The Temporary Wife - By Jeannie Moon Page 0,14

sketches to her in a couple of days. Jason had stayed out of the decision making, except when picking colors and fabrics for his bedroom and his office.

Separate bedrooms. It made her think of the Regency romances she loved to read where the just-married couple, often thrown together by necessity, occupied separate bedrooms. Of course the hero and heroine were wildly attracted to each other and found a way to make the marriage work and lived happily ever after. Meg just didn’t see that happening for her.

After meeting Gwyneth, they had dinner with her mother and sister, who were shocked when they walked into the restaurant and saw Jason sitting with Meg at the table. To say dinner was difficult would be an understatement. Meg couldn’t shake the feeling that she was betraying her family. Jason was the enemy.

Although her sister had been too young to completely understand, she could see the hurt in her mother’s eyes. Meg had to face her past with Jason eventually. Face all the pain there. Admit to herself that the man currently saving her hadn’t stood by her, changing her whole family’s life.

And here he was,taking control of her life. Meg listened as he gave their cover story, and from the looks on their faces, neither Mom nor Caroline bought it.

Now they were sitting in the car on the way to the Campbells’.

This was going to be even worse.

Jason reached across the console and took her hand. “I’ll be right here. If you want, let me do the talking.”

“I feel like you do that whether I want you to or not.”

“What? Talking?” He was genuinely shocked. He had done most of the talking with her mother and sister, but mainly because Meg was so upset about the way they sprung this on them, she didn’t know what to say. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry.”

Of course he didn’t. She was being bitchy because she hated the loss of control.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m nervous. I shouldn’t take it out on you.” They pulled into the long driveway, and he didn’t say a word until they pulled up to the main house and Meg’s stomach dropped. Suddenly, she was freezing, and her heart was racing. Jason must have seen the panic on her face, because he took her hand again.

“Are you going to be okay?”

She shook her head frantically. No words came out.

“If it’s any consolation, I still get a horrible pain in my stomach anytime I have to deal with my parents. You’re in the same boat as any family member right now.”

“This isn’t funny,” she squeaked out. “Not at all.”

He reached across her to the glove box and popped it open. “I have something in here that might make it a little better.”

“What? Xanax? Valium?”

He laughed and pulled out a small blue box tied with a white bow. It was the little blue box she always dreamed of getting from the man she was going to marry.

“Is that . . .” Meg found herself looking into Jason’s smiling blue eyes.

“I was going to give it to you later, but I think you could use it now.”

Meg was still frozen, staring at him. “You didn’t have to do this. A simple wedding band would have been fine.”

“You’re going to be my wife; you’ll have diamonds.” Meg opened her mouth, and Jason rested his index finger on her lips. “No. This is my manhood here. It’s my right to give you as many jewels and luxuries as I can afford. People will expect it, and I won’t lie, I find buying things for you very enjoyable.” She still couldn’t move. “Take it, Megan. Open it.”

She took the box, which was heavy for its size, and pulled the end of the ribbon, all while Jason kept a close eye on what she was doing. Inside the blue box was a black velvet case, which Meg took out, held, and then opened.

Her heart stopped. On the dark field sat the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. If she’d picked it out herself it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a cushion cut diamond surrounded by tiny beadlike diamonds and set in a delicate diamond-encrusted band. It was dazzling, but not gaudy or tacky, and Meg felt herself smile, because no matter what the circumstances of their marriage, Jason was trying to give her the dream.

“I guess you like it?” He took the box and grasped the ring between his fingers.

“It’s beautiful.”

“There were bigger diamonds,