“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re strung out on her.” He glanced over his shoulder before continuing. “What are you going to do when she wants out?”
He tried to keep his tone casual as he said, “This arrangement doesn’t involve forever. I know that. And who says I’m strung out on her?” Ted’s incredulous expression spoke volumes. Asher scowled at him. Though he’d never clearly stated an interest in Ariadne, as his best friend, Ted would have to have been an idiot to not pick up on how he felt about her. “Maybe this is my way of getting her into bed.”#p#分页标题#e#
“It’s sad when I can say that I wish this was all that was. Don’t do this, Ash. You’re going to regret it.”
“It’s done.” Nothing and no one was going to stop him from making Ariadne his. “She’s on board. We’re both adults. We don’t need your permission.” Having heard enough, he went back inside. He had work to do, starting with a call to his assistant.
***
Erika had barely left her when Ted came in, disappeared inside the refrigerator for a second and emerged with a beer. She thought it was very early to be drinking, but she supposed he was stressed. Ted sat on the bar stool next to her, beer bottle dangling from his fingertips. Neither of them spoke for a while. She was the first to break the silence. “I suppose you’ve come to take your turn to try to talk me out of this.”
“No, I’m guessing Erika’s done her damnedest to get you to change your mind.” When she glanced at him curiously, he laughed. “What did you think that I didn’t know? I know my wife well—maybe better than she knows herself. I know she started seeing me because she wanted an excuse to hang around Asher. What she didn’t realize was that Ash would forever be off limits to her after that. He has few principles, but those he does have, he sticks by religiously. He’d never intentionally do anything to hurt a friend or a loved one.”
“Does Asher know?” She thought Erika would die of embarrassment if he did.
Ted shrugged. “Probably, but that’s the usual state of affairs for Ash. He’s never met a woman who didn’t want him—with the exception of you. Which is ironic because-”
“Because what?”
He lifted his beer, realized it wasn’t open, paused to take a moment to twist off the cap and then tipped it back for a big swallow. “Because he asked you to marry him,” he answered but he wouldn’t meet her eyes and she suspected that wasn’t what he’d originally planned to say. “Anyway, Erika is fighting this because she’ll have to forever give up the fantasy of being with Asher one day.”
“But…it’s not going to be a real marriage. It won’t even be consummated.”
He arched a thick black brow. “You think you can live with Asher for two years and he won’t try anything?”
She was coming to realize that, but she’d deal with that when she had to. “Even so…considering what you know about Erika, why are you against this marriage? I’d think you’d be all for your wife giving up this fantasy.”
“Like I said, Ash’s no threat to me. Even if I died on the job, I know he’d be there for her, but he’d still view her as mine.” He took another swig of his beer. “What I’m worried about is that one of you will be hurt.”
“I don’t see that happening.”
“I do. You’re not the type to view marriage lightly. You two start playing house together and soon everything is going to get all too real.”
“So you’re worried that I will be hurt? Ted, I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. I’ll be fine.” But he didn’t appear at all mollified. “I promise,” she said. When he looked away, she frowned. “You’re worried about Ash? Good grief, the man will probably bring a date to sign the divorce papers.”
“You need to talk to Ash. I don’t think the two of you have thought this through fully.”
Chapter Four
If she had any ideas about changing her mind, Asher was certain not to give them time to take root. He had her in his car within an hour on the way to the library. Reluctantly, Ted and Erika accompanied them. Pre-nuptial agreement in hand, they found the courthouse.#p#分页标题#e#
It wasn’t even noon when she was pronounced Mrs. Asher Hollister. Asher kissed her gently on the corner of the mouth and drew back with a giant triumphant grin on his face. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was happy to be married to her. As big of a player as he’d always been, she would have expected him to react to the situation with horror.