Chapter 17

17

Mira

"This is your room. Mine is next door; the ensuite connects both rooms." He stands at the entrance to the bedroom, one hand braced on the doorframe. It’s a posture that declares his masculinity in no uncertain terms. When he said I needed to move in with him 'right now,' he meant it. He coerced me to pack what I needed in an overnight bag. He assured me the rest of my stuff would be sent over soon.

Then, he hustled me past my friends, who looked at us open-mouthed in surprise. He gave me just enough time to tell them I was fine, and that I was relocating to his place until the wedding, which is in approximately five days. Gio spotted the engagement ring. When she pointed it out, my friends gathered around me while Edward waited nearby, impatience writ in every angle of his body. Abby congratulated me, and Summer said she couldn’t wait to help me choose my wedding dress. She’s also recommended a wedding planner, who she said would contact me. Penny said her friend, Amelie’s company would do the catering.

Only Gio remained unconvinced. She made me promise to call her if I need any help. I hugged them all, managed to keep the tears from falling, and left with Edward.

And I know, he mentioned we’d have separate rooms, but looking around the space, which is almost as big as my entire one-bedroom, I’m overwhelmed. I’m getting married in a few days, to a man I don’t know. And no one except me, him, and my father knows why. A shiver grips me, and I wrap my arms about my waist.

I hear footsteps, and the next thing I know, he’s draped his jacket over my shoulders. The scent of woodsmoke and that faint tingle of electricity surrounds me at once. It’s as if I’m surrounded by Edward. I’m not sure if I like him, but I could bottle his scent and sniff it all day. Not that I’ll ever admit that to him. I snuggle into his jacket. The weight of his hand on my shoulders sends a flush of heat over my skin. I shiver again.

"You’re cold. I’ll turn up the heating in the room."

"No, I’m good, I—" I begin to protest, then turn to find he’s pulled out his phone.

He plays with the screen. "All done."

"You’re able to control the temperature of my room with your phone?"

He raises a shoulder. "I want to be sure you’re comfortable."

"Right."

"I’ll give you a tour of the apartment tomorrow."

"I wouldn’t have envisioned you living in a penthouse." I nod toward the lights of the city which shine outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Why not?"

"You seem like a man who values history. I thought you’d live in a Victorian townhouse. Or in a heritage building."

A strange look comes into his eyes, then he banks it. "You don’t know me at all."

"Which is why you asked me to move in with you before the wedding, so we can get to know each other."

He tilts his head.

"When do we meet your family?"

"Tomorrow."

"What?" I gape. "I… I’m not ready."

"You’ll be fine."

"Easy for you say. You’re not the one on display."

His features soften. "My grandfather will be relieved I'm settling down. As for my half-brothers, their opinions don’t count."

"How can you say that. Aren’t they family?"

"I’m the odd one out."

"Why is that?"

"Their father, who is also my biological father, didn’t know of my existence until a few months ago. My mother fell pregnant with his child, but never told him. She broke up with him and married my uncle, his older brother, who adopted me. My adoptive father was estranged from his family. He changed his surname to his mother’s?—"

"Hence, your surname is Chase, while your family surname is Davenport."

He nods. "My grandfather, Arthur, found out about my existence a few months ago. He realized I was his oldest grandson and wanted me to take over as the CEO of the family."

"And you agreed."

"I want to make him happy." He raises a shoulder.

"You also need a goal, a focus in your life, and this gives you an anchor."

Once more, that strange look flickers in his eyes—it’s a combination of puzzlement and surprise. Once more, he banks it, and his features take on that mask of polite disinterest. The one I’m coming to hate.

"If this is going to work, you have to be truthful with me."

"Are you accusing me of lying?" he asks in a low, hard voice. My core instantly clenches. My nipples perk up. When he uses that voice, it’s as if he flips a switch somewhere deep inside me that controls my feelings of arousal.

"You don’t lie, Edward."

He blinks.

"But you are evasive."

His gaze grows hard.

"I know the episode in your childhood hurt you, and then?—"

"What do you know about the episode?" That uncompromising tone of his voice is like a diamond edge.

I manage not to flinch, manage to tip up my chin and peer into his face. "Just that it affected you and your friends. I don’t know any of the details."

