I turned back to Trina. “I’ve got lots of space.”
“Wait a minute,” Trina started to back track. “Why do I have to move in with him?”
“Because he’s your fake husband,” Sinclair said. “Married people, even fake married ones, live together.”
“Why can’t he move in with me?”
“First, you have a tiny, one-bedroom place and second, let’s face it, you don’t think I’m worthy of your place,” I said. “But if you want me in your bed, I’ll do it. I’ll sacrifice for the cause.”
“Wait, we don’t have to share a bed, do we?”
I tried not to be offended that she found the idea of sleeping with me so distasteful.
“I’ll wear pajamas,” I teased. “I don’t normally, but if it will make it easier for you to keep your hands off me—”
“Shut up, Ryder,” Trina snapped. “I’m not sharing a bed.”
“I had a separate bed when I was fake married to Wyatt,” Sinclair said.
“Except you didn’t sleep in it,” Wyatt reminded her.
“I did some,” she replied.
“Not if I could help it.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Geez, you two need to go home.” I rolled my eyes and then looked at Trina, “I have a second bedroom. What’s it going to be? Me in your bed, or you in your own bed at my place?” I knew what her answer would be, even as I wished she said her choice would be me in her bed.
Trina groaned and shook her head. “Fine. Your place.”
She didn’t sound happy about this, but that was all right. With her in my home, secluded on a couple of acres of property, I had the perfect setting to woo my fake wife into giving me a chance.
4
Trina
There’s something seriously wrong with me, I thought as I put a box filled with books and a few other personal doo-dads into the trunk of my car.
Sinclair tossed my suitcase in beside it. “Don’t groan, Trina. After all, how hard could being fake married be?”
Ugh. I hated how she kept throwing that back at me. The truth was, it was going to be excruciatingly hard. Thirty days with Ryder? The man who publicly embarrassed me? He lived to push my buttons. It was going to be the hardest month of my life. But I wasn’t going to admit to that.
“I’m not sure what the big deal is. I’m simply going to hang out at Ryder’s place for a month. When it’s done, I’ll get my book back.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, even though I was sure I had a brain tumor or something for agreeing to this nutty scheme. I tried to focus on what I’d get when it was done; the book of humiliation.
“Everyone is going to be so excited to hear you and Ryder are married. Personally, I think the town thought he’d be single forever.”
“Wait, what?” I reached my hand out to stop her from going back into my place.
“This is a small town. People will know you’re married.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” I stammered. “You said pretend to be married and then I’d get the book.”
Sinclair’s eyes narrowed. “You act like Ryder is a leper.”
To my mind he was, but I couldn’t tell her that. Sinclair and Ryder were close. Closer than most siblings were. Maybe it was because they were twins. Not that I understood these things. I was an only child. I barely had parents, much less siblings.
“He and I are oil and water, you know that. This is just a bet. I know you’re all lovey dovey now with Wyatt, and want to spread all the love like glitter, but Ryder and I won’t end up like you two. He’s the—” I stopped from saying that he was the last person I’d ever end up with.
“He’s what?” She quirked a brow at me. “Funny? Kind? Sweet? Easy-going?”