Page 35 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

My chest aches at her words and I clear my throat. “At least let me make you something to eat. I haven’t seen you eat anything other than cookies the entire time we’ve been here.”

“Fine,” she grumbles, then drops her bags and points a finger at my chest. “That’s it, though.”

“You have my word, Sunshine.”

***

A few minutes later, I set a simple meal on the table—grilled cheese sandwiches and a pot of tomato soup. It’s nothing fancy, but the scent of buttered bread and warm tomatoes fills the cabin, giving it a cozy feel I didn’t realize we needed.

Carmen sits across from me, and for a moment, the tension between us seems to ease. We eat in comfortable silence, the occasional clink of spoons against bowls the only sound betweenus. There’s something satisfying about watching her relax, even if it’s just for a little while. She dips the edge of her sandwich into the soup, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

“Okay,” she murmurs between bites, “I’ll admit this was a good idea.”

After dinner, Carmen tries to make her escape, but as she grabs her bags and reaches for the door, it doesn’t budge. I frown, walking over to try it myself. No luck. The knob turns easily, but the door won’t give.

“It’s not locked,” I mutter, jiggling it again. “It shouldn’t be stuck.”

A flicker of frustration crosses her face, and she steps beside me. She tries again but the door remains stubbornly shut.

I move to the window and pull back the curtain—and that’s when I see it. My heart stutters as I take in the wall of snow and ice piled high outside, trapping us inside the cabin.

“It seems as though we’re snowed in,” I say, keeping my voice steady despite the surge of adrenaline rushing through me.

Carmen’s eyes widen as she darts between me and the window, disbelief written all over her face.

“That’s not possible,” she mutters, brushing past me to see for herself.

But there’s no denying it now. The snow isn’t just blocking the door—it’s swallowing the entire cabin whole.

The storm we’d been warned about has trapped us here, together, in this small cabin. Carmen’s plan to keep her distance has just been shattered by Mother Nature herself.

“Looks like the snow storm should’ve been taken more seriously after all,” I say, unable to keep a hint of satisfaction from my voice. Carmen’s head snaps around, her eyes narrowing at my tone.

I meet her gaze head-on, a challenge in my eyes. “Well, Sunshine, it looks like we’re stuck with each other for the foreseeable future. Any ideas on how we should pass the time?”

I kiss at the very least to get me through the night. She's lucky I didn't kiss her by now. I wanted to.

The space between us feels thinner every second, and I wonder how much longer I can play it cool before I have to tell her.

Or worse—before she figures it out herself.

13

Carmen

The moment Donny says,“We’re snowed in,” the lights flicker once and die, plunging us into complete darkness. My heart jumps to my throat, hammering in the silence.

The sudden darkness is oppressive, almost tangible. The air feels thick, and I can hear the wind howling outside, rattling the windows. The scent of pine from the cabin's walls seems stronger now, mixing with the lingering aroma of coffee from earlier.

“Carmen?” His voice is low, steady. “Stay where you are. I’m coming to you.”

I hear him moving, his footsteps sure despite the darkness. When his hand finds my arm, I feel an immediate sense of relief.His touch anchors me, and I hate how much I need that right now.

Since when am I afraid of the dark?

But it's not just the darkness, is it? It's the isolation, the uncertainty. I'm used to the constant hum of city life, the comforting knowledge that help is just a phone call away. But here? The silence is deafening, broken only by the howling wind that seems to mock my unease. What if the storm gets worse?

I’m sure Walker is pacing his room and muttering about how right he was that we should’ve rescheduled the trip. I hate to side with him, but in this instance he would be correct. My dad was so focused on having the entire family together, same as every year, that he didn’t bother worrying about the storm.

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