Page 61 of Fake It For Him

Her head remained down, but she didn’t argue. Simply continuing to breathe deeply, she seemed to be listening, so I went on.

“Since you seem to need a reminder of the facts, here it is. Freya will be a happy newlywed when I break the news to her that we called it off. My parents don’t give two shits. They barely said a word to me at the party and my mom has plenty of people to share that wine with. And Finn? Well, there are no problems there. My family will be just fine, Ella. I promise.”

When she still didn’t move or look up, I walked up behind her. Moving slowly, I gently brought my hands to her hips again. “You’re just getting in your head about this. All you have left to do is to get through the bachelorette weekend next weekend, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding. The end is so close now.”

Since she still hadn’t moved, not into me or away from me, and still hadn’t said anything, I figured she was unconvinced but willing to hear me out. I kept hold of her hips, moving into her before sliding my arms around her waist, and I pulled out the only weapon left in my arsenal.

“Please see this through to the end for me.” I slid my hands from her waist into her hands as I asked nicely. “Please, Ella? I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave me now.”

For another long minute, she stayed exactly as she had been, but then she finally lifted her head, straightening up to press her back to my front and letting her cheek rest against my shoulder. As she turned her gaze up to mine, I saw that she still wasn’t happy about it, but she had caved.

“Okay, Calan. I’ll see it through, but don’t come crying to me when we break your sister’s heart.”

I smiled and pressed my lips to her forehead. “I won’t. I’m pretty sure my tear ducts stopped working before I even hit adolescence, and we won’t break Freya’s heart. You spent one day with her, baby. She’ll be fine.”

“Baby?” she asked after a moment, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Is that really going to stick now?”

I shrugged. “Maybe, and just so you know, Freya gives gifts like those easily and freely. She’s generous. Just like you’re being by agreeing to keep doing this with me.”

“I don’t know if I would call it generosity,” she said in a small voice, but at least the misery seemed to be fading.

I ran one of my hands up the length of her spine and into her hair. I wrapped my fist around it and tugged it gently. “Really? Because I was about to offer a reward for your generosity.”

She stared up into my eyes, still sad but not shutting me out or down. That seemed like a good sign. “A reward, huh? Like what?”

“I don’t know.” I brought my head down and traced her earlobe lightly with the tip of my tongue. “I’m sure I’ll think of something, though.”

“I’m sure you will,” she teased, sighing. She finally slipped her arms around my waist and linked her fingers at the small of my back. “There is something I want, though.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

A hesitant smile spread on her lips. “Tell me, Calan. Have you ever cuddled?”

32

ELLA

For someone who claimed not to cuddle, Calan was damn good at it. We were in the massive, four-post bed in the master bedroom of the guest house, his arms wrapped tightly around me and my head resting on his bare chest.

“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I offered to reward your generosity,” he grumbled, but he didn’t let go of me.

I chuckled, turning my head to look up at him. “What, you don’t like my pajamas?”

“They’ve got cats on them,” he mused. “Let’s just say it’s not the pussy I was expecting.”

Smacking his arm, I laughed and burrowed deeper into his side. “Has anyone ever told you you’ve got a one-track mind?”

“Only when I’m with you.”

“Yeah, right.” I glanced up at him again, but his expression was surprisingly serious.

The arm not around me was hooked under his head, his gaze on the ceiling and not a hint of smirk or a grin anywhere. “Do you honestly expect me to believe you’re not sleeping with anyone else?”

“I’m not,” he said with a certain gravity in his voice that made me believe him. “Are you?”

“Nope.” My heart stuttered in my chest when those dark eyes came down to meet mine. Not really knowing what to think but having had enough emotions for one night, I turned my head to press a kiss to his chest. “Well, you’ve still got a pretty one-track mind.”

“I’m in bed, half-naked, with a beautiful woman. What exactly do you want me to be thinking about?”