“What do you want me to do? Stall her?” Lucas crossed his ankles and folded his arms again. “What do you think?”

  He stared at Lucas. He’d known Lucas Cole for ten years and worked beside him for six of them. He was a sweet man, sexy, too, and the kind of guy he wanted to settle down with—the man he trusted. He’d been attracted to him since the first day they met. The idea of mixing work and play bothered him, but if anyone could help him out, it was Lucas. Besides, it’d give him a reason to see Lucas without the trappings of the job. He’d always liked Lucas and wanted to take things to the next step—trying to figure out if they could be together. Now, he had the chance and he refused to squander it.

  “Well? She’s in the elevator.” Lucas unfolded himself and stood. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Marry me.” If he had to be a reluctant groom, then he wanted his best friend and confidante beside him.

  “What?”

  “It’ll put them off if I’m already engaged.” Hudson removed his prized diamond ring his father had given to him years before. He offered the jewelry to Lucas. “Marry me.” He dropped to one knee. “Lucas?” Not quite the way he’d wanted to propose, but he’d do it over later.

  “Me? They think you’re going to marry a woman.”

  “I’m gay, and I’m not changing who I am for money.” He held up the ring. “Lucas?” If there was anyone in the world he loved outside of his family, it was Lucas.

  “You should marry someone more suitable.” Lucas shook his head. “You need me as your assistant.” A lock of his blond hair slipped over his brow. He tightened his jaw and pressed his lips together. He could’ve been a model instead of an assistant, and he’d be the best one out there because he embodied sexy boy-next-door. He might be younger than Hudson, but Hudson didn’t care. He’d fallen for Lucas a long time ago.

  “You can assist me while being my partner.” They’d be better together because they were partners. Hell, Lucas had just as much power in the company as he did, even if he didn’t know it. Plus, Lucas wasn’t falling at his feet and overly thrilled about being chosen. The very idea Lucas wasn’t giving right up and agreeing made him sexier.

  “Hud.” Lucas inched back. “They’ll never believe it.”

  “Which is why I’m offering my prized ring.” He stood and bridged the gap between them. He needed to touch Lucas. “You know me. You understand what I need, and you’re not scared of me. If anyone would be my partner, it’s you.”

  “What about Paul? You were close to him,” Lucas said. “I thought you were getting back together.”

  “He wanted a loan that wasn’t really a loan.” Hudson shoved the ring onto Lucas’s finger, then stroked his hand. He had no choice, and the ring looked oddly perfect on Lucas’s hand. He needed Lucas to play along. Besides, he loved him. “You spend all your time with me. It’s natural for us to be together.”

  “But you don’t love me.”

  He did more than Lucas knew, but if he said those three words right now, Lucas wouldn’t believe him. “You don’t love me, do you?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  He didn’t have much time before his sister showed up. Hudson threaded his arm around Lucas. “We’re a good fit. We tell them we’re engaged, get married long enough to cement control of the company, they get their money, and then we can do our separate things.” He didn’t think Lucas wanted to be married to him, no matter how much he’d warmed to the idea himself. “I’ll ensure you’re paid well when we split.”

  “No.”

  “Lucas.” Damn it. Didn’t he want the money? Holy hell, if it was true, then he’d marry Lucas right now. “I can’t marry their choices.”

  “No.”

  “You hate me.” He should’ve known he’d pushed too hard. But he cared about Lucas more than just about anyone in his life.

  “No, we need to be married for at least a year.” Lucas didn’t pull away from him. “You need to do what you need to, and I’ll help you, but this feels wrong.”

  “Lucas?” He must’ve heard him wrong again.

  “Your sister will be here in seconds.” Lucas adjusted the ring on his finger. “You don’t want to do this, and I hate pushing you, but at least we’ll be reluctant together.”

  “We’re in this together.” He didn’t want to be stuck with anyone else. “So, you’ll do this?”

  “Yes.” Lucas held up his left hand. “We’re engaged.”

  “We are.” Thank God. He looked up as the door opened. His sister, Cassie, and her friend, Marie, strode into the office. “Oh.” Cassie gasped. “Are you going to behave that way in front of your future wife?”

