"Neither was I." My voice sounds foreign to my own ears, rough with emotion and desire. "It complicates things."
"It does." She slides off my lap but remains close, her hand finding mine. "But maybe complicated isn't always bad."
I study our joined hands, her smaller one nestled in mine. "I'm not good at this, Jen. Relationships. Vulnerability. Sharing my life."
"I noticed." Her smile takes the sting from the words. "But you're better than you think. That speech just now? Those weren't the words of someone incapable of connection."
"They surprised me too."
She squeezes my hand. "So what now?"
"I don't know," I admit again. "This wasn't part of the plan."
"Plans change." She looks up at me, eyes searching mine. "Maybe we just see where this goes. No pressure. No expectations. Just us figuring it out day by day."
The suggestion should terrify me. Instead, it feels like possibility. Like hope.
"Day by day," I agree. "I can do that."
She smiles, that bright smile that first cracked my defenses. "Good. Because I'd really like to kiss you again."
"That can be arranged."
And when our lips meet this time, it feels like coming home to a place I didn't know I was missing.
CHAPTER SIX
JEN
Three days since that first kiss, and I still can't quite believe this is happening. Jared Calloway, Mountain Hermit Extraordinaire, now spends his evenings making out with me on his couch like teenagers who just discovered what lips are for. And I am absolutely not complaining.
I hum to myself as I add the finishing touches to the Christmas garland I'm hanging in the living room. Jared is in town handling store business, which gave me the perfect opportunity to continue my holiday takeover of his cabin. Evergreen boughs and twinkling lights now adorn the fireplace mantel. A small Christmas tree stands in the corner, decorated with simple ornaments I found in town. The cabin smells like the pine and cinnamon candles I strategically placed throughout.
My phone buzzes with a text from Ridge.
Big Bro: Jen, why did Mrs. Collins at the post office congratulate me on your marriage to Jared Calloway?
Crap. I forgot about Ridge. In my defense, I've been distracted by the unexpected development of actually falling for my fake husband.
Me: Long story,I type back.Call you later to explain.
His response is immediate.
Big Bro: You better. What the hell, Jen?
I wince. Ridge and Jared may be friends, but Ridge is still my overprotective foster brother. Finding out I'm supposedly married to his buddy without any warning probably activated all his brotherly alarm bells.
The sound of tires on gravel signals Jared's return. I position myself artfully on the couch, trying to look casual and not like I've spent the last twenty minutes plotting the perfect welcome home pose.
He enters with his arms full of grocery bags, stopping short when he sees the fully decorated cabin.
"What happened in here?" he asks, looking around with wide eyes.
"Christmas spirit struck." I bounce up to help with the bags. "Don't worry, I kept it tasteful. No inflatable Santas or singing reindeer."
"It's..." he searches for words. "Different."
"Good different or 'what has this woman done to my minimalist sanctuary' different?"
