Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Surely, her surprise over that was to blame for how she lost her footing and literally tumbled into him.
His strong arms went around her as his scent enveloped her. He smelled dry and steady—like driftwood that’s been polished smooth by years of waves.
Interest washed through her—heady and familiar—but deeply unwelcome. She’d barely resisted the urge to turn her face into his neck and press her lips to the pulse of his heartbeat there.
Then he spoke, breaking the spell.
He had an appealing voice—smooth and clear like crisp fall waves, but with just a hint of gravel beneath it. It was the kind of voice that made you want to lean in. So, naturally, she stepped away.
No matter how handsome he was—or how good he smelled—she was determined not to be charmed by him.
He was just a man.
With a stupidly perfect face.
An easy target.
It was time to make him regret ever agreeing to the marriage contract.
4
Iris
“I’m so glad you were available to meet with me today,” Finn said as soon as they were both seated.
Iris bit back her real thoughts that ran along the ‘It’s not like I had a choice’ direction and pivoted to the complete other way.
“Of course! I was so intrigued by your offer. It’s not every day a land man wants to endure the rigorous courtship of a mermaid.”
Doubt flicked across his green eyes, making her hold back a smile.
He was a master at controlling his emotions, though, tamping them down and replacing them with something more manufactured. Even the smile he shot her seemed practiced and disingenuous.
“This union could be historic,” he said. “A royal mermaid has never married a surface-dweller before, let alone a human.” That voice that just a moment before had been so appealing felt suddenly fake. Too clean. Too careful. Like someone had focus-grouped his vowels. “A real step forward for both our kinds. And who better than us to set the example?”
Oh, he was smooth all right.
He was the kind of man who could convince you to sell him your coral bed and thank him for the privilege.
Iris’s eyes narrowed.
But before she could respond, a peppy woman came bouncing over. In one hand was a small glass that she set silently in front of Finn. Then, with a flourish, she set a glass the size of her head in front of Iris.
“We made you a saltwater cocktail!” she gushed. “Salt water infused with just a splash of gin, muddled with nori, and garnished with pink Himalayan salt and ground kelp!”
They’d even put a little fake fish inside the cup.
“It looks lovely,” she told the waitress, even if she’d never had ‘gin’ before.
“And we have a massive seafood menu. Just flag me down when you’re ready to order.”
With that, she bounced away.
“She was very excited to get to make you a drink. And serve a mermaid.”
“I feel like there are a lot of eyes on me,” Iris admitted.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of white. Turning, she saw Monty landing on the railing near an abandoned table. Hopping down, he started eating leftover crab cakes off a plate.
“Can you blame th—Is that a pelican?”
“Seems like it. So, Finn, what made you decide you want a mermaid wife?”
He reached as if to loosen his tie before he lowered his hand to the white tablecloth instead.
“Well, to be honest, you represent a key demographic. Your background will add great diversity to my platform.”
He sounded like he was reading off a script.
Had his campaign manager coached him on what to say? Or, worse yet, did he truly feel that way?
“We don’t need to be in love, obviously,” Finn kept prattling on. “We simply need to put on a convincing show for the media, and—”
“Shoo! Shoo!” someone called from her side, making Iris turn to see one of the servers trying to get Monty to leave. She was so amused by the show Monty was putting on, pretending to try to bite the woman’s arm, that she lost track of what Finn was saying. Not that it was hard to drift off during Finn’s press release disguised as conversation.
“The optics of a single male candidate aren’t great. Not even with how much progress we’ve made as a society the past few decades. The people—both human and not—like the idea of strong family values.”
“I see,” she said when it seemed like Finn was waiting for a response from her.
“It is, unfortunately, a lot to accomplish in a small amount of time. But I’m confident we can curate something believable. After all, a picture-perfect couple is curated, not happened upon.”
How romantic.
“You’ll be amazed how quickly the press will take to you. Once we … tweak a few things.”
“Tweak a few things?”
Iris was quickly losing control of her composure. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to blow up at him. Then there would be no avoiding her mother’s wrath.