As I expected, that only earns me a condescending sneer from my older brother, but I’m not going to sit here and have him talk trash about a man who has only ever been a perfect gentleman with me. He seems honest and loyal, the exact opposite of a man who cheats on his wife.
He snorts. “You’re wrong, Melanie. But even on the slim chance you’re right and he does manage to keep his dick in his pants for a few months, that’s why we’re going to put temptation in his way.”
I throw my hands in the air. “Are you talking about that damn honey trap idea again?”
“It’s the perfect plan, Melly.” He arches an eyebrow, and it makes him look like a Bond villain. “And if you’re so sure he won’t cheat, what harm could it do?”
“I’m not marrying someone in the hopes that he’ll cheat on me!”
He practically doubles over with laughter, which is abruptly cut off with a mocking smile. “And what’s the alternative, little Melly? That he falls in love with you, and you live happily ever after?”
I clench my jaw tight and mentally count to five. “No. But our reasons for doing this are sound. We both want children. And if you’re right that me becoming Nathan’s wife will save Dad’s business, this marriage will secure Ashley’s future, which is my primary concern. He’s a good man, Bryce, and no, we might not have a happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be happy. That doesn’t mean we can’t raise children together and be friends while we do it.” I think of my own parents and how unhappy my father must have been in his marriage. “And you know what, that’s more than a lot of people get.”
He shakes his head. “You’re so naive.”
“Maybe so. But I’m in this for the long haul. So even if you do go along with your ridiculous honey trap idea, I wouldn’t divorce him anyway.”
My words are like a red rag to a bull, igniting his short temper. He jumps up so quickly that the French antique chair clatters to the floor, and he bangs his meaty fist on the table. “This is not up for negotiation, Melanie!” He grabs my hair and yanks my head back. Sharp pain sears my scalp, but I don’t struggle. I’ve learned enough painful lessons about the futility of such an endeavor. “You will marry who I tell you to marry, and you will do whatever the fuck I tell you to, when I tell you to do it. And if that includes divorcing that arrogant prick, you damn well will. Do you understand me?”
I press my lips together, refusing to answer.
He pulls my hair harder. “Never forget that you are the reason we’re in this mess in the first place. You are the reason Dad died. And if you don’t use that pretty cunt of yours to do something useful for a change, our baby sister will have to drop out of that fancy college, and I’ll marry her off to some billionaire too,” he spits, his expression twisted with rage. “Now do you understand me?”
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “Yes, Bryce.”
He lets my hair go, and I wince at the burning pain left behind. “Good girl. Now, let’s have some tea.” His gloating smile causes my stomach to lurch, but I merely nod and hand him the teapot.
Chapter
Sixteen
NATHAN
Elijah stuffs his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and stares at the painting on my office wall. “We had some incredible summers at that beach, didn’t we?” He releases a wistful sigh.
I step up beside him. “We sure did.”
He tilts his head to the side and narrows his eyes, like he’s scrutinizing each beautiful brush stroke. “I wanted to take Amber there this summer. Show her where Mom was born, you know?”
“So why don’t you?”
His tongue darts out, moistening his bottom lip, and he moves to sit in one of the leather chairs near the window. He blows out a breath. “She doesn’t want to go. Said she couldn’t be away from her friends that long.”
I press my lips together and tip my face up to the ceiling, suppressing the words that want to roll off my tongue. I don’t give advice. Wise men don’t need it, and stupid men don’t take it.
“I know what you’re thinking, Nathan,” he grumbles.
“You do, huh?”
He stares out the window. “I’m not going to divorce her.”
“Why, Elijah? Neither of you are happy. And you’re both young enough to find someone else.”
His jaw tightens. “I don’t want someone else. If I did, I wouldn’t be this fucking miserable, would I?”
I shake my head and sit across from him. “Point taken.”
Seemingly appeased by my response, he changes the subject. “Anyway, what’s the news on your upcoming nuptials?”
“I was thinking the third of next month. That gives us a little over two weeks.”
Elijah frowns. “I’ll be out of town on the third.”
“Shit. Can you get out of it?”
He shakes his head. “I’m the keynote speaker at some tech convention. Can you do a different date?”
I frown. “It’s the only day that works with my schedule for the next two months, and I want to get this part over with. It sucks you won’t be there, but it’s not like this is a real wedding. I doubt Maddox will be there either.”
“But who’s going to be your best man?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not having a best man. This isn’t a real wedding.”
He shakes his head. “You still need a best man.”
“I’ll ask Drake or Mase. Not like you would’ve been my first choice, anyway.” I wink at him.
“You piece of shit.” But he smirks at my blatant lie.
