Read Online Save the Date by Jenny B Jones - Free Book Online Page A

a date.” She turned back to her cabinet. “She’s eighty-five.”
    Alex inhaled deeply. Did everything in his life have to be so unbelievably complicated? “Normally when I ask a woman out I get a different reaction. Like tears of gratefulness.”
    “Is this before or after you hand them a free autographed football?”
    Lucy was not a woman to be swayed by pretty words, so he got right to it. “I want to talk about a donation for your home. Now . . . break your date.”
    She lifted one brow. “So Sinclair Hotels is going to help us after all?”
    “No.”
    “But you just said—”
    “Sinclair won’t be helping you any more this year. But I will.” That look on her face was making this all worth it. This idea could be halfway enjoyable. A boon to his campaign and a cure for the boredom that had plagued him for months. “I don’t like to talk business on an empty stomach, and I’m a man in need of pie. Plus I don’t really want to discuss it here.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I’m talking a large amount of money.”
    She watched him with guarded eyes. “And what do I have to do in return?”
    “All you have to do”—his cheek dimpled with a wolf ’s grin—“is marry me.”

    “You want me to do what ?”
    “Be quiet, will you?” Alex smiled and nodded his head to a couple sitting two tables away from theirs in Jestine’s, a popular spot for home cooking, and the last place Lucy would have expected him to choose.
    Alex scanned the restaurant. “There are ears all over this place. Voting ears.”
    “Insane.” Lucy stabbed a piece of fried chicken on her plate. Oh, the nerve of this man. The insanity. She knew he was arrogant, condescending, and egotistical. But crazy? She had not seen that one coming. “I know you’ve had a lot of hits to the head over the last decade, but I’m not going to marry you just to get a check. I’m not some”—she could hardly process the thought—“mail-order bride. Some . . . prostitute.”
    “Easy now. Despite that article in OK! , I don’t associate with hookers.” Alex pointed his fork in her direction. “It’s business. Pure and simple.”
    She leaned low across the table. “There is nothing simple about this. Marry you for money? I happen to think better of myself than that.” She could hardly enjoy her food, which was just a batter-fried piece of heaven.
    “Hear me out for a moment. In the popularity polls this week, my numbers have been off the charts. And do you know why?”
    “You sent them eight-by-ten glossies?”
    “Because of those pictures from the gala. They’re everywhere.”
    “You and I both know they mean nothing.”
    “But it doesn’t look that way. And America likes what they’re seeing.” He speared a bite of chicken-fried steak and smiled. “I’m the number one search topic on Google.”
    Lucy rolled her eyes. “I bet the guy who won a Pulitzer is totally jealous.”
    “You’re number three.”
    She paused with the glass to her lips. “Three?”
    “Yep.”
    “Who’s number two?” Lucy took a few swallows and put down the glass. “Never mind. I don’t care about any of this. Just because the Enquirer thinks we’re interesting doesn’t mean we’re marriage material. I mean, I’m flattered.” Lucy adjusted her voice to a tone reserved for a young woman who needed some correction. “But let’s get real—I can do better than you.”
    Watching her, Alex slid the fork between his lips and chewed. It was all she could do not to squirm under his blatant scrutiny.
    “I don’t want a real wife.”
    “You want a fake one?” He was insane. He’d be perfect for politics after all.
    “Yes.” He looked out the window at the line of people standing outside, waiting to get in. “And no.”
    “I bet you’re just a whiz in campaign meetings.”
    “Allow me to explain our game plan.” Alex checked over both shoulders before continuing in a whisper. “You simply pretend to be my girlfriend. We hang out, we