Terri Reed - Undercover Marriage

He’d heard the message once, right after being informed of Daniel’s murder. Daniel had caught a call on a lead that might be something big and had wanted Josh to get “off his duff” and go with him. Daniel hadn’t said where or why.

Josh ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t you think I regret that every minute of every day?”

He had been wallowing, nursing his bruised ego, trying to come to terms with the breakup and Lexi’s accusations, and he had let the call go to voice mail.

What would Serena say if she knew Lexi had been convinced he had feelings, romantic feelings, for her?

He had no intention of ever telling Serena, because doing so would only be painful for them both.

“I don’t know. Do you?” she shot back, her voice filled with anger that matched the flames in her eyes.

“Of course I do.” He stared at her, not believing her implication. “Daniel wasn’t just my coworker but my best friend. I’d have gladly given my life for his.”

He felt her doubts and silent accusations like a thousand serrated knives carving him up inside. It was like facing his childhood all over again. He popped open the door, needing air and space. “What kind of unfeeling monster do you think I am?”

He stalked away. He didn’t need to hear her response. He already knew her answer.

* * *

Serena sat there watching Josh walk toward his ground-floor apartment. She’d hurt him with her words. Regret squeezed her in a forceful grip.

She couldn’t control herself where Josh was concerned. Her anger and grief made her tongue sharp, even though she knew better. Working with him these past few months had been excruciating. Every waking moment she struggled to curb her desire to lash out at him for her brother’s death.

Logically she knew whomever had hit her brother over the head was responsible for the murder, and she prayed that God would somehow, someday, bring the perp to justice.

But that didn’t stop Serena from heaping blame on Josh. He’d admitted to not picking up when Daniel called him for backup. Serena had no idea what Josh had been doing on his day off. For all she knew, his cell phone had been dead. She didn’t care.

Josh hadn’t been there for Daniel, his partner, her brother.

Now she couldn’t trust Josh to be there for her, not when it really counted. No matter how well she and Josh worked together, she could never count on him to have her back.

So what if a voice inside her head whispered she wasn’t being fair? So what if everyone deserved a day off? So what if Josh had had her back more times than she could count these past six months?

She couldn’t—didn’t—trust him.

But she couldn’t ignore the fact that they were about to embark on an undercover mission that would require them to at least be civil with each other in private and madly in love in public. Her stomach clenched.

She wasn’t sure how she’d pull off the adoring-wife role.

She didn’t even know what that looked like. Not on a personal level.

Oh, sure she’d seen some happy couples. Colton and Lisette, Hunter and Annie to name a few. But she didn’t have any experience being in love. She’d never taken the time to pursue romance; she’d been too focused on becoming a marshal and being the best one she could be.

The only person she’d ever daydreamed about was the one man she could never have. Josh. But that was long ago, and those feelings didn’t matter anymore.

Remembering the lesson her brother taught her about building bridges in relationships, she knew for the sake of the mission she had to mend this riff with Josh. Starting out their pretend marriage angry wouldn’t bode well for the success of the operation. So she’d do her part, despite her personal reservations about Josh.

Resigned to what she had to do, she popped the door open and climbed out. She hadn’t been to Josh’s apartment since before Daniel’s death. Daniel had dragged her to a dinner party at Josh’s, hoping to set her up with another guest. The man, Les, worked in the D.A.’s office, if she remembered correctly. He’d been nice enough, but she hadn’t been interested.

She’d also met Josh’s then-girlfriend: a buxom blonde who’d come across as deeply insecure, clinging to Josh as if she’d been afraid someone would steal him away from her. Serena never wanted to be that kind of woman.

The door to Josh’s apartment was ajar. He’d known she’d follow him.

Jerk? Or good partner?

She sighed, accepting whatever God had in mind for her, and gently pushed the door open. She walked into the apartment, surveying his domain. An old leather couch, a huge forty-eight-inch flat-screen television and a stack of books made up the living room. The kitchen showed signs of a hasty breakfast. A loaf of bread sat on the counter. A jar of peanut butter sat out with the lid screwed on crooked.

Josh came out of the bathroom carrying a toiletry bag. He glanced up. Surprise widened his eyes, then he gave her a crooked smile. “You startled me. Didn’t really expect you to follow me in.”

She swallowed her pride and ego to say, “I’m sorry I was so harsh with you. I don’t think you’re a monster.”

His expression softened, but wariness remained in his eyes. “That’s good to know.” He nodded and disappeared into his bedroom.

Serena sighed, hating the dejected feeling spreading through her. There was no reason for it. This was work, not personal.

Her gaze landed on a framed photo hanging on the wall, and her breath caught. It was a photo of Josh, Daniel and her from a few summers ago. They’d attended a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. The first baseman had hit a home run into the stands. Josh had caught the ball and promptly given it to her. In the photo Serena was holding the prize while her brother and Josh flanked her. They looked so happy and carefree.

She missed Daniel. Missed the easy camaraderie among the three of them. And, she realized, she missed Josh, too. He’d been a good friend. And she didn’t have many of those.

When Josh came out of the bedroom carrying a suitcase and garment bag, she quickly gathered her composure; no sense in him seeing her getting misty and sentimental. Taking the garment bag from his hand, she retreated out the door back to the car.

Tense silence filled the car on the drive to Serena’s condo. She sought something to say but no words formed. The next few days, weeks—she blew out a sharp breath—months were going to be long if the tension didn’t ease between them.

When they arrived, Josh opted to wait by the car while she packed her cosmetic case and her essential garments into a small travel bag. She also grabbed running shoes and yoga clothes. She might be portraying a stay-at-home wife, but that didn’t mean she would let her exercise regimen go by the wayside. Staying both physically and mentally prepared for any situation that might arise was an important requirement of the marshals.

When she came out, Josh eyed her two small bags. “That’s it?”

“Did you not catch the part about my needing to buy clothing appropriate for this charade?”

“I didn’t think you were serious,” he replied, taking her bag from her hand and tucking it behind the driver’s seat. “We can hit the Galleria on the way.”

“Perfect.” Three major retailers had stores in the Richmond Heights area mall. Definitely places the affluent wife of a bank executive would shop.

“We’ll also need rings,” Josh said.

Her stomach dropped. She’d forgotten that part.

Two hours later, with shiny rings, enough clothes to last for the duration of their pretend marriage and two brand-new BMWs, they pulled into the driveway of the detached garage behind the Compton Heights home that would be their base of operation.