Page 3 of Conveniently Theirs (Viva Las… Oh, Sh!t)

three

Kendall

N early spilling my wine, I jerk back and blink at Josh.

A fake marriage? Part of me wants to laugh off the possibility, or maybe even be a bit insulted.

Instead a curl of excitement rises from my belly.

Honestly, there’s a trembling moving lower as well and I shift to press my thighs together in an attempt to capture the feeling.

I’ve gotten good at this when I think about Josh. Fantasize about being with him.

He’d surprised me with his sudden proposal.

Even though that moment has been part of my fantasies for years, I never expected to hear those words from him in real life.

While he tried to backpedal and explain, the possibility found a solid hold in my heart.

A lavender marriage could work. I’d be happy being with him even without a physical relationship.

Then he suggests a fake marriage.

“Fake?” My voice squeaks and I clear my throat. “How would that even work?”

“It would be like that play. We’d… pretend… to be in love. Get married. Live together.”

I interrupt. “The three of us?”

We both turn to Devin. He rolls his gaze, shakes his head, and shrugs. “If it works out that way.”

If it…? “There’s no other way it could work, Devin. I wouldn’t even consider the possibility if there’s any chance at all I’d come between you and Josh.”

His grin is lazy and relaxed, a contrast to the intensity shimmering in his eyes.

He’s compelling and fake marrying my best friend would also give me the opportunity to know him better.

I collapse against the overly cushioned couch back.

I need to be careful. It’s bad enough I’m in love with one gay man.

Falling completely for a second would be a disaster to my emotions.

“I know you wouldn’t, sweets. That happening shouldn’t even enter your mind.

Josh and I are solid. Our love has a deep foundation.

” Devin gives Josh a quick, side-eye glance then focuses on me.

His pupils are slightly dilated, expanding into the pale blue of his irises as I watch. “You won’t come between us…”

He catches his bottom lip as though he’s physically stopping himself from saying more. A ruddy tint spreads from the edge of his light brown scruff to touch the high angle of his cheekbones. The butterflies in my belly react with a wild flight of awareness. What else was he going to say?

Why do his unspoken words bring such longing to my heart? And body. This entire situation is dangerous to my emotional well-being. Suddenly, I’m in the mood for a little danger.

Fake marrying Josh will put my love for him to a serious test. I’m sure there will be moments when I’ll wish he liked me ‘in that way’.

Hell, I’ve felt that way since high school.

Living with him might actually be a good thing.

I don’t really know him on a normal life, day to day basis.

Our times together have been mostly vacations.

What is he like when immersed in real life?

Maybe I won’t like that Josh as much. Maybe I’d be able to rein in my fantasies and focus on finding a more appropriate man. Holding back a snort of derision at my thoughts, I realize how silent the room is. The hope and anticipation nearly palpable.

Ah, heck. What else do I have to do with my life right now?

My job sucks. I don’t have any real friends other than these two men.

Plenty of acquaintances, but not anyone I enjoy spending much time with.

The three of us could have a fun life, maybe travel like we’ve always planned.

Besides, what’s wrong with devoting a year or two to pretending to love someone I already do?

Friends help friends. If my ‘not that much of a sacrifice’ will help Josh and Devin secure their futures why shouldn’t I say yes? It’s what friends do.

I blink and realize I’ve been staring at Devin. His brows have lowered over his blue eyes, questioning me.

Ripping my gaze from Devin, I focus on Josh. This is it. I’ve made my decision. I hope to god it’s the right one. Drawing a deep breath, I square my shoulders, and say, “Yes, Josh, I will fake marry you.”

He lunges for me and wraps me in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Keni. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. To us.”

His words whisper past my ear and send shivers down my spine.

And they have no idea what my acquiescence means to me.

I can’t imagine my unrequited love ending while we’re married.

I don’t know how difficult it’s going to be keeping those intense emotions hidden.

Or my physical longing when he’s such a physically demonstrative person.

I peek at Devin over Josh’s shoulder. His relieved grin widens and he nods, mouthing, “Thank you.”

There’s my feelings for Devin I need to sort through as well.

What the hell have my fantasies and run away emotions gotten me into?

