Merger to Marriage (Boardrooms and Billi - By Addison Fox Page 0,47
understood she was putting herself on the same path as her mother? Her father couldn’t be bothered to talk to her mother about his plans, but he damn sure expected she’d fall in line once he made them. Holt hadn’t really behaved any differently.
She wasn’t going to be the same, wasn’t going to live like that. Wasn’t going to wait for the day he woke up and decided he needed to start looking outside their marriage for his happiness. She wouldn’t consign herself to that.
“I’ll join you for dinner with the Craddick’s and I’ll play the dutiful wife. We don’t tell them about the baby and we don’t give any real sense of plans. I’m not marrying you, but they don’t need to know that.”
“You can’t lie to some of your oldest family friends.”
“Watch me.”
Chapter Ten
Mayson was still riled up three days later as she prepped for dinner with Teddy and his wife. The wedding dress Keira had suggested she hang on to mocked her from where it hung on her closet door, and she tried to avoid looking at it, the oversized garment bag a bleak reminder of what she and Holt would never have. He’d tried calling several times, but she kept their conversation minimal, unwilling to engage in anything beyond surface chatter. Or give him the opportunity to try and change her mind.
She’d do her duty and help Holt out—why, she still couldn’t quite understand—and then it was time to go their separate ways. They had nothing between them but heat and passion, and that wasn’t enough to make a life.
What about a baby?
Her conscience had clamored louder and louder about the life growing inside of her, but no matter how she twisted it, she couldn’t use her child as the reason to marry Holt.
The buzz of her phone indicated a call from her doorman and she answered it, confirming she’d be down to the lobby shortly. She hated putting Danny in the middle of her battle with Holt, but she didn’t want him in her home. Didn’t want to picture him on her furniture or standing in her hallway. She missed him already, and she still had the sparks of righteous anger fueling her fury.
Holt stood waiting for her a few minutes later as she stepped off the elevator. She took some small measure of comfort that he looked as confused and tired as she felt, but she opted for a simple hello as she walked up to him.
“I’ve missed you.” He leaned forward to brush her cheek with his lips, but she took a step back. “So it’s going to be like this all night?”
“I’ll play the part at the restaurant.”
“Mayson—” He broke off, her name hovering between them. “I don’t want it to be like this.”
“What do you want it to be like?” When he didn’t answer, she pointed toward the door and his car she could see idling out front. “We need to get going.”
He helped her into the car, his hand tight on hers, and she fought the urge to give in and turn into his arms. Her traitorous thoughts flitted back to the last time they were in the back of his car, the moments heated and sexual between them.
Get a grip, McBride.
He slid in next to her, the driver gently closing the door once he was settled in. “I almost forgot.”
“What—” The rest of her sentence faded off as she caught sight of the small, black velvet box in his hands. “Oh.”
“You need a ring.”
“No.” The protest welled up, along with two stubborn tears that ran matched tracks down her cheeks.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because it shouldn’t be like this.”
“What should it be like?”
“Not like this. A sham.”
“The motivations are our business.” He slid closer to her on the seat, opening the box as he moved. “It doesn’t negate the fact that you deserve something beautiful.”
Streetlights outside the car flashed into the interior of the limo, and she marveled at the many facets that glowed from where the ring perched in the small box. The stone was breathtaking, an emerald-cut diamond that sat nestled between two diamond trillions. The sting of more tears stuck in her throat and she swallowed hard, unwilling to let them mar the moment.
This was a charade, nothing more. Her mother had endured one for more than thirty years. As Holt slipped the ring on her finger, she thanked the heavens she’d only have to endure one for a few weeks. She simply didn’t have the heart