A Wedded Arrangement by Noelle Adams

Author:Noelle Adams [Adams, Noelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, marriage of convenience, small town romance
ISBN: 1688376860
Amazon: B07VSQN8Z8
Goodreads: 47512913
Publisher: Noelle Adams
Published: 2019-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

THE DINNER WAS AT THE most expensive restaurant in Green Valley (and there were a lot of expensive restaurants in town).

Savannah didn’t much like this restaurant. She found it stuffy and pretentious, and the food wasn’t nearly good enough for the prices they charged. But evidently the prestige was enough to make it a popular place. It was impossible to get in without making a reservation at least a month in advance.

The Carlyles had one of the best tables in the place, in a private alcove near a stone fireplace.

It wasn’t nearly cold enough for a fire, but one was blazing anyway. Savannah was uncomfortably hot as soon as she walked in, and excessive heat definitely wasn’t good for people’s tempers.

She was worried.

Lance felt tense beside her.

She hadn’t been sure what to wear, so she’d put on an outfit that was nearly always safe in Green Valley. A dark gray pencil skirt and a light blue-gray cashmere twinset with good heels and tasteful diamond jewelry. Lance was wearing a regular suit, so she figured she was dressy enough to pass for anything but the most formal of cocktail parties while still not drawing attention to herself.

Apparently she’d chosen well since Penelope—Lance’s sister—was wearing a near-identical outfit in different colors.

Lance was more attentive to her than normal. Getting the car door for her when they arrived at the restaurant. Keeping his hand on the small of her back as they walked. Guiding her to a seat at the table and pulling the chair out for her before she sat down. She figured it was a way to distract himself from interacting with his family.

She didn’t mind. It felt nice.

The first hour of the dinner went fine. It was definitely not fun. Every word felt forced. Fake. But the conversation was basically polite as they discussed Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle’s trip to the south of France last month and the new house Penelope and her husband had bought outside DC, where they lived.

Savannah said as little as possible, replying whenever she was asked a question but mostly letting the others guide the discussion. She didn’t know these people well enough to be sure of the best things to say, and the last thing she wanted was to make it worse for Lance by accidentally stepping on someone’s toes.

After the main course, Mrs. Carlyle opened her presents. Lance had bought her a gorgeous scarf—labeling it as being from both him and Savannah—and his mother appeared to adore it.

By the time a server brought out expertly decorated individual lemon cakes—with a single candle on Mrs. Carlyle’s—Savannah was starting to relax. Not much longer left of the dinner, and then they could leave. The ordeal would be over, and it wouldn’t have been as bad as she’d expected.

She shouldn’t have relaxed.

As soon as Mrs. Carlyle blew out her candle, Penelope turned to Lance and asked, “So, how’s your little business going?”

That was what she said. Little business. Her tone was fake pleasant. The condescension was clear.

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