5. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ana Maria

I t's five thirty in the afternoon, and I've already changed a dozen times. Nothing seems to look 'right' for my meeting with Justin. I haven't been this nervous in years. Add to that the fact that today was the first day in five years I didn't see him at the library.

Something happened, but I'm not sure what. He wouldn't just miss a day of coming to the library to volunteer. He's never done that before. I'm being silly. Nothing's happened. I just need to choose a dress for tonight.

I remind myself for the hundredth time that this is not a date. It's a simple meeting where he will apologize for offering me money to become his wife. The offer made me feel cheap and hurt my self-esteem. It took me a few hours, but I realized my reaction was something I could control, and I didn't need to feel those negative things.

Finally I just throw on something warm and leave for my meeting. I'm conflicted about Justin Hoffer and his presence in my life. Yes, I've had the biggest crush on him for the past five years, but he's kept a line between us that I have respected out of fear mostly.

I arrive ten minutes before the hour and get out of my car. Justin is in the parking spot next to me and turning off his engine. Our eyes meet, and a wave of heat goes through my body. That man is hot. What wouldn't I give to be in his arms.

My eyes are glued to his body, and I find myself blushing. He gets out of his truck and walks towards me.

"You're going to freeze if you stand here much longer. Let's go inside where it's warm."

He waves for me to go before him, and I snap myself out of the daze I'm in. Once inside he shows me to a booth – they are a new addition to the shop – and we sit across from one another. It's as if we are on a date, but I need to keep reminding myself this is not that. At all.

"Thank you for meeting me here, Ana."

I don't feel like doing any small talk, so I just take the bull by the horns.

"I'm sorry I slapped you, but you made me feel cheap with that offer."

"What? Cheap, why?"

"You offered me money. I'm not a whore or a gold digger, Justin."

He takes in a deep breath and seems to be digesting the words.

"I'm sorry, too,” he says, looking down. “I was desperate."

"Desperate?"

I don't understand anything this man is saying.

"Let's go back to the beginning. I was told I could not volunteer at the library anymore."

"What? Who told you that?"

"A letter by the board of trustees of the library. But Mayor Douchebag came to gloat at my office, so I'm pretty sure he's got something to do with it."

"He mentioned he was going to take care of you. I didn't know what he meant when he said it. I'm sorry."

"I'm going to run for mayor, but my winning depends on you."

I'm surprised at this information. A lot of us in town have been hoping for someone to run against Mayor Mitchell. Justin’s words give me pause.

"What do you mean it depends on me?"

"I need two things that only you can help me with. I need a wife and a campaign manager."

Shock goes through my system because he's not joking at all. He's completely serious.

"Let's take this one step at a time. You want to run for mayor?"

"Yeah. Mayor Mitchell hasn't been doing a great job for the past couple of years, and I think it’s time someone ran against him. The municipal elections are a couple of months from now, and I can run against him."

"Is this something you have wanted for a long time?"

"I think I can help Woodland Falls."

"So this is new. Does your family have a feud with the mayor?"

"It's complicated. I need your help, Ana."

There's that word. Need. I want him to need me. My life would be complete if I accepted this proposal. Where's the romance, though? I want flowers, candy, and hand-holding. I'm not sure those things are included in Justin's plan.

"We hardly know each other, Justin."

"I've seen you every day at the library since you started working there."

"Yes, and we've said hello, good morning, good afternoon, and other pleasantries. You've told me every day what you are fixing or restoring at the library, but we've never had a real conversation."

"I'd like to change that."

"Then ask me out on a date already!"

I'm starting to get angry at his stupid man. Why does he have to make everything so complicated?

His hand moves across the table to lay against mine.

"I think you'd make a wonderful wife and mother to my daughter. Daisy cares about you so much already. All she does when she comes home is tell me about what you guys talk about whenever she goes to the library."

That beautiful vision of us as a family starts to invade my thoughts. Could I be a mother to that lovely little girl? Can I make a life with Justin? I try to shake myself because this is not how to start a relationship.

"Why me, Justin?"

"Because you're amazing. I see how you treat people and how diligent you are about your job. Your eyes shine with curiosity whenever someone asks for help, and you do everything in your power to ensure the library assists as many people in our community as possible."

I'm surprised that he has taken notice of me and my work and feel just a little bit flattered. Is it enough, though?

"There are two different issues we're dealing with here. Actually, three, I think. You running for mayor, you being my husband and me being your daughter's mother."

He nods as if everything I'm saying is making sense. I'm not sure it is. His hand is still on top of mine and I'm a little giddy at that link between us. I can feel the warmth of his body where we're touching and my heart flutters a little bit in response.

"Tell me more, Ana. Tell me you'll help me."

"I'll be your campaign manager. I believe you could help this town more than the current mayor. It's my first time doing something like this, so you'll need to be patient with me."

"You're going to do great. People want a change. They're ready for it."

"Now, let's talk about the other two things."

"Will you marry me?"

"Will you stop proposing to me, Justin."

"I know what I want."

"I'm sure you do, but you must know this is not the ideal way to go about this. Not for me, at least."

He seems to realize I'm not going to agree to his proposal. I want to so badly. How can we make this work for us?

"Of course, you deserve more than a quickie wedding and an instant family, but I think that's crucial that I stand before Woodland Falls like a serious contender for the mayor's position, and a family will help me with that."

He's right. Of course, he's right. Do I really need a courtship? I've had a crush on this man for years. I'm being silly. The thought of raising a family and building a future with him is so tempting to me. It's all I've ever wanted.

"I…"

"Here's my plan. We'll date for one or two weeks, then I'll propose in a public place, and we'll get married after a month. That will give us enough time before the election to show a united front and make the campaign rounds as a family."

Right, this is all about the campaign. A bitter taste comes into my mouth, and I reach for the glass of water the server left at our table.

"I want us to do this together, Ana. You are special to me and to my family. Will you please help me?"

"What about your family?"

"What do you mean?"

"Will you tell them this is a fake marriage?"

"No, they don't need to know that."

"How long will we need to be married?"

His features change immediately, and he frowns as if concerned.

"I hadn't thought about the future. Two years, I guess?"

A chill goes through me. Can I live in close quarters with this man for two years? And there's one thing that's nagging at me. I want children.

"What's in it for me, Justin?"

"I…ah…You'll have a ready-made family."

"What if I want more?"

"Like what? I'll do anything for you."

I'm sure my face is red as a tomato, but I can't keep the next words from coming out of my mouth.

"I want a baby, but it might not be easy to conceive. I want a baby."

His look of surprise is almost funny, but this isn't a funny situation. I just opened up my heart to this man and now I'm waiting to see what he's going to do about it. The hand that is holding me squeezes gently, and my eyes go right up to his.

"I can give you a child." His voice is low and raspy and it gives me shivers.

I let out a breath that I did not know I was holding and reach out with my other hand to hold his so that both pairs of hands are together—like we will be in a couple of weeks.

We'll be married, and I was just able to add a sex clause to our fake marriage.

My heart is beating fast, and my thoughts are racing a mile a minute. This is happening. I'm going to become Justin Hoffer's wife. I'll be his daughter's mother, and I'll have a child of my own. It's not the perfect dream I had, but it's close enough that I'm all in.

"Let's do this, Justin."