Chapter 17
CHASE
She likes me.
Ivy—whom I shall refer to as Evelyn from this point on—likes me.
How can I tell? It was written all over her red-cheek-flustered face when I released her from my surprise embrace. Soon after that, the flustered hottie excused herself, saying she was tired and needed to take a nap.
True confession? I like her, too…a lot. In fact, infatuated sums it up more accurately.
And who wouldn’t be? The woman is gorgeous, funny, and judging by her performance thus far, she’s a talent to be reckoned with.
But acting on a ‘something deemed more-than-a-crush’, would be futile.
I didn’t sign up to MyFakeFiancé.com, to find a real one.
“So, can we meet her when we get home? Mama says she’s got a fancy British accent like Princess Kate, and a precious doggie like the one in that movie,Legally Blonde.” My little sister Maddie has been chewing my ear off over the phone for the last twenty minutes.
I smile into the phone, entertained by the animated tone in her voice. “She’s taking a nap now, but once I’m done helping Mom sort the Christmas decorations, I’m planning to wake her up. By the time you and Dad come home, she should be down here, ready to meet you all.”
“Okay. Dad told me to tell you we’d be home in about an hour. See you soon.”
“Bye, Maddie.”
Sitting in the living room, Mom and I sort through the decorations for the tree. Per tradition, we always decorate it one week before Christmas. When I was little, I’d go with Dad to pick out a fresh fir from a Christmas Tree Farm in upstate New York. We’d stop halfway home, at the local bakery, for fresh-baked cookies and hot cocoa. Little traditions that Maddie gets to enjoy now. Sometimes I miss those times, when I was innocent and blind to what Dad and Mom did behind the scenes to provide the lifestyle I’d grown accustomed to. Perhaps one day, if I’m lucky enough, I’ll be able to have my own family in which to begin our own traditions.
“You should go get Evelyn. I’d like her to participate in our tradition this year,” Mom suggests. “BB, too,” she adds.
“I know for a fact you approve of Evelyn. You’re not a dog lover.”
“I have to admit, BB is hard to resist. That fiancée of yours? She’s also pretty hard to resist.” She laughs. “I can’t wait to learn more about her.”
“She is indeed. I’m thrilled you like her. Evelyn’s got this funny way of making me forget who I am.”
Mom leans in, takes hold of one side of my face. “Honey, I don’t think she’s making you forget who you are. She’s making you remember who you were before…”
She doesn’t even have to finish that sentence. I was a different man BV—Before Valerie. “I know, Mom. I know.”
As I head up to the guest flat to invite Evelyn and BB down for the Hunter Christmas Tree Lighting, I can’t help but think how ironic it would be if this whole fake thing, became something tangible.
Don’t be an idiot.
Shaking the thought out of my head, I turn the knob to open the room door, but the knob is jammed. Turning it again, I push the door and at the same time, it swings open. In I go, flying with it, and run smack into Evelyn. My arms lock around her waist, and she clings to me, her hands grasping my biceps as I keep her from falling on her ass.
“Oh,” she stammers, “I was just heading downstairs.” Her eyes, fringed with those sweeping lashes, mingle with mine. She bites down on her lower lip and for a second I’m so, so tempted to pull her closer than she already is, and give her a taste of the desire that’s starting to burn in me.
“Funny, I was coming to get you,” I mutter.
Still holding onto me, I can feel her breaths quicken. The slow movement in her throat is visible; she swallows before she speaks. “Really? Why?”
Her tongue swipes those sexy, sweet-looking, heart-shaped lips.Damn it. I just go for it, before my brain gets a chance to protest. Pulling her close, my mouth sweeps over hers, warm and willing. Every single one of my nerve endings tingle, throb, with excitement. She opens her mouth, letting out a moan that instantly becomes music to my ears. My tongue finds hers, a combo of mint and cherry-flavored lip gloss, as her hands travel up to my hair, her fingers running wild. Tasting Evelyn, for the first time, sends electricity traveling in waves, throughout my body.
God, this woman…
My brain finally begins its ruthless protest—that mantra kicking me in the gut.
Business Transaction.
I pull away, step back, and rub my mouth with the back of my hand as if that’s enough to wipe the taste of honey off my lips.
“Evelyn, I’m so sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”
It takes all I’ve got to stand my ground, even though I want so badly to kiss her that way…over and over again.
