He really hadn’t spent much time imagining himself marrying. Maybe in New York, at a big venue. But even then, he never dwelled on it, figuring that, if it ever happened, it would occur at least a decade down the line.

Never in a million years had he imagined that he’d be here, in Jack’s office, in his tiny hometown, with a woman he barely knew. Who, despite her expert use of biting sarcasm, was trembling at his side.

“Do you have a ring?” Jack asked with a heavy sigh. “You’d better have a ring.”

“I have a ring,” Leo said calmly. He hadn’t thought of flowers, but he wasn’t a total newb.

Tessa’s gaze darted over to his. He forced himself to give her an I-got-this-covered kind of smile. Because one look in her eyes told him his Ice Princess was freaking the heck out. He’d never seen her like this before—pale, clammy, sweating. Vulnerable.

Suddenly, she disengaged her elbow from his. One glance revealed her suddenly puce complexion. “Excuse me, I—” Covering her mouth, she bolted from the room.

Leo moved to follow her, but Jack held him back. “Give her a minute.” Being the new mayor was making him entirely too bossy. Jack still hadn’t let go of his arm. “Tell me what’s going on right now, or I’m not doing this.”

Leo sighed and met his friend’s concerned gaze. “This is the only way we can save our businesses.”

Jack shook his head. “Leo, this is diabolical, even for you.”

“Look, I—I know you want a better explanation, but I just need you to trust me on this.” He looked his friend in the eye. “It’s a marriage in name only. And you know me well enough that I wouldn’t do something like this lightly, right?”

“Right, but there’s got to be a better—”

“There is no other way.” He shook himself free. “I’d like you to marry us, but if you won’t, we’ll just go someplace else.”

Then Leo ran down the hall to the ladies’ room.

…

Tessa hugged the porcelain bowl, her stomach churning violently. She unwound a long tail of toilet paper and wiped her tearing eyes as she knelt on the old-fashioned pink and white tile on the ladies’ room floor.

At least I have a few minutes to be alone, she thought as she took in deep gulps of air to steady her spinning head.

This is no big deal, she told herself.

This wasn’t really a marriage. It would all be worth it in the end. It was just for a couple of months.

As soon as she ran out of positive affirmations, she heard the door squeak open.

“Are you all right?” Leo’s voice was full of concern.