Page 43 of Right With You
Luc
Elise had to open the shop early the morning after our dinner with my family, so she hadn’t moved in yet. I’d help her load up some basic items she’d need for the next few days to carry out the ruse, and we’d get her set up in my house this evening.
Not just my house, but my room.
My bed.
This was so far from what I’d planned. Between the restlessness plaguing me about the whole setup to this new hurdle, how was I supposed to maintain the distance necessary to manage my family? We were never supposed to be so close for any length of time. This was another level of imposition on her. Knowing I’d promised not to kiss her without her saying the word, I was smart enough to sense distance would be essential. And yet hadn’t I been thinking she should get out of that unsecured apartment? Granted, her ex shouldn’t be an issue any longer, but still…
Still. We would be very close in the coming days, and the risk had escalated. The odds of me not wanting her even more…
I shook off that thought, but not before Kenny noticed my expression.
“Uh oh, is someone daydreaming about his fake fiancée?” He grinned like the thought of me thinking of Elise madehimhappy.
“Just thinking over some logistics. She’s moving in today.”
He’d taken a bite right as I started speaking and he nearly spit out his food when he heard me. He chewed frantically, eyes wide and no doubt delighted, before he swallowed and said, “Moving in?”
A breathy laugh tripped out of me as I remembered the blazing fire in her eyes as she told my grandfather in no uncertain terms that Odette wasn’t about to stay with me. Thatshewas already living with me, and we wanted to have a slumber party with my sister and brother-in-law.
Okay, she didn’t phrase it that way, but she’d set us up to all be in quite close quarters, hadn’t she? Even if Aurelie and Michele wouldn’t be critical of how we acted in the same way my grandfather was, it would be very new territory.
All night, I’d expected a sense of dread to settle in as I came to terms with the plan. Not only were we pretending to be engaged, but to be living together. It was a brilliant plan on the one hand, as it reinforced the idea that my grandfather was too late to effect any change, and yet we hadn’t discussed it.
Between the way she reeled me in with her strength and determination, and this new roommates situation, my plan to stay mostly unaffected and abide by my promise not to kiss her unless she asked was unraveling before my eyes.
“Yeah. My grandfather wanted Odette to stay with me, and Elise stepped in and shut that down right away.” Satisfaction burrowed into me at the memory. Whatever damage had been done by the comments about her family, she’d rallied and doubled down. That show of strength stoked my interest and, if I was honest, the care growing in me for her each day.
“Oh, she did, did she? I approve.” Kenny held up his hand.
Dutifully, I met it with a smack of my own.
He nodded with a grin. “But now you’re going to be cohabitating with Elise? That’s…”
“Unexpected,” I provided.
“I was gonna say sexy, but sure. Unexpected works, too.”
I glared at him, but after a bite of my sandwich, had to acknowledge his point. “It is a littlesomething, for sure. She didn’t do it as a way to get close to me, but it’s going to have that effect since she also invited Aurelie and Michele to stay in the guest bedroom.”
Lying to Aurelie didn’t sit well, but so far it hadn’t felt terrible. I worried being in the same house for several days, even if it was fairly spacious, would exacerbate the guilt.
“Oh, so you’re going to be sharing a room.” He gasped. “And there’s only one bed.” His mouth dropped open wide, and he wore the dopiest expression of all time. He was saturated with glee as he whispered, “It’s just likeThe Proposal!”
My eyes shut to block him and his expression out, but also to block out the memory of Elise falling asleep on my shoulder as we watched that very movie. I’d liked her leaning on me just like I’d enjoyed every second I got to be near her or touch her.
His enthusiasm was doing nothing to help me keep my feet on the ground, but if I needed a reminder of why I was doing this, I’d have one up close and personal very soon. Apparently, Odette de Valois would be arriving in town tomorrow and my grandfather had arranged for us to all meet for a drink at the cocktail lounge at the resort.
Génial.
“It’s not because we’re not ending up together. Nor are we staging a fake wedding and duping a wily old woman or feeding small dogs to eagles. We’re just…”
With his face cupped in his hands and elbows leaning on the table like a school child, he said, “Spending time getting to know one another? Slowly realizing she’s a wonderful person on top of being a total ten? Finding out?—”
“Hey, aren’t you practically engaged?” I asked, irritation spiking.
“I am very happily imminently engaged as soon as my soon-to-be fiancée will allow me to propose, yes. She would also acknowledge Elise is a ten. I think literally anyone with eyes would, and that’s before they taste a donut or have a conversation with her. Don’t be an idiot and act like it’s a secret.” He gave me a disappointed look.
