Page 24 of The Work Wife

In the end, logistics and reason weren’t part of the answer. He was up for hours on Sunday night, and finally fell asleep peacefully after making his decision.

Chapter 5

“Well?” Jamie asked the minute he walked into their office on Monday morning. She was a wreck, and for the life of her she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to say yes or no. What she didn’t want was for him to play games. But this was Wes, so of course he dragged it out.

“Well, what?” He handed her a cup of coffee and a bag with a giant muffin inside. She wanted to shake him for toying with her.

“You promised me you’d think about it and decide. Did you?”

“We’re not even married yet and you’re already nagging me?” he said, a grin forming on his face. He’d said not married yet.

“Does that mean we are getting married?” Air wouldn’t come and the last word came out in a breathy squeak.

“If you ask me nicely.” He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting.

“Wes, will you marry me?” She pressed her lips together to keep from busting up laughing as he made a show of thinking it over.

“Yes.” He nodded and let out a sigh.

“You could pretend to be a little excited about it.”

“As long as you know I would be pretending.”

“What was it that changed your mind?”

“The promise that I wouldn’t be expected to bed you.” Her eyes went wide and he laughed at her expression. “I’m kidding. It was the part about growing old with someone. I don’t want to be old and alone. You don’t annoy the hell out of me, so I think it’s a good deal.” He smirked, which meant there was something more. “And part of me wants to see the look on Duane’s face when we announce it.”

“Nothing better than marrying someone for spite.” She rolled her eyes.

“Because marrying someone so you can go to a couples’ retreat is perfectly acceptable, Ms. Judgy.”

“That will soon be Mrs.”

“Are you taking my name?” he asked, looking a bit shocked.

“Would you mind?” It would go a long way in making it more credible.

“I hadn’t thought about it.” Surely there were still tons of things neither of them had thought about.

“Jamie Archer has a nice ring to it,” she said. Her stomach fluttered with a strange feeling. She was either happy or getting the flu.

Wes must have had a similar reaction if his expression was any indication. He coughed and nodded.

“It sounds nice. It’s your call.”

“It would be more believable.”

“Oh. That reminds me. Here. I got you a ring. It’s official.” He shoved the ring on her finger. She was surprised by how perfectly it fit. She looked down at the ring and laughed. It was enormous.

“What’s wrong?”

“You couldn’t have found one that looked a little more realistic?” She held it up. “If this were real it would be like two carats, Wes.” He shrugged and turned away. “It better not turn my finger green.”

She shouldn’t have made fun of him. Men generally took the attitude of go big, or go home. It was a nice gesture, and how would he know anything about women’s jewelry? In the five years they’d worked together, she’d only known him to go out a handful of times.

And now he was going to marry her.

She never really expected him to go along with it. He was usually more sensible than this. But now she was going be married. Married. Christ. What had she gotten them into?