Page 34 of A Montana Fake Marriage

Mack was probably right. He needed to tell Sammie how he felt before this went on too long. If he didn’t, then she might hold it against him—accusing him of leading her on in some way.

The problem was, Caleb was terrified of what would happen if she were to turn him down.

Could his heart take it?

He returned the rope to the guy in charge and swallowed down all those doubts. “We were just about to go wait for Mack to compete. You want to join us?”

Noah nodded. He shoved his thumbs into his belt loops and surveyed Sammie with her prize. “Did Caleb win that for you?”

She shook her head, beaming with pride. “This was all me.”

“Don’t forget your prize,” the game operator reminded them. He held out a pink cowboy hat.

Sammie snickered as she glanced toward Caleb.

He accepted the hat and nodded his thanks to the man before he placed the hat unceremoniously on Sammie’s head. “Come on,” he murmured, draping his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s see if we can find any decent seats for the show.”

She didn’t duck away from him, nor did she stiffen. Her body relaxed into him as they walked, and for the first time, he allowed himself to believe there might be a chance.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Sammie stoodat their bedroom window, a blanket wrapped around her as she stared outside at the snow. The layer of white blanketed as far as her eyes could see. It was absolutely beautiful. She’d only seen snow a handful of times in her life, and it rarely stuck to the ground.

There was one time she’d seen this much, and it had been the Christmas after her mother passed. She’d been here with Caleb, but she’d only stayed for two days. There was no time to enjoy it, no spare second to play in it.

White flurries spilled from the sky, dumping like down feathers from overhead. She glanced over her shoulder at Caleb, sound asleep on the cot. Last night had been a late one. His family stayed up until midnight, watchingA Christmas Storyand decorating sugar cookies.

The warmth in the house didn’t just come from the fire that roared in the fireplace, but the way everyone came together for the holiday. They’d still done their work with the animals despite the cold and the snow that had already been on the ground, but after everything was done, the festivities began.

She found herself yearning to be part of this family more and more with each passing day. There were moments she found herself in a state of dread, knowing that she’d eventually have to leave Caleb.

He turned on his side, hiding his face from her with a soft moan.

Christmas morning, and all she could think about was how much she wanted to ask him if they could just stay this way. She’d never actually ask if maybe it would be possible for him to love her the way his dad loved his mother, though. The truth was she wasn’t sure she had the guts to ask when she may not want to know the answer.

Her stomach knotted, and she again turned her eyes to the snow-covered ranch out the window.

It had been incredibly difficult to find him a Christmas present. First, she didn’t have the sort of money in her account to get what she might have normally purchased—like a nice tie or pair of cufflinks. Caleb wouldn’t have wanted something like that, anyway. She’d wracked her mind for the last two months, just trying to figure out something he would actually use.

Caleb was the kind of guy who didn’t spend money on nonsense. Everything had a purpose. Sure, they went out on dates in order to keep up appearances, but other than that, he didn’t spend money on anything frivolous.

She was terrified that the gift she’d gotten him wouldn’t be enough. It seemed so small and insignificant. And the worst part was that she’d never felt like this before.

When they’d been in college, she’d gifted him things without a second thought. She didn’t worry if he would like it or if he’d have a use for it.

Something had changed.

She’dchanged.

Her feelings forhimhad changed—had grown.

Sammie shot another look at him, and a gasp ripped from her throat. He sat up on his elbows, a smile on his face as he watched her.

“Merry Christmas,” he murmured.

She smiled, drawing the blanket tighter around herself. “Merry Christmas.” Her voice was small and meek. She’d planned on giving him his gift in here, not wanting it to be put on display for his whole family to see. If she didn’t retrieve it now, then that’s exactly what would end up happening.

“Smells like they’re making breakfast already.” Caleb sat up and stretched. “You hungry?”

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