The Marriage Agenda(11)

Deep breath.

Chloe had heard plenty about Katherine Hamilton, but despite her  reputation, the news coverage didn't do the woman justice. She was  perfectly put together in a simple cream-colored suit, while her  sweeping updo, flawless makeup, and brilliant jewelry lent the  impression she'd just stepped off the cover of a magazine. But while  Chloe expected the woman to carry an air of superiority, she exuded  nothing but warmth. Her smile when she saw Chloe lit her eyes, and  despite her nervousness, Chloe took an immediately liking to her.

"Mrs. Hamilton," she said. "It's an honor to meet you. Chloe Lochlan."

"Please, call me Katherine." She swept Chloe into a hug. Smiling kindly,  she said, "My son tells me you'll soon be a Hamilton. Will you be  taking the family name?"

Chloe bit her lip-she hadn't given her name a second thought. Knox  wasn't marrying her for love, so she felt he should keep his name to  himself. But was that what he wanted? She had no idea what would work  best for his campaign. Maybe keeping her own would work in her  favor … surely someone seeking no more than the prestige of the Hamilton  family coffers would want the perks extended by carrying the last name.

"Chloe's a writer," Knox offered. "She's keeping her name for professional reasons."

Good one, Knox. His explanation was not only reasonable but hard to argue with.

Katherine released her lingering hold on Chloe's arm and addressed her  son. "There are some samples for your reception in my car. Would you  kindly get them so I may have a moment alone with my future  daughter-in-law?"

He nodded, though to his credit, he appeared a bit wary. "Of course."

Katherine watched her son leave, then turned to Chloe. Ever gracious, she asked, "So, what brings you to the family?"

Chloe froze, the smile falling from her face. "What do you mean?"

Katherine smiled knowingly. "Three days ago, I was under the impression  Knox was single. He didn't have a girlfriend, much less a fiancee."

Great. She and Knox had gone over their so-called story-most of which  was the truth sans the business proposition-but she hadn't counted on  convincing his mother. Under her kind exterior, the woman had to be  shrewd to maintain her reputation in the face of Rex's betrayals. Chloe  didn't think her unkind, but she also harbored no expectation of fooling  her. And moreover, she didn't want to lie. "We started dating over a  year ago."

"Then why haven't I heard of you?"

Chloe had to give the woman credit-two minutes after meeting Chloe, she  had her alone and strung up, all without a hint of animosity. "I can't  speak specifically for Knox, but we did agree to keep our relationship  quiet. I can't imagine what it's like to be followed everywhere, but  it's bound to be exhausting. I think he just wanted a little downtime."         

     



 

Katherine smiled. "Secrets tend to create more gossip than they prevent, Ms. Lochlan."

"Please call me Chloe." Where was Knox? This serene, placid woman was  going to have her for dinner. "I assure you, my intentions-"

Katherine waved a hand. "You don't need to explain yourself to me. At least, not if you're who I think you are."

"Who … do you think I am?"

"Knox has dated a lot of women."

Of course he had. Why did everyone feel the need to remind her of this?

Katherine tapped the polished granite with a perfectly manicured nail.  "When he called to tell me of your engagement, he was the happiest I've  ever heard him. It wasn't just a good mood, either. His feelings were  far more than superficial."

Chloe's gaze shot to Katherine's face, and she prayed her guilt didn't  show in her eyes. She'd been worried about hurting Knox, but she hadn't  considered that she'd be hurting his mother. Arguably, neither of them  deserved it, but Knox at least knew what he was getting into. He knew  the marriage was fake. Katherine, on the other hand, actually believed  Knox cared for Chloe. As much as Chloe wanted that to be true, the fact  that their deception would affect other people hit her with force. "I  didn't realize I could have … affected him so."

