Page 91 of Bound To Be Mine

“Bath time?”

“You’re exhausted. Let me take care of you.”

Something softened in her expression. “Okay, sure.”

I led her upstairs and ran the bath while she sat on the edge of the bed, literally falling asleep sitting up. I added the lavender bath salts she kept under the sink, made sure the water temperature was perfect, and lit the candles on the edge of the tub. There were candles everywhere in the house.

“It’s ready,” I said, coming back into the bedroom.

She’d already changed into her robe, her work clothes in a pile on the floor. I picked them up and tossed them in the hamper while she headed into the bathroom.

“Thank you,” she called out.

“You’re welcome.”

While she soaked, I laid out her favorite pajamas. I pulled back the covers on her side of the bed. Adjusted the pillows the way she liked them. I stripped down to my underwear and propped myself up against the headboard. I scrolled through social media while I waited for her to emerge.

When she came out twenty minutes later, she looked more relaxed but still ready to collapse.

“Pajamas are on the bed,” I said.

“You’re spoiling me.”

“Someone should.”

She put them on and climbed in beside me. She immediately curled into me, her head on my chest.

“That was perfect,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

I kissed the top of her head. “Anytime.”

“Briggs?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad you’re here.”

My throat tightened. “Me too.”

Her breathing evened out within minutes, her body going slack against mine as she fell asleep. I held her, staring at the ceiling in the dark, feeling the weight of everything I wasn’t saying.

I was falling for her. Had probably already fallen, if I was being honest with myself. This wasn’t fake anymore. It hadn’t been fake for a while now.

And I had no idea what to do about it.

I had to go back to New York. Back to my real life. And she’d stay here with hers. And we’d go back to being strangers who happened to be legally married for a few more months before we filed the paperwork and made it all official.

I pulled her closer, breathing in the scent of her lavender bath and the shampoo she used. I committed every detail to memory. The memory would be all I had left in a few months.

28

MANDY

Istared out the car window as we drove toward the private airfield.

“You okay?” Briggs asked from beside me.

“Fine,” I lied. “Just thinking about Sebastian and Bernadette’s wedding.”