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“Are you serious?” Adelia’s tone revealed her surprise.
“Yeah, why?”
“I’ve tried to get him to teach me for years. He always says it’s a family secret.”
“Well, I walked in on him making them, so it wasn’t like he could hide what he was doing. And he had already made the filling before I got here. I basically shaved some chocolate and helped coat them.”
“You two are such cute little newlyweds, making truffles together. Did you feed them to each other?”
Merritt let out a loud laugh. “You’re hilarious.”
“I can picture it now.”
“I should go,” Merritt said.
“Don’t be like that.”
“No, I really do need to pack.”
“All right. Have a great trip. Tell me all about it.”
“You know I will.”
They hung up, and Merritt lay back and stared at the ceiling, mulling over all the things Adelia had told her about Gus and the Schultzes. She still wasn’t sure if this scam of a marriage was the biggest mistake of her life or the best decision she’d ever made, but a part of her was looking forward to getting to know more about the Schultz family.
FOURTEEN
What did you tell your family?” Merritt asked as she settled into the soft leather seat in first class and took a sip of champagne. She didn’t travel often, and never flew first class when she did, so this was a luxury to her.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t tell them you hit me with your car.” Gus winked, and Merritt nearly spit out her drink. “I’ve only spoken to Sky, and I told her we met after I came back to California in October and that we hit it off right away.”
She rolled her eyes as she took another sip. “What was it I liked about you?”
He looked over at her and gestured down at his body with a cocky grin on his face.
“Oh my gosh. You think that’s all it takes to make a woman fall in love with you?”
He smirked. “I mean, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Anyway, besides … that, what am I supposed to say drew me in? It certainly wasn’t your charm.”
“Hey, my charm is one of my greatest assets.” He leaned a little closer. “You don’t think I’m charming?” He gave her puppy dog eyes.
She thought about the night in the kitchen, making truffles together. He’d been so different than his usual cocky self. Like maybe the real Gus, the one Adelia assured her existed, was showing through. And she liked that guy. “I suppose you have your moments.”
“Ha!” He pointed at her. “I knew it. You find me charming.”
She scowled. “Not when you act like this.”
He sat back, looking pleased with himself.
“How did we meet?” Merritt asked. “We need a backstory.”
“Adelia introduced us, which is true.”
“Where were we?”
“Her place. You came over to visit after I moved into her pool house. I came to the main house, introductions were made, and the rest is history.”