A Very Exclusive Engagement(39)

“We’ve got a lot to sort out. I’m sorry, but we have to go.”

His aunt took another bite, not terribly concerned by their hasty exit. “That’s fine. I’ll take it back to the hotel with me. Henry will enjoy it.”

*

Liam’s car pulled up outside Francesca’s town house, but neither of them got out. It had been a silent drive from the restaurant. They must’ve both been in some kind of shock, although Francesca was certain they had different reasons for being struck mute.

When his aunt first started this, Liam had asked Francesca to be his fake fiancée. There was never even a mention that they would actually get married. He assured her it would never go that far. It seemed safe enough, even as she could feel herself slowly falling for him. Nothing would come of it, no matter how she felt. She wanted the kind of marriage Liam couldn’t offer, but they only had an engagement.

Marrying Liam was a completely different matter.

Not just because it would never work out between them. But because a part of her wanted to marry him. She loved him. She wanted to be his bride. But not like this. She wanted to marry a man who loved her. Not because he had a metaphorical shotgun pointed at him.

When Liam killed the engine, she finally found the courage to speak. “What are we going to do?”

When he turned to her, Francesca could see the pain etched into his face. He was facing the loss of everything he’d worked for, and he wasn’t the only one. She might not agree with Aunt Beatrice’s methods, but she understood where the woman was coming from. Desperation made people do crazy things. This was an ugly situation for everyone involved.

“She called my bluff. I’m just going to have to call hers. Tomorrow I’m going to tell her that the engagement was a setup and that we’re not getting married. I don’t think she’ll sell her stock to Wheeler. It’s not what she wants. She’s a woman accustomed to getting her way, but she’s not vindictive.” He ran his hand through his hair. “At least I don’t think she is.”

Francesca frowned. She didn’t like the sound of that plan. She didn’t exactly get a warm maternal feeling from the Crowe family matriarch. His aunt had nothing to lose. If she was willing to go so far as to force him into marriage, she had no doubt she’d follow through with her threat. “You can’t risk it, Liam.”

“What choice do I have? I can’t ask you to really marry me. That wasn’t a part of the deal. I never intended for it to go this far.”

Neither did she, but life didn’t always turn out the way you planned. “When would you get the balance of the stock?”

Liam sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not doing it. She’s taken this way too far.”

“Come on, Liam. Tell me.”

“I have to be married for a year. The ANS stock would be an anniversary gift, she said.”

A year. In the scheme of things it wasn’t that long. But she’d managed to fall in love with Liam in only a few weeks. A year from now, how bad off would she be? That said, the damage was done. Maybe a year of matrimony would cure her of her romantic affliction. It might give her time to uncover all his flaws. It was possible she wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of him by May of next year.

And even if she loved him even more…what choice did they have? Their network would be destroyed. They were both too invested in the company and the employees to let that happen. Her heart would heal eventually. It was a high price to pay but for a great reward.

“We have to get married,” she said.

Liam’s eyes widened. “No. Absolutely not.”

She couldn’t help the pout of her lower lip when he spoke so forcefully. She knew what he meant, but a part of her was instantly offended by his adamancy. “Is being married to me so terrible that you’d rather risk losing the network?”

Liam leaned in and took her face in both his hands. He tenderly kissed her before he spoke. “Not at all. I would be a very lucky man to marry you. For a year or twenty. But I’m not going to do that to you.”

“To me?”

“Yes. I know you’re a true believer. You want a marriage like your parents. I’ve seen your face light up when you talk about them and their relationship. I know that’s not what I’m offering, so I won’t ask you to compromise what you want, even for a year.”

She couldn’t tell him that he was what she wanted. If he thought for a moment that their arrangement had turned into anything more than a business deal, he would never agree to the marriage. He’d chosen her because he thought she could keep all of this in perspective. Knowing the truth would cost ANS everything.