"Honey, he's marrying you. And I can't say I didn't have my suspicions  about your intentions, but one fact remains undisputable. Any other  woman who has dated my son has landed herself on the front page of the  social section within the week. But he tells me you dated for months,  and until yesterday I didn't even know your name. I can't begin to know  what's between you two, but when he says you're different, I have to  believe him. I've already seen that much, and while I don't know that I  approve of his desire to follow in his father's footsteps to the Senate,  you seem to be the kind of woman he needs to stay grounded while he's  on that path."

Chloe swallowed, taken aback by Katherine's words. "I-"

"Did you bring the whole store?" Knox walked into the kitchen, bouncing  off the doorway with a grunt. His voice was muffled, his torso invisible  from behind a tower of books and boxes.

Chloe released the breath she'd been holding and rushed over to relieve  him of some of the pile. "You can't make more than one trip?"

He scowled. "There's more."

"Can I help?"

Katherine stood. "Be assured, dear, he'll be glad for the escape. I know  my son-he's not going to care one bit what color table linens we choose  for your reception."

Knox snorted. "I wouldn't dream of insulting you ladies with my uninformed opinion. Besides, I'm due for a phone conference."

"I'm on my way out myself," Katherine said. "I know you two are still  getting settled. You'll look through these things, Chloe, and then we'll  finalize plans? I know I'm not giving you much time, but on such short  notice … "

"It will be beautiful, Mother." He kissed her on the cheek. "And you're  right. I couldn't care less about place settings. As long as there's  food on the plate, I'm in-though I'm afraid I've gotten word that a mere  eight green beans won't cut it. Insist on at least nine, no matter the  cost."

Katherine looked at him as if he had descended into utter madness.

He ignored her incredulity. "And speaking of dinner, I'm going to order a pizza. Are you sure you don't want to stay?"

Katherine gathered her things so quickly, Chloe thought the woman must  have been repelled by the very thought of food served from a greasy box.  "No, no. See to your conference. Chloe, it was lovely to meet you.  We'll talk tomorrow?"

Chloe nodded. "Of course."

"Good. I'll stop by midmorning." She put a hand on Chloe's arm. "I mean it. Welcome to the family."

Chloe followed her to the door, watching as Katherine got into a  gleaming Mercedes-Benz. It was the same cream hue as her clothes. Chloe  shook her head. She was lucky to have a matching pair of shoes, and  Katherine Hamilton managed to accessorize all the way down to her  automotive paint.

"I think she liked you."

She jumped at the sound of Knox's voice so close to her ear. She turned, finding the length of his body mere inches from hers.

He pushed shut the door with one hand, the motion positioning him even closer. "Pizza?"

Of course. Never mind that they'd gone through approximately eleven  thousand pizzas while they were dating. They even had the same  favorite-New York – style pepperoni.         

     



 

Her mouth watered and not only for the food. The man was gorgeous. And  now off-limits. It's for your own good. But was it really? Unrequited  love was one thing. Life without orgasms, another entirely. But the  greater the distance between them, the easier it would be for her to  take advantage of their arrangement.

She'd get her story, and with any luck she would do so before her  grandmother's house was razed to make way for the factory that never  should have been approved.

"What about your meeting?" she asked.

He shrugged. "It's just a phone conference, and it'll be quick. I'll order, you answer the door, and I'll meet you on the sofa."

Just like old times. But it wasn't. Back then, she thought, they'd been falling in love.

She knew better now.

Now it was just her. The chances of her walking away without a broken  heart were passing nil at the speed of light, but he was still hers. He  might never love her, but at least he wanted to share his life with her.  She forced herself to smile. "Pizza would be great."





Chapter Eight

Thirty minutes later, Chloe was kicked back on an Italian leather sofa  trying-and failing-to keep Knox from stealing her pepperoni. If he'd  been on the phone five minutes longer, she could have had at least one  slice in peace, but no such luck.

"Eat your own," she groused, punctuating the words by jabbing her elbow into his side.

He dodged easily the brunt of her attack, then countered with an utterly wounded look. "I like extra."

"Then order extra."

"Can't," he said. "Extra pepperoni upsets the balance. Changes the flavor."