boat pulled alongside them.
“Just trying to do you a favor before you make a big mistake. That lady is a trouble maker. One big trouble maker. Aren’t you Ann? She plays the system well.” The man went on and on with similar lines.
They were trapped. There was no way out of the situation. They were literally stranded in a boat in a cove with some lunatic in a boat. It was like road rage, but water rage. Perhaps even more dangerous.
“Let’s handle this like men. You’ve had your say, now move along.” Trent said.
The man didn’t listen and continued on in an impassioned voice, “Ann, don’t you get it. I was just foolishly testing you then. I made a mistake -a huge mistake. I wanted you….I still want you.” Then finally in a near whisper, “I love you.”
Then a true tear crept down Ann’s cheek.
Trent didn’t know what to make of the situation. Was she happy or upset or a combination of the two?
“Ann, I am begging you, please come back,” the man said in a shaky voice.
Ann turned to Trent and said, “Maybe it’s worth love after all.” Then she climbed over the back of the boat to the swimmer’s step and jumped in the water and swam to the other boat. The man helped her in the boat and gave her a powerful embrace. It was surely love reunited.
“Sorry man,” the guy in the other boat said and then took off with Ann.
There went his future wife and the solution to the problem in another man’s boat. Away drove his dreams.
Rachel crossed the boat to comfort him, squeezing his shoulder.
“Easy come, easy go,” Trent said full of mixed emotion.
“Back to the drawing board. Let’s go back to my place and get the binder,” Brett said.
“You still have that thing? I should have taken it home to burn,” Rachel asked with a look of horror on her face.
Trent was more irritated at the situation than anything else. It just didn’t feel right.
Chapter 5
After drying off and changing back in their normal clothes at Brett’s house the three sat at a table on the poolside deck once again looking at the binder.
As they flipped through the pages Trent was frustrated. On the surface none of the women looked like what he could be compatible with. Maybe he was finally starting to agree with Rachel that this wife hunting method was not the best way.
Trent shoved the book to the side. “No more. I just don’t know about this.”
“How else are you going to get a wife now that there are only three weeks until your meeting?” Rachel asked before taking a sip of her sweaty glass of lemonade. She then took her finger and circled it around the rim looking at Trent with her questioning green eyes.
“I know,” Brett said enthusiastically like he had just solved the mystery of the world.
“Do tell,” Trent said leaning closer to Brett in interest.
“You need someone to just pretend to be your wife.”
“I don’t know,” Trent said. He wanted to keep things honest, yet he had already lied. Xeron was just sticking to the values of their culture. Perhaps they needed to consider moving past the 1900 thought process. He was committed to any partnership he made. That was what they were truly looking for and he wouldn’t let them down there.
Rachel looked off deep in thought with her hand on her cheek. When she turned her attention back to them she said, “It’s a great idea. That way you won’t be throwing your life away with a phony relationship. You will still have a chance to discover someone that you can love and have a real marriage.”
“That’s not happening and you know that,” Trent snapped. After regaining his composure he said, “A pretend wife…where would I find one of those? I suppose I could hire an actress.” Yes, the answer was there. This was much better than the binder.
“No, not an actress. It wouldn’t come off right,” Brett said.
“Then how?” Rachel asked.
“You,” Brett replied.
“Rachel,” Trent asked shocked. Rachel had been many things
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley