Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“All Morgan wanted to ask Zee about was you. About your relationship.”
“There isn’t a relationship.”
Though Reid’s words cut through my heart like a sharp blade, I showed no bodily reaction. I was still numb, though tears were flowing inside me.
There isn’t a relationship.
After last night… All we’d shared…
But this was Reid Wolfe. Known rake. The Wolfe of Manhattan.
Of course there was no relationship.
“That’s not what Morgan thinks,” Zach said. “Apparently he knows she spent last night in your bedroom.”
Reid dropped his gaze to the table, but only for a split second. “That’s not his business.”
“Of course it’s not, and I told him that. But if this woman means something to you, he’s going to try to get to you through her.”
This woman? I huffed. “I’m sitting right here. I have a name. Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”
I waited then. Waited for Reid to say I meant nothing to him. That I was just his current bed warmer and I’d be heading back home to Las Vegas soon. After all, I had a job—a job a lot of dancers in Vegas would kill for. I couldn’t be gone forever or I’d risk losing it.
But Reid stayed silent.
“Reid…” Zach prodded. “I need to know. I can’t help you protect her if I don’t.”
Reid inhaled slowly. “She means something to me.”
I gasped, my body still numb but warm numb this time. It wasn’t confession of love, but it was a start.
Or did he just not want to say the opposite in front of me?
Surely he wouldn’t lie to his attorney.
“Is that the truth?” Zach asked.
Reid looked at me, his rigid jawline softening. “It’s the truth. If it weren’t, I’d have asked to speak to you alone to tell you. I wouldn’t hurt Zee in front of you.”
Zach nodded. “Then I have a solution.”
“What’s that?”
“You two need to get married.”
50
Reid
Get married? Had I heard Zach correctly?
I must have looked confused, because Zach started talking again.
“You’re aware of spousal privilege, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”
“It means they can’t compel Zee to testify against you in court. Or anywhere.”
I rubbed my jaw. Man, I was tired. So tired. “But I haven’t done anything.”
“I know that, but they’re trying to implicate you, and they’re willing to put Zee through the wringer to do it. You can protect both of you by getting married.”
I cocked my head. The idea was far from distasteful. I’d already fallen in love with Zee. But this wasn’t how I wanted it to go. I wanted to woo her. Court her. Ask her when we were both ready. Get down on one knee and all that.
My thoughts surprised me. Perhaps I was a romantic at heart. Perhaps I’d just never met the right woman.
Was it even possible to meet the right woman when I was in the middle of dealing with my father’s murder and its fallout?
Sure it was. Obviously. It had happened for all my siblings.
Still, a marriage of convenience wasn’t what I was after.
“No,” I said.
Zee’s lips dropped into a sad frown.
“It’s not that I don’t have feelings for you, Zee,” I said.
She dropped her gaze. “You don’t have to explain. We barely know each other.”
“It can be a temporary solution,” Zach said. “You can have the marriage dissolved once this has all come out with the wash.”
I took Zee’s hand. “Would you be up for it?”
“I don’t know.”
“If it means protecting you,” Reid said, “I’ll do it. I promised I’d protect you, Zee.”
“You don’t need to protect me,” she said. “I’m not a suspect. We’ve determined that.”
“He means protect you from this ceaseless questioning Morgan seems to want to put you through,” Zach explained.
She breathed in. “I can take it.”
I squeezed her hand. “But you shouldn’t have to. Not after what you’ve already been through. You shouldn’t be punished for coming forward to tell your story. You shouldn’t be punished for trying to help us.”
“Okay,” she said softly. “If you both think it’s best.”
“Good enough.” Zach closed the file folder in front of him. “Let’s head to the courthouse and get this done. The sooner the better.”
I stood and smiled at Zee, still holding her hand. “I guess we’re about to be married.”
She rose, her pallor kind of yellow. “I guess so.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “Just say the word, and we won’t go through with it.”
She shook her head. “I want what’s best for all of us. I’ve come this far to help you, and I won’t stop now.”
With a little help from Benjamin Franklin, I was able to get a license and an appearance in front of a judge by one p.m. Zach stood as witness, along with Judge Brady’s court clerk.
“Do you wish to be married?” Judge Brady asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“And you, miss?” The judge nodded to Zee.
“Sure. I guess.”
“Good enough.” He scrawled his signature. “Both of you sign here, and you’ll be married.”