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“I know.” She touched my face. “Speaking of Agnes, I saw her at Saigon Bistro. I thought she was still on vacation in Maui.”

“She came back to help at the museum since Joseph is still missing. There’s a lot of administrative work that needs to be completed.”

“That’s a dedicated employee you have.” Vanessa elbowed me. “I also saw your mom and sister at the restaurant. Seems like that place is where I keep bumping into people.”

“Was she mean to you?”

“Not mean, more like irritated. I don’t blame her, though.” Vanessa looked at me. “She’s your mom. You need to soothe her anger. Did you tell her about us eloping?”

“Yes. She didn’t like it.”

“Does she know my real name?”

“Yes.”

Relief settled on her face. “Well, you need to figure out a way to make her happy again. She thinks I lured her son to the dark side.”

“No, she doesn’t.” I chuckled. “You lured me back to the light.”

Vanessa gave me the side eye. “Trust me, she does. She believes I’ve corrupted you beyond saving.”

I laughed. “I was corrupt when she took me in.”

“Seriously, I don’t want her to think ill of us whenever she sees us. What does she like? How can I warm her up?”

“Just be you. She likes plants, though,” I said, loving the idea that Vanessa wanted to win over my family. “Ellen is more understanding.”

“A mother would take something like this to heart, whereas a sister is more forgiving. Let me get a plant so you can give it to her. Say you’re sorry.”

“I’ll comply with my wife’s demands if she fulfills her obligations.”

“What obligations?”

“You don’t remember, love?” I placed a hand on her shoulders. “If you breach your contract, I get to ask you for anything.”

She sobered, and her mouth twisted. “I’m sorry I broke?—”

I pressed a finger to her lips. “Don’t be sorry. Iwantedyou to breach the contract.”

“What?” She gaped at me.

I smirked. “What can I say? I’m a greedy man. I wanted to see where this relationship could go without the contract. Don’t tell me you haven’t been thinking about it.”

“What are you saying?”

“Let’s date. Forget the contract. People will assume we’re married, and that’s fine. But I don’t want you to think I’m pretending to want you. There was no pretense in Maui, and there’s no pretense here.”

She smiled, but then fear squashed it. “Is that going to complicate things even more?”

“Lily Pad, it’s going to make things easier for me. A contract makes this relationship too fake, you know? I want us to be real. I wanted it from the beginning.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “What do you mean?”

“I had a fine print added to the contract. You were so focused on your requirements that you didn’t read it.”

“You’re so sneaky! What did it say?”

“That the contract is voided from the moment you kiss me.” I grinned. “That happened during the ceremony.”