Page 33 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

She wasn’t sure if he meant Zachary and him—or all three of them. She didn’t dare ask.

Kenneth turned toward her then and held a single, silver key in his palm. His other hand gestured with quiet formality toward the front door. Her heart beat faster, her fingers trembling slightly as she took it from him. That one key symbolized so much—change, hope, uncertainty, a future she wasn’t sure how to feel about just yet.

She barely had time to process anything before Zachary bolted past them, shouting something gleeful as he disappeared inside.

Jamie laughed in surprise, a genuine smile breaking over her face. She glanced at Kenneth, who was already looking at her.

“Zach-Attack,” he said with a wink.

Her smile softened. It felt like a gift to be included in that nickname, to be welcomed into the fold in some small, unspoken way. It wasn’t just a name—it was an invitation. She filed it away in her heart, precious and fragile.

Then, completely out of nowhere, Kenneth bent and scooped her up in his arms.

She squeaked, startled, instinctively reaching out to brace herself against his chest. “Kenneth!” she gasped, wide-eyed.

He was strong. Solid. And as she looked up at him, something flickered in his eyes. It wasn’t just politeness or obligation.

It was something more.

“I have to carry my bride over the threshold,” he whispered.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Bride.

She wasn’t used to that word yet. Not in reference to herself. Not like this. Not with this man who had married her out of convenience and kindness—but now looked at her like she mattered. Like she was wanted.

Her heart ached.

Kenneth set her down gently just inside the doorway, his hands lingering at her waist as if reluctant to let go. “I hope you like the place.”

She didn’t even glance around.

Jamie couldn’t take her eyes off him.

There was something so disarming about his quiet strength, the way he made her feel seen—when she’d spent so long feeling invisible. She’d come into this agreement with guarded hope, maybe a pinch of desire, and the practical understanding that this was a means to an end. She’d be a mother to Zachary, and Kenneth would fulfill his end of their arrangement.

But standing there, his gaze holding hers, her heart threatening to pound straight out of her chest… she couldn’t lie to herself anymore.

She wanted more.

She wantedhim.

The little voice in her head—cold, cynical, and always so quick to remind her not to get attached—was suddenly very loud. But this time, Jamie didn’t want to listen. She was tired of protecting herself from something that might be real.

So she did something impulsive.

Something bold.

Without a word, she stepped forward, cupped Kenneth’s face in her hands, threading her fingers through the soft waves of his dark hair—and kissed him.

His whole body tensed in surprise. For a split second, she panicked, thinking she’d misread everything—but then he responded.

Oh, heresponded.

His arms came around her, crushing her close. His mouth slanted over hers with hunger, with urgency, with something that tasted an awful lot like hope. He kissed her like he meant it—like she meant something to him.

Time stopped. The world melted. It was just them, wrapped in a kiss that said all the things neither of them had dared to speak aloud yet.

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