“Zack!” I shout too loudly.

  But Carter nods. “Deal.”

  Men are so frustrating.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-ONE

  LUNA

  “Are you sure about this?” Samantha asks me for the millionth time.

  My answer is the same as every time before. “No. I’m not sure about anything at this point!”

  My hands are flailing, my heart is racing, and I’ve probably walked at least a mile in the last ten minutes around Carter’s bedroom. I heard about a guy who ran a marathon on his balcony, going back and forth from one end to the other in a nearly never-ending loop of dedicated absurdity. But right now, I have more than enough energy to do that. I could probably high-knee it with the levels of nervous vibes I’m dealing with.

  Sam steps in front of me with her hands up to stop my progress across the room. Except it doesn’t work because I’m lost in my own mind and walk right into her, boob smacking boob in quite the bumper collision. “Hey!”

  “Who would’a thought you’d be hitting second base on your wedding day with someone other than the groom?” Sam laughs. “You’re turning into a regular, everyday whore, aren’t you?”

  “I am no such thing! And keep your voice down!” I clamp my hand over her mouth, looking at the closed door. “Carter and Zack are going to hear.”

  It’s weird, thinking of them getting dressed in Carter’s guest bedroom. Carter insisted, though, saying it was only right for me and Samantha to use his primary bedroom with the attached bathroom. The ceremony, if you can call it that, is going to be in the living room.

  It’s only been two days since the dinner with Zack, and in the interim, he’s tried to talk me out of this decision, worrying I’m on some people-pleasing, misguided mission. Meanwhile, Samantha’s been trying to talk me into it, waxing poetic about the value of having an adventure and living boldly in my youth as if she’s not the same age I am.

  And Carter, in full-blown fiancé mode, has been listening to me go back and forth indecisively and then leaving me mindless with back-bowing orgasm after orgasm. After our initial miscommunication, he’s been more than happy to help me ‘practice’ things I’ve only imagined before. And though I’ve never been an athlete, I’m starting to understand the value of the ‘two-a-days’ type practice they do.

  Carter’s also found time in between orgasms to order dozens of white roses. Samantha and I made a quick trip to the boutique to see Brenda for a white dress, and most surprisingly, Carter suggested that we do our own vows. Which I guess is good because the standard ones aren’t exactly appropriate for what we’re doing. There’s no love, honor, and obey here.

  No forever either.

  Quick, simple, easy. That’s the theme of the day. It’s real, but not.

  Samantha licks my palm, and I recoil, freeing her to mouth off again. “Who cares? It’s not real, remember?”

  Samantha’s being flippant, but there’s a spark of intelligence in her eyes. She knows what she’s doing by pushing me. In return, I start pacing again. “I care,” I admit. “I didn’t always have dreams like other kids, but the day I got married? I imagined that, and it wasn’t this.”

  “But this is a paperwork thing to help a friend, not a real marriage. Like a green card situation,” Samantha reasons. “So later, when you meet Mr. Right and want to marry for love, you’ll have the dream wedding then. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Her words toss around in my head. Helping a friend. Like a green card situation. Which is illegal, but what I’m doing with Carter isn’t wrong to that degree. It’s just crazy and not the kind of thing that happens to people like me. I’m boring, strange, and close to being a hermit.

  But here I am, standing before a floor-length mirror in a white gown with hope in my eyes and confusion in my heart. “This feels real, dangerously so,” I whisper to Sam. “I don’t know if I’m cut out to play pretend wife to this level.”

  She stands behind me, meeting my gaze in the mirror. “One, say the word and I’ll have you out of here in a second. You know that. Today or any day. But two, do you love Carter?”

  “I feel like I’m supposed to say yes if we’re getting married, but . . .” I shrug, pulling a face. “I like him.”

  I expect her to be horrified, but she smiles instead. “Perfect. If you said you love him and he was doing this for a work deal, I’d veto the whole shebang myself. But you’re not invested in him like that. You like each other, you have great sex, you can live in the lap of luxury, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll bring in the biggest and best exhibition the museum’s ever seen. You might even end up with a raise or a promotion at work, which would give you the funds to get Alphena to market. It’s a win all the way around.” She winks and adds, “Plus, it’ll be a great story to tell our grandkids when we’re old biddies in the nursing home.”