  Hudson kept Lucas tucked to his side and rubbed his fiancé’s back. “I don’t know about my wife, but in front of my future husband, sure.”

  Lucas held up his left hand again. “Surprise!”

  Cassie’s eyes widened. “Him?”

  “What’s wrong with Lucas?” Hudson asked. “You’ve known him since he interned with me like ten years ago.” Actually, it was six years, four months, and twenty-two days.

  “Yes.” Cassie notched her chin. “Look. You need to get married. So why not Marie?”

  “I’m gay.” Hudson refused to back down. He’d known since he was fourteen he wasn’t attracted to girls. Twenty-five years of attraction to men wouldn’t change in thirty seconds.

  Marie smiled, then waved. “Gotta go. I wanted upward mobility, but not this.” She left the office and Lucas tensed.

  Cassie stared at him. “Can we talk a moment? Alone?”

  Lucas disengaged from him. “I need to make a call. I’ll be in the exterior office.”

  “Not listening, I trust?” Cassie shooed him out, then shut the door.

  Hudson groaned as Lucas left. He’d never treated his sisters’ husbands shabbily and didn’t deserve Cassie’s anger.

  She faced him. “What are you doing?”

  “What do you mean?” He sat on the edge of his desk again. “I asked him to marry me, and he agreed. I’m not seeing an issue. We’ll get married soon and you’ll get your money. What’s the problem?”

  “He’s the help.”

  “He’s my most trusted associate.”

  “You pay him.”

  “Technically, I pay you, too.” If she wanted to argue, he’d argue.

  “It’s different. I’m family,” she said. “Do you know what the will really says?”

  “I do.”

  “It says you should marry, preferably a woman, and stay married for at least a year. No quickie weddings followed by a quickie divorce,” she said. “You can’t do this to get the cash, then pay him to disappear.”

  “I never said I would.” Now that he’d pressed the idea of getting married to Lucas, he saw no other good options and loved the idea of having Lucas as his husband. So much for him feeling reluctant.

  “When he takes your money, I won’t listen to your crying,” she said. “And he will. They always do.”

  “Why?” What did she know? “Have you heard something, or are you referring to your situation with Templeton? He really did want you for just your money.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “I know Lucas’s kind. He’s useful now and you can’t live without him, but once you get the marriage license, he’ll start the exit. He’ll change his mind.” She curled her lip in a sneer. “You’ll lose the stores because you chose wrong.”

  “Right.” He nodded. “You do realize I’m not a kid and I’m not ignorant. I built the family fortune up to where it is. Just because you don’t like my choice doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

  “When he gives you the shaft, know that you brought it on yourself,” she snapped. “I don’t like him. Never did.”

  “Noted, but that makes no difference. Go.” He escorted her to the door. “I’ve got to talk to my fiancé about our wedding, and I’ve still got three meetings this afternoon.”

  She snorted, then exited his office. “You chose wrong,” she said, loud enough for Lucas to hear. “It’ll end in disaster.”

  Hudson walked her to the elevator. “Thank you for your input.”

  She held up her hand and opened her mouth to argue, but the elevator arrived before she spoke. She entered the car with Marie. “I’m so sorry, honey.” She glared at her brother. “I’m sorry for her, not you.”

  Hudson waited for his sister to leave. He had to do some serious damage control and convince Lucas his snap decision was the best for them both.

  ****

  Lucas hated hearing Hudson fight with his sisters. The girls might be younger than him, but they treated him like their junior. Hud was brilliant and good at business. When he made decisions, his choices tended to pay off well.

  The concept of marriage, even one entered under duress, seemed far-fetched. He and Hud worked together. They were partners in business, and he considered Hud his best friend, but to marry him…

  “She’s so blunt.” Hudson shoved his hands into his pockets. “What does she know?”

  “She thinks she knows what’s best for you,” Lucas said. “Hud, she might be right.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m your assistant, and I’m not good husband material.” He barely kept his two houseplants alive. How in the hell would he handle a real relationship? He spent too much time with Hudson at the office and traveling for business.

