“Why?”

“Thinking about it, this could be a good thing. Amber can say she knew about us. Combined with Emmy knowing about my childhood crush—yes, you were right about that part and only that part—my family might buy it better.”

“Buy what better, though? Have you remembered the night we got married?”

I wished. All I remembered were fuzzy moments of laughter. “Not yet. However, I might have a story that’ll please my family. We can say that we kissed, had explosive chemistry, and ended up getting married in Vegas as a spur-of-the-moment type of thing.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You want to tell your aunt that we got horny after a kiss?”

I rolled my eyes. “You must not know my aunt very well. You haven’t been to many dinners at our house, but she full-on teasesBeck, West, and Nolan about breaking beds now that they’ve found love.” He looked dubious, so I added, “Do you really want me to show you some of the texts she sent? They’d make anyone blush.”

“Er, no. I believe you.”

I smiled. “Maybe I should show you a few, just so you get to know my family better.”

“I can get to know your family without reading your aunt’s lust-filled messages.”

I laughed. “You’ll get a few soon enough. She’ll add you to the group chat before you can blink.”

“Maybe I’ll keep a second phone, one for emergencies, and then I can ignore the other one.”

“She’ll just ask you about her comments when you next see her. Aunt Lori loves teasing and annoying us with emojis. And since she helped raise us, putting up with it is the least we Wolfe siblings can do.”

Sometimes I forgot about how much my aunt had given up to take care of us. After her husband had been killed in action—he’d been a Navy SEAL—she’d moved to Starry Hills to live with us kids and our mom.

He grunted. “Okay, now I’ll feel like a dick if I try to ignore her.”

After searching his gaze, I said softly, “You’re a much sweeter person than you let on, Rafe. Aren’t you?”

“On second thought, maybe I should get that second phone…”

I could tell he was teasing and did my best not to smile. “Well, you can try, but she’ll find out your second number. From me.”

He narrowed his eyes, and I batted my eyelashes, acting all innocent.

Just as Rafe opened his mouth, my phone beeped again. And again.

A quick peek told me that Amber hadn’t given up, and I said to Rafe, “I need to answer her or she’ll just keep messaging me.” After typing a quick reply, I met his gaze. “I’m going to talk with her tomorrow, so we need to figure out what our marriage will look like to the outside world. Will we be the kind of couple who touches all the time? Holds hands? Or will we be the type who only show affection in private? Maybe somewhere in between?”

I knew what I wanted, even if it’d be dangerous. But I wasn’t about to blurt that I longed to hold Rafe’s hand again.

Even if it’d probably lead to another “moment” and us nearly kissing.

Not for the first time, I wished I could remember the night we’d gotten married.

He replied, “It’s going to take more than an hour or two to figure things out. So we’ll sketch out the basics today and after you talk with Amber tomorrow, we can practice being a couple in private.”

At his heated gaze, a jolt shot through me and ended between my thighs. Part of me wanted to know if he would kiss me, strip me, and make love to me. You know, just so we didn’t have to lie about the wedding being consummated.

Like that even mattered in modern day. And yet, if it would make the marriage even more legal, I’d be willing to strip and fulfill a long-held fantasy of mine.

It would only be sex, and nothing else. My heart was off-limits. But nothing said I couldn’t have a little fun.

Anything to erase Travis’s criticisms and manipulations and maybe finally banish his words about me not being very good in bed.

Rafe stepped closer, stopping about a foot away from me. He was only an inch or two taller, and yet he made me feel smallerand more delicate for once. Having height, wide hips, and extra weight often made me feel like a giant who’d break any man if I rode him.

You’re sexy and a catch. Don’t let Travis’s words hurt you further.