Page 60 of Make-Believe Match

“We sure did.” I pulled into a parking spot at the store. “You would not believe how easy it is to tie the knot in that place. We came home yesterday.”

“So you spent the night there?”

“Yes.”

“Together?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“Yes.”

She shrieked. “This is bananas, Lexi!”

“I know.” I turned off the engine. “But it’s how it has to happen because of Gran’s stupid will.”

“Have you told her yet?”

“No. That’s tomorrow.” I got out of the car and started walking toward the store. “And then we have to tell his family.”

“But you’re telling them like it’s real, right?”

“Itisreal. The marriage, anyway.”

“You know what I mean! You’re pretending like you’re actually in love?”

“Yes. We have to.” Wincing a little, I grabbed a cart at the store entrance. “We don’t love that we have to lie to everyone we care about, but Devlin thinks the ends justify the means.”

“Do you?”

“I keep saying I’ll do anything to save my home,” I said, putting some fresh sage and thyme in my basket.

“But what if your grandmother doesn’t believe you? What if she sells anyway? Or what happens if youdoget control of Snowberry? Are you stuck being married to this guyforever? Two weeks ago, you couldn’t stand him!”

“We get along better now,” I assured her. “But no. The marriage has an expiration date.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it depends on when the funding comes through, but probably sometime next spring. Summer.”

“So one year of make-believe?”

“At most.” I paused in front of the squashes and lowered my voice. “It’s notallmake-believe, actually.”

“It isn’t? What’s real?”

“The orgasms,” I whispered, laughing a little. “The orgasms are definitely real.”

Winnie laughed. “I thought my sister Felicity was crazy when she faked an engagement, but this is next level.”

“Felicity faked an engagement? I never knew that! To who?”

“To Hutton.”

“Wait, isn’t that her husband’s name?”

“Yes.” Another giggle. “Turns out it wasn’t all make-believe for them, either.”