When I start squirming, Josh releases me and immediately takes my hand. “Kendall…”

I give him a fierce look. “Enough with the thank yous. You are most welcome. Both of you. So, what do we do now? When do we need to…” I make air quotes. “…get married?”

Josh dips his head and mumbles.

“What?” I lean closer.

His dark eyes are wide and apologetic when he looks at me. “Uh, tomorrow?”

“Tomor—”

“It’s fast, yes. But I thought, we thought, it would be best to get it over with as quickly as possible.”

“As quickly as possible?” I wait for some sort of disappointment to set in.

Shouldn’t I want more out of my wedding?

Months of planning and shopping? That could be fun with a rich fiancé footing the bill.

I hold back a shudder. I hate shopping for clothes.

Searching for a wedding dress that fits would be a challenge.

One I’ll happily avoid. “An unexpected proposal and immediate wedding. I don’t think I packed for this. ”

Devin moves to sit on the coffee table and takes my other hand. “Not a problem, sweets.”

With both of them touching me an odd contentment settles the surging doubt twisting my insides.

I don’t normally mention things like wealth and social standings but this might be important.

“With your money, your place in your family business, and in the world of the rich, don’t you think everyone would expect a grand, lavish wedding? Even when marrying a commoner like me?”

“There’s nothing common about you, darlin’,” Josh says then kisses the back of my hand. “If you want that kind of wedding, then that’s what we’ll have. It might be more difficult to arrange the fake part…” He glances at Devin.

Devin shrugs. “Perhaps. Still, it can be done.”

I pull my hands from both of them and clasp them in my lap.

“I don’t want a fancy wedding. There’s no part of me that wants to be that much the center of attention or wants to do all that planning.

No, as soon as possible is fine. At the clerks office?

I think I have clothes that would be appropriate for that. ”

“Devin has everything planned and under control for tomorrow.”

I chuckle and poke Josh in the chest. “You must have been sure I’d say yes.”

He grabs my finger, gives a squeeze then releases me. “I hoped you would. This changes a lot for you, Keni. Besides tying yourself to me, are you willing to quit your job and move to South Carolina? That’s a huge life change.”

“You know I haven’t been happy at my job. Leaving them, even without notice, isn’t going to be difficult. Moving? I haven’t settled in one place for more than a few years. I still have unpacked boxes from the last move. Those things don’t concern me. I can find a job anywhere.”

“You really won’t have to work… if you want to take a break.” Josh reclaims my hand. “You could be a socialite.”

Laughter bursts past my lips. “Oh, I am so not a real housewives of anywhere candidate. Fitting in with that crowd is thankfully way down on my life list. Oh wait. It isn’t even on the list. Come on, Josh.

You know that’s not me.” I sober. “I know that being a billionaire’s wife has certain requirements. ”

He shakes his head so hard it makes me laugh again. “Keni, there’s no requirements. You can do whatever you want. Make your life, our life together, into what you need it to be.”

“As long as we keep up the husband and wife vibe.”

“There is that.”

“Of course, I’ve read that many rich couples lead totally separate lives. So that works in your favor. Yours and Devin’s.”

Devin rises and moves to stare out the window. He speaks to the artificially bright darkness beyond the glass. “There will have to be adjustments each of us has to make. A learning curve of how our lives fit together. How we deal with problems and conflict. That’s to be expected.”

Josh shifts. “Devin and I have discussed these concerns, probably way too many times. I know you should have been included in the process, you’ll have topics we haven’t thought of.

Issues and concerns. I promise we’ll take time for that.

As much time as we need. Unfortunately, I need to be married soon. ”

Worry nips at my swirling thoughts. “There’s a time limit? Is your uncle okay?”

“He’s fine. No official limit, but I sense, and Devin agrees, that the sooner this issue is taken care of…”

“And I’m sure you don’t want to give me time to change my mind after I’ve agreed to your plan.

” As if I would. This is my one and only opportunity to be as close to Josh as I can.

We might not share a bedroom… I’ll deal with that like I have all these years.

A buzzing toy and fantasies are all I need.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

“Keni, darlin’, I didn’t think that. You’re as good as your word. Always have been. We’ll do this thing however you want.”

“How I want, huh?”

“Of course.”

“Then tomorrow we’re getting fake married. What do we need to do first to get this going.”

Devin turns from the window. A wide grin brightens his face. “First, we go shopping.”