Grayson's Vow(36)

I shifted on my feet, realizing how terrible I must look. I could feel that my face was still flushed from my dream, and knew my hair must be in wild disarray as it always was after I'd slept. My dress was ripped and wrinkled and disheveled and . . . I was the exact opposite of this coiffed beauty standing in front of me. I ran my tongue along my bottom lip nervously, feeling insecure and hating it.

I waited for him to tell this woman I was his wife.

Grayson looked away from me, to Jade. "Sure, that sounds good."

I felt my eyes widen and I let out a tiny gasp. He was going to take Jade up on her offer to cook him dinner after he’d turned me down for dinner on our wedding day? What if someone saw them? What if Jade had a big mouth and spread the word that she was dating Grayson? My heart pounded and my skin felt suddenly itchy.

My husband was going on a date on our wedding day. My husband was going on a date on our wedding day. I had the sudden, intense desire to double over with laughter.

Only you, Kira. Only you would be in a situation like this.

"Just give me two minutes to clean up," Grayson said to Jade.

"Sure thing, babe." She smiled sweetly at him. Babe. This woman had just called my fake husband babe. "You can shower at my place if you want." Her lips turned up in the farce of a smile, but her eyes shot daggers at me.

Grayson walked into the house, and Jade and I stood staring at each other. "So who are you exactly, Kira?" Jade asked snottily.

Why, I'm his wife, sweetie. I hope you have a lovely evening on your date. It took everything in me not to say that. I had agreed we should carry on as usual as long as we were discreet, although I hardly thought this qualified. Still, it was up to Grayson to handle this situation with Jade. I hadn't actually done any secretarial or accounting work for Grayson yet, but I suddenly remembered I had offered to. "I'm, um, his new secretary, slash accountant, slash . . . well." I'd let that well sum up the other stuff. Little did she know, it was a mighty big well.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "And you . . . live here?"

We both looked up to see Grayson trotting back down the stairs. He barely had enough time to wash his hands and splash some cold water on his face. Apparently he either didn't care that Jade would get him un-showered or he planned on taking her up on her offer. A flash of her in the kitchen cooking him dinner as he came up behind her in a small towel to kiss the back of her neck suddenly came to mind. And why, oh why did that vision bother me so much?

Idiot, Kira!

"Ready?" Grayson asked, looking at Jade.

"Hmm hmm," she said. "Kira here was just telling me she's your new secretary, slash accountant, slash . . ." We both stared at her, waiting for her to continue, and she stared at us evidently waiting for one of us to say something as well.

Grayson cleared his throat. I coughed. Jade narrowed her eyes further and stepped closer to Grayson, clearly staking her claim.

"And you live here now?" she asked again, narrowing her eyes further.

"I'm staying in the cottage over there." I waved my hand in the direction of my small cottage. As if it was completely normal for secretaries to live in grimy gardener cottages on site.

Jade wrinkled up her cute little nose. "Eww! That little place buried in the woods that you can barely see from the driveway? There must be rats in there."

I crossed my arms, regarding her before widening my eyes and speaking slowly, with feigned excitement. "Oh yes! There are. A husband and wife, in fact," I said, shooting a look at Grayson. He looked back at me blankly. I turned my gaze back to Jade and carried on. "Ogilthorpe and Ortensia. I'm pretty sure Ortensia is pregnant, too." I put one finger on my chin in thought. "I'll have to come up with some O names, before the little rat babies arrive, of course. If you have any good suggestions, let me know." I gave her a fake grin, resisting the urge to cross my eyes.

Her features screwed up in an expression of disgust and Grayson turned slightly and coughed into his hand, but I swore I saw his lip twitch slightly before he covered his mouth.

"Let's go," Jade said to Grayson, ignoring me.

"I trust you'll find a way to entertain yourself tonight?" Grayson asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm sure I will," I said, giving him a small, phony smile.

His eyes lingered on my face for the space of several heartbeats and then he turned away with Jade. When they reached her car, she turned to him and said loudly enough for me to hear, "I don't like her. She's weird."

If Grayson commented, he said it softly enough that I couldn't hear.

I watched as the car turned, drove down the driveway, and disappeared out of sight.