Chapter 12

• XanderI am laying on my king size bed thinking about my night out, more accurately I’m thinking about my future wife to be. Eyes open or closed all I see are Hayley and those “fuck me” heels she had on. I imagine my hands peeling of every layer of clothing until all she has left are those heels wrapped around my waist.The effect she has on me is not what I expected and I have a feeling the next few months are going to be interesting. I stare at my phone and decide to message her, I can’t seem to help myself. I need to know where her heads at. She responds and we decide to meet tomorrow to go through the terms of the contract. I find myself looking forward to seeing her and that worries me. Besides barely knowing her, I know I can’t afford to mix business with pleasure.I wake to sunlight streaming in through the French windows overlooking the property’s vast gardens. I haven’t slept this well in ages. I look at the time on my phone. It’s 9am. I have enough time to grab a protein shake and hit the gym before my first board meeting at twelve. The boys are already in the fully stocked gym in the left wing when I get there. Sometimes I wonder if they live here, not that I’m complaining. They are like family and in a world where everyone wants something from me, its nice to be know these guys will always have my back. They are the same guys they were before I had money and the same guys now.Kyle is sparring with Henry in the boxing ring. From the amount of sweat adorning their bodies and their laboured breathing it’s obvious they have been at this a while. They stop when I walk in. Tyler is also around, earphones on using the weights. It’s strange for all three of them to be around on a weekday but it’s good they are. Its better I get this whole situation out of the way and tell them about Hayley. I don’t keep much from these guys.We greet other and I spit out my announcement “Guys, get your tuxedo’s ready, there’s going to be a wedding!” I say“Oh yeah? Whose? Yours?” asks Henry“Actually yes my friend. Mine”, I grin.I let them stew for a while before I explain about Grandma and Hayley and my “proposal” as it were. They are obviously concerned about Gran but the fact that I’m getting married to appease her has them in stitches and I can’t say I blame them.They want to meet Hayley but I don’t need them to scare the girl away. She’s far too shy to meet them right now. Once she’s signed the contract they can meet her. This has them in even more stitches and I decide I’ve had enough jokes for one day and it’s about time I hit the shower. I can still hear the guys laughing as I round the corner and take the stairs two at a time.HayleyXander is leaning against his black range rover outside Mama Luciano’s, the Italian place we had decided on for lunch. I figured it was the safest bet. Who could go wrong with penne pasta or pizza?The smile he gives me as I approach makes the sun look dim in comparison and I almost turn to see if its really me he’s smiling at. As we hug each other in greeting, it occurs to me that I could  get used to these hugs. I never realised how much I missed that simple human contact with a member of the  opposite sex. Although I don’t remember a hug with Keith ever feeling this good. We make our way into the restaurant and Xander keeps his hand on my lower back as we are ushered to our seats by the owner himself. Sparks ignite at the point of contact with his hand and just his proximity has me concentrating on breathing normal. I feel a little foolish. I’m sure Xander has this effect on every girl. I need to get a grip! This is just a business arrangement to him and a way to stop living in the shadows for me. Yes I am attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? But look at him Hayley, he dates models, why would he give you a second glance?I am still having a full on rant in my head as Xander pulls out my chair for me to sit. I take a breath and shush the voice in my head as I give Xander my full attention.He asks how my day was and about my work and what it entails. We make relatively easy flowing small talk as we get to know little things about each other until our meal arrives. I have to smother a moan at how good the creamy chicken pasta is. It is by far probably the best I’ve tasted. I look up to meet Xander’s green eyes. They have flecks of gold in them now. When did that happen? He has this intense look about him and a lopsided grin on his handsome face…Oh my God! Did I moan out loud? I wonder, mortified.I clear my throat and ask “ So about this contract…it states we are to stay married for a specified period of time that will be agreed upon by both parties?”“Yes"“Well how long are we going to be married for?”“I think no less than twelve to fourteen months would be plausible”.“Okay…what about our families?”“What about them?”“Well I know your grandmother has to believe we are making a real go of this marriage, but I need my family to believe that we are real too. That means you have to show up for family gatherings and play the doting husband. I come from a very traditional family. They can’t suspect what this really is”.“ I can do that. Don’t worry Hayley, to everyone in the outside world, your family included this marriage is real. I will show up whenever I’m needed to convince your family of it . …does this mean we have a deal?”“I'm sure there’s a lot more details we have to agree to but yes Xander, we have a deal" I say as he grins at me from across the table.