Page 76 of Counterfeit Connection

I reach over to switch on the dimmed overhead lighting in the hallway. The dark paint reflects the darkness we came from outside. The lights nearly mimic the stars. “This hallway is bigger than nearly my whole apartment.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, Kaitlyn.”

“Clearly you’ve forgotten the matchbox that is my home.”

I lean in and kiss her ear gently. “I like your home.” I set the cat carrier on the floor and let Marilyn out. “Believe it or not, I had Tobias set our furry friend up with all her needs here in this front restroom.”

“She’ll learn quickly.”

“I’m not worried. All the way at the end are the common areas…the kitchen, dining room, main terrace, and the lounge area. On the left over here is the hallway to the guest suites on the right and the main bedroom is on the left. Would you like to explore tonight or fall into that mattress cloud you’ve dreamed of?”

“I’m tempted to ask for a full tour because this place is a mansion, and I want to see every inch, but…” She yawns again, this time ending it with a little squeak. “I think I may be too tired to function for longer than sixty more seconds.”

“Well then…” I take three steps to close the distance between us, then scoop her into my arms and over my shoulder in a fireman’s hold. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“Ahh! Griffin!” She laughs and kicks her legs. “What are you doing?”

“Sweeping you off your feet, obviously.”

Kaitlyn was in my bed and under the covers for approximately thirty seconds before I could hear her soft snores. I haven’t told her she does that. Maybe I never will because she’d just deny it or become self-conscious about it, and that’s the last thing I want. I love her little snores.

I take some time to unpack, change clothes, and check some emails before crawling into bed beside her. In her sleep, she rolls toward me, nuzzles into my side, and sighs sleepily.

The last thing I expected to happen when I sat with her in my hotel room and hashed out this plan was for me to catch feelings. I did that in spades.

How am I going to say goodbye to her?

Kaitlyn

I slept like the dead. I knew he’d have an incredible mattress. I woke this morning well-rested, happy, and with his strong armswrapped around me.

That lasted about point two seconds before I remembered I’m going to meet his mother in a few hours. Now, I’m a bundle of nerves and anxiety. “Stop thinking, baby.” Griffin’s raspy voice echoes inside his chest. I didn’t even know he was awake.

“Good morning to you too.”

“My mother will be the easiest meeting of your time here. I know she’ll love you.”

“Isn’t that the hard part? I want her to like me, but wouldn’t it be easier if she didn’t?”

I hear Griffin groan as he turns me in his arms to face him. “Bianca Conforti is English and Italian. She is like Mrs. Doubtfire on speed. I can tell you how this will go. She will treat you like a queen and I will be her little Griffy.”

I giggle. “Griffy?”

“Don’t go there, Pixie.”

I poke him in the ribs and he grunts then laughs. “Don’t make fun of me.” I stick my tongue out at him.

“You’re lucky we have things to do today, otherwise, I’d put that tongue of yours to better use.”

“Rain check, then?” I wiggle my eyebrows playfully.

“Without question, baby.”

I decided to wear a simple, yellow sundress and a pair of white kitten heels. I must have changed clothes four times before finally settling on this outfit. My hair is down today, in long, soft waves and I’ve kept my makeup simple and light. I’m normally okay with meeting parents, but not when I know I’m going to be lying to her face.

“Your mother doesn’t know the truth?” I ask him on the way down to the car.

He shakes his head. “Only Tobias.”

---