Page 14 of Needing Happily Ever After

“One day.” She shrugged noncommittally. The last thing she wanted to do was start talking about fake children to go along with her fake engagement.

“Speaking of ElkView and families, Dad. Maybe we could talk about the details for the sale.” Damon kept his voice even, but Katie knew on the inside he was working hard to control himself. “I mean, I’m prepared to meet your asking price, and I know the stipulation was that you sold to a couple.”

“A married couple,” Anthony corrected him. “Preferably already with a family.” He looked to Katie and softened his voice. “But for you, I will overlook that little detail for the moment.”

“The detail of us being engaged and not yet married?” Damon asked, bringing his father’s focus back.

Anthony’s face once again hardened, completely in business mode. “No,” he said simply. “The detail of not having a family. But the marriage,” he continued. “That’s not a detail I’m willing to budge on.”

“So you mean—”

“Married. The two of you need to be married. Legally. Only then will we discuss the paperwork.”

Next to her, Katie could feel Damon begin to vibrate. She knew that when it came to his father, he didn’t have much patience on a good day. And this was turning out to be not a very good day. She squeezed his hand and before Damon could say anything to get himself into trouble, she made a split-second decision that she hoped like hell he wouldn’t object to. “Well, that works out perfectly then.” She didn’t look at Damon as she spoke. “Because I told Damon that I just couldn’t wait another minute to make it official. After all, we’ve waited our whole lives, right? I mean, it seems silly to drag it out any longer. Besides, I never did want the big white wedding with all the pomp and circumstance.”

“What are you saying, Katie?”

“Yes,” Damon added. “What are—”

“We’ve actually decided to have a really small ceremony on Thursday. Just immediate family.”

Next to her, Damon made a choking sound but he recovered quickly.

“Thursday? That is awfully soon.” Anthony put a finger to his lips and seemed to mull over what she’d just said.

“It is soon.” That was an understatement. “But like I said, it already took Damon so long to realize what a great catch I was, I don’t want to give him a chance to change his mind again.”

“There’s hardly a chance of that,” Damon muttered.

She turned to look at him, and his eyes reflected complete amazement. She winked and turned back to his father.

“And if it all works out with your schedule, well, all the better, right? Because I really can’t think of a better place to raise a family, Mr. Banks. For our own kids one day to be able to grow up out here…well…” She drifted off, and stared out at the valley below that was showcased with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Almost everything that had come out of her mouth that afternoon had been a lie. But not that.

It really would be amazing to raise a family at ElkView. The house was phenomenal. It was large, sure. But not ostentatious. Despite its size, it felt cozy and she’d always felt comfortable there. Lots of timber and natural stone throughout, it had always reminded Katie of a ski lodge, without the ski hill.

Still, despite the beautiful surroundings and knowing why she was lying, it felt awful. Certainly, Damon and his father had never gotten along very well, but he was a nice man and she didn’t like lying to him.

“I think it sounds wonderful,” Anthony said after a moment. “Where is the ceremony to take place? Because if you haven’t decided on a location yet, I’d love to suggest the patio right here. The view is amazing and—”

“Yes!” Katie jumped on the opportunity because clearly she hadn’t thought out any of the details yet. “It would be perfect to do it here.”

“This is all so crazy.” Damon shook his head. “It’s happening so fast. I mean, I don’t want you to rush the wedding, Katie. I’m sure that Dad will be able to wait—”

“Damon,” she interrupted smoothly. “If your dad wants to see us exchange vows, I don’t see what’s so wrong with that. And no one is rushing anything.”

She smiled as sweetly as she could when Damon turned to look at her, shock written all over his face.

“Katie, I just—”

It was another instantaneous decision, but she did the only thing she could think of to keep him from ruining their whole deception right then and there.

She kissed him.

Katie’s lips. On his.

Katie’s lips.

---