Page 123 of Fake it for Keeps

“Yes.” I didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes, I’ll marry you. For real this time.”

His smile was brilliant, transforming his entire face. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I pulled him down for another kiss. “But Colt, are you sure? I lied to you.”

“And I’m choosing to forgive you. The way you forgave me for standing you up on the beach when we were younger. We’re choosing each other.” He walked me backward until my legs hit the couch. “Now stop talking and let me show you how much I love you.”

I pulled at his coat, and he shrugged it off, letting it fall to the floor. His hands found the tie of my robe, pulling it loose. It didn’t take much for the worn fabric to fall off my shoulders.

“You flew all the way out here,” I murmured as his mouth found my neck. “In a chartered jet. At five in the morning. In the middle of the snowstorm. I don’t think that was safe.”

“Best decision I ever made.” His hands slid up my sides, and I shivered. “Well, second best. First was catching you when you tripped on the hem of your dress.”

“Outside the party?”

“When fate literally threw you into my arms.” He lifted his head to look at me. His expression was so open and full of love that it made my chest tight. “I’m done fighting this, Hallie. Done pretending I don’t need you. Done letting fear rule my life. I’ve never wanted to need anyone, but it happened. I’m screwed.”

“Me too,” I whispered.

He kissed me again, and this time when he lowered me to the couch, I went eagerly.

We made love there in the living room of my father’s beach house, with snow falling outside. And it was different from every other time before.

This wasn’t about performance or contracts or proving anything.

This was about us choosing each other. We were building something real on the ruins of what we’d almost destroyed.

After, we lay tangled together on the couch, my head on his chest. It was cold and I really needed to get the fire stoked, but I didn’t want to move. His body heat was enough.

“So we’re really doing this? Getting married in two days?” I asked. It felt like I might still be in a dream, so I wanted to confirm it.

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you cancel the venue?” I asked. My mind was already jumping to practical matters.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said. “Together.”

Together. The word settled over me like a warm blanket.

“Okay,” I said. “Together.”

We stayed on that couch for a long time, talking about the future. The past was behind us. Neither of us wanted to look back.