  “Doesn’t matter. We’re going to Vegas tonight.” Hudson paced the length of the outer office. “No, isn’t Rebeka an ordained minister?” He shook his head. “No, we’ll go to Vegas. It’s faster and we can move forward without having the disaster of doing this at the last minute.” He stopped. “Call Rebeka just in case it’s faster to do it here in the office.”

  Lucas had grown used to Hudson’s unique method for handling issues. He talked them out until he came to the proper conclusion. The best thing for Lucas to do was trust his boss. He stared at Hudson for another moment.

  Hudson had been the feature of his naughty dreams since the night they met. He loved a man who dressed well and had confidence. That and his dark eyes and dazzling smile, he warmed Lucas all over. He’d seen Hudson naked a couple of times and knew he didn’t disappoint. Besides, he’d harbored a secret fantasy of being stretched across Hudson’s desk while Hudson pumped into him.

  Lucas picked up the phone and dialed Rebeka’s number. After four rings, she answered.

  “This is Ms. Wederspoon. How may I help you?”

  “Hi, Rebeka. This is Lucas Cole. Can you come up to Mr. Granger’s office as soon as possible?” Lucas asked. “We have a question for you.” We … it sounded so strange, but oddly right.

  “I can, but what for? Did I send an incomplete report?” she asked. “I check and double-check those expense reports.”

  “No, those are fine. I’m told you’re a minister and can marry couples. Even same-sex ones?” He’d have to check on the wait time for a marriage license. Would it be faster to get married in Ohio with the potential three-day period or would the flight be quicker?

  “I can,” she said. “You need the right paperwork and the license. Mostly the license. I don’t have my official stamp with me, but I can get it if that’s what is required. Why? Are you looking to get married? I knew Mr. Granger would set it up. He’s devoted to you.”

  Devoted? He might have said that about himself. “Mr. Granger is looking to get married—as soon as possible.” His breath lodged in his throat. “Will you come up? He couldn’t quite say to me. He hadn’t wrapped his mind around the idea he’d be married to Hud. Getting hitched to someone who didn’t love him felt all wrong.

  “I will be right there. Give me five minutes.” She hung up, leaving him in silence.

  “Well?” Hud dragged Lucas from his chair and into his private office. “What’d she say?”

  “She’ll be right up, and yes, she can officiate, but I need to look up how long it would take to get the license. We’d have to go to the courthouse. You won’t have time in the next three days, and I haven’t looked up the possibility of an online application. I don’t know how long it’ll take to approve it, even if we went with the online method—if it exists.”

  Hudson shut the door to his office and stalked across the room to him. “You’re scared.”

  “Yeah.” He was about to make a huge life choice, and not of his own volition. He’d been pushed, prodded, and pretty much forced into this.

  “Talk to me.” Hudson curled his fingers under Lucas’s jaw. He stroked Lucas’s skin. “I don’t want secrets between us. Why are you scared?”

  He had to tell the truth—beyond knowing marriage was a terrible idea. Hud deserved nothing less. “I get you have to get married, but this feels too rushed.”

  “It is.”

  “It feels pushed.”

  “Agreed. I don’t want to lose control of the stores to my sisters, and I don’t want to deal with their wrath because they didn’t get their money. They haven’t poured their life into making Granger Stores this big,” Hudson said. “I’ll do what I need to so I can keep control.”

  “But why me? You don’t love me,” Lucas said. “You should marry someone you love.”

  “I should wed the man of my dreams when the time is right for us, not at the breakneck pace decreed in a will,” Hudson said. “You’re right.”

  “Hud.” He had to make Hudson understand. “This will only end in tears. You’ll realize you want more than me and you can do better. I’m just an assistant. You think you like me because we’ve been together for so long.”

  A knock at the door stopped Lucas from trying to speak. Thank God. He needed the break.

  Hudson groaned and let go of Lucas. “In.”

  Rebeka and Stan Green, the lawyer for the firm, strode into the office together. Rebeka laced her fingers together. Stan waved his briefcase, but neither person spoke.

  “Ms. Wederspoon.” Hudson nodded. “Mr. Green. I need to get a marriage license. What do we do?”

