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“It would be weirder if I did and spent zero time with the woman I just announced to the world as my fiancée.”

“Fair.”

“I think we need routines.”

“For?”

“For when we see each other. Like, I’ll walk up to you, put my hand on your back, and then kiss your head. You can lean into me or hug me or whatever you want. It’s not too sexual, but it shows that we like each other and we aren’t going to hide it from people.”

“Forehead kisses?” I ask in disbelief.

I’ve always wanted someone to do that, and go figure, the first man to do it will be my fake fiancé.

“I can do something else. Just tell me what you’re good with.”

I shrug. “No, it’s fine.”

“Okay. I also think we need to be sure we are communicating throughout the day.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, a real couple would check in and always know what the other is doing. Texting all the time. Inside jokes. I don’t know. We’re getting married, and this time is supposed to be one of our happiest.”

“Oh, like you don’t trust me and want a play-by-play of where I am at all times.”

He eyes me as if my response is crazy and I have two heads.

“No, like, I want to be respectful and let you know if I’m going somewhere so that if you can’t find me, you’re not worried, and vice versa.”

“Oh.”

He looks as if he wants to say more, but he doesn’t.

“When should we say this whole thing started?” I ask.

“Teens, maybe,” he answers fast. “Stolen moments when our families were together.”

“Okay, that sounds believable. What’s our reason for never telling anyone?”

He grins. “I actually thought of that earlier today, and I think you’ll like the answer.”

I chuckle. “This ought to be good.”

“Let’s tell them there has always been a connection between us and those stolen moments, if you will, and you always wanted more, but I didn’t. I never wanted to commit.”

“And I like this idea because …”

“But then,” he goes on, “when I showed up the other night, I told you I was done playing. If we are doing this, we go all in.”

“And what? I’m the woman who just swooned over this guy who suddenly changed his mind?”

“It’s all I could come up with as to why you always act as if you hate me, and why I was just in a relationship.”

Sounds exactly like what I just told Brooke, so I can’t even be mad at him.

“It’s perfect.” I let out a big yawn and slouch down into the couch.

“We can finish this in the morning,” Preston says. “Why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll get the couch made up for myself.”