14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Adam
I can’t believe I’m even considering proposing marriage to a woman I’ve never met. Maybe Steve is right, and I should stop reading romance novels. But honestly, if Finn hadn’t planted the idea in my head, I’m not sure I’d have reached this conclusion.
Marriage of convenience? It just doesn’t happen in real life, does it? I don’t know. I’m usually drama-free.
My hand falls to my stomach, and I try to rub away the burning sensation. The stress of the last few weeks is starting to affect me physically.
Is there something between Amelia and I? Yes.
Would I like to meet her and see if there’s any chemistry in person? Absolutely.
But I thought we’d start with a phone call, not a marriage proposal.
Discussion of our most recent book is completely forgotten now that I’ve told Olivia and Nicole about my expired visa, but not the marriage idea…
I’ll tell them—I’ll have to once I’m married—but for now, I’m going to keep that idea to myself.
“What?!” Olivia screams. “I swear, Adam, if you have any luck at all, it’s bad luck.”
“Seriously, Liv? Bad luck? He does not have bad luck,” Nicole retorts. “At least not normally.”
“That’s what I meant,” Liv says with a yelp. “This past month has been a lifetime of bad luck.”
“Gee. Thanks for helping me keep a positive outlook on things,” I scoff, rolling my neck to alleviate the gripping tightness.
“What did Finn say?” Nicole asks.
“What did Finn say about what?” I hear Steve yell, but I see Nicole wave him off before I hear a door close.
“He’s always so nosey.” She rolls her eyes, but her affection for him is obvious by the sparkle still in her eyes. “He says he doesn’t want to be a part of our book club, but then I always catch him eavesdropping.”
Nicole’s expression shifts when she looks back at me. Nicole and Olivia have worried expressions, and I wonder if I should’ve said anything.
“Of course, you should’ve said something!” Liv chastises me. “We are your family, and we’re here to support you!”
A snort escapes me, and I shake my head. “Are you sure Steve, you and I aren’t triplets?”
“Adam.” Nicole purses her lips and tilts her head bringing me back on topic. “What did Finn say?”
“Finn said the visa situation isn’t looking good.” I rub my hand up and down my face as their frowns deepen. “Tomorrow, he’ll have his assistant look into a few more ideas, but unless there is some kind of miracle, odds are I’ll be coming back to Canada.”
“That’s it?” Both Nicole and Liv are staring at me with eyes as wide as saucers, and all I can do is shrug.
“Wait. Isn’t there a way for a family member to put in a petition or something to help with citizenship?” Nicole puts a finger to her lip and taps. “I thought I heard something about that.”
“That’s one possibility. After I hear back from Finn I’m going to ask Steve, but the process can take up to a year or more.” I watch both of their faces fall and my stomach drops.
“Wait!” Liv’s face beams. The look in her eyes has me afraid of the thoughts going on in that head of hers. “Who is the girl you were talking to? You can ask her to marry you!”
I groan and roll my eyes. I knew that’s where she was going.
“There’s a girl?” Nicole shouts. “Why haven’t you told us about this?”
“There isn’t a girl.” I squirm in my seat and feel the heat creep up my face. At least, not in the conventional sense. Regardless, I refuse to even discuss this with them. “Not you too, with this marriage nonsense! Finn suggested it. I said no. I’m not getting married.”
“But you’re thinking about it,” Olivia teases, and Nicole nods, a bright smile lighting her face.
“It’s written all over you, Adam.” Nicole chuckles.
I groan again and rub my hand up and down my face. Why did I even bring this up with them? I should’ve known they were going to make it a thing .
I peek through my fingers and find them staring at me, arms crossed. I laugh out loud and watch their faces pull into a frown, making me laugh harder.
“I promise to keep you up to date with any decisions I make, but until I make a decision, there is nothing to talk about.” Olivia opens her mouth to speak. I put my hand up to stop whatever words she may want to utter. “Nothing to talk about. Okay?”
They stare at me in silence, but the questions they want to ask are written on every nuance of their faces.
“Good, and thank you. Now, let’s get to the reason for this Zoom call. Amelia Adams' new book.”
I watch Nicole’s eyes dance with humor. “Which just happens to have two of my favorite tropes. Fake dating—”
“And marriage of convenience.” Liv finishes before they both burst out laughing.
I love our time together, but right now, I just want to hit ‘end meeting.’ Instead, I pretend neither one of them said anything and move into discussing the book—a book that just happens to have the title The Husband I Never Wanted.
