The Arrangement(5)
“Move over.”
“What?” She frowned as he sat on her beach towel, shoving her over to make room for himself beneath her umbrella. His sun warmed skin lined up uncomfortably with hers. She scooted over farther to avoid touching him. “What is your deal?”
His eyes were earnest as they met hers. “That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. I can help you with your ex.”
She rolled her eyes. “Asher, I’m not interested in any of your jokes.”
“Hear me out. This isn’t a joke.”
She sighed. “Might as well. That’s the only way I’ll get any peace from you. Tell me, what is your brilliant idea?”
“Marry me.”
Releasing a loud and exasperated sigh, Ariadne opened her book again, determined to ignore him. When would he ever grow up?
“I’m serious, Ari.”
“You don’t get to call me that.”
He snatched her paperback out of her hands and held it out of reach. “Would you just listen? Do you want to show up at your family reunion alone and defeated while your cousin flaunts your ex in your face?”
The thought was unappealing. Though she didn’t know if Janice would be so cruel as to purposely rub her relationship with Daniel in her face, just his presence there with another woman would be humiliating.
“If you marry me, then you’ve effectively proven you’re over the doofus. Instead of showing up and being the object of pity, you’d have one up on them. You could show them that they didn’t break you.”
“What you’re suggesting sounds fantastic except for one problem.”
He grinned. Ariadne suppressed a shiver. He had a rather predatory smile that never failed to make her suspicious. Sharp white canines bracketed otherwise straight ordinary teeth. “Only one, huh? I sense a yes coming. What’s holding you back?”
“That I’d be married to you.”
His smile was replaced by a scowl. “I’m not going to be the only one abiding by this truce,” he warned. “If you want to trade snipes, I’m game. Just let me know, but quit sneaking them in and thinking I’m going to keep taking it without retribution.”
“Okay, I’m sorry, I’ll do better. But come on! The two of us getting married? Who would believe that?”
“They’ll believe it because we have history.”
“A hateful history.”
He shrugged. “People will say that it was repressed desire.”
“People are idiots,” she spat.
Again he shrugged. “What does it matter so long as it helps you?”
“And why would you want to help me? What do you get out of this?”
One knee raised, he leaned back onto his elbows. “I’ll be helping my dad.”
She frowned. “What does your father have to do with this?”
“He’s decided to run for governor.”
“Really? Wow.” She’d met David Hollister on a few occasions. He’d always seemed like a great dad. He was patient and kind. From what she’d heard, though he was a busy attorney, he’d always made time for Asher.
“Yeah, wow. I told him that he was too honest for politics, but he’s made up his mind.”
“Well, he has my vote.”
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
A breeze blew a lock of her hair into her face and she brushed it aside. “How does marrying me help your dad?”#p#分页标题#e#
“My dad’s background is as clean as a whistle. Even after mom died, he didn’t really date until Terri. I on the other hand…”
He didn’t have to go on. His exploits in high school and college were legendary. “You’re worried your past will impact your father’s chances?”
“The competition won’t have anything else to use against him. Terri’s daughter Tara is his campaign manager. She suggested that I get married to prove that I’ve settled down and that my life is more stable.”
As she recalled, Tara had had a major crush on him in high school. She wondered if Asher knew. Or if he cared. He’d been the dream date of every girl in their high school. Well, with the exception of her. “Wouldn’t an engagement be just as effective? We don’t have to get married.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been rumored to be engaged before. It’d be too easy to brush off as another rumor.”
It struck her what an incredibly unselfish act this was on his part. He was doing this for her and for his father. And everyone knew how much he enjoyed variety when it came to women. “Wait. You do realize that you’d have to be faithful to me. If we get married and you cheat, it will be definite prove that you haven’t changed.”