He searches my features, then slowly nods. "I’m not ready to talk about it."

"I understand."

"Do you?" He sets his jaw.

"Of course, I do. You’re not a sharing kind of person. So, for you to say that you’re willing to allow me to get to know you is huge. You’re not as beyond redemption as you think you are."

A muscle pulses at his temple. "And you’re the one who’s going to redeem me?"

"I am going to be your wife."

"Only in name."

"So you keep telling me. It’s as if you’re trying to convince yourself." I look between his eyes. "Is that what this is about? Are you worried you’re going to fall for me, Edward?"

His features shutter.

"Are you?" I ask again.

He sets his jaw and shoves his hand into the pocket of his well-cut pants in a gesture I’m beginning to see as a tell. "I will not fall in love."

"Will not?"

"I took a vow after my last…run-in with that particular emotion…that I won’t allow it in my life again."

"You took a vow?" I ask in a dazed voice.

"Love is not for me."

"But you do love your friends. I know you’re close to Sinclair and the rest of the Seven."

He nods slowly. "The seven of us have been through a lot. We have a bond that cannot be broken. I suppose, I do have a depth of feeling for them. Is it love?" He raises a shoulder. "Maybe. As for romantic love? That will not figure in my life again."

"Why is that? Don’t you owe it to yourself to be happy? Don’t you?—"

"I promised myself not to fall for anyone again."

I gape. "You promised yourself?”

"And that’s all you need to know."

"Wait, that’s not fair. You?—"

The door is pushed open, and Tiny pops his big head around the corner. He looks between us, then shoves the door open the rest of the way. He walks into the room, past Edward and plants his rump near me. He looks up at me with his melting brown eyes—so different from my fiancé’s. Tiny may be a mutt, but there’s something in his eyes that's heartfelt and soft, like he carries his heart in his eyes. My fiancé, on the other hand? Carries his emotions buried behind so many walls… And while I may have seen some flickers of emotion in his gaze, they've been few and far between. As if sensing the turn my thoughts have taken, Tiny makes a whining noise.

"Aww, did you miss Eddie? Is that why you’re here?" I reach over and scratch Tiny behind his ears. He makes a purring sound and leans into my touch.

"Did you call me, Eddie?" His voice is shocked.

I risk a look at his face and find an incredulous expression there. It’s so unexpected, I laugh. Tiny lets out a small bark at that. "He agrees." I nod.

"Agrees with what?"

"That it’s the first time I’m seeing you taken aback."

"Hmph." He firms his lips and schools his features back into that emotionless mask.

"You don’t fool me." I point my forefinger at him.

"Do I want to know what you mean by that?"

"Just that you’re not as impassive as you make yourself out to be."

He seems taken aback, again, then inclines his head. "I decided a while ago there was no place for feelings in my life."

"We’ve established you feel something for your friends and also, for Tiny here."

Tiny woofs, then turns his soulful gaze on Edward. My fiancé scowls at the dog, then sighs. "Yeah, okay, that mutt has a hold of my heart. But that’s it. There is no space for anyone else in my life."

Nice. Now I’m in queue behind a dog. No matter, it’s a Great Dane who’s so intelligent he might well be almost human, I’m not as important as he is to Edward. He must realize how his words sound, for he stiffens. "I didn’t mean?—"

"You did."

"You are my fiancée," he offers.

"Fake fiancée."

"Real to the outside world."

"But it’s a charade."

"It is," he agrees.

"Okay." A heaviness tightens my chest. I wrap my arms about my waist, feeling so very lonely.

I thought when I got married, even if it was an arranged marriage as my father wanted, perhaps, I’d find companionship in it. Perhaps, I’d have my children make up for the loss of a true partner. And sure, I could technically still have kids, but the entire process is going to feel so clinical. I hadn’t thought as far as sex with my future arranged husband… But maybe, a part of me had hoped he’d fall in love with me. That we could find love on the heels of the arrangement. Guess I was wrong. Tears prick the backs of my eyes. I look away. Tiny senses my sadness, and rising up on his feet, he brushes his head gently against my hand. I pat his head, then give in and lean forward to kiss his shaggy head.

Edward clears his throat and I look up. He has strange expression on his face but I’m too exhausted to decode it.

"What time do we leave tomorrow?"