Page 34 of Fake Out Hearts

“Of course I do!”

“Okay, okay. Then is something else on your mind? You’re being pretty quiet.”

Becca shrugs and finally takes her eyes off the ring to meet mine. “I don’t know, I guess this is all just getting very real very fast. I mean, I just got off a flight here and the next thing I know, I’m getting a surprise of a lifetime in the form of a beautiful andveryexpensive wedding ring.”

“Yeah, I get that. It’s a lot to take in. Are you having second thoughts?”

“No, not at all. I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed by how, well, good things are turning out for me. After Shawn dumped me, I thought I was going to have to run home with my tail between my legs, but I feel like I’m living in a fairy tale instead. It’s surreal. And still hard to believe.”

I reach over to rest my hand on hers. “Believe it. You can stop waiting for the other shoe to drop because it’s not going to happen. You’re right, thisisreal. We’re doing this. And everything is going to be perfect.”

“I believe you. I do. But it’s just going to take some time for me to adjust.”

“Totally understandable. You can take all the time you need,” I say, and leave it at that. Thankfully, the view on the drive back to my place is stunning. You can’t really look anywhere without seeing the mountains, and there’s still a light dusting of snow on the peaks.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Becca mumbles as she stares out the window. “It reminds me a lot of home. I missed the mountainsand snow while I was living in Los Angeles. I never got a chance to get out of LA and up into the mountains in California.”

It’s such a small detail, but it makes me smile because I love the snow and mountains too. Big cities are great and tons of fun, but in my opinion, nothing can beat the rugged natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Some people get tired of the views after a while, but I don’t understand how they could. They change throughout the year, and every season brings some incredible new sight.

It reminds me of Becca and all the ways she continues to surprise me.

We pull into the garage of my building a few minutes later and I climb right out, but Becca hesitates in the passenger seat. She’s staring down at her ring again and adjusting it on her finger.

“Everything okay?” I ask, leaning into the car, and she glances over at me with her bottom lip trapped between her teeth.

“Yeah, I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“I… I want fidelity.” Her voice isn’t steady, but the intense look she gives me is. “I know this marriage isn’t real, and I’m not trying to pretend it is, but I still don’t want you seeing anyone else on the side.”

Without a word, I walk around the car to her side, open the door, and kneel beside her.

“Becca, listen to me. I meant what I said. For as long as I’m your husband, I’ll take care of you. And that includes not being with anyone else.” Reaching out, I grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger, holding her gaze. “I can’t offer you my heart, but I can offer you that.”

Something flashes in her eyes, powerful but hard to read, and she nods.

“Thank you,” she breathes.

I trace my thumb lightly along the curve of her jaw, just a tiny movement. “And I want the same from you too. As long as we’re married, I want to know that there’s no other man in your life.”

She blinks, looking almost taken aback, as if she wasn’t expecting me to want that claim on her. Then she nods again, licking her lips.

“Of course. I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

“Good.”

I rise smoothly to my feet and offer her a hand to help her out of the car, and as she rests her delicate palm on mine and I close my fingers around hers, I can’t quite explain the feeling of satisfaction that floods my chest.

Chapter 12

Becca

My jaw drops when I step into Theo’s condo. I’ve already seen it in the picture he sent me, but the picture didn’t do it justice. The furniture is so high-end that it looks like something out of a magazine—I can only guess at what it must have cost. And the high ceilings and windows let light pour in from every angle, which gives the entire condo a warm glow and feel.

He has a corner unit that looks right out at the mountains and it’s a killer view. I almost start crying again when I realize that this is my home now, and that I’ll get to spend every morning on that wraparound balcony admiring the mountains while I sip my coffee.

“Welcome home,” Theo says, and when I turn to face him, he’s blushing and rubbing the back of his neck. Is he embarrassed? “From the looks of the place, it’ll probably surprise you to hear, but I grew up poor. Buying this place felt more than a little bonkers back when I did.”

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