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“I hope not.” He leaned back. “Do you trust Liliana?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it to her if I didn’t.”

“Wait.” He paused, eyes flashing to mine. “What? You already talked to her about it?”

“Briefly,” I said.

“Please tell me you had her sign an NDA.” Concern lined his tone and his features. “Her old one expired last year. And unless you’re suggesting that marriage is somehow a trade secret, it’s not covered.”

“She won’t say anything. And even if she did, it sounds so outlandish, no one would believe her.”

“Jesus, Graham.” He groaned. “Are you even listening to yourself right now?”

“I can trust her,” I gritted out, even though I knew he was right. NDAs were essential, especially with something as explosive as this.

“You better hope you’re right.”

Yes, marrying her would help me accomplish my goals. But I’d been driven by a deep and intense need to help her. Not that I was going to tell Pierce that. He’d only be more determined to talk me out of it.

“What about her blog? Her negative reviews on the Huxley properties?”

“It was never about the negative reviews, and you know it.”

“You’re telling me her reviews didn’t bother you at all,” he challenged.

“Honestly,” I said in a calm tone, “I hated that part of me knew she was right. And I was fucking annoyed that I couldn’t figure out her identity for the longest time.”

“And now?” he asked.

“I admire her. I’ve always admired her, you know that.”

The silence was so loud I could practically hear him thinking.

“Even so, I thought you were opposed to marriage, period.”

“I am.Was. But that was because I thought it was forever.” Because my wife would expect something I couldn’t give—Vulnerability. Connection. Devotion. “This…” I sighed. “This would be a business arrangement.” And I knew how to navigate those. Personal relationships, especially romantic ones, not so much.

Though there had been nothing businesslike about that almost-kiss. The feel of her skin was still seared on my brain. It was as if there’d been this invisible thread tugging me toward her. Urging me to touch. Kiss. Claim.

I pushed away the thought, telling myself it was a good thing Liliana had pulled away. It wasn’t like it meant anything.

“A business arrangement. Right.” He scoffed, doing nothing to hide his skepticism.

So, I explained Lily’s project and her proposal that we spend ten days a month at the château.

“I know I suggested it, but this all just seems so out of character. I mean, hell, you rarely date.”

“I don’t date.” It was a pointless waste of time.

I detested small talk. And the women I’d dated in the past had always tried to change me and then been disappointed when they couldn’t.

“Exactly,” Pierce said. “And now you’re going to ask everyone to believe you’ve suddenly had this huge change of heart? And right before your forty-fifth birthday. It looks suspicious.”

No shit.I’d rarely dated anyone long enough to introduce them to my family. The few times I had, it had backfired. They’d been charmed by Nate. Enamored with Knox. Infatuated with Jasper. It had only served to magnify our differences and my shortcomings.

But I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I’d exhausted all my other options.

“Wouldn’t spending ten days with her every month in France help with that?” I pointed out.