The Wedding Favor by Caroline Mickelson Read Free Book Online Page A

agree, no questions asked.” Ava wasn’t being fair and she knew it. She really should explain to Mateo what the rest of her plan was but he needed to see what it felt like to be completely caught off guard. It leveled the playing field.
    He nodded. “Yes,” he said slowly. “I did say that.”
    “Did you mean it?”
    He stared at her for a long moment and then nodded again. “I did.” He shifted his gaze to stare out into the night.
    Ava studied his profile. Mateo Ortega was a handsome man, his features chiseled and defined, but there wasn’t an ounce of hardness in them. Any woman who would spend her lifetime with him would be a fortunate woman indeed. But it wouldn’t be her.
    “Let me explain,” she said. When Mateo turned back to look at her she plunged ahead. “I can’t face your grandfather knowing that we’re being dishonest. And yes, I know that your intentions are the best, and so are mine. But I can’t do it and I don’t know that you can either, Mateo.”
    He nodded. “Go on.”
    “So,” Ava continued, “I propose we actually get married. Completely and legally married so that neither one of us has to feel uncomfortable in front of your grandfather. This way we wouldn’t be play acting or pretending.”
    “And after the wedding?” he asked.
    Ava motioned toward the house. “We move in here.”
    “And after my abuelo is gone?”
    “We wait for a short while and then quietly file for a divorce.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “On what grounds?”
    Ava met his gaze head on. “That our marriage was never consummated.”
    Mateo didn’t immediately respond. Ava sat quietly and waited. As she watched Mateo she realized that despite how familiar he was to her, there was so much about him that she didn’t know. So many things that she wanted to know.
    She looked up when Mateo stood. She took the hand he offered and stood beside him.
    “Ava, I-” but his next words were drowned out by a male voice.
    Startled, both of them turned to see a man come through the break in the hedge. Ava felt Mateo’s left arm slip around her shoulders and she felt instantly grateful. Apparently it was time to face the Ortegas.
    “Ah, there you are,” the man said. “We saw your truck, Mateo, and wondered where you’d gone to.” He smiled at Ava. “You two can’t miss your own engagement party.”
    Ava watched as Mateo reached out to shake the man’s hand. She had a vague feeling she remembered him but his name eluded her. She smiled gratefully at Mateo when he smoothly reintroduced her to his cousin Juan, although hearing Mateo refer to her as his fiancée was going to take some getting used to.
    “Welcome to the family, Ava,” Juan said, reaching over to lightly kiss her cheek.
    His smile was wide, his words sincere to her ears, and Ava felt suddenly overwhelmed knowing that in a few short moments she was going to have to face the entire Ortega family. She knew from experience they’d be effusive in their felicitations.
    “Thank you, Juan. It’s lovely to see you again after so many years.” She smiled shyly. “I look forward to hearing what you’ve been up to.”
    He grinned. “I’m an old married suit now. I’ve got a wife, four little boys and a job crunching numbers downtown but it’s all good. What about you?”
    Ava opened her mouth to answer but Mateo cut her off. “Why don’t we head next door and let Ava say hello to everyone there before we start with the twenty questions.” His teasing voice softened his words.
    As she followed Juan over to the Ortega’s property Ava was grateful for the feel of Mateo’s steadying hand on the small of her back. His touch reassured her that she wasn’t alone, that he was there with her. But she knew he’d stand by her side throughout the party and in the days ahead. As they wound their way through the groups of Mateo’s family and friends, Ava couldn’t help but wonder what Mateo’s answer to her ultimatum would have been if they hadn’t been