Page 52 of Bargaining

She plastered on an overbright smile. “But that’s what people do. It’s a normal thing to dance at a wedding. People are waiting to see this. It will be weird if we don’t.”

Lucas raised a “what are you playing at?” eyebrow. Theo watched the exchange with a too-interested expression. My gaze flicked back to the shareholders. Fine. I’d have to. With her hand wrapped around mine, Charlotte dragged me to the middle of the dance floor.

“Everyone is looking at us,” I said through gritted teeth.

She slipped her arm around my waist and rested a hand gently on my shoulder. “Because we look good in formal wear.”

I couldn’t argue on that score. There couldn’t be a more beautiful bride than my wife. It gave me great pleasure to see that Charlotte had worn the dress I’d chosen. The moment I’d seen it, I’d known she’d look incredible in it. All I wanted was to strip away all those pretty layers of white lace and bury myself in her. Music poured from the speaker. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. The irony of the song choice wasn’t lost on me.

“Thank you for today,” she whispered, peering up at me. “For making this easier for me.” She stood on tiptoes and whispered in my ear. “I don’t know why everyone says you’re an arsehole. Sometimes, you’re not actuallythatmuch of an arsehole.”

“Such high praise. You’ll make me blush, Mrs. Thorner.”

She froze in my arms. “We haven’t had a conversation about changing my name.”

“There isn’t a conversation. You’re Thorner now.”

Her eyes narrowed. “No.”

“No? People will expect you to take the Thorner name.”

Panic flashed in her eyes. “I’m keeping my surname.”

“It has to be done. It’s in the contract, if you bothered to read it.”

She frowned and pulled away.

“Keep dancing,” I whispered into her hair, catching a hint of citrus. “People are watching.”

“I take it back,” she muttered. “Youarethat much of an arsehole.”

I pulled her back into my arms. Her hair tickled my chin where she rested her head against me.

She blew out an irritated breath. “I just hope you don’t snore and ruin my sleep tonight. I’m exhausted.”

We were flying to Rome in an hour. I had no time for a honeymoon, but we had to keep up the pretense. This honeymoonhad to look real in case there were paparazzi sniffing around, but now I had the unhappy prospect of a fortnight sharing a suite with my wife. I needed to spend as little time as possible with Charlotte from this point on, not cozy up to her in the dark.

She watched me with a discontented look. It should have been a turnoff, but she was so sexy when she was pissed off with me. At least it was a spark of life.

“I’m not changing my name. You’ll have to amend the contract,” she hissed.

“You already signed it.”

She let out an angry huff and her fingers clutched my shoulder so tightly they burned. “Then set your lawyers on me. I’m not doing it.”

“If you want your money at the end of all this, you’re doing it.”

There was no way out of the sleeping situation, but it was only two weeks. I’d send her off with a guide to do tourist things in the day, and at night I’d keep myself busy. The penthouse was big enough to keep a distance, and Rome was a big and exciting city. Charlotte would have plenty to do alone.

When we got home, I’d send her off back to the Cotswolds. She was content there, and I had Elain, one of the few people I trusted, to keep an eye on her. Problem solved. The song ended and couples filtered onto the dance floor. If I put as much distance between us as possible, it would allow these feelings to pass. Everything would be fine. If I wasn’t anywhere near her, then I couldn’t be tempted by her. Out of sight, out of mind. This was manageable, but for now, people were watching us, and it would defeat the entire purpose of this farcical event if I didn’t hold her close.

“We’ll be leaving soon.” I pulled her flush against me. Her soft breasts rested against my chest and made my heart pound. “Another dance until then, Mrs. Thorner?”

Chapter 25

Charlotte

There is no pain like a migraine. Sometimes I could feel one coming on, and sometimes an attack came from nowhere. This one had taken me by stealth. It was probably the stress of lying through my teeth all day and then the pressure changes inside the private jet. I let my head rest against the leather car seat. Rome flashed by in a blur of ancient ruins, cobbled streets, and picturesque moonlit piazzas, and I had no energy to look.