Page 28 of A Montana Fake Marriage

Sammie had lostcount how many times she’d averted her gaze from Caleb’s muscled torso. She’d known he was strong—witnessed him with the horses and the cattle. She’d seen him toss a bale of hay like it was nothing.

It was just the impropriety of it all.

He wasn’t feeling well, and she felt like she was invading his privacy.

Her skin warmed just thinking about how he looked shirtless. Now, as she watched him sleep at her side, snuggled under the covers, her thoughts shifted to earlier in the day when she’d fretted and worried about whether he was going to be okay.

She’d never had to take care of someone before. She was an only child. And the last time she’d been sick? It wasn’t this bad.

He moaned in his sleep and turned over, his handsome face toward her. She nearly reached out to caress it, loving the feel of scruff along his strong jawline. His lashes looked longer when his eyes were closed, sweeping across his cheeks in a way thatwould make any girl jealous. His hair occasionally fell over his forehead, making him appear almost childlike.

She hummed a sigh and picked up the book she’d found. Sammie had skipped lunch and dinner while she waited for him to stir. She hadn’t wanted him to wake up alone and wonder where she’d gone. Tana had been kind enough to bring her a sandwich and ask her if she’d needed anything.

That was the extent of her day, and she didn’t regret a second of it. For everything Caleb had ever done for her, this was a drop in the bucket. She’d sit by his bedside a thousand times over, and she’d never come close to paying him back for everything he’d done for her.

Sammie lost track of time as she read by the light of the lamp to her side. Eventually, she must have nodded off, because when she woke up again, the light was shining through the blinds on the other side of the room.

She shot up on the bed, and the first thing she’d noticed was that someone had put a blanket over her body. The second thing she realized was that someone was watching her.

Sammie turned her head and found Caleb’s clear gaze taking her in. He blinked at her, the only indication that he was lucid.

“Good morning.” His voice was a warm timbre in an otherwise chilled room. It felt like fall had officially set in.

She clutched the blanket on her lap with both hands. Then, without giving him any warning, she lunged for him and threw her arms around his neck.

His muffled chuckled mingled with his groan. “Missed me that bad, huh? I was only out for a day.”

“It felt like forever,” Sammie said into his neck. “I was worried sick.” The hug was awkward due to the position they were in. The longer she sat there, the more aware she became that they were in the same bed, and he still wasn’t fully clothed. She pulled back, placing a hand to his cheek. “I’d demand that you never get sick like that again, but…”

He chuckled again then winced.

She frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Just a lingering headache, but I’ll be fine. I’ll have to be for this weekend.”

Her brows furrowed. “This weekend?”

“We’re going to a wedding.”

“Oh! That’s right. I completely forgot.”

The awkwardness returned, likely stemming from her growing attraction to him. She climbed off the bed and looked away, reaching for her braid. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Caleb.”

He rose up on both elbows. “Me too.”

She motioned to the door. “I’m going to shower and try to get some work in. I don’t think they’re expecting you over there today, though. You should probably work on getting back your strength. I’ll tell your mother you’d like something to eat.” She left without saying a word and prayed he’d put on a dang shirt before she got back.

The wedding wasone of those scenarios where Sammie and Caleb had to play the roles they’d agreed to back in the spring. They would need to hold hands and look as though they were still very much in love.

It was a lot less difficult than it had been even a few weeks ago.

Surrounded by at least a hundred people she didn’t know, Sammie clung to Caleb’s side the entire night. She lost track of how many times she’d caught him looking at her and how often he’d caught her gaze as well.

The second he’d helped her out of his truck and placed his hand in her own, he didn’t release it. They were stuck together.

Together until death parted them.

Her heart thundered and thrashed with that sentiment. Of course that wasn’t the truth, but tonight, she was going to pretend. She’d give herself this one gift: to play along and let herself believe that someone as amazing as Caleb could really care for her—loveher, even.

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