Page 32 of An Endless Memory

The longing pulled harder on my heart. Future sister-in-law for a year. There was an expiration date on this relationship.

Seven

Lily

“Bye, Mom.” Cali gave me a kiss and ran into daycare. Her friends were already inside. I was on the stoop with the baby carrier.

My stomach was in my throat. Eliot had called the courthouse. Just our luck, we could get a marriage license and get married on the same day. The justice of the peace was in the office and could fit us in.

How romantic.

I passed off Kellan. Eliot said he’d shower and get ready while I did the daycare run. I’d been wanting to hurl all morning. I had put on my jeans and a scrub top like I was going to work in case Cali questioned my clothing. I hadn’t talked to her yet. What would I say?

Hey, can you pretend Eliot and I are married but also know that he’s not your dad? I couldn’t get her hopes up. She adored Eliot and his entire family. If she thought she was a Knight like them? She’d be elated.

Oh god. I’d have to change my name. I’d just reclaimed Duke. But to be believable, I’d have to become Lily Knight. The kids’ names wouldn’t have to change. Dad and Linda would have to understand.

Wanda smiled at me like she was wondering why I was still standing in her doorway and not rushing off. I forced a smile I hoped looked normal. “Thanks, Wanda.”

She stepped back to shut the door. “Have a good day at work.”

Sure. Just another day.

I drove to the house. Eliot’s pickup was parked outside the garage. Dusty and only slightly beat up, it looked natural. It looked like it belonged.

“Not that kind of deal,” I muttered as I crossed to the side door of the house. I could not fantasize about my future husband.

I stepped in. Should I change clothes? I’d put on a different top, but?—

A shirtless Eliot was positioned at an ironing board. A white-with-brown-stripes dress shirt was hanging off each side. He must’ve found Grandma’s iron, and his muscles were in full flex as he used it.

My mouth went dry.

Carter did not have a body like that.

I wasn’t a sheltered girl. I messed around in high school. In college, I’d dated a couple of guys, but no one serious. In vet school, I was swept off my feet by a smooth-talking veterinarian. But my experience did not include muscled pecs and veins running down biceps to sinewy forearms. And those shoulders? Perfect to hold onto.

I trailed my gaze across the dark dusting of hair on his chest and followed the trail down to his abs. He was wearing jeans, but the clasp was open and the black waistband of his underwear was visible. I jerked my gaze up, terrified but also hopeful that I’d see too much.

He glanced up. His hair was combed to the side like today was special.

I continued to stare.

A twinkle lightened his eyes. “Keep staring, Lily pad, and I’m gonna start to blush.”

I snapped out of my trance. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry.”

His chuckle was deep and vibrated right down to between my thighs. I had a baby. I was postpartum. I had loads of stress. I was not supposed to get turned on in a blink. Not by the guy I was going to marry.

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “A man doesn’t mind when a beautiful woman’s checking him out.”

I rolled my eyes. “Putting it on thick, Romeo.”

“Nope.” He set the iron down and shrugged into his shirt. More bunching and flexing. I was a hussy, eating him up the way I was. “Cody lent me one of his shirts. How’s it look?”

A squeak left me. Hot? Sizzling? Like I could rip it right back off?

He grinned again, sending my insides into a tailspin, making long-forgotten nerve endings fire. A steady beat started between my thighs.

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