Page 22 of The Temporary Bride

Dead silence.

“Spence.”

“I heard you,” he sputters. “I’m just—the ice queen? That’s who Julian Thorne decided you should marry?”

Something moves through my chest at that, an unpleasant twist. I’ve used that nickname plenty of times. Half of our year at Wharton used it. It never bothered me before tonight.

“Don’t call her that,” I say sharply.

Spencer pauses. “Sorry. I just meant⁠—”

“I know what you meant.” I stand up and head to the closet, pulling out clothes one-handed. “We’re getting married. The plans are already in motion. I bought her a ring today, actually.”

“Hold on.” He sounds stunned. “You’re actually going through with it.”

“I’m actually going through with it.”

“Damn.” He lets out a breath. “Okay. That’s a lot, man. On top of losing your dad.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’ll be fine.” I pull a shirt on. “I just need to get used to the idea. It’s only been a week.”

“Fair enough.” He’s quiet for a second. “We should get together. Grab a drink, catch up properly. You can tell me everything.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “Soon.”

We wrap it up, make loose plans, and then the line goes quiet.

I set my phone on the kitchen counter and stand there in the silence of my house, the ocean visible through the back windows, the last of the light going out over the water. My mind is already turning over everything that’s coming—the announcement, the wedding, moving her into this house, three years of my life that are going to look nothing like anything I planned for.

I meant it when I told her it was manageable. Three years, and then we both walk away and do whatever we want.

I’m just starting to think I may have undersold how complicated the next three years are actually going to be.

Chapter 8

Tristan

As I sit in my father’s old desk chair, perusing files on his work computer, I wonder to myself if the room has always been this big, or if it’s just unwanted nerves making me feel this way.

I’m not officially the company’s CEO yet. There’s a prescribed transition period, during which the shake-up will be smoothed out by various board appointments and office reshuffling.

But now that my father is gone, and this company is about to land in my hands, there are many things I need to get caught up on. To that end, I’ve been given access to my father’s office, his computer, and all of the company’s files.

There’s a lot to sift through. I’ve been here for eight hours so far, and I still don’t see a light at the end of this tunnel.

I was always closely involved with the running of the company, but even so, I wasn’t aware of the depth of my father’s job. There are files on this desktop that I’ve never laid eyes upon—important things that used to escape my notice.

Now everything is my responsibility. I can’t turn a blind eye to a single corner of this company’s workings. I need this transition to be smooth. Flawless. Easy.

A knock at the door distracts me from last year’s marketing reports. I look up and clear my throat, straightening my slightly-askew tie. “Come in.”

The door opens, and I let out an involuntary exhale of relief when Reid sticks his head into the room. If there’s anyone I can handle seeing right now, it’s my twin brother. Sure, we’ve drifted apart a bit since childhood, but I’m still closer with Reid than any of my other family members.

“You’re still at it, huh?” He gestures with his chin toward my desk, stepping into the room and closing the door behind himself.