She looks at me doubtfully. “You think you can convince people you want to marry me? That this isn’t some kind of game?”
I lean forward and press my lips to her forehead. “Abso-fuckin-lutely.”
She shrugs. “Okay, let’s do it.”
I wait for panic to hit me, but it never comes. Really the only thing I feel is a deep longing. I slide my hands from her waist to her back so I can hold her in place. “So it’s a deal?”
She laughs. “Yeah, deal. Should we shake on it?”
The smile drops from my face. I don’t want to shake on it, but I’m probably going to hell for what I say next. “We should probably kiss on it. We do need to be convincing, right?”
She licks her lips as her eyes search mine. “Right. Practice would probably be a good idea.”
I press my lips to hers. I meant it to be a small peck, something to warm us up to each other so we’re not so awkward in the coming days, but that idea goes straight out the window as soon as my lips touch hers. I nip at her, and she moans, giving me full and complete access. I waste no time and slide my tongue along hers, tasting her for the first time. Cupping her jaw, I tilt her head to the side so I can deepen our kiss. I should pull away, but I can’t. With her hands stroking up and down my chest, my whole body reacts, and I slide my hands down her back, cupping her ass cheeks and pulling her into my body. I know she can feel my arousal, but I don’t care. She feels way too good, and I never imagined kissing her would be like this.
I could do this all night until I hear a car door slam from somewhere in the neighborhood. She pulls back, but I don’t let her go far. Her eyes are wide and her lips swollen. I still have my hands on her ass, but I don’t want to move them. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem fooling anyone.”
The light in her eyes dims, and I want to kick myself. That definitely wasn’t what she was wanting to hear.
“Uh, right. Yep. Good practice. I’m going to go on to bed. Early day tomorrow.”
I want to stop her or ask her to talk some more, but I know it’s best to let her go. I need to pull myself together.
I let her go in and walk up and down the driveway a few times to get my head on straight.
When I make it inside, the lights are off, and I make it as far as my office. I don’t trust myself to not go upstairs and knock on Isabella’s door so we can finish what we started.
I force myself to work for hours, and I sleep for a little while on the couch in my office. Bright and early the next morning, I shower and send a text to Kelly that we’re working from my house the rest of the week. I make a point to see Granny before Isabella comes on shift, and I am back in my office working all morning.
Right before lunch, I realize that I need to talk to Kelly. “Hey, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
She nods, crossing her legs. Her skirt rides up her thighs, and I don’t want to give her any ideas, so I keep busy as if I’m straightening things on my desk. I decide straight and to the point is the best way to do this. “I’m getting married.”
She bolts from her chair and stands up, coming to my desk. “Excuse me. You’re what?”
Okay, I knew she would be surprised, but I wasn’t expecting this. “Yeah, I’m getting married to Isabella.”
She flinches, and a look of pure disgust crosses her features. “You’re marrying your grandmother’s nurse? Is this a joke?”
She laughs but stops when she sees the stern look on my face, and then she shakes her head as if she doesn’t believe me. “Lucas! You have to be kidding me. You could do so much–”
I cut her off by holding my hand up. “Don’t even think of finishing that sentence.”
At that exact moment, there’s the sound of shoes walking down the hall, and I make my way to the door. All I see is Isabella’s back as she rushes away. “Bella.”
She stops and freezes, and I know she wishes she hadn’t been seen, but now is as good as time as any to show her that we can do this. If Kelly hasn’t ruined it. “Come here, Bella.”
She turns to look at me, her eyes wide. She doesn’t want to come. She looks as if she’d rather run than anything, but she drops her head and makes her way to me. I want to meet her halfway, but I know if I stay where I’m at, Kelly will get to see exactly what I feel for my future wife. I put a finger to Bella’s chin and lift it up so she’s looking at me. “Morning, sweetheart.”