” she says as we both get into my car.
“I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if he does. I’ll do it if he wants me to.”
“That simple?”
“Anything to keep this plain and simple, Ruby. It’s just part of the job.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
I rev the engine and pull onto the highway. I may be trying to come across as calm and collected about all of this, but she’s right. There’s a pit in my stomach that I know means I’ll look at Grant differently if he asks me for one. I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do.
The smart decision is to sign more contracts to protect our respective assets. I know that. I just can’t help it that part of me wants to believe in something bigger than reality.
Deep down, because I only wanted to be married one time, there’s just something unsettling about it all.
My bags are packed and waiting in the trunk of the car. After the ceremony, Grant and I are heading to San Diego for a pretend honeymoon. It’s a one-night stay at a nice hotel in case anyone goes digging into our situation.
Really, our plane leaves at 0600 hours tomorrow, so it’s only practical that we both head out that way from Los Angeles.
When Grant’s assistant, Rob, talked to Ruby about the idea, it made sense to me despite not wanting to be trapped in a hotel with the man overnight.
If we’re getting married and flying out of San Diego, it’s practical to pretend like we’re on a brief honeymoon before leaving for our new home in Charlotte.
It all makes sense, and that’s part of the problem I have.
All this playing pretend feels real somehow. I have to keep reminding myself of why Grant and I are even doing this ahead of the mission. The truth of the matter is I keep getting confused because of the relationship that Grant and I have with one another.
All this time, I’ve thought of him as my rival, someone who gets on my last nerve and drives me to the brink of madness. In actuality, it feels almost right that this is who I’m marrying.
My mind needs to play catch-up with what’s really happening here.
I’m a professional .
This is my job. None of it is real.
Yet… it’s Grant. My dad’s friend. The person who chases me around the world. The one who gets under my skin like no other and, in some way, has consistently been there for me.
As I conflate the two sides of Grant Sinclair, I have to come to terms with the fact that both of those versions of him are the man I’m marrying in ten minutes.
Standing before the courthouse, I know I have to put one foot in front of the other. My future husband is waiting behind those double doors for me to arrive and say, “I do.”
I take a series of calming breaths and smooth out my short white lace dress. It has delicate sleeves, and the same lace pattern is against my chest area. It’s a dress I would have picked out for myself for my actual wedding.
Even though my mother would want me to have an over-the-top wedding, if I were to marry anyone, it would still be like this. Something personal just between him and me.
I decided my high heels would be my something blue —pale blue with a hint of faux diamonds on the top near the toe area.
I walk up the steep steps with a bouquet in hand, knowing that I’m the soon-to-be Mrs. Sinclair, even if it’s only on paper.
My long brown hair is straightened, and I look like I always imagined I would. Now, I wonder how seriously Grant will take this.
Is he behind those doors wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a fishing T-shirt?
I laugh as I step up the last step.
I would actually die of laughter if I ever saw Mr. Prim and Proper in anything other than a suit. Our days living together in marital bliss are going to be something else. What does a dressed-down Grant even look like?
I try to contain my amusement as I open the doors.
Stepping inside, I look around to find the courthouse entrance surprisingly packed. As I scan the room for Grant or Ruby, my eyes freeze on the man across the hall.
Grant is dressed in a tuxedo, one of the better ones I’ve seen him in. With his slightly graying, deep-black hair styled nicely, he looks like any bride’s dream come true.
I have to keep reminding myself that this man is my fake husband.
My future husband wouldn’t do the things that Grant has done to me. He wouldn’t talk so brashly to me. He wouldn’t tell me all the lies I’ve been told.
Then I smirk.
Okay, maybe he would talk dirty to me, but I’d like to keep that kind of banter for my future husband.
As I slowly continue forward, Grant does the same until we’ve both walked the remaining distance, meeting in the middle.
Maybe a positive sign of what could be.
“Cara.”
“It’s Cara today?” I ask with a cock of my eyebrow.
“Can’t be my lucky charm. That’s for the field.”
“Then just Cara works.”
“There’s nothing just about you today, Cara.”
Grant’s eyes scan the length of my body, starting from my heels, then up my long legs until finally, his gaze is back on my eyes.
“You look beautiful,” he rasps.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
My throat feels constricted as heat crawls up my cheeks.
“You look handsome.”
Grant grins widely.
“What?” I ask.
“So there is a first time for everything.”
My eyebrows furrow together as I try to understand what jab he’s making.
“What?” I ask again.
“A compliment from Cara Collins. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Oh, stop,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
I bite down on my lower lip to try and contain my smile. Without giving anything away, I search the room for Ruby and see her inside a glass office with someone who has to be the judge and Grant’s assistant.
“Is that where we’ll be?” I ask, looking back up at him.
Grant’s eyes have been focused on me this entire time, and I feel a prick of unease from the sensation. I don’t like being anyone’s primary focus. Maybe that’s from the job, but it’s always a bad sign of what’s to come.
“It is,” he murmurs.
“Good. Should we get going?”
“After you,” he says with his arm extended.
I clear my throat and give him a small nod before starting to walk in that direction. With my shoulders pulled back and stomach tightened, I try to reclaim any part of my usual confidence that I have in this role.
Keeping the facade of who I am in work mode around Grant is going to be crucial if I’m going to make it through these unusual circumstances.
I go to pull the door open when his broad frame overshadows it. His hand covers mine on the handle, stopping me.
“There are some things you and I should talk about alone.”