Page 44 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

I’m so lost in my head that I don’t realize someone has joined me outside until they clear their throat. When I look over, Walker is standing at the bottom of the cabin steps and frowning at me.

“Someone looks like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” he mutters, then takes a tentative step toward me. “Mind if I join you?”

“Kids asleep, I assume?”

He nods, his attention being pulled toward the closed door. “I won’t be going far. They should be okay.”

That’s a fancy way of saying that even though Jessa is inside, perfectly capable of fulfilling her motherly duties, Walker is still the one who has to worry about doing so. I still don’t quite understand what he sees in her, but it’s not my place to judge if he’s happy in his relationship.

We walk in silence for a few minutes, then he clears his throat. “So, you want to tell me why everyone is just now meeting Donny?”

I glance at him, alarmed, and arch a brow. “What do you mean? I already explained this.”

He scoffs. “You think I’m going to believe that bullshit? Carmen, I’ve known you all my life and you never would’ve kept a relationship like this away from mom.”

There’s a pang in my chest at his words because he’s not wrong. I would’ve told our mom about Donny as soon as the relationship happened. I can’t admit that to him, though.

“You want to tell me what’s been going on with you?” I ask, knowing it’s not something he’ll be willing to talk about.

“You’re right,” he mutters, “your relationship is none of my business.”

“He’s here now, meeting everyone. That’s all that matters… right?”

“I suppose you’re right.”

We stop a few cabins away, and Walker turns me to face him, his expression serious. “Do you really think working as a band manager is going to get you somewhere in life, Carmen?”

I bite back a sigh. Great. I thought we might dodge this conversation for once. Crossing my arms, I narrow my eyes at him. “I love my job, Walker.”

He runs a hand through his hair and lets out a heavy sigh. “I know you do. I just don’t want you to regret the choices you’ve made. And honestly, isn’t it wrong to be engaged to one of your clients?”

“We’ve got it handled,” I mutter, glancing toward Layla’s cabin. “I’m going to check on her. I’ll see you later.”

Without waiting for more of his unsolicited judgment, I spin on my heel and head toward my sister’s cabin.

But Walker’s words stick, gnawing at me. The worst part? He’s not entirely wrong. Donny and the band don’t care about our arrangement, but I always took pride in keeping my professional boundaries intact.

And now?

Those boundaries are nothing but ashes.

As I approach Layla’s cabin, the door to ours swings open. Donny steps out, his gaze locking onto mine with a quiet intensity that sends a flutter through my chest. Even with the distance between us, the memory of last night hums in the air, as real and undeniable as the pull drawing me toward him.

There’s no running from this—not anymore. And, if I’m being honest with myself... I’m not sure I want to.

16

Donny

I step into Walker’scabin, my heart racing. The Christmas tree is surrounded by a mountain of gifts, but all I can focus on is Carmen. She’s by the window, laughing with , the snow outside making her eyes sparkle. God, she’s beautiful. And after what happened between us, I can’t stop thinking about her.

The bright sunlight outside the window only intensifies the color of her eyes, and when she glances at me, I know that I could get lost in them forever.

Layla flashes me a smile as I sink onto the couch next to her. “Don’t worry,” she whispers, “I won’t tell anyone how you’re looking at my sister.”

I arch a brow, taking a sip of my eggnog — although mine isn’t spiked. “And what exactly is that?”

She looks from me to her older sister and sighs. “You’re looking at her as though you’re seeing her for the first time, not like a man who recently proposed to her.”

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