Page 50 of Love Without Control

Looping an arm around her waist, I hauled her toward me until she was right up against me, the side of one small, soft breast pressed against my rib cage.

“Relax, wifey,” I whispered into her ear, noticing her lips twitch before she reached for a chunk of brownie and stuffed it into my mouth. A small gasp escaped from her when I rolled my tongue briefly around the tip of her index finger, holding eye contact with her. Until a voice interrupted us.

“So, Jamie and Robert told us a little about you. I know you’re twenty-two and twenty-seven,” Mimsy said, nodding first at Eden and then at me. Those were the ages we’d decided on with Robert and the ones reflected on our new IDs. “But how did you meet?”

I smiled as if thinking of a fond memory and launched into our fake backstory. “Eden lived next door to my Uncle Gael. Whenever I came to visit, I always thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.” I kissed her temple, earning a swoony sigh from Mimsy.

“I thought he was a pest,” Eden said flatly before looking up at me. “But he slowly grew on me. Kinda like a big, hairy mole.”

A bark of laughter escaped me, and I lowered my hand to patmy wife’ship. “Her beauty caught my eye first, but Eden’s sass is what sealed the deal.” I looked down at the little vixen who was smirking up at me. “And her heart. She took care of my uncle… did his shopping, cooked for him, took him to doctor’s appointments.”

Our eyes were fused together, and I felt a magnetic pull between us. With a clearing of her throat, Eden broke eye contact and continued the story. “Uncle Gael always wanted us together. He fancied himself a bit of a matchmaker and was so excited when we started dating a couple years ago.”

“My uncle was so enamored of Eden, he even wrote her into his will, right along with me.”

Jamie had brilliantly come up with that part of the story, which explained how such a young couple had money, even though neither of us were currently employed.

Mimsy leaned forward in her seat, eyes bright. “Oh, I just love this story! Did Gael live to see you get married?”

“He did,” Eden answered, her lips creasing into a sad smile. “But just barely. He passed away the next day.”

“Oh dear.” The older woman’s hand went to her chest.

“That’s why we’re just now taking our honeymoon, even though we’ve been married for a couple months now,” I added. “We’ve been busy wrapping up things with his estate. Jamie is an old family friend of Eden’s and she offered to let us use this home for an extended vacation while we decide where we want to live.”

“Jamie’s a peach of a gal,” Charles said, swiping a finger through the frosting on his wife’s brownie when she wasn’t looking and sticking it into his mouth. I met his eye and subtly indicated that he had a smudge of chocolate in his white beard. “Thanks,” he mouthed, scrubbing at the spot with one hand.

“These brownies are fantastic,” Eden said, changing the subject.

“That’s Charles’s signature dessert,” Mimsy said, patting her husband’s leg. “Everyone around loves them.”

“I can see why,” I told them, finishing off the rest of mine with my free hand. Sugar, butter, and rich chocolate melted onto my tongue. “This frosting is amazing, and the texture of the brownie is perfect.”

Charles nodded. “Thank ya kindly. I do love a fudgy brownie.”

Mimsy eyed her plate before darting a suspicious glare up at her husband, who managed to look as innocent as an angel.

“Do you have wedding photos?” she asked, and I silently thanked Jamie and Robert for thinking of that particular detail.

Grabbing my phone from the coffee table, I scrolled until I found the pictures and handed my phone over. “These are just the sneak peeks the photographer sent us. We’ll be placing an order for prints soon.”

Mimsy oohed and ahhed over all the pics, finally coming to the one of Eden and I kissing. “This! This one is simply stunning!” She stared at it for a long moment before returning my phone to me. “I can just feel the love between you two.”

My eyes rested on the screen. It was a very believable photo. Eden and I looked so…righttogether. Especially with my lips on hers and her hands tangled in my hair. I couldn’t deny that I felt something for my fake wife.But love? No way. Not me.

We chatted for another thirty minutes, learning that the Mimses were originally from Mississippi but moved to Florida about eleven years ago because, and I quote, “That’s what old folks are supposed to do.”

Finally, Charles stood and reached out a hand to help his wife up. “Let’s hit the road, Mimsy. I’m sure Dane and Eden have better things to do than entertain us.”

“Ahhh, yes,” she said, tossing a wink at us. “Newlywed things.”

Eden let out a tiny squeak, and her cheeks flushed. It was so fucking adorable, and I couldn’t help myself. Wrapping a hand around the back of her head, I laid my lips against the tip of her nose in a gentle kiss.

“That’s right, babycakes. All the newlywed things.” I didn’t think it was possible, but her face pinkened even more. This bold, gorgeous woman got flustered over a little sex talk, and I freaking loved it.

Then with a slight shake of her head, sassy Eden was back, swatting me on the butt and scolding, “Cool it, Romeo. We have company.”

“Oh, that’s all right. A healthy sex life is very important in a marriage,” Mimsy intoned wisely. “We’ll let you get on with it. Give us a holler if you need help finding anything in town.”

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