Page 31 of The Mountain Man's Fake Christmas Bride
"I love you," I correct, surprising myself at the ease of the confession.
His eyes darken, and he captures my mouth in a kiss that leaves me breathless.
"I love you too." He says it like a promise, a vow more real than any we might fake for his aunt tomorrow.
Upstairs, in the sanctuary of our bedroom, he lays me gently on the bed. My heart swells at the tenderness in his touch, the reverence in his eyes as he looks at me. How did I get so lucky?Two weeks ago I was broke and heartbroken, taking refuge in my foster brother's cabin after fleeing San Diego. Now I'm in love with a man who looks at me like I'm something precious.
"What are you thinking?" Jared asks, settling beside me.
"That this is all happening so fast. We've only been together in person for two weeks, even if we’ve known each other for years."
"And now?" His fingers trace my cheek.
"And now I can't imagine not knowing you like this." I cover his hand with mine. "It scares me a little. How quickly you've become essential."
His expression grows serious. "I know. It scares me too."
"Do you ever wonder what happens after?" I voice the question that's been lingering in the back of my mind. "After Aunt Mildred leaves. After our agreement ends."
He's quiet for a long moment. "I don't want our agreement to end."
"The financial part will," I remind him. "That was the deal. Two weeks of pretending, twelve thousand dollars."
"I don't care about the money. I care about you." He shifts to prop himself up on one elbow, looking down at me intently. "Stay, Jen. Not because I'm paying you. Not because of our arrangement. Stay because you want to."
The offer catches me off guard, despite the direction our relationship has taken. "You mean move in with you? Permanently? When I've only just arrived in Whisper Vale?"
"Yes." His expression is earnest, vulnerable. "I know it's fast. I know it's not conventional. But this past week has shown me what my life could be with you in it, and I don't want to go back to the way things were."
My heart races. It is fast. Incredibly fast. But he's right, the thought of finding my own place, of not waking up next to Jared every morning, feels wrong.
"What about my work? My clients? I can't just abandon my business."
"You can work from here. The office is yours for as long as you want it. We can upgrade the internet if needed. Whatever you need to make it work."
He's thought about this. Planned for it. The realization both thrills and terrifies me.
"What if..." I hesitate, old insecurities surfacing. "What if we're moving too fast? What if this is just the holiday magic talking? What happens when real life sets in?"
His expression clouds slightly. "Do you think that's what this is? A holiday fling?"
"No." I say it quickly, firmly. "I do love you, Jared. That's real. But we've only been together for two weeks. We've been living in this bubble. No real world pressures. No day-to-day stresses. Just us in this beautiful cabin playing house."
"Playing house," he repeats, pulling back slightly. "Is that what you think we're doing?"
"That's not what I meant." I reach for him, but he shifts away, sitting up on the edge of the bed. "Jared, please. I'm just scared."
"Of what?" His voice is carefully controlled, but I can sense the hurt underneath.
"Of how much I feel for you. Of how quickly this has happened. Of trusting this when my last relationship imploded so spectacularly." I sit up too, wrapping my arms around my knees. "Tyler made me believe we were building a future together right up until the moment he cleaned out our savings and told everyone I was stealing his work."
"I'm not Tyler." The words are clipped.
"I know that."
"Do you?" He turns to look at me, eyes sharp. "Because it sounds like you're waiting for me to hurt you."
"That's not fair."
