SALLY forced a smile as she looked at the two people she liked the least.

liked the world over. It was a shame they were practically all the family he had left... In his mind, he knew he didn't owe them any explanations, but his heart told him to lie.

The sound of a car on the gravel path made her realize her fake husband had just arrived. She sighed in relief and silently blessed her brother for coming to her aid.

"Excuse me, grandparents," she said, and ran toward the front door. Although the word "run" wasn't the most appropriate to describe her

movements, since she was eight months pregnant, and under the circumstances, that wasn't exactly what she did best. Her heart beat faster as she opened the door and walked down the porch steps, one hand resting on the railing. She placed the other on her belly in an unconscious gesture of self-protection.

"Thank God," he murmured breathlessly. He looked at his watch. "How punctual..."

The man who got out of the SUV looked better than she expected. He was over six feet tall and wearing a beige polo shirt and khaki pants that looked perfect on him. His broad shoulders further enhanced his attractiveness, as did his hair, black and shiny like Texas oil. His eyes were a vivid blue, and his eyelashes were long and dark. As she looked at him, Sally felt a pang of long-dormant desire. "Some situation," she silently scolded herself. "You must look like the man in the Michelin commercial to him."
Apparently, Sam had recruited the most handsome orderly in the hospital. Over the past few days, he'd wondered many times what kind of sorry man would have agreed to play along. Although it was also true that, if he put his mind to it, his doctor brother could convince a duck to voluntarily go into the oven.

She didn't realize she'd smiled at that thought until the man smiled back. And that smile sent a pleasant tingle down her spine.

"Stop it, silly," she scolded herself again. "Don't suddenly get all giddy and feminine. It would be a waste of time. He's just doing you a favor, so go ahead!"

The attractive orderly approached her with an outstretched hand. "Hi, Sam sent me to..."

"I know." Sally took his hand and pulled him up the stairs. "Just humor me," she said as she led him inside. "Oh... and you're a doctor," she whispered.

Just before entering the living room, she remembered the ring. She stopped, rummaged in a pocket of her dress, took out the ring, and slipped it on the man's finger. Miraculously, it fit.

"I was about to forget," he said, giving his accomplice a knowing look.

He narrowed his eyes at her curiously. She smiled shyly. "That's more traditional." He took the hand in which he had placed the coin again.

ring and placed it on her own shoulder. "And now, please smile!" she said through gritted teeth. "We are tremendously happy!" she added, running a hand around the man's waist.

The whole farce with her grandparents was proving extremely traumatic and uncomfortable, but not enough to stop her from noticing the solidity of her companion's body and how good he smelled.

They walked briskly into the living room, a pleasantly messy room, cluttered with things and pretty, slightly worn furniture. Until she'd seen the undisguised distaste with which her grandparents had regarded her upon entering, her living room had always seemed a cozy and wonderful place.
She felt her stomach tighten and knew it wasn't because of a kick from her little girl, but because of the hostility she felt toward her grandparents. How dare she make her feel inferior without even saying a word?

With a quick nod, he pushed his anger aside and focused on...