Page 6 of Trust Me With Forever

I glanced back up at Rafe, only to find excitement shining in his eyes. After all the months of him scowling and frowning and looking out of place, I barely recognized this version of him. “This is your new passion, isn’t it? Now that your injury has ended your soccer career.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Sitting around, filling my days with endless entertainment, would drive me crazy. This would give me a purpose, a reason to get up every morning.”

Growing up, Rafe had never sat still. Soccer had become his entire world, and now that he couldn’t play any longer? I’d worried about him. “I can tell it’s more than something to pass the time. You’re a lot like your sister in some ways, and one ofthem is that you can’t hide your excitement. Emmy is like that with weddings, and now for you, this place is it.”

“Maybe.” He shuffled his feet. “At any rate, I’ve been trying to clean up my reputation for years. I always knew at some point my body would give out, and I’d have to find something else. But if there’s any whiff of scandal, it’ll spread like wildfire and probably ruin my chances with the training facility.” He paused and searched my gaze. “I know it’s a lot to ask, Abby. But if it’s purely a marriage of convenience, one we keep for a year as a ruse and nothing more, my business has a better chance at succeeding. Plus, I’d help fulfill any dream you have in return.” I opened my mouth to say it was crazy, but he blurted, “Will you at least think about it?”

The rational thing was to run downstairs and ask how to get an annulment before we left the city. I’d remembered that we were in Las Vegas, but not why we’d decided to come here. Only that we were here and, in fact, married.

But as I glanced down at Rafe’s phone again and saw the picture, I couldn’t stop thinking about how happy he’d been as he’d talked about his new business. More so than I’d ever seen him be as an adult.

It was crazy to even consider his proposal. And yet, showing up in San Jose with Rafe on my arm and rubbing it in Travis’s face was tempting.

But would that really make me feel better? I could be sensible and ask Rafe for money and then travel. Or ask for a house. Or a million other things that might give me a future now that teaching was off the table.

Regardless of what I asked for, it would still mean telling my family and friends about our marriage sooner rather than later. Could I really do that and lie to my family for an entire year?

As if sensing my dilemma, Rafe spoke up again. “I will also promise you a few things now if you say yes: I will protect you aslong as you’re my wife; I’ll give you whatever is within my power to give; and you’ll be safe with me. I’ll never touch you or kiss you or try to be a dick and demand marital rights.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Marital rights? Which century is this?”

“That’s what you focus on?”

Considering his words about never kissing me had caused disappointment to rush through me, yes, it was better to focus on bickering with him. “I’ll think about it. But before I even do that, I have some questions.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, as if afraid of what I might ask.

I snorted at the image of tall, muscled, badass Rafael Mendoza being afraid of me.

The man in question peered at me with concern. “Are you still drunk, Abby?”

“No, I’m not drunk. Like you’re one to ask, Mr. Wake-Up-Married-And-Hatches-A-Plan. I mean, who asks someone to stay married for a year for PR purposes?”

“Fair point. So, what are your questions?”

I gave him his phone back. “How will it all work? Will we live together? Will you be in Starry Hills the whole time? Or will you jet off and leave me for long periods?”

“Do you want me to leave you alone?”

That would be the easiest route, for sure. Because there was something Rafe probably didn’t know, something I rarely admitted to myself—that I’d had a crush on him since I was eight years old. At one time, I’d wanted to kiss him and marry him and have his babies.

But his hurting Emmy had changed all that. Well, mostly. But attraction wasn’t something I could turn off, and it took every bit of strength I had not to gawk at his boxer-clad body again.

However, learning what little bit I had about Rafe this morning only made me want to spend more time with him. If Icould help him and Emmy fix things and make them closer, that alone might be worth it.

And to do that, I needed him around.

So I replied, “I’d rather you not disappear for weeks at a time, at least without telling me. And…”

“And, what?”

“Well, I’ve never really been anywhere outside the US. I’d like to see England and Scotland and Italy and, well, anywhere in Europe, really. It’s like a starter traveling place for me. Maybe later I can be more adventurous and go to India or Peru or Kenya.” Realizing how that might sound clingy, I quickly added, “Only if you’re okay with it.”

“You’re the one who’d be doing me a favor, Abby. I’ll do just about anything to repay it if you say yes.”

Even kiss me?

Wait, woah. No. I needed to stop that crap right now.

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