  She’s right, but is it enough? Isn’t this still wrong?

  “Business is business, babe. Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Sam decides, and I find myself nodding, even though I’m still not sure.

  Carter

  “I can’t believe you’re going through with it,” Zack tells me with a grin that shows off too many white teeth. He’s like a shark, looking for blood in the water . . . probably mine.

  “Are you enjoying this?”

  He laughs bitterly, not bothering to shrink his smile in the slightest. Now that I look again, it’s maybe more of a baring of his teeth than a smile. “Are you kidding? We’ve done some stupid shit, but this takes the cake . . . and the pie . . . and the whole damn dessert buffet.” He waves his hands around at the wedding setup in my living room. “Still, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

  “You’re about to,” I warn.

  He flicks one of the white roses dangling from the fireplace mantel. “You’re not ditching me now.”

  He’s right and he knows it. I want him here, and so does Luna. “Well, you don’t have to be so fucking smug about it.”

  “Man, don’t get it twisted. I’m begrudgingly and barely going along with this. For Luna’s sake, not yours. This shitshow is gonna blow up, and I want to be right here to catch her when it does. I love you, but you’re gonna land on your feet. She’s built different than we are.” He glances toward my bedroom door, and though I’ve been hyper-aware of it all day and know it hasn’t opened, I look too.

  “I’m not going to hurt her,” I vow solemnly.

  He shakes his head, his lips pressed together into a tight line. He seems to be considering whether to say what he’s thinking. With a heavy sigh, he sadly tells me, “I believe that you believe that. I really do, or I’d have her as far away from you and this mess as I could get her. But in the end? You will. It’s inevitable.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” His words were harsh, so mine are spat out in anger.

  “As she’s reminded me, I can’t do anything about it. She’s different than we are, but she’s stronger than she thinks, and if I told her no, she’d have my balls in a vice. I’m hoping she keeps that energy in dealing with you.”

  He holds a cupped palm out but then makes a fist and twists. Involuntarily, I flinch and cover myself.

  That’s when the doorbell rings.

  Saved by the bell! “That should be the Justice of the Peace I booked.”

  “How much did you have to pay for a house call?”

  I raise my brows, confiding, “Not as much as I paid to make sure he understood that this is a very private situation.” Zack chuckles, and I divulge, “I’m pretty sure he thinks Luna’s pregnant.”

  There’s a follow-up knock at the door. “Guess he’s impatient.” I straighten my tie as I open the door, already saying, “Thank you for—”

  Except it’s not the Justice of the Peace. It’s my sister.

  “Kayla! What are you doing here?” I demand sharply. She can’t be here. No one in my family can know about this.

  As usual, Kayla gives zero fucks and walks on in. “You’ve been avoiding me, so I’m ambushing you to find out what the hell’s going on.”

  “Nothing’s going on.”

  She ignores me completely and focuses on Zack, pointing at me like I’m not even in the room. “Do you believe him when he lies that badly?”

  Zack smirks and shakes his head. “He’s a shit liar if you know him.”

  “Right?” she agrees, sounding like she’s pitying me for being so bad at lying. Which I’m not.

  I don’t have time for them to be talking shit about me. I’ve got to get her out of here. “Kayla, Zack and I are meeting for work and you’re interrupting.”

  Kayla rolls her eyes. Or I assume she does, but I can only see the back of her head. But it seems like something she’d do and Zack is fighting back a laugh.

  “Hey, Carter . . . if y’all are having a meeting, what’s with the roses?” She grins victoriously as she Vanna Whites the arrangement on the mantel.

  Zack loses his battle and laughs. “She’s got you there.”

  I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Which is when the bedroom door opens and Samantha peeks out. “If we don’t get this show on the road, Luna might hyperventilate. Again.”

