Husband for Hire Read Online Free PDF Page B

course.”
    There was a moment of silence. Then Eric spoke again. “Are you happy, Bec?”
    â€œI am.” Except for lying and deceiving and being attracted to a man without any potential for a future relationship. “Don’t be too hard on Gavin, okay? Eloping was my idea.”
    â€œHe went along with it.”
    She heard condemnation in his voice. “He’d do anything for me, Eric. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
    He sighed. “Of course it is.”
    â€œThen just be happy for me.”
    She hung up the phone a minute later feeling lowerthan low. What a sincerely stupid thing she’d done, even if for what she thought were the right reasons.
    After a minute of remorse, she sat up tall in her chair. She would get through the weekend and the lie somehow, because it mattered. She’d made her decision for good reasons, solid reasons. She couldn’t backpedal.
    Except…now she had another tricky situation to deal with. She drummed her fingers on her desk, debating, and then finally called Gavin’s cell phone.
    â€œWe have a new complication,” she said.
    â€œThe first of many, I imagine,” he said drily. “What’s up?”
    â€œI just talked to Eric. He’s looking forward to seeing pictures of our wedding.”
    There was a long moment of pause. “Okay. You find the right dress to wear. I’ll take care of everything else. I’ll pick you up around noon on Sunday.”
    For a woman used to making decisions herself, she gave in easily to his taking charge. “Thank you, Gavin. Thank you so much.”
    â€œIt’s something any good husband would do.”
    She heard the smile in his voice. “What about your weekend plans?”
    â€œI can be done by then. See you on Sunday.”
    â€œGavin,” she said in a hurry before he hung up— and before she lost her nerve.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIf your plans include getting a haircut, please don’t.” She wanted to run her fingers through it,had been hoping for a chance while they were “married.”
    She could almost hear him frown.
    â€œI should look my best for our wedding photos,” he said. “They last a lifetime, you know.”
    â€œI think it adds to your philanthropic, selfless-doctor look,” she said.
    He laughed, soft and low, a sound that registered in her as if their bodies had been touching. She liked him too much. Way too much.
    â€œI guess I can make that sacrifice for my wife.”
    â€œThank you,” she said, the phrase becoming all too common. “If there’s something you think of that I can do, you’ll let me know, right?”
    â€œLook like a bride. I’ll handle the rest. And relax, okay? It’ll be fine.”
    â€œGiving up control is hard for me,” she admitted.
    â€œNo kidding. Let go of the wheel, Becca. Control’s an illusion, anyway, so you might as well just have fun.”
    Was that his philosophy? Was that why he was happy working temp jobs, not having a particular career? She wished she could be more like him. Well, a little more like him. She couldn’t give up the career she’d worked so hard for.
    â€œYou win,” she said. “Please keep track of your expenses.”
    â€œSee you later.” Then he hung up, without waiting for her to even say goodbye.
    Becca looked around her office. If she had a window, she would’ve taken advantage of it to stare outside while she considered their conversation.
    Look like a bride, he’d said. She took a mental tour of her closet, but nothing appropriate came to mind. She needed to shop. Normally she would ask Suki to go with her, but she didn’t want to involve anyone else, if possible. As it was, Eric would wonder why Suki hadn’t attended her best friend’s wedding.
    A wedding without a honeymoon.
    Somehow that didn’t seem quite fair.
    She laughed, let herself relax