The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife (Blair and Grayson) novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4

~BLAIR~

The mansion was exactly the kind of place I expected from the captain of the Blackridge Wolves—modern, and expensive.

Floor to ceiling windows stretched across the back of the house, overlooking a private stretch of woods.

A member of the staff had let me in and directed me toward the living room where the pre-wedding photoshoot was supposed to take place.

I never made it that far.

Voices drifted from the partially open door of what looked like a study. I should have kept walking. I should have cleared my throat or knocked. Instead, I stopped.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Grayson’s voice was low and far too romantic for a man who was supposed to be marrying someone else in a matter of days. “I will never fall for her.”

My stomach dropped. That was Grayson? Wasn’t it?

“You know my heart belongs to you, Lily. Completely. This marriage is nothing more than a transaction. My father insisted on it to repay the Monroe family for everything they’ve done for us. That’s all it is. I already told you—I’ll make her hate me so much she’ll be the one pushing for a divorce.”

I stood frozen in the hallway, the words sinking in one by one.

He was going to make me hate him on purpose.

He had already decided I was temporary.

I took a step back without thinking and my elbow caught the edge of a tall decorative vase on the side table. It tipped, and crashed to the floor with a loud sound.

Silence followed.

Then the study door opened fully.

Grayson Shaw stepped out first.

I had seen him on the ice a hundred times. I had watched him from across rinks, cold and focused and untouchable in a Blackridge jersey. Seeing him this close was different. He was taller than I expected, broader through the shoulders, with ash-blond hair that looked like he’d run his hands through it too many times and sharp blue eyes that locked onto me instantly.

He was unfairly handsome in a way that made my pulse kick harder than I wanted to admit.

Behind him stood a pretty brunette with soft features and furious eyes—Lily Sinclair. She looked at me like she wanted to set me on fire.

Grayson’s gaze moved over me slowly, assessing. Whatever he had imagined William Monroe’s daughter would look like, I clearly wasn’t it. His jaw tightened.

“Are you Blair?” he asked.

I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Yes. I’m the bride you can’t wait to get rid of.”

For a second, the hallway was completely still.

Then the corner of his mouth curved-1not a full smile, but a slow, dangerous smirk that made something traitorous flutter low in my stomach.

“You’re earlier than expected,” he said.

“And you’re more honest than expected,” I replied. “Most men at least pretend to be polite when they meet their future wife. You went straight to planning how to make me miserable. Efficient. I’ll give you that.”

Lily stepped forward, eyes flashing. “You were eavesdropping. You weren’t supposed to hear that. If you’d waited like a normal person, you never would have heard us talking about you.”

“I was walking to a photoshoot I was told to attend,” I said evenly. “If you didn’t want an audience, you should have closed the door.”

Grayson’s gaze never left my face. There was something assessing in it now, sharper than before. “So you’re the Monroe daughter.”

“And you’re the man who already decided I’m disposable.” I tilted my head. “We make a charming pair already.”

Lily looked between us, clearly hating every second of the exchange. “Grayson—”

“Give us a minute,” he said without looking at her.

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