Chapter 2: Why Not Marry Me

Vanessa stared at the screen. She recognized the voice now.

“Are you serious? Your brother just played me, and now it's your turn?”

It was Julian Ashford, Adrian's older brother. He'd been cold toward her ever since she started dating Adrian.

“Adrian stood you up. I won't,” he said. “Unless you've changed your mind about getting married.”

“I'll come,” she said. “But won't the registry be closed by now?”

“You don't need to worry about that.”

Twenty minutes later, Vanessa was back outside the registry office.

Julian was waiting by the entrance. He seemed entirely at ease, which made Vanessa feel even less certain about coming.

He looked enough like Adrian to remind her what she was doing, though she'd never mistaken one brother for the other.

“You came.” Julian smiled.

She stopped a few feet away from him.

“Coming here won't change anything. There's nobody outside. It looks like they're closing.”

He glanced toward the entrance.

“Are you really going to marry me? Have you thought it through?”

“I've come this far,” she said. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Brave of you.”

He took her wrist and led her toward the entrance.

She stopped at the door. Julian turned back.

“Scared already?”

She hesitated for only a moment. “Why do you want to marry me?”

“My family keeps asking me to settle down. They already know you. I'd rather marry you than someone they've picked for me.”

Their families had been close for years. His parents and grandfather had always welcomed her. At least his answer made sense.

Less than ten minutes later, they walked out of the registry office, each holding a marriage certificate.

She was still reading the certificate when Julian spoke.

“Don't start regretting it now. Getting a divorce would take rather longer than this did.”

Just my luck, she thought. We've barely got married, and he's already talking about divorce. Who said I wanted one?

Vanessa rolled her eyes but kept her tone polite. “I just hope you're not the one who regrets it, Julian.”

As she started down the steps, he reached out and pulled her firmly against his chest.

She caught the cedar scent of his cologne and put a hand against his chest. He was much closer than she'd expected.

“Where are you going?” His voice was low.

“Home,” she said. “Where else?”

“You've just got married, and you already want to live apart from your husband?”

Vanessa looked at the marriage certificate again.

“…I forgot.”

She met his eyes, then looked away.

He discreetly looked away and released her. “Come with me.”

She followed him down the steps. They were married now; going home together shouldn't have surprised her.

Besides, the thought of her ex-boyfriend becoming her brother-in-law was immensely satisfying.

Hawthorne House stood in an exclusive part of Oakridge. The rooms looked simple at first, until Vanessa began noticing the quality of the furnishings.

Vanessa stood in the living room, looking at Julian in confusion.

“What's this?”

“Our home,” he said directly. “You'll be living here from now on.”

“What about you?” she asked without thinking.

Julian frowned slightly. “Has my brother upset you so much that you've forgotten what a marital home is?”

Vanessa grimaced. Ten years of knowing him, and he still found a way to make her feel foolish.

Julian told Martha, the housekeeper, to show her around, then went upstairs.

She waited until he was out of sight before turning to Martha.

After the tour, she realized how enormous the house was. It had five floors, an elevator, and a staff of ten, all newly arrived. Martha told her that Julian had only returned from abroad that morning.

He'd barely got back, and he already knew Adrian had stood her up? Had he married her to get even for what had happened three years ago?

She wanted to ask him, but she was told he was busy in his study. All she could do was wait. Eventually, she fell asleep facedown on the sofa in the main bedroom.

She woke to find Julian leaning over the sofa.

“What are you doing?” She sat up and pulled the blanket to her chest.

He withdrew his fingers from the blanket over her. “Relax. I'm not desperate enough to take advantage of you. There's hardly anything to tempt me, anyway.”

Her temper flared. “I'm not the same as I was three years ago. I've filled out!”

In a burst of anger, she grabbed his hand and drew it toward her body—then came to her senses at the last second.

I must be out of my mind.

In five years with Adrian, they hadn't even shared a proper kiss. And she'd nearly…

Julian glanced at the hand she was still holding.

“Why stop? Afraid I'll find out it isn't much after all?”

Her face burned. She shoved him. “Even if it isn't, what's it to you?”

She tried to get up, but he put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her on the sofa as he leaned closer.

“Vanessa…”

“You were brave enough to marry me. Now you're afraid to be alone with me?”

His collar was open. Vanessa had never seen him this close before.

A memory from three years ago came back to her.

On impulse, she caught his shirt collar, pulled him down, and kissed him.

She kissed him as though she knew what she was doing, but her teeth knocked against his.

“Do you have any idea what you're getting into?”

“Of course. I'm provoking you.” Still angry, she tried to kiss him again. “What's wrong? Are you scared?”

She held his gaze, convinced he was teasing her as he had three years ago.

“Don't regret it.”

Julian kissed her back, drawing her closer until she had to stop for breath.

“Why don't we finish what we started three years ago?”