Fake Fiancé

First Kiss

After Isabella and Joe moved in together, they fell into a rhythm. Isabella never left Joe's side and that's exactly how he wanted it. They've lived together for two months and they were a month away from the fake wedding date.

The closer they got to the wedding, the more planning Isabella did with Joe's mother. She walked into their house, the weight lifting off her shoulders as she dropped her purse onto the floor. She sighed before leaning down and picking it up, hanging it next to her keys.

"Bella? That you?"

"Nope," she sighed. "It's a robber. Give me all your money, punk."

Joe laughed but stopped when he walked into the hallway and saw Isabella.

"You okay?" He jogged over to her.

"I'm fine," she sighed. She started to walk past him but he stopped her.

"Talk to me," he whispered. "Did something happen at lunch with my mom?"

"Nothing happened," she said, clearing her throat. "I mean, it was a three-hour lunch."

Joe chuckled as he grabbed Isabella's hand and led her into the family room. She sat down while he went into the kitchen and got her a glass of wine. He grabbed a beer for himself before returning to Isabella.

"Thank you," she sighed before taking a large sip.

"Was lunch with my mom that bad?" He chuckled.

"No," Isabella said quickly. "Your mom is wonderful. I adore her. She's so easy to talk to and. . ."

"Bella," Joe gently cut her off with a small chuckle. "I didn't mean it like that. I imagine she talked about the wedding the whole time."

"Not at first," Isabella said, trying to sound reassuring. "She asked if anything was different at work since you and I announced our engagement. Then she started asking about the wedding and what we had planned so far. Then she started helping fill in the gaps. And the whole time. . ."

"What?"

"I kept feeling guilty," she sighed. "The whole time, I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking how great it was that she was getting along so well will her future daughter-in-law. She was probably relieved that she was getting along with her son's fiancé. Because we were. We were laughing and making jokes and. . . It's been a really long time since I had a mom like that."

As that last sentence left Isabella's lips, a tear streamed down her cheek. Joe reached over and grabbed her hand.

"I'm glad you felt like that," he whispered.

"But it's a lie," Isabella whispered.

"Bella," Joe stuttered. She started to stand up but Joe tightened his grip on her hand.

"Listen to me," he said gently, "I know how you feel. Really. Every time my father talks about me taking over the organization, he always brings up the fact that I've got a strong woman in my corner. Isabella, you aren't the only one who's feeling guilty."

He sighed before adding, "We don't have to go through with this, Isabella."

"How would we explain it?" Isabella said, her eyes avoiding Joe's. If she looked up at him, she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep up with this facade.

"I could figure something out," Joe said, sounding less sure. He wasn't less sure because he couldn't think of what to say to his father but because he didn't want to have to come up with a story.

"The repercussions," Isabella whispered.

"Isabella," he started. She shook her head and he instantly stopped talking.

"If your father finds out that we've broken up or if he finds out that it was all a lie. . . He could. . . What if he. . . Would he hurt you?"

That last part got caught in her throat. Joe instinctively scooted closer to her.

"He's not going to hurt me, Isabella," he said gently. "Sure, he'll be angry but he won't do anything. Other than give me crap for letting a girl like you go."

"Joe," she said, his name getting stuck in her throat. "Your mother gave me this."

With shaking hands, she held out the necklace. When Joe saw the necklace, he instantly recognized it.

"She said it was your great-great-great-grandmother's," Isabella started telling Joe the story he already knew. "Your grandfather gave it to her when he asked her to marry him. He told her that as long as she had it, she'd always be safe with him. Your grandmother passed it down to her daughter-in-law. Who passed it down to her daughter-in-law and so forth. That's why Lily gave it to me."

Her voice broke and a sob got caught in her throat. Joe jumped to wrap his arms around her. He tightened them when he felt her shaking.

"It's okay," he whispered. "It's going to be okay, Isabella. I promise."

"How?" She asked, pulling out of his arms. "How do you know it's going to be okay?"

Joe reached up and caught a tear with his thumb. His hand lingered on her face and he couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.

"I just know," he whispered.

Joe hesitated before slowly leaning in and pressing his lips gently to Isabella's. The kiss was nothing like anything Joe had ever felt before. Sure, he's been with lots of girls. Hundreds. But none like this.

None like Isabella.

The feeling he got from simply kissing Isabella was so overwhelming he completely lost himself in the kiss. That is until Isabella broke away from him.

"Joe," she whispered.

She leaned back and shook her head. That's when Joe saw the tears streaming down her face.

"Bella?"

"This isn't real," she said under her breath.

"Isabella. . ."

"We can't forget that this isn't real."

"Bella, it doesn't have to be. . ."

"I don't think I can do this anymore, Joe," Isabella said, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry."