She places a palm on my chest and rises on her toes so we’re eye to eye. “See, even now we can’t stop provoking each other.”
“It’s called foreplay, sweetheart,” I say softly, brushing my lips against the tip of her nose. “We’ve been dancing around eachother for years, neither of us willing to admit what we’ve both known for a while now.”
Her eyes are stormy with irritation and a flicker of reluctant longing. “Yeah? And what’s that?”
“We’re both attracted to each other and were too stubborn to admit it.” I lower my voice, drawing Charlie another inch closer. “The wedding gave us an excuse to give in without overthinking it, and an easy out the following morning.”
“Which we both took,” she retorts dryly.
I decide against reminding her she’s the one who slipped out before I woke up that morning. Still, she has a point. We agreed it was supposed to be just one night, and it’s one of my biggest regrets. I had a real chance back then to fight for her when it would’ve been clear that I wantedher, long before the baby entered the picture.
“Besides, that’s all in the past now,” Charlie adds, her hand still splayed across my chest.
“Then prove it,” I challenge, sliding my hand to the back of her neck. “I’ll accept your proposal, and we’ll live together as platonic roommates since you’re so sure the past is behind us.” I hold up my finger when she tries to interrupt. “But we’re sharing a bed. Nonnegotiable.”
I remind myself to follow her lead, making her comfortable enough to agree, but not so easy that she can ignore this chemistry simmering between us.
“Where would we live?” she asks tentatively.
“That’s easy. Your place,” I state.
She eyes me warily. “Really? The man who usually only leaves his ranch for business is suddenly going to move into my cramped apartment twenty minutes away? You won’t even have closet space or drawers. I’m not rearranging anything until I know this is actually going to last longer than a week.”
I thread my fingers into the hair at her nape. “I’ll make do.”
“You’re being too accommodating. I don’t like it.”
“I plan on beingrealaccommodating where you’re concerned from now on,” I murmur.
“Remember.” Charlie holds up a finger in warning. “No hanky-panky included, mister.”
I guide her closer, so our lips are mere inches apart. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
“And I want a huge ring that I can flaunt around town,” she states, looking up at me through her lashes.
“Only the best for you.”I have just the one in mind.“So this means we’re doing this thing, hellcat?”
Her breath ghosts against my mouth. “Yeah, I suppose we are.”
I lower the brim of my hat as I walk down the courthouse steps.
Unfortunately, Bluebell requires that the marriage license be obtained twenty-four hours before the ceremony. So here I am, leaving fifteen minutes after Charlie to finish securing one before we tie the knot tomorrow to avoid being spotted together. Everyone will find out what’s going on soon enough, but we’d rather avoid the barrage of questions until after it’s official.
God knows Ma will be devastated when she finds out we got married without telling her, but Charlie didn’t even want to tell her friends. So we agreed to keep it between us for now. There’s not exactly a rulebook explaining why she’s getting hitched to the man she swore she couldn’t stand.
I’ve just reached the sidewalk when Ethel’s voice stops me in my tracks.
“Hello, Heath,” she shouts in a singsong voice.
She’s standing across the street, adjusting an armful of shopping bags so she can wave at me.
“Goddammit,” I mutter.
I quickly fold the marriage certificate into thirds and shove it into my back pocket as she crosses the road to join me.
This woman has the worst timing. Why the hell is she in town during the middle of the workday again anyway? The cabins are always cleaned between guests, and the general store runs smoothly, so I’ve never had a reason to set strict hours. But now I’m beginning to think I should.
Ethel flashes me a smile. “Funny running into you at the courthouse.”
