The Bosses Pretend Bride

Rory stared at the man sitting across from her, unsure if she had heard him right. "I am sorry, did you just ask me to pretend to be your fiancé?" She tried to laugh it off, but the look he leveled her way spoke of complete seriousness.

"I did." He deadpanned.

"What... but...why?" Rory sputtered her voice, raising an octave or two. She took a few deep, calming breaths, trying to get her racing heart under control.

Jason carefully watched her expression and reaction to his words. He knew it would probably be a bit of a shock to her, so he let her take her time to think about what he said and digest it fully.

After some time went by, Jason heard her take in a deep, steading breath before speaking. "What would this pretend marriage entail?"

Jason couldn't help grinning slightly at her question. He completely understood why she would be asking him something like that. It was not unexpected. He couldn't help respecting her a little more for having a good head on her shoulders. In answer to her question, he told her that nothing would happen between them unless she wished it.

Rory felt herself relax. He didn't seem to want her for anything else other than what he said. She couldn't help asking the other important question on her mind. "Why would you wish to pretend to be engaged? You are a handsome man and can have anyone you wish." She blushed once the words finished leaving her mouth.

That very man sitting across from her couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face. He couldn't believe she actually called him handsome out loud. He answered her question truthfully.

"My family is pressuring me to find someone. I just really don't have the time or patience to go out and look for some."

His answer surprised her. She didn't think he was more than in his late twenties to early thirties. The fact that his family was trying to force him to find someone and settle down so quickly astonished her and made her feel angry on his behalf. Before she could think too hard about it, she said the first thing that came to her mind.

"Since you have been so kind to me, I will help you as well." She paused in her speech as if considering something. "Should we write up a contract or something to make it official, or maybe a set of rules?"

He thought over her question. "That's actually not a bad idea, but I don't think that will be necessary." He couldn't help chuckling and feeling completely impressed at how this woman's mind worked. It was very similar to his own, if he really thought about it.

"I think it would be prudent to learn things about each other to make it believable. Knowing my mother, she will grill you on what you might know about me. If she ever gets a hint of a lie, she will sniff it out like a bloodhound." He tried to keep the grimace off his face, but her giggle informed him that he didn't succeed.

Rory had to wonder what kind of woman his mother was. She sounded a little scared the way he described her in that brief comment.

Hearing him talk about his mother made her think of her own. Right now, she misses her mother terribly. Everything felt so muddled with everything that had happened in such a short amount of time. She didn't know how to handle everything. Rory just hoped she was making the right decision by trusting the man before her. Though she didn't feel she had much other choice at the moment.

Jason sat across from the young woman he had rescued. They were both in agreement that this idea would be beneficial to both of them in the long run. She would get the department cleared away and be able to start fresh. While he would be able to get the family off his case and continue taking care of what he needed to. If a woman came along, he did end up having feelings for her, for eventually he could tell the elders that their engagement was called off and no one would be any wiser.

After a long stretch of silence, he finally broke it with a question. "Do we have an agreement between us, Ms. Whitney?" His deep voice brought her attention back to him.

Rory Whitney does not see a downside to this plan currently. She took a deep breath and plumbed ahead. "Alright, Mr. Carrow, you have yourself a deal. She reached her hand out for him to shake.

Jason would never admit to anyone that her quick response could have knocked him over with a feather. He had expected her to want to think it over or sleep on it, but no. Here, she was already agreeing to his half-cocked plan.

He stood up and walked over to where she lay, her dainty hand sticking out for him to grasp. Jason placed her hand in his.

"Well, Rory Whitney, it looks like we have an agreement. They shook on it briskly before he pulled his hand away from hers. Once they shook on it, Jason departed to let her rest once more.

After he left, Rory sat on the bed and looked down at her school book that lay next to her. 'I suppose with everything that has been going on, I should call the school and see about taking a leave of absence for a while. Rory told herself that she would do that first thing tomorrow. At the moment, she had begun to feel sleepy, so she laid down on the bed to rest her still-recovering body. As she drifted off to sleep, she could not help thinking of the man who had just left her room.

She had to wonder if he had felt the spark that shot through her fingers as they touched each other. He had shown no reaction, so she wondered if maybe it had been just her that felt it.

That was the last thought that came through her mind before sleep finally took her into its gentle grasp.