The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(51)

"I'm listening."

"I know you are, but it's different. You have to."

"I'm here because I want to be here," Charlotte said.

"Thank you," Jack said.

Charlotte turned to Jack. The light caught his eyes just right to make them seem powder blue. She felt like she was seeing the real him, as if in this light he could finally show her the depths of his longing. She slid her body tight against his and kissed him. His nose and cheeks were cold but his lips were warm.

"You shouldn't have to struggle with all of this yourself," Charlotte said.

Charlotte didn't want to change Jack. She just wanted him to do what would make him happy in life, to make the right decisions instead of the popular ones.

Charlotte wondered what Jack would do if she told him she didn't want to settle for a fake marriage. The more time she spent around him, the closer she was to admitting to herself she wanted their relationship to be real. She decided she had to tell him, but she knew it wasn't the right time. She'd have to wait for her opportunity.

"Your mother wants us to get married here in the summer," she said. "I think she and your sister are already making plans."

"I told them not to do that," Jack said. "I'll take care of it with the Havens."

"Maybe it makes sense to let them arrange it here. We wouldn't have to worry about it, and it would make such a beautiful wedding for the public, even with your whole family there." Charlotte regretted saying it as soon as the words were out of her mouth.

Jack's winced ever so slightly. It wasn't just the idea of his family, Charlotte knew, because that look of frustration was one she had become intimately familiar. There was something else bothering him about the idea of his family being at the ceremony, or of the wedding being a public spectacle.

"I'll take care of it," he said.

"Whatever you want to do, we'll do," Charlotte said. "Let's go back to the house. You can tell them whatever you want, but just know that I'll be by your side."

She placed her hand over Jack's.

He pulled away for a second and pulled off his glove. Charlotte locked her fingers between his as their eyes met. She could see that twinge of pain fading away in his face as they held hands in the cold. Her hand would have been much warmer shoved into one of the pockets of her oversized coat, but she didn't care.

She wasn't going to let go. Not for warmth, not for anything.





Chapter 19

The entryway was quiet when they returned, and a lone lamp lit one corner of the great expanse of the main living room. Save for the light from the brightening morning and some light spilling under the doorway to the dining room, the house was dark. Jack took Charlotte's hand and led her to the dining room. Five place settings sat ready on the long table.

Jack squeezed Charlotte's hand tighter and led her to the kitchen. A blond woman, about fifty years old, stood over a large metal pot, stirring away.

"Jack!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing giving me a fright like that? I didn't know if we'd get to see you this time."

The woman placed the bowl down on the counter and gave Jack a bear hug. After she let go, Jack straightened himself up, and smiled.

"Greta, you're a sight for sore eyes. I didn't expect you to be in so early."

Greta waved his doubts away like they were insane. "You think I wasn't itching to be here this morning when I heard the news? I begged to stay yesterday when your mother told me to have the day off."

Jack wrapped his arm around Charlotte and pulled her close. "I'd like you to meet my fiancée. Charlotte, this is Greta, my mother's personal chef and an old friend."

"I've read about you in the tabloids. The woman who tamed Jack Coburn. Let me see the ring!"

Charlotte held out her hand.

"Oh, it's much more beautiful than it looked in the pictures," Greta said. "And you seem just as charming as they say."

"Is that what they're saying about me?" Charlotte laughed. She had read all the articles too, but it was strange to have a complete stranger know who she was.

Greta pushed Jack's shoulder. "You did well. Rick and Amos were wondering if they'd get to see you. We follow everything we can about you. Your mother is so proud. We all are. It's hard to believe our little Jack-Jack has grown up to become Congressman Coburn, soon to be Senator Coburn."

"Thank you, Greta," Jack said. He couldn't help but blush. He turned to Charlotte. "Greta's parents worked for my parents for years. She used to babysit me from time to time when the nanny wasn't around."

"My brother and I would watch him, but Jack always seemed more mature than the both of us combined. By the time he was a teenager, and I was working for his parents, it was like we were brother and sister."

"Speaking of brothers, how is Rick these days?" Jack asked.

"He's well," Greta said, "He and Amos were hoping to catch up with you at some point."

Jack surveyed the kitchen and looked out toward the dining room. "Is anyone up yet?" he asked.

"Your mother has been up for a while, but you know how she likes to read in the morning. Your brother and sister… well, you know them."