I just couldn't sleep well last night, replaying Logan's kiss and our conversation over and over again. I've had boyfriends before, but none of them made me experience so much pleasure from a kiss or made me feel so sexy and desired. But I know I have to stop thinking about him and focus on my problems, so I get up and start my morning routine.

When I get to the kitchen, I'm surprised when I don't see my father there. I look at the balcony and it's empty too.

"Dad!" I say as I pass the living room and head to his room.

"DAD!" I call him again, making my way back to the kitchen. It's then that I see a notepad on the table with a message from him.

Good Morning sweetie,

I'm at Mary's place. She invited me over for breakfast this morning and said you are more than welcome to join us when you wake up.

Love you.

"Well, that's interesting!" I smile. Although I can't understand his sudden interest in spending more time with her, I'm happy he is willing to.

Since he discovered he has cancer, he's been really sad and worried. He tries to hide it, but I can see it in his eyes. So, if spending time with her is making him feel better, I'm more than happy to let them be.

I have a quick breakfast, then start cleaning the house a little. Since I don't get to work until eleven, I decide to go to the beach with Bear for a while and do some grocery shopping for the barbecue this weekend.

After playing catch with him for a while, I sit by the shore and let him play in the water for a bit. I'm reading a book when I feel someone sitting by my side, and I don't have to look to know who it is.

"Are you ready to tell me why you need a husband?" I can feel his eyes on me, but I don't turn my attention to him.

"Nope." I continue reading my book.

I feel him sigh beside me and I'm startled when he takes the hand that was sitting on my lap and entwines it with his.

"If you are really not willing to try anything romantic with me, at least give me the chance to be your friend," he says.

I look at him and feel the sincerity of his voice reflected in his eyes, and suddenly I want to share all my fears with him.

"Okay." I look back at the sea and close my book.

He brings my hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss on the back of it before holding it back on his lap. I smile at the soft gesture and after a long time, I open up.

"Dad has cancer. A rare type of leukemia." I feel a knot in my throat.

"I'm so sorry, Olivia." He caresses the inside of my hand with his thumb.

"We discovered it about two years ago. I had just finished college and was about to rent a small apartment with my roommate. I had a great job lined up, everything going according to plan, you know? Until one of our neighbors called saying he had passed out and had been admitted to the hospital. One week later, we received the worst news of our lives." I have to stop for a moment because my heart is breaking all over again.

"He is not responding to the treatments anymore..." My breath catches. "He might die, Logan," I say it out loud for the first time, and this time I can't contain the tears that burn out of my eyes.

He puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to him. I bury my face in his chest and try to absorb all the comfort I can. I don't know how long we stay like that but I'm happy he doesn't say anything and just lets me cry.

"Where does the husband enter this story?" he asks softly after I can finally pull myself together.

I give him a small smile. "You are stubborn."

"I'm sure this is an important piece to understand you better."

I extract myself from his hold and turn my attention to the sea. "There's a new treatment in England... It's not a hundred percent guaranteed, but from what his doctor is saying, he has more chances of responding to that treatment than to the one he is doing right now."

"But you don't have the money for that," he states.

I shake my head. "We could sell the house, but dad is not okay with that, saying he might die anyway, and he is not leaving me homeless. And to be honest I don't even know if that money would be enough."

"What's the other option?" he probes.

"My grandmother left me a trust fund..." I look at him and see the moment he starts piecing everything together.

"But you have to be married to have access to the money." He frowns, and I can't quite understand the emotion behind his eyes.

"Yeah." I look down. "So, If I don't get a husband in six months and stay married for at least one year, I will just have access to the money when I'm thirty-two."

"And you're twenty-four."

"Yeah..." I give him a small smile.

"Fuck!" He turns his attention to the sea and seems to contemplate something. He is silent for a long time, just caressing my palm with his thumb. But then he turns to me and looks into my eyes. "Marry me."

My heart stops and although I can't believe what he has just said, I'm sure I have heard him right.

"Are you crazy?" I stand up and so does he.

"I can lend you the money you need, you get your father to start the treatment right away and you can pay me back after we get married," he says as if things were that easy.

I look at him in disbelief. "You are totally insane. I don't even know you, Logan. I can't just marry you. Let alone stay married to you for a year. I mean, we would have to live together, share a place, a bed... Don't you think I've already thought about just marrying one of my friends? There are stipulations I have to follow. I can't just marry anyone; let alone someone I've just met. I can't drag people into this mess, ask them to put their lives on hold for me."

"Think about it as a business arrangement." He licks his lips, looking nervous.

"A business arrangement? You don't even know how much money I need... This is ridiculous! Didn't you listen to what I just said? You don't know all the stipulations I need to follow to be able to get the money."

"Believe me, Olivia, I have enough money." He gives me a sarcastic laugh, and it just serves to solidify that I don't know anything at all about this man in front of me.

"What would you even get out of this?" I ask suspiciously.

"A wife."

I seriously don't know what to say to him. Everything seems so surreal: one moment I'm desperately trying to solve my problems, and then suddenly I have this handsome man offering me a solution. My heart tells me to go for it, but my head is telling me to be careful.

"Why do you need a wife? I mean, look at you, you could have anyone you want. Why me? Why a business marriage?" I need to understand his reasons.

He never visited his grandparents, from what I know. He never had any interest in this place or the restaurant, leaving everything for Laura to take care of, and then he appears here out of the blue and proposes just after hearing my sad story?

He might realize he is being crazy because he lets my hands go and starts rubbing his face.

Sighing, he looks at me in the eyes. "Let me take you out to dinner tonight so I can explain everything to you, okay?" He takes my hand again, "If you are not interested after our conversation, I promise to leave you alone," he says, and I once again see a trace of vulnerability in his eyes.

Who is this guy?

"Fine." I decide I have nothing to lose from one conversation. "But I don't want to have this conversation at D'Angelo."

"Would you like to come to my place after your shift? It would be more private for us to talk."

"Okay, but-" I start, and he interrupts me.

"No funny business, I promise." He smiles, and I'm sure I've just lost my mind.

Guess we're having dinner and discussing a freaking marriage of agreement tonight.

_____

A/N: So glad you keep turning the pages. It means the world! <3

Please don't forget to vote & follow me for news and updates!

xoxo

- Celeste