Free The Wedding Agreement by Elizabeth Hayley Page A

Alex and Cass on the three-seater. The only sound was the cartoon warble of the television.
    Cass looked at Alex, the slight flaring of her eyes letting him know that she was feeling just as uncomfortable as he was. “So, Tessa,” she started. “Alex told me you used to be a forensic accountant before helping Pete manage his business. That sounds really interesting.”
    â€œYes, that’s right. I mean, I think it’s interesting, but I always have been a bit of a math nerd.” Tessa let out a small laugh.
    â€œDid you work for a firm or a government agency, or . . . ” Cass let the sentence hang there so Tessa could fill in the correct reply.
    â€œBoth. I worked for the government briefly after graduating, but it wasn’t for me. I preferred working for a private firm because I just wanted to crunch my numbers and go home without having to worry about bureaucratic red tape. Though working at the gym with Pete is by far the best job I’ve ever had. What do you do?”
    Alex suddenly felt a little guilty. Obviously he’d talked to Cass about Tessa, but he hadn’t even shared the most basic information about Cass with his ex-wife. Not that he had reason to—he rarely talked to Tessa about anything other than Nina—but it still didn’t sit right with him.
    Cass didn’t miss a beat though. “I’m a public relations specialist.”
    Upon hearing Cass’ answer, Pete sat up. “Oh wow. So you help people promote their businesses and stuff?”
    â€œBasically. We help disseminate pertinent information between our clients and their target audience.”
    â€œI’d love to pick your brain sometime. I’m in the process of turning my gym into a chain, and I’d really like some insight.”
    Cass smiled. “I’ll leave you my card.”
    Alex knew from the hard set of Tessa’s jaw that Pete would never be calling Cass. A fact that made him relieved. All he needed was for Pete, the solid block of muscle, to worm his way into the life of another one of Alex’s girls.
Wait . . . my girl?
Though technically Cass was his girl. At least in this parallel reality they’d created.
    â€œSo, when’s the wedding?” Pete asked.
    Alex whipped his head toward Cass, then schooled his features to hide his panic.
Why didn’t we talk about any of this before coming over here?
Alex suddenly felt like the idiot he was. What had he expected? That he’d shove a ring on Cass’ finger and that would magically answer every marital question they’d encounter?
Yup, pretty much.
“We’re still working out the details,” he finally answered.
    â€œOh.” Tessa sounded confused. “Well, have you started looking at venues?”
    â€œWe’ve been doing a little online research,” Cass offered.
    â€œYou two have been engaged for a few weeks, right? When we met you said Alex had just proposed to you the previous night.”
    â€œYeah . . .” Cass looked at Alex as though she weretrying to telepathically communicate with him. “We’ve just been easing into the planning.”
    Tessa’s eyes furrowed a bit. “Wow, most women can’t wait to start planning. You have much more patience than I do—that’s for sure. Are you going to hire a wedding planner or do most of the work yourself?”
    â€œI’ll probably do most of it myself. I’m kind of a control freak.”
    â€œI want to help,” Nina called out. Alex had almost forgotten Nina was even in the room until she spoke.
    â€œYou do?” he asked.
    â€œYup.” Nina smiled broadly, and Alex was again hit with a searing bolt of guilt. How could he let his daughter help plan a fraudulent wedding? What kind of father did that make him?
    As though sensing his mental departure, Cass swooped in. “Maybe you can help us look up a few places on the computer when