  Samantha and Kayla lock eyes.

  “Are you the JP?” Samantha asks.

  Kayla smells blood in the water. “The what?”

  I’ve got to slow this runaway train, and that starts with getting Kayla out of here. Taking her elbow in mine, I lead her to the door. “Time to go.”

  I open the door, intending to throw her out. Gently, of course. But there’s an old man standing there with his hand poised to knock.

  “Oh! Mr. Harrington! Lovely day for a wedding, isn’t it?” he says.

  “No!” I shout, trying to cover Kayla’s ears, but the cat’s outta the bag.

  “Wedding?” she echoes.

  “Well, shit,” I huff in resignation. “Come on in, Judge Warren. You too, Kayla.”

  Judge Warren removes his hat as he comes in, dipping his chin to Kayla. “Ma’am.”

  “I knew it!” Kayla crows in delight. “That whole dinner thing was so weird. Were you testing Mom and Dad or something?”

  “Testing? Huh?” I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I do know how to play host. “Zack, can you—” I jerk my head toward Judge Warren, handing him over to Zack to deal with while I handle Kayla, who’s got so many questions, they’re basically buzzing around her in speech bubbles.

  Samantha cracks the door again, and I hold up a finger, telling her one minute. “Kayla, focus,” I demand, pointing at my eyes with V-ed fingers. Quietly and quickly, I explain it all to her—the fake marriage, the Cartwright deal, Dad forcing a dinner against my wishes, which forced my hand into bringing Luna as my fake wife and trusting that the family would go along. And last, that Luna and I are getting married for real to seal the deal with Elena.

  “You’re tripling down on a losing bet. You know that, right?”

  “It’s fine. And perfectly logical, given the circumstances.” It is, or at least it makes sense to me. Anything for the deal—that’s how I live my life.

  “We’re doing this now or not at all,” Samantha says, coming out of the bedroom. She continues speaking, but I don’t hear a word of it because Luna is peeking out from behind Samantha.

  I gasp as she comes fully into view. “You’re beautiful, Luna,” I whisper.

  My comment is one hundred percent heartfelt. She’s beautiful. Her dress is white and flowy, glancing over her curves to puddle on the floor, the bodice highlights her full cleavage, and there are delicate strappy things that drape over her upper arms, giving the whole look a vintage feel. Her hair is pulled back to the nape of her neck, and behind her glasses, her eyes are made up with liner and lashes that give her a doe-eyed look.

  “You like it?” She’s blushing, the pink flush a tantalizing addition to the white dress that Luna is swishing back and forth anxiously. “I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of time.”

  “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” I take her hands in mine, needing to touch her.

  “Save it for the vows,” Judge Warren suggests with a glint of happiness in his eyes. For all his years and experience with weddings, I think he’s still a romantic at heart. Plus, he doesn’t know this is fake.

  “Good idea,” I say agreeably. “Right over here,” I say, leading Luna to the fireplace.

  In front of the flowers, she smiles as she inhales deeply. “Pretty, and they smell good too. Dare I say, you’ve got a sentimental bone in your body? Roses for a wedding,” Luna teases.

  “Keep it up and you’ll have a sentimental bone in your body.”

  “No.” Zack’s doing great with all this, truthfully, but there are some things you don’t want to know about your sister.

  I’d be the same way with Kayla. And beyond the ‘don’t hurt her’ routine, the only way he agreed to not continue with his plan to beat the shit out of me was that he doesn’t want to hear one single peep about sex. Considering my nose and the remaining slight swelling, it’d seemed an acceptable deal to me.

  We get arranged in front of the fireplace with Judge Warren, and I smile down at Luna, taking her hands in mine again. “Ready.” I’m talking to the JP, but Luna nods.

  “Wait! One last time . . . Luna, are you sure?” Samantha asks. “Option Escape is still on the table if you need it.” She assumes a posture that’s more linebacker than maid of honor, acting as though she’d fight off anyone who got in her way if Luna wants to bail.

