Tony paused, his fork hovering over his plate as the realization struck him again—Marissa was still a virgin! This was new territory for him. Normally, the women he’d been with had, well, already been there, done that, so to speak. But Marissa? She was an unexpected twist in his otherwise well-rehearsed script.
For some reason, this kept bouncing around in his mind like a pesky fly he couldn’t swat away. He frowned at his reflection in the spoon, deep in thought. Am I overthinking this? Am I supposed to be thinking this much? Do people think this much about thinking?
Realizing he was spiraling, Tony decided to shift gears. He needed to recalibrate his approach—a bit softer, more... tender, maybe? Yeah, let’s go with that, he thought, convincing himself with a subtle nod.
Clearing his throat, he glanced over at Marissa and, in his best "gentleman" voice, said, “Finish your meal, and then we’ll go for a walk. Fresh air and all that.”
Marissa blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden change in tone. “Y-yes, Honey,” she stammered, her voice unusually sweet and obedient.
Wait. What? Did she just call me 'Honey'? Tony's brain short-circuited for a moment. The word bounced around his head like a pinball machine on hyper mode. Did she really just call me that?
Something strange happened next—Tony felt his face heating up. His heartbeat picked up speed, not because of some high-stakes mission or an explosive chase scene, but because a simple little word had triggered feelings. Actual feelings!
Tony, the cool, calm, collected guy, the one who had scaled buildings and dodged bullets without blinking, was now... blushing. Oh great, he thought, I’m blushing. I’ve become one of those guys.
Trying to maintain his composure, he ducked his head, focusing intensely on his food. Just keep chewing, Tony. Don’t look up. Don’t let her see you looking like a tomato.
Marissa, oblivious to Tony’s inner turmoil, smiled to herself, thinking everything was perfectly fine. Meanwhile, Tony was silently panicking. Did she notice? Did my face turn into a traffic light? Oh man, this is not part of the plan.
He shoved more food into his mouth, trying to act normal, but of course, the universe had other plans. A piece of bread got stuck in his throat, making him choke a little. Perfect timing, he thought sarcastically as he tried to cough discreetly, his face now even redder from embarrassment.
Marissa looked at him, concerned. “Are you okay, Honey?”
Tony waved her off, still coughing, but inwardly he was screaming. Oh, fantastic! Now she’s calling me 'Honey' while I’m choking to death. This is how I go out? On a piece of bread?
Eventually, he managed to clear his throat, giving her a thumbs up as if to say, “Yep, totally cool, nothing to see here.” Inside, though, he was already drafting an apology letter to his ego.
As the meal continued, Tony tried to shake off the awkwardness, but every time Marissa called him ‘Honey,’ it happened again—the blush, the weird fluttery feeling in his chest. Is this what romance feels like? he wondered, half in awe, half in horror.
He took a deep breath. “Okay,” he muttered to himself. “Get a grip, Tony. You’ve survived car chases, ambushes, and interrogation rooms. You can survive being called ‘Honey’ without losing it.”
But as he glanced over at Marissa, who was smiling sweetly, oblivious to the emotional tornado he was going through, Tony couldn’t help but feel... caged. He was a tough guy! This whole “feelings” thing? It was uncharted territory.
And yet, despite himself, he kind of liked it.
—-
After they finished their meal, Tony and Marissa stepped out of the restaurant, heading toward the beach just a few steps away. The night sky was a deep shade of blue, dotted with twinkling stars, and the moonlight shimmered over the gentle waves. The cool ocean breeze greeted them, carrying the familiar salty scent of the sea.
They strolled slowly along the shoreline, the soft sand occasionally sneaking between their toes. Tony, usually so tense and serious, seemed more at ease under the soft glow of the moon. Marissa couldn't help but steal glances at him. He looked almost unreal in the moonlight, like a sculpted figure from some romantic movie poster. Is this a dream? she wondered.
The night was peaceful, the only sound being the rhythmic lull of the waves lapping at their feet. As the cold water touched her toes, Marissa shivered slightly, hugging herself. Without a word, Tony shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Marissa blinked in surprise. "Oh, uh, thank you," she said, pulling the jacket tighter around her. It still had his warmth—and his scent. Was it just the cold, or did Tony's cologne smell... sensual? She felt her cheeks heat up but brushed it off.
