One…two…
Fuck this.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Iris doesn’t so much as bristle from my tone, although her full lips purse from distaste. “I’m saving your ass, that’s what.”
“I’m failing to see how that’s the case.”
“Would you like me to schedule you an eye exam? I hear vision gets worse with age.” Her usual joke about me being twelve years older than her falls flat.
My eyes narrow into slits. “Don’t test me.”
“And don’t you dare look at me that way.” She places a brown hand on her hip like a battle stance. The diamond on her finger stands out against her darker skin, drawing my attention to it. “If I didn’t step in then you would have had to explain to a room full of a hundred guests why there’s no blushing bride-to-be. What would you tell everyone? That she got lost in the mail?”
“No.” I grind my teeth together. “Although a mail-order bride seems like a better alternative at the moment.”
Her dark eyes damn near twinkle. “Face it. You’ve run out of time and options.”
“Clearly.” I give her a once-over glance.
Something flashes behind her eyes before disappearing. She lifts her chin ever so slightly in defiance while staring me straight in the eyes. “Way to make a girl feel special.”
“Special is the last word I would use to describe you.” It feels far too generic for someone like her.
She lets out a groan as she throws her hands in the air. “I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea.”
“That makes two of us. What exactly is your motive here?”
“I like you enough to want to save you from yourself. I’m sure it must be a chemical imbalance of some kind, so my therapist will be hearing all about this on Monday.”
I blink at her. “Don’t tell me you’re marrying me out of the goodness of your heart?”
Her dark brows pull together, and she stands taller. “So what if I am?”
“Cut the act. Those ideas only exist in Dreamland films.”
Her lips part. “I’m not acting, although your reaction makes me wish I was.”
Something about this whole thing isn’t sitting right. Why would Iris suddenly volunteer to be my wife after months of searching for a perfect candidate?
Because she didn’t want to see you marry someone else, the smallest voice in my head speaks up.
She couldn’t… No. There’s no way.
Or could it be?
That could explain her erratic behavior. I follow her gaze, finding her staring at the engagement ring. She traces the round edge of the diamond slowly. Dare I say reverently.
Oh fuck.
Attraction is one thing. Infatuation is a whole other deadly game I have no interest in playing anytime soon.
My molars smash together. “Are you doing all this because you’re secretly in love with me?” The words leave my mouth in a rush. My heart beats hard against my rib cage, fighting for a way out.
Her having strong feelings besides indifference for me isn’t something I considered. Hell, I never even wanted to think of it for a hundred reasons, but most of all because she’s the best assistant I’ve ever had. Losing her isn’t an option. Especially not when she is an essential part of my plan to take over my father’s position.
The idea is shattered into a thousand pieces as Iris curls over and lets out the most obnoxious laugh. In the three years I’ve spent in her presence, I’ve never seen a crack in her sanity. Who knew all it would take is my ring on her finger to trigger a complete breakdown?
She reaches out for stability, grabbing onto the first thing within arm’s length which happens to be me . Every muscle in my body locks up, and heat travels up my arm like I’m being consumed by flames. I stay ramrod straight as her laugh turns into some asthmatic wheeze.
Rather than feel relieved, I’m somewhat thrown off by her reaction. My stomach sours at her disdain toward loving me.
You’ll always be unlovable. My father’s voice slithers through my head at the most inconvenient moments, sending a chill across my skin.
I pluck her fingers off my bicep one by one. “Are you experiencing a kind of crisis?”
“No, you fool. And I’m not in love with you.” She laughs again, making the most god-awful wheezing sound every time she inhales. “I’m doing this because we’re friends.”
“I will never be your friend.” And I never want to be.
Her lips pull into a frown. “Liar. Friends help friends when they’re sick.”