  Luna smiles and releases my hands, and for a moment, panic bubbles up inside my gut. But Luna hugs her friend and assures her, “I’m sure.”

  “Okay, then,” the JP starts.

  “Wait, me too,” Zack says. “Luna, I’m sorry I got you mixed up with this. Please don’t do anything you don’t want to, including marrying this fucker.”

  “You’re supposed to be my best man,” I growl.

  “Yeah, but I’m Luna’s brother.” He has a valid point, so I let it go.

  “Zack, it’s fine,” she tells him. “I want this.”

  The JP looks to Kayla expectantly, and she leans between Luna and me. “Blink twice will always work with me. Always.”

  I don’t know what she’s talking about, but Luna opens her eyes wide and stares back at Kayla for an uncomfortably long time.

  I clear my throat. “Should I be offended that no one’s asking me if I’m sure?”

  Zack, Kayla, and Samantha all chuckle. “You’re totally getting the better deal here,” Zack explains.

  Even the JP nods at that. “That’s usually the case, son.” He clears his throat. “Experience says, at least.”

  “Can we get started?” I’m a little grumpy about it, but when I look at Luna, whose full lips are tilted up in quiet laughter at the group’s assessment of us, I know they’re right. To the outside world, I might be the catch—wealthy, good-looking, and with a well-connected family. But the truth is, Luna is the better person. With her art obsession, shy nervousness, and unpredictable fire . . . she’s the one who is truly deserving of a beautiful wedding and a happy marriage.

  I might not have the luxury of being Luna’s husband in her heart, or for long, but I will do my best to make sure she has all the things she deserves.

  “We are gathered here today to honor Mr. Carter Harrington and Miss Luna Starr by witnessing them joining together in wedded bliss . . .”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-TWO

  LUNA

  This is happening. Or, it’s actually already happened. I’m holding the pen, signing the marriage license with Judge Warren and Carter, and completely in shock. My hand’s barely able to make my signature on the paper, and any minute, I swear Ashton Kutcher is going to jump out again and yell ‘gotcha’.

  That’d probably make this the longest running prank ever, but this is so not my life.

  Except it is.

  “Okay, all looks to be in order. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington.” Judge Warren shakes Carter’s hand and then leans in to give me a weak, grandfatherly hug with a promise to file the paperwork promptly.

  It’s official. I’m married. I’m Mrs. Carter Harrington.

  “Oh, my God,” I mutter, my knees giving out beneath me. Carter catches me easily, supporting me well above the ground.

  Whoo, he moves faster than a frat guy going for a free watered-down light beer. Maybe he’s a vampire that’s cast a spell on me? Wait, vampires don’t cast spells. Witches do. Warlocks? Magicians? Too fast, too fast, too fast . . .

  “Luna? You okay?” Carter sounds concerned, and when his face comes into view before my wavering vision, he looks freaked out. Distantly, I hear the judge say not to worry, that these things happen in early pregnancy.

  I’m not pregnant! I want to yell out, but I can’t find the strength. I’m not pregnant, I’m just ass over heels in shock.

  Because I’m married . . . to Carter freaking Harrington.

  For real.

  I’ve played this out a hundred different ways and was sure I could handle it, but I can’t seem to get enough air and there’s a tornado’s worth of wind roaring in my ears.

  “Breathe, Luna.” Carter’s voice is strong and commanding and coming from right in front of me. I open eyes I didn’t realize I’d closed and see that we’re nearly nose to nose. “Slow it down. In. Out. In. Out.”

  I am breathing, but it’s too shallow and erratic, and the expansive room feels so small, claustrophobic. But Carter’s support helps, and slowly, I’m able to find his rhythm and breathe in sync with him.

  “I knew this was a bad idea,” I hear Zack hiss, and my breath wavers.

  “Don’t listen to him,” Carter snaps, pulling me to him again. “Focus on my voice. In. Out.” A few more rounds and I’m back. “There you are. Good girl.”

  I try to smile, but I’m not sure if it works because my lips are tingling. “Thanks,” I huff out, finally breathing more normally, “Dr. Carter.”