Page 56 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
He flashes a quick grin and nods. “I texted Gram last night after you fell asleep to let her know I was staying with a friend.”
The blush I feel grows even hotter. “Did you tell her…”
“No, but I’m pretty sure she knows who my friend is. She seemed very happy when she replied. Used several heart emojis.”
I cover my eyes with my hand and groan. “Oh, man.”
He reaches for my hand and pulls it away from my face. There’s a hint of worry in his eyes as he asks, “Do you not want anyone to know I’m here?”
“What? No,” I quickly refute realizing he took my statement the wrong way. “I don’t care who knows you spent the night, Burk. Honestly. I just know how this town works, and they’ll probably have us married by the end of the day.”
He snorts, running his hand up my side. “Seems a little fast, even by Snowflake Falls standards.”
My body is humming as his hand makes its way to my breast. “You seem to have forgotten just how fast gossip travels here.”
Burk rolls over, sliding his body between my open legs. “Know what else moves fast?” He presses his lips against mine in a firm, chaste kiss. “Me.”
He spends the next thirty minutes showing me exactly how fast he moves.
I stepinside the small dressing room at the boutique, and just before I can lock the door behind me, it bursts open. “You had sex!” my sister whisper-yells.
“What?” I ask, gaping guiltily at her.
“I knew it! I can tell.” She grins victoriously at me, the smugness ebbing off her in waves.
With my hands on my hips, I forget all about the dark-red velvet dress hanging on the hook. “How?”
“You’re glowing,” she confirms, walking over to the dress and running her hand over the crushed velvet material. When she turns back to face me, she adds, “You look happy.”
I glance away, afraid she’ll see exactly how happy I truly am. He makes me want—and feel—things I shouldn’t. Especially for a girl who knows how this ends. He leaves. I stay. End of story.
“You’re falling for him,” she murmurs gently.
Returning my gaze to hers, I nod. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” she asks, taking a seat in the chair beside the door.
“Because he’s not staying here, Eve. He’s…temporary.”
She stands up and goes to the dress, removing it from the hanger and making an up-and-down motion with her hand. I know that’s code for me to strip. I do as instructed and get down to the strapless bra and panties I wore for today’s dress search. “But you knew that before you slept with him.”
Taking the dress, I carefully step into it and pull it up my frame. “I know.”
My sister moves to my back and starts to zip the dress, not saying a word until the beautiful dress is in place and she gazes at me through the mirror. “Maybe he won’t go.”
I scoff at her comment, wishing she wouldn’t have spoken my truest wish aloud. Why? Because I know it won’t happen. He’s told me as much from the beginning, but that doesn’t stop my heart from wanting what it wants.
“I know,” she replies softly, stepping forward and hugging me from behind. Her smile is sad as she gazes at me through the mirror. “I’m sorry.”
I exhale slowly, waves of my own sadness washing over me. “Don’t be. It’s not anyone’s fault.”
“But still. I’m sorry this hurts you.”
Turning around, I stare at my older sister, the one who finally found true love. “I know what I’m doing is going to hurt, Eve. And even though I’m well aware of how this is going to turn out for me, I still want to cross the line. Because the thought of not spending what little time I get with him somehow feels worse than the alternative. Does that make sense?” I ask, desperate for someone to understand me.
She nods. “Yeah, it does. You’d rather be with him for those few weeks, knowing it’ll end with your heart broken, than break it off now and miss that time.”
Though she gets it, it still doesn’t make it any easier. I feel tears well in my eyes, and I try to blink them away. “How did this happen? How did I fall for him so fast?”
