His Shortcake

Chapter 3

Dustyn Franco:

I signed the damn contract, basically sealing Mara and my impending marriage.

When we entered that door, I wasn't expecting to see the whole apartment set-up they had inside. It seemed as if Alec had put everything they might ever need inside the room. It was all personalized, and I could easily see the few touches of their mom's memories decorated the walls of their living room.

Alec cooked pasta for our dinner while Mara sat beside me, telling Alec about our day. She looked like an excited kid on a field trip, and Alec was nothing but attentive to everything she was saying. She was more than happy to tell him about finally learning to bake something with Mark as her guru.

We had dinner in comfortable silence and occasional laughs. It was peaceful, like dining with family you haven't seen in years. It wasn't anything like my dinners with my mom, as she's constantly looking for arguments and fights.

After dinner, Alec made Mara go to bed like the strict father he is. Mara pouted and pleaded, but Alec was adamant about letting her rest, for she had a long day. Giving in, Mara kissed Alec goodnight.

"Good night, Dy. Thanks for today," she told me with a smile and retreated to her bedroom.

My eyes travelled back to Alec's figure hunched over the sink, letting the dishes dry. "Coffee?" he asked, pulling two cups from their cabinet.

"Sure. About the co-" I wasn't able to finish what I was saying because he shushed me. He took quiet steps to Mara's door and opened it all the way to reveal Mara eavesdropping. She fell to the floor since Alec suddenly opened the door, catching her off guard.

She smiled sheepishly at Alec. "H-hi?"

I laughed at her. "Oh-oh. Someone got caught."

Alec stared down at her and shook his head. "Get up and go to bed now, baby girl. No eavesdropping this time, okay?" He helped her up and guided her back inside her room. This time, he made sure to watch her get into her bed and personally tucked her in. He dropped a kiss on her forehead and left her bedroom, making sure to close the door behind him. "Now, let's talk."

I nodded in agreement and picked up our coffee cups, following him to their living room. Once we were seated, he presented me with a brown envelope and took out the papers inside of it. "Is that..?" I asked, trailing off as I read the contract.

"Sign it, Dustyn. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain," he said, his voice sounding much more persuasive than it did a few minutes ago. He even had a pen prepared.

Sighing, I let my eyes scan over the contract, which only specified the partnership and marriage between Mara and me. It stated that I had to be married to Mara for a year straight, or everything would be for nothing. "Are you sure about this? This is Mara's future."

He looked me straight in the eye and said, "You are the only person I trust with Mara."

Fuck. I didn't need any more persuading than Alec thinks. I already want to marry Mara without the stupid partnership or contracts. I want to marry her but not in this way. The proper way of courting her and earning her love, trust, and finally, her hand in marriage.

"Dustyn, I know you're in love with my sister," Alec said, his eyes staring right into my soul. "Regardless, I trust you to keep her happy, to love her with all your heart, and to protect her. Sign the papers."

Releasing the breath I was holding, I held the pen in my shaky hands and reluctantly agreed. I signed my name at the end of the contract.

"Mara was invited by my Dad to dinner on Friday," I told him as I slid the paper to him and watched him sign it.