Page 67 of The Perils of Pretending
Sauntering down the beach is a massive moose. The moon reflects off its giant antlers.
“Captain Big Rack, is that you?” I whisper. I’m not in danger, why is he here?
Max covers his mouth with his hands, muffling his laugh.
I shoot him a look telling him to zip it.
The moose comes toward us. He stops at the beach right in front of our cabin. He stands there, staring at me.
“Thank you, Captain BR,” I coo. “You’re an amazing animal and I’m incredibly grateful for your help.” He’s far enough if it were a human they wouldn’t be able to hear me, but I swear he lowers his head the slightest. He keeps going along the shoreline like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
The second he’s out of the sight, Max lets his laugh ring loud and free.
I fold my arms across my chest. “What is so funny?” If anything, it’s his fault I have an animal protecting me and behaving in a way that I can read him. Max keeps calling me a princess and, lo and behold, just like fictional royalty, I have a sidekick animal here to help me.
“You named him Captain Big Rack?”
I fling my arm in the direction my moose went. “Uh, yeah. Did you see the size of those antlers?”
Max slaps his knee, laughing harder. “I can’t even right now.”
“I think the name is spot on.” I stand, taking my blanket with me. “Goodnight, Max.”
Max grabs me and the comforter, pulling me onto his lap. My legs dangle to the side of his, my torso twisted to face him. My stomach swoops from the movement, but more importantly, because of being this intimate with Max. I stare into his brown eyes. “Excuse me.” What is he doing? There’s no one around we need to convince we’re a couple. “Can I help you?” My voice comes out all breathy. I’m having a hard time getting my lungs to inhale fresh air.
His breath smells faintly of mint. His eyes lock onto mine. “Yeah. Stay and keep me warm for a few more minutes. I’m not ready to say goodnight.”
Work, lungs. Inhale, exhale.“Will you tell me why you couldn’t sleep?” My voice isn’t working right. Probably because I can’t breathe properly with him staring at me so warmly, so lovingly. Longingly.
He puts a palm on my cheek. He places the softest kiss on my forehead. My muscles melt into him and ripples move through my belly. “Someday, yes. But not right now. Can we just sit?”
I nod. I don’t want to move either. My nerve endings are very aware of every point of contact my body has with Max’s. They’re buzzing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way before. I’m not ready for the sensations coursing through me to end. “Do you want me to move back to my own chair?”Please say no.
Max shakes his head. His arms tighten around my waist.
Oh, thank goodness. I lean down, resting my forehead on his shoulder. Mmmm, he smells like cedarwood. His skin is warm. I burrow my nose in his neck, getting closer. I close my eyes, letting the warmth and safety of Max surround me. Paying attention to every zing and flutter inside me. I know we’ll never be a real couple, but for now, I’m enjoying what time I have left with Max (sans kissing). “Thank you for staying with me.”
“My pleasure.”
“Are you being serious or facetious?”
“I don’t joke around when it comes to you.”
I chuckle. “Liar.”
“At this moment, I mean it.”
He says it with such conviction, I believe him.
“Sadie?”
“Hmm?”
“As a token of your appreciation, would you be willing to let me fall asleep first tonight?”
That is so not what I was expecting him to say. “Why?”
“Because I could really use a good night’s sleep, and you, Princess, make that impossible.”
