Page 62 of Reckless King

I don’t want her regretting it tomorrow like she did when she found out it was me at Onyx.

The hot, glazed look in her eyes fades a little, even though her cheeks are still pink, her mouth still swollen from my kisses.

I can’t stop myself from dusting my thumb over her bottom lip.

Her eyelids flutter shut, and her head drops back against the wall. “Right.” She inhales a shaky breath. “Because us being together is an act.”

I grit my teeth. She’s right. It is. So why do the feelings she evokes in me seem so much more real than anything else in my life?

She peers up at me from under her lashes. “We don’t really need to amend the contract, do we?”

I force my spine not to stiffen and breathe through the sharp sting in my chest. “Not getting cold feet now, are you, butterfly?” I brush a strand of hair from her flushed cheek.

“Surely that man won’t say anything about it, right?”

A huff escapes me. “I can guarantee the news has already spread. Hell, the whole thing was probably caught on video by more than one person.”

“Of course.” She lets out a breath, her shoulders slumping. “I guess being engaged won’t change things too much, right?”

Her eyes search mine for reassurance, but I’m not sure she’ll find it. Because deep in my gut, I know things are already changing. I’ve never had someone of my own before, someone who’s mine to care for, to protect.

With sudden clarity, the truth hits me in the face—fake or not, now I do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

VIOLET

Ignaw my bottom lip as my phone continues to light up with Mark’s name. He knows. I can sense it. I don’t know how a ring tone can sound urgent sometimes and not others, but right now, my ring tone sounds exactly like overprotective brother.

With a sigh, I swipe to answer it. “Hi, Mark.”

“Please tell me the message I just got from Tate is a joke.”

I lean forward and prop my elbow on the food prep bench in True Brew’s kitchen. “It’s not a joke. It’s also not a big deal.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true. Apart from having to call him my fiancé now, there really isn’t any difference. I guess we might have to come up with another reason for us to split at the end.” Just the thought stings, but I ignore the irrational pain and continue on. “But I’m sure you can come up with something using that big lawyer brain of yours.” I smile, even though he can’t see it, because my big brother is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and I’ll never not be hit with a surge of pride when I’m reminded of that.

Clearly not sharing the sentiment, he lets out a frustrated huff. “I’m concerned that this is snowballing. If you’re not careful, then before you know it, you’ll end up…”

He hesitates and I fill in the gap. “Married?” I laugh. “I can guarantee Tate will never let it get that far.”

He snorts. “Believe me, I know that.”

It stings, even though I know it’s true.

His tone gentles. “I was going to sayhurt. I’m worried you’ll end up hurt.”

Of course that’s what he’d be worried about. So why did I immediately jump to the thought of marrying Tate?

“I know what this is, Mark. This is me saving Dad’s legacy. It’s about keeping True Brew. You don’t have to worry about me falling in love and getting my heart broken.”

He sighs. He and I both know there’s nothing he can do anyway. “Okay. I’ll amend the contract and courier it over to you first thing Monday morning.”

“Thank you, Mark. It will all work out, I promise.”

“Just take care of yourself, okay?”

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