Page 80 of A Montana Fake Marriage

The warmth of his body soothed every painful memory. His gentle touch rejuvenated her heart. Their kisses grew more passionate, more desperate. It was as if the universe wanted to warn them that nothing is forever. Right here, right now, they had each other, and that would be enough.

Caleb walked her backward toward their bed. Her knees buckled against the mattress, and together, they fell. All Sammie could think about was how happy Caleb made her—how complete she could feel in his arms. If every single day ended like this one, she would die happy.

The following morning,Sammie lay on her side beneath a heavy comforter. But this time, something was different. An arm draped across her middle, and the warmth from Caleb’s body was pressed to her back.

His soft breathing went from being deep and even to something less so. He mumbled something next to her ear, eliciting a wave of goosebumps all over her body.

She smiled, shrinking into the covers even more.

“Good morning,” Caleb whispered.

“Good morning.” It took every ounce of control not to giggle.

His fingers traced idle circles across her arm. “How did you sleep?”

She twisted slightly so she could see his face. His hair was mussed in the most distracting way. A serene smile touched his lips. She didn’t have to utter a word for him to know the answer to his own question. They shifted to where she rested her cheek against his chest and hummed a contented sound. “I think I could be perfectly happy to spend the rest of my life laying here next to you.”

Caleb chuckled. It was a low, guttural sound that drew more joy than it should have from her heart. “Me, too.”

Sammie sighed. “Alas, I fear I have to get ready for work.” She moved to exit the bed, but Caleb held her tightly. She released alaugh. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I don’t have my inheritance. I’m going to have to do something to make money.”

He shifted and craned his neck to get a better look at her. “You’re my wife, Sammie. I’m happy to take care of you. I won’t prevent you from working, but if you really wanted to chase that dream of being a veterinarian or a horse trainer, then you should do it.”

She looked up at him with awe. “Of course I want to do it. But it’s going to be expensive. I can’t expect you to pay for it. I plan on saving up for it.”

He shook his head, disbelief in his gaze. “What I have is yours. You’re welcome to keep working, but we have what’s necessary to pay for your education if that’s what you want to do.”

Sammie stilled. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m serious, all right.”

Her giggle ripped from her lips before she could hold it in. Her hand clamped over her mouth, and she laughed again. “Really? You’d do that for me? Of course, I’ll still put in hours at the restaurant?—”

He shook his head. “Bo said you can have your job back here. The hours will be more flexible, anyway. And you’ll get hands-on experience with the animals. I’m sure you’ll need that with whatever career path you want to take.”

“Really?” she repeated. “That sounds… too perfect.” It came out in a whisper.

He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” she insisted.

“Good.”

Everything couldn’t have been more perfect over the next week. Sammie researched different programs, weighing the pros and cons of each one. She got back to work, taking on the jobs that Bo assigned to her.

Every night, she went to bed with Caleb at her side.

Then one afternoon when she’d returned from her work, she saw him.

He was tall and foreboding, dressed in a fancy suit and speaking to Caleb.

Her husband stood with his arms crossed and a look of cool fury on his face. His jaw was rigid, and his stance spoke volumes about how prepared he was to pick a fight. Then his eyes cut to her, and everything about him faltered.

There was an anxiety in his eyes that she hadn’t noticed before. Just as quickly as it arrived, it disappeared.

Sammie’s father glanced over his shoulder, his gaze searching until it landed on her. He turned, and Caleb’s hand shot out to grab his upper arm. He said something then released her father.

For a moment, Sammie considered running toward the barn, avoiding the confrontation she knew would happen between herself and her father. But one look at Caleb, and she knew she had to finish this.

---