Page 54 of Irresistibly Wicked

Zander and his father remained standing, his father’s stern expression throwing him off. “Why’re you looking at me like that? I’m helping Shauna, the girl who pulled me out of the burning car. You know, the one who saved my life. She needs money for Brian’s rehab, and she’s got an inheritance from her grandfather, but she can’t get it unless she’s married for a couple of months. I’m stepping in to help her out. We’ll be married for two months plus a few weeks so it looks real. Three months max. What’s the big deal?”

“Here we go,” his grandfather said, like he was watching the start of a race.

“What’s the big deal?” his father shot back. “Didn’t we teach you anything? Wickeds don’t half-ass things. Especially not an institution as sacred as marriage. That’s not something you jump into with a predetermined end date.”

“It’s really not that big of a deal. You know I’ve got no plans of walking down an aisle for real, and neither does she.”

His mother popped to her feet. “Then why do it, honey?”

“Because it’s the only way she can afford to help her friend. I offered to lend her the money, but she’s afraid she’ll never be able to pay it back since she never wants to get married. I also offered to give her the money—”

“Zander, have you lost your mind?” his father fumed. “What do you even know about this girl?”

“I know she saved my life. That’s enough for me, and it should be enough for you, too,” Zander implored.

“You’re not thinking this through,” his father gritted out.

“That’s nothing new,” his grandfather said under his breath.

“Jesus Christ.” Zander paced. “Don’t you get it? For once in my life I am thinking something through. This is a fake marriage for a few months to help out the woman who saved my life. How can the three of you, of all people, find fault in that?”

“Do I need to make you a list?” his father barked. “You’re being reckless. I’m sure this inheritance comes with all sorts of caveats to protect the money from being handed out to a scammer. How are you going to make everyone believe you’re suddenly so in love you’re getting married, when you’ve flaunted your affinity for one-night stands for the last decade?”

Zander drew his shoulders back, holding his father’s stare. “There’s nothing I can’t do.”

“Honey.” His mother touched his arm, speaking more softly. “It’s commendable that you want to help Shauna. Your heart is in the right place, but marriage is not just a big deal. It’s the biggest deal there is. You two might not think you’ll ever want to get married, but look at your brothers and cousins. We know they weren’t saints, but when they met the right person, everything changed. A marriage is something you can’t take back. You can divorce or get an annulment, but it still happened. You might fall in love with someone in a few years and wish you’d never said I do to someone else first.”

“That’s not happening for me, Mom, and I don’t think Shauna’s worried about that, either.”

“Boy, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” his grandfather said gruffly. “When the right woman snags your heart, you’ve got no say in the matter. You’ll be down for the count before you know what’s happening, and most of us never want to get back up again.”

“That’s you and the rest of them, Gramps. It’s not me. I’m not built for that forever shit,” Zander insisted.

“Does she know who you are?” His father stalked closer, staring him down. “The real you? The guy who goes home with different women every week? The one who woke up with two women the morning of the accident?”

“Zander, is that true?” his mother snapped.

Zander gritted his teeth and didn’t bother answering his mother. He didn’t have to. She knew who he was. “Shauna knows exactly who I used to be.”

His parents exchanged a glance that was sharp and loaded with doubt, pissing him off even more.

“Zander, I know right now the accident is still fresh in your mind, and you think you want to change,” his mother said carefully but firmly. “But change is not that easy, sweetheart. You have to stop and think about Shauna. Three months is a long time, and your father is right. For you two to pull this off, people have to believe you’re in love, and I’m sorry, honey, but while you know about loving family and friends, being in love is a subject you know nothing about. You can’t be flirting with other women or even checking them out—”

“No shit,” Zander barked. “You think I’m a fucking idiot?”

“Watch your mouth,” his father warned. “Your mother is right. You’re going to hurt this girl, Zander, and you’ll never forgive yourself.”

His father’s words landed like spears, sparking fury and disillusionment. He looked between his parents and his grandfather. “Thanks for having faith in me,” he gritted out sarcastically. “All this time I thought you stood behind the lessons you taught us about putting others first. This marriage is happening with or without your support, and if you care about me at all, you won’t screw this up for her by telling anyone outside the family the reason we’re getting married.”

He turned and stalked out the door, storming past Zeke in the driveway.

“Whoa, dude.” Zeke grabbed his arm. “What happened? You look like you want to kill someone.”

“Ask your parents,” he fumed.

“I’m asking you.”

In no mood to repeat the whole fucking story, he said, “Shauna’s got an inheritance and needs the money for Brian’s rehab, but she’s got to be married for a few months to get it. I told Mom and Dad I’m marrying her on Friday, and they’re up my ass about it.”