Read Online Not the Marrying Kind by Nicola Marsh - Free Book Online Page B

slip you a roofie? Were you drunk and dreamed up this crazy idea?” She pointed at Poppy’s sunglasses. “And take those off. I can’t see your eyes.”
    “So?”
    “I can’t see if you’re being serious or getting back at me for borrowing your fave Choos that one time.”
    “Twice.” Poppy slid her sunglasses off and Ashlee recoiled.
    “Ballet flats and no mascara? Gross. You’re either sick or The Hottie kept you up all night. Before he proposed, that is.” Ashlee rolled her eyes and folded her arms, less than impressed with what she assumed was her fabricated story. “What really happened?”
    “I told you.”
    Her serious tone took a few seconds to penetrate Ashlee’s disbelief, as her friend went from dubious to dumbfounded. “You’re marrying the guy?”
    Ashlee made it sound like she was heading on a one-way trip to Mars on a defective shuttle.
    “Yeah, it’s good business sense.”
    “ Good business sense ,” Ashlee parroted before smacking her forehead. “What do you think this is, a freaking romance novel? Fictional characters get married for convenience, not people in real life. And certainly not you.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because you’re not the marrying kind.” Ashlee held up her left hand and pointed to the snazzy carats on her ring finger. “Remember what you told me when Craig proposed?”
    Yeah, Poppy remembered, and at the time she’d meant every word of her anti-marriage spiel. She’d been happy for her friend, but when Ashlee had gushed Poppy would be next, she’d stated in no uncertain terms why she wouldn’t be.
    Didn’t make sense. Humans weren’t meant to be monogamous for life, and from the many marriages she’d witnessed over the years, she could count the ones that survived with two truly happy partners on one hand.
    It was why this arrangement with Beck Blackwood was the perfect solution to her problems. No dreams of happily ever after to cloud her judgment. Sara got a cool half a million and Poppy went some way toward repaying the massive emotional debt she owed her only sibling.
    Best reason for marriage she could think of.
    “I’m doing the right thing, Ash, but I need your help.”
    “I won’t be party to this charade—”
    “You will be if you want to keep your job.”
    Damn, why had she blurted that? Probably her dear husband-to-be rubbing off on her with his blackmail routine. Tears pooled in Ashlee’s eyes and Poppy reached across the desk to pat her hand. “Sorry, hon, I’m a little stressed.”
    “And a lot crazy,” Ashlee muttered, shaking her head. “You’re seriously going to marry this guy?”
    “Yeah, and I need you to hold down the fort here while I shack up with him in Vegas.”
    “You’ll be living with The Hottie?” For the first time since Poppy had announced her plans, the old matchmaking spark flickered to life in Ashlee’s eyes.
    “That’s what married people do.”
    The glint intensified. “Married people also do other stuff, so does that mean you and he…” She made a rather crude action with her finger and opposing fist, and Poppy blushed.
    “None of your business.”
    “You are!” Ashlee jabbed an accusatory finger in her direction. “How far did you go last night to seal this deal?”
    “Not that far,” Poppy said, wondering what she would’ve done if Beck had taken those kisses further. She might have despised him for leaving her no choice but to agree to his proposal, but her body? Having no such qualms. She dated. She liked sex. But how he’d turned her on last night with a mere make-out session? Yowza.
    “We’ve got a lot to get through today—”
    “When are you getting married?”
    “Next week.”
    It sounded ludicrous even to her ears and Ashlee’s squeal didn’t help. “I better be invited.”
    “I was hoping you’d be a witness.”
    “Done.” Ashlee dashed a hand across her suspiciously moist eyes. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
    She wasn’t the only one.
    This time