Which was exactly what they did—or at least that was his assumption, because the rest of the ceremony went by in a blur. She said words. He said words. They showed their phones to prove that she’d responded to his Bramble bio. Now they were on opposite ends of her non-efficiently arranged living room, with her charming the shit out of Griff and his fiancée, Kinsey, without even glancing his way, while Nash couldn’t stop watching her. All he could think about was that kiss and how good Chelle had felt, all of her soft curves pressed up against him. And that little moan she’d made? He’d be hearing that tonight when he had his hand curled around his dick.

Alone.

Because this marriage wasn’t real.

Well, they were legally bound together, but this wasn’t a marriage in the true sense. Just two people coming together for mutual orgasms.

No!

For mutual benefit.

For fuck’s sake, Nash, get your shit together.

“Oh, honey,” his mom said, slipping her arm through his and laying her head on his shoulder. “I knew you two would be perfect for each other.”

“Mom,” he said, reminding himself of the truth almost as much as his mother. “It’s a transactional situation.”

She let out a dramatic gasp—the same one she used when she was shocked, shocked, her cell phone bill had to be paid every month—and took a step back. “Then why did you kiss her like that?”

“Because I’m not a total asshole like her uncle.” And it was better than punching the old geezer in the face even though he’d deserved it.

“You know, for someone who thinks he knows everything, you sure don’t know yourself.” She gave one of those headshakes of disappointment that only moms made. “But don’t worry, the universe knows, honey. I’m sure you boys will figure out some other way to determine who should get your grandma’s last present.”

“It’ll be mine because I’m going to win that bet,” he said, unable to stop watching his wife as she went from one of his overwhelming family members to the other seemingly totally at ease. “I am not going to fall in love with Chelle Finch.”

He had no doubts.

He was right about this.

He was always right.

“Of course not, honey.” His mom patted his cheek hard enough to border on a smack. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”

Nash knew his mom was humoring him, but he wasn’t kidding. His was going to be one of the countless loveless marriages out there.

His plan was perfect. He had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Chelle

Somehow Chelle’s lips still tingled from that kiss.