Page 30 of The Secrets We Built Together

She looked so lost, so resigned to the inevitable collapse of her world. Something inside me snapped.

"Marry me," I blurted out.

Her head jerked up, eyes wide with shock. "What?"

Shit.Shit. What the hell did I just say?

But even as I mentally cursed myself, I knew I wasn't going to take it back. Because underneath the impulsive idiocy of blurting it out like that, it was actually a perfect solution. The most logical step to solving her problem.

Our problem. Because somehow, in the space of a few days, Amelia's future had become my concern too.

I grabbed our coffee mugs and brought them to the table, buying myself a few seconds to organize the chaos in my brain into something resembling a coherent thought. I sat beside Blake and took her hand, which still hung suspended in mid-air from her shock.

"It doesn't have to be real," I said, the plan forming as I spoke. "We tell everyone we're getting engaged. It would have tobe convincing—Ethan and everyone else in town would need to believe it if it's going to work."

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish, but at least she was listening.

"You could move in with me," I continued, warming to the idea. "We'd show that we can give Amelia a stable home, a safe place to live. I have more than enough money to prove financial stability, plus the new medical practice and investment in Booker's ranch gives me solid ties to the community."

The coffee sat untouched between us, steam rising and curling into the air.

"We'd only need to keep it up until all the paperwork goes through. During that time, you could put everything in place to do this alone, if that's what you want. It buys you the time you need." I squeezed her hand, noticing how my fingers trembled slightly despite my outward confidence. "Afterwards, we can 'break up,' tell everyone they were right and we moved too fast, but we're going to stay friends. For Amelia's sake."

Blake stared at me, her eyes searching mine for the catch. "We can't do that," she finally said. "Can we?"

"Why not?"

"I think it might be illegal."

That made me laugh, the tension breaking slightly. "It's not illegal to get engaged, Blake. We're not filing false documents. We're just... accelerating a relationship."

"But—"

"It wouldn't just be for the paperwork," I said, suddenly needing her to understand that this wasn't entirely selfless. "I can help you with Amelia. And you... you can be there to help make sure I don't slip."

The words came out before I could stop them, exposing a vulnerability I rarely acknowledged out loud.

"You don't need a babysitter, Xander," she said softly. "You're stronger than you think."

"And youdoneed a babysitter," I countered, grateful for the pivot back to safer ground. "I'm more than happy to do it."

My eyes drifted to Amelia, peacefully sleeping in her bouncy chair. There was something about her—this tiny, innocent being who needed nothing more than to be loved and protected. Something about helping her have the childhood I never got to have felt right.

"You're serious," Blake said, not quite a question.

"I am."

I could see her mind working, weighing the absurdity against the practicality. Considering it.Actuallyconsidering it. The realization sent a strange flutter through my chest.

I stood up abruptly, not wanting to spook her by pushing too hard. "Think about it," I said, grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair. "No pressure. It's just an option."

But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted her to say yes. Which meant I needed to get out of there before I said something even more ridiculous.

"I should go. Call me when you've had some time to think it over."

She nodded, still looking dazed. "