In the distance, the dim lights of the beachfront restaurant and the passing ships twinkled, adding a certain magic to the scene. They walked in silence for a while, taking in the beauty of the night. Then, Tony, known for being tight-lipped, finally broke the quiet.
"Are you always this quiet?" he asked, glancing sideways at her.
Marissa inhaled deeply, debating her response. "Not really," she said after a moment. "I just don't know what to say to you. Especially when you never seem to believe anything I say."
Tony nodded slowly, processing her words. She had a point. As much as he wanted to trust her, something always held him back. In his mind, Marissa was still a wild card—someone who had appeared at the scene of a mafia attack, raising all kinds of red flags.
"You're right," Tony admitted, surprising even himself.
Marissa tilted her head, looking up at him. "So, what can I do to prove that I'm not involved with them?" she asked, her voice soft yet determined.
Tony stared out at the sea, searching for the right words. Finally, with a hint of sarcasm, he smirked. "Well, at least I'll enjoy your lies," he said, his tone cold but somehow teasing. "So tell me, what's your daily life like?"
Marissa raised an eyebrow. "Nothing exciting," she replied. "Pretty boring, actually. I go to college in the mornings, work at a drugstore in the evenings. Sometimes I get the night shift, so I'm back at school the next morning without much sleep. On weekends, I tutor high school kids or babysit. My life is just... work, study, work. I don't even have time to make friends, let alone date."
Her answer caught Tony off guard. It added a whole new layer to her story, even though part of him still held onto his skepticism.
"Sounds like you stay busy," Tony said, his tone still nonchalant but less harsh.
"Yeah, very busy," Marissa replied. "I'm doing everything I can to survive and help my family. Then, one random night, I meet you, get kidnapped, and accused of being a spy."
Tony let out a sarcastic laugh. "And what about Daniel? You guys were dating, right?" he teased, his voice dripping with mockery.
Marissa rolled her eyes. "Yeah, until he found out how 'pathetically poor' my life was. He dumped me. I’ve never been able to keep a boyfriend for long."
Tony chuckled, continuing to poke fun. "Wow, tragic."
"Thank you so much for the sympathy, Mr. Perfect. Oh, sorry, I mean Honey," she retorted sweetly, with just the right amount of sarcasm to make Tony snicker.
It was a genuine laugh—something that took him by surprise. A girl had never made him laugh before, especially not like this. Something about Marissa’s quick wit and the way she handled her less-than-ideal situation with dry humor and a dash of sass impressed him. For the first time, Tony began to see her not just as a potential threat, but as someone with her own struggles.
Marissa, on the other hand, felt a shift too. Beneath Tony’s tough exterior, there seemed to be a man who could actually laugh—even in their bizarre, forced-marriage situation. Maybe, just maybe, this fake marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all. And living with him? Well, she thought, at least the debt collectors can’t find me here.
They kept walking, the night growing quieter as the stars twinkled above them, and the moonlight illuminated the silver path on the ocean’s surface.
After the shared moment of laughter, the mood felt lighter, and Tony finally broke the silence again. "Got any hobbies?" he asked, trying to shift to a more casual topic.
Marissa smiled. "I love reading. Whenever I find a rare free moment, I lose myself in a book. It helps me escape from the craziness of real life."
Tony raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Reading, huh? What kind of books?"
"Mostly sci-fi and fantasy," she replied. "I love how they take you to other worlds, where anything is possible." She paused, then looked up at him. "How about you? Got any hobbies?"
Tony shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "I guess... working out? Running, mostly. Clears my head."
Marissa gave him a sympathetic look, clearly unimpressed. "Wow, sounds... thrilling."
Tony chuckled again, this time fully aware that she was teasing him. "Hey, it’s not that bad," he protested, laughing. "And it’s definitely more interesting than babysitting."
Marissa smirked. "Oh, you should try it sometime. Babysitting's a real thrill."
They both laughed, and for the first time that night, the tension between them felt a little less suffocating.