Page 40 of Tangled Vows

He pulled back and pressed his forehead to mine, and I suddenly couldn’t remember what I’d been mad about.

“Your mom is watching,” he whispered, and it took a second for his meaning to break through the fog. I tried to turn to peer over my shoulder at the big bay window, but Easton stopped me. “Don’t. It’ll look suspicious."

“Okay,” I breathed, wishing I didn’t sound so needy. I wanted to kiss him again. Despite knowing it was just for show, I craved more.

“I’m notsellingyour car,” he admitted, his eyes flicking toward the house at my back as he tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear. He only did it because we had an audience, but still, it sent tingles coursing down my spine. My brows furrowed in confusion. “I’m having it fixed up so you can give it to your sister.”

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. Neither my mother nor myself had the money to buy Makenna a car. She would need one next year to get back and forth to college once she was allowed to have a vehicle on campus. I thought I had time to save up, but then Mom’s cancer came back.

“How did you know?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Your mom told me.”

“That is…” I began, but couldn’t find the right words. It was sweet and thoughtful, and completely unexpected. “Thank you, Easton,” I said, my voice catching. His eyes closed briefly at the sound of his name on my lips.

“It was nothing,” he said, downplaying the kind gesture. But to me, it was everything.

30

EASTON

“Wow, this place is gorgeous,” Shayla declared as she gazed upon her new home for the first time. The lake beyond shimmered in the late afternoon sun, and the crisp autumn air smelled of leaves. It was peaceful and serene with none of the noise that accompanied city living. My lake house was my sanctuary, a place I could escape when everything else in my life was utter chaos. And now, I was letting someone else in.A woman. Something I thought I’d never do. But Shayla March had burrowed her way under my skin and dug her claws into my very marrow. I couldn’t shake her, and now that we were married, I was afraid I’d never be able to let her go.

“Ready to go in?” I asked, and she turned to face me, nervous excitement glittering in her eyes. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, her expression marred by uncertainty. My mind flashed back to the kiss we shared yesterday. I may have told her a little white lie. I wasn’t proud of it, but I also didn’t have one single regret. Her mom had no longer been standing at the window, but I wanted to kiss my wife. She was worked up, and that fiery temper turned me on. Making her think her momwas watching was the only way I could get away with kissing her again.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied with a shrug, a look of resignation flashing across her face before she schooled her expression. My chest swelled with sympathy and relief. Sure, this probably wasn’t what she imagined newlywed life to look like, yet she was willing to go along with it for the sake of her mother. And for me, although I wasn’t naive enough to believe that motivated her in the least. Still, I was grateful.

I unlocked the door and led her inside. She entered hesitantly, like a rabbit entering the fox’s den. Wide eyes took in her surroundings as her hands twisted nervously.

“This is nice. I was expecting a bachelor pad, but this is”—she twirled around slowly, taking in the 360 degree view. “Clean,” she finished, and I released a low chuckle.

“Let me show you around.” I led her through the first floor, starting at the living room, then moving on to the kitchen. Her eyes lit up at the sight of my double oven and six burner stove. She ran a hand over the granite countertop of the island as she perused the space.

“I can’t wait to cook in here,” she said, her voice low and reverent. Warmth spread through my chest at the thought of her cooking in our kitchen.

Our kitchen.

Images of her flashed through my mind: her chopping fruit for our morning smoothies, her wearing a flour-covered apron while she mixed cookie dough.

Her sprawled out on this island while I made a meal out of her sweet, glistening pussy.

Fuck, now I was hard, imagining the heated look in her eyes as she watched me devour her, the taste of her arousal coating my tongue. I tried to compose myself as she inspected theappliances and opened and closed the silverware drawer. She sighed contentedly.

“I always wanted soft close drawers.”

She rounded the island, returning to where I stood waiting for her, and looked up at me expectantly. I gripped her hand to lead her to our final stop on the first floor, and she gasped. The contact sent a bolt of awareness through me, and my fingers tingled where they entwined with hers. Ignoring the sensation, I led her to the closed door tucked back into the hallway and opened it. Stepping inside, I flipped on the light, despite the morning sun shining in brightly through the open blinds. I tugged her inside and released her hand, no longer able to bear her touch. If I didn’t let go, I’d want to do more than just hold her hand.

“This is my room,” I announced, placing my hands on my hips. It was easier to avoid reaching for her when I was already holding onto something.

“This is nice,” she began, and I detected a slight tremble in her voice. “But um…” She hesitated, her gaze darting around the room before finally landing on mine. Her eyes were wide, brows lifted in a pleading expression. “I’m not sleeping in here, am I?”

A flurry of emotions swirled in my gut at her question. Guilt that she thought I’d force her to share a bed with me, disappointment that she didn’t want to, and shame because the thoughthadcrossed my mind. However, there were three other bedrooms in this house, so I couldn’t pretend like there weren’t other options. Max’s room was off limits. He didn’t like people in his space, and I promised him no one would ever bother it. I wasn’t done renovating the second bedroom, but the carpet was being installed this week. The third, and final bedroom was the guest room and where I’d placed her things yesterday when I unloaded my SUV. As much as I wanted her to stay with me, she needed to make that choice on her own. And one day she would.

I swallowed hard and shook my head.

“I prepared the guest room for you.” She released an audible sigh, relief washing over her features. I flinched at her reaction. I didn’t like the heavy feeling that settled in my chest, so I did what I always did when those pesky, uncomfortable feelings arose. I pasted on a smirk and taunted her.

“But if you ever get lonely, you know where to find me.” I quirked a brow at her and let my gaze travel salaciously down her body.

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