  Stan put his briefcase on the desk. “First, you need to go together to the courthouse. There is no waiting period, but you have to go together. No way around that, meaning I can’t get it for you, and since it’s almost five, you won’t be able to get it until tomorrow at the earliest.”

  Lucas sighed. The roadblock might be enough to deter Hudson.

  “Then it’d be better to fly to Vegas. There’s no wait.” Hudson held his hand out to Rebeka. “I’m sorry I bothered you.”

  “No, it’s fine.” She smiled. “Who are you marrying—if I’m permitted to ask?”

  “Yes,” Stan said. “Who is the lucky guy?”

  Lucas wobbled to the desk and leaned on it for support.

  “See?” Hudson waved his hand. “They knew. They get it that I’m gay.” He turned back to Stan and Rebeka. “I’m marrying Lucas.”

  “You are?” Rebeka blurted. “That wasn’t in the marriage pool.”

  “Pool?” Hudson asked. “What?”

  Lucas closed his eyes. He’d forgotten all about the marriage pool the staff set up. Each time one of the Granger children seemed to be in a long-term relationship, the staff placed bets as to which sibling would get married and to whom. He’d never bet on the Granger siblings.

  “Nothing,” Rebeka said. “You’re better off going to Vegas. It’ll be quicker.”

  Lucas opened his eyes and cleared his throat. “You’ve got meetings today, sir. You’re booked until seven.” Hudson had too much to do in a short period of time. There weren’t enough hours in the day to get his work done and married, too.

  “We’ll fly there tonight. I’m sure we can get a red-eye.” Hudson turned his attention to Rebeka and hugged her. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” She winked, then left the office.

  Stan remained. “Sir?” He pulled his tablet from his briefcase. “This is your response to the will?”

  “It is.” Hudson backed up enough to sit with Lucas on the desk. “I’m serious about marrying Lucas. He’s the only one, so what do we do?”

  “Normally, you’d ask me that,” Lucas said. He didn’t like giving up his role.

  “I can’t make you do all the arrangements,” Hudson said. He draped his arm around Lucas. “Stan? So?”

  “Well.” Stan fiddled with his tablet. “If you go to the office at the Sweetheart Chapel, it’s a hundred bucks, but you’ll get your license and will be married within the hour. It’s a simple wedding, but fast. Is that what you want?”

  Instead of answering, Hudson met Lucas’s gaze. Lucas wanted to squirm. He hated being under the microscope. Hudson wanted this marriage and he had little choice. If he said no now, Hudson would find a way to make the wedding happen anyway.

  Why would it be wrong to be married to Hudson? Even if for only a little while? He’d get to sleep with him, hold him, and stare into his eyes. He’d be able to tell Hudson how he truly felt. The whole situation might be a crazy dream, but why not at least give marriage a try?

  Just because his parents’ marriage hadn’t worked didn’t mean his would implode, too.

  Lucas fortified his nerves. “Let’s get married.”

  Chapter Two

  Hudson couldn’t believe his ears. Lucas had agreed. There had been some cajoling involved, but he’d said yes. Hudson could work with this.

  “Hud.” Lucas scrubbed both hands over his face. “You won’t have family there to witness it.”

  “Stan is good enough and more of a family member than my own sisters or brothers-in-law. He’s the lawyer and he’ll be the witness.” He snagged Lucas in his embrace. “I have a good feeling about this.”

  “You do?” Lucas shrugged away from him. “You’re being pushed into marriage because of a stupid decree in a will. You weren’t even looking to get married yesterday.”

  “No, I wasn’t.” Lucas had a point.

  “Yet, now that you have to do it, you’re all in. It’s ridiculous.” Lucas shook his head. “I’m not sure it’ll work. Correction. I know it won’t work.”

  “How do you know? You haven’t given me a chance.” He couldn’t lie. Until this morning, marriage hadn’t been on his mind. Lucas had been on his mind all along. He yearned to hold Lucas again and kiss him. He’d fantasized about being with him. So, he had a few years on Lucas—nearly twenty—and he recalled Lucas saying once that he refused to date anyone more than two years older than him. Being forty-three sucked when the man he wanted happened to be twenty-seven.