Free The Wedding Agreement by Elizabeth Hayley Page B

we get to your dad’s.”
    â€œAwesome,” Nina exclaimed, before turning back to her show.
    Alex wasn’t sure whether to thank Cass for interjecting or strangle her for involving his daughter in this sham even more than she already was.
    â€œWell, I’m interested to hear which place you pick. Do you have a preference between a DJ and a band?” Tessa’s words sounded like friendly curiosity, but Alex recognized that gleam in her eye. She was suspicious. Whether that suspicion was about the veracity of the engagement or about whether or not the relationship between Alex and Cass would last long enough to make it to the altar, Alex wasn’t quite sure. All he did know was that he didn’t like it. Because at this point, the only thing worse than telling the lie to begin with would be Tessa
finding out
that it was a lie.
    â€œI’d prefer a band.”
    â€œMe too. We were definitely thinking band,” Cass agreed.
    â€œPete has some contacts with local bands. Don’t you, honey? Maybe you can give them some names.”
    â€œUh, yeah. Sure. I have a bunch of contacts with local entertainment groups.”
    Alex would rather pour rubbing alcohol into his eyes than have Pete do him any favors. And if the self-satisfied smirk on Tessa’s face was anything to go by, she knew it.
    â€œGreat. Maybe we can talk about it when Pete calls me for PR advice.”
    And with Cass’ words, the smirk evaporated from Tessa’s lips. Alex was tempted to add another diamond to Cass’ ring for that.
    â€œWe’d better get going. Nina, you ready?”
    â€œYup.” Nina rose and skipped toward the front door.
    The adults exchanged good-byes as they followed Nina. Alex picked up Nina’s backpack, which was sitting in the foyer, and opened the door.
    â€œThanks for inviting us in. It was nice getting to know you a little better,” Cass said.
    â€œLikewise. We’ll have to do it again sometime,” Tessa replied.
    Not a chance in hell.
    Soon, Cass and Alex were in the safety of his car, Nina buckled up in the backseat. They sat in silence for about ten minutes, listening to Nina quietly sing along with the radio as she played with some kind of hand-held device.
    â€œShe thinks something’s off, doesn’t she?” Cass asked quietly.
    Alex sighed. It shouldn’t have surprised him that Cass had picked up on Tessa’s thoughts, but it did.The only response he could come up with was the simple truth. “Yes.”
    *   *   *
    Cass had left Tessa’s Friday night feeling underprepared and uninformed—two things she detested. She’d hung out at Alex’s a little afterward, surfing the Internet with him and Nina for venues. Together they’d made a list, but it still all felt surreal and abstract. Cass knew that Tessa had her doubts. She could tell by the way the woman reveled in stumping Cass, asking questions for which she guessed Cass had no reply. It would never happen again.
    Which was why Cass had called Alex and told him to come over after Tessa had picked up Nina Sunday afternoon. He’d texted her about twenty minutes ago to say he was on his way, so he should be arriving at her place any minute. She grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. They were going to need it. She placed everything on the kitchen table when the buzzer signaled his arrival. She pressed the button to let him in and opened the door. “Hey,” she said when she saw him come in.
    â€œHey.” Alex followed her into the kitchen, and she watched him scan the mass of books, papers, and the laptop that littered her tabletop. “Whatcha doin’?”
    â€œPlanning a wedding. Wine?”
    â€œYou know it,” he replied as he took a seat and eyed the mess on the table warily. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”
    Cass poured both of them a glass of Cabernet and sat. She watched Alex take a sip before