Looking through the coffee shop door, I see Thanks-A-Latte is jam-packed this Saturday morning, which kicks my nerves up another notch. I was hoping for a nice, low-key environment in case I humiliate myself.
Guess that was wishful thinking. Now, I’ll have an entire audience to witness it.
Flattening my flannel with one hand, I question if I made the right choice. I changed three times, which is silly because I’m still wearing jeans and a blue cotton t-shirt under my flannel.
I take a deep breath and pull open the door. The bell jingles, and I step back to let a mom and four kids pass. When one of the boys notices me, he stops in front of me, mouth hanging open, and freezes. I smile and tip the cap of my baseball hat at him.
“Gregory!” His mom’s harried voice snaps him out of surprise. A wide smile spreads across his face, and he waves.
“Mom, that was Adam Daniels!” He whisper-yells as he chases after his mom and siblings.
“Who?” His mom asks impatiently as I notice her do a quick head count. I chuckle and walk into the coffee shop.
The smell of freshly ground coffee beans, the whir of the frother, and the murmur of people talking hit me, sending a hum through my already sensitive senses. I swallow past the lump in my throat.
I’m not a big coffee drinker, but even I can admit that the smell of fresh coffee and espresso being brewed brings a unique comfort to the air.
I wipe my palms down the front of my jeans before turning to the front of the shop, scanning the seats when my eyes land on a woman with long brown hair, an elegant profile, and a Mavs hat. Her location: the back corner booth.
She’s looking out the front window, people-watching. I let my gaze fall to her hands and watch as she cracks her knuckles. The knot in my stomach loosens a bit, and a lopsided grin flits across my lips.
Slowly making my way toward her, I let my gaze fall back to her face just as she turned toward me.
Our eyes collide, my heart nearly leaps out of my chest, and I’m cursed by two left feet.
The person sitting in the corner booth, along the front of the shop, is none other than Susie Owens.
Josh Owens' sister. Susie Owens.
My stomach drops to the floor, and my feet are stuck in concrete. I’m frozen to the spot. Glancing around the coffee shop, I wonder if there is another back corner booth along the front containing a woman wearing a Mavs hat.
Nope. Not a single one.
A wry grin crosses my face when I glance back at Susie. She’s staring at me, blinking repeatedly. A small smile creeps upon her lips, and I feel mine expand. My heart is a battering ram in my chest, and my stomach is a swirling pool of anxiety. Part of me is relieved that it’s her, while the other part is ready to throw up my breakfast.
There is no way I can ask Josh’s sister to be my fake wife. He’ll murder me in front of the entire team, possibly on live TV. It might be a better idea just to give up my career and head back to Canada.
Even as these thoughts are playing over in my head, my feet are walking in Susie’s direction.
“Hey, Adam.” She grins at me before peeking around me. “Were you craving some peppermint tea?”
“That.” I smirk. “And I’m here to meet someone.”
“Oh?” Her eyebrows shoot up. “That’s too funny. So am I. Meeting somebody, that is.”
“I know.” Her eyebrows pull together, and her head tilts in the most adorable way. I can’t help it; I laugh.
“Hi, Amelia.” I hold my hand out to her just as her mouth drops open. “I’m Chase.”
She mindlessly shakes my hand, her mouth still hanging open.
“I’m gonna head over and grab a peppermint tea. Would you like something to drink?” I point to the empty space in front of her. Her eyes follow my finger before she looks back up at me, a deer-in-headlights expression in her eyes and an adorable pink flush covering her cheeks.
Based on her response, I think it’s safe to say that we are equally surprised at who ‘Chase’ and ‘Amelia’ are. Surprisingly, this helps me to relax until I remember the real purpose of wanting to meet up.
With how my life has been going, is it any surprise that ‘Amelia’ is Susie? I shake my head and laugh.
“I’ll grab you a latte. Is that okay?” I ask softly, afraid she will get up and run at any moment.
She slowly nods her head, and a grin takes over my face.
“Great. I’ll be back in just a bit.” I turn to walk away but can’t help teasing her one last time. “Don’t go anywhere while I’m gone.”
A gleam pierces through the deer-in-headlights look, and the corner of her lips lift. Tingles run down my spine, and I can’t stop myself before I wink. Her flush deepens to my surprise, causing my already overworked heart to race.
I know I’m playing with fire, and grabbing the gasoline instead of water is not even remotely smart. But right now, I’m not sure I want to play it safe.
Susie Owens is Amelia. That one fact just made the craziest thing I’m ever going to do easier.
I’m going to ask ‘Amelia’ to marry me.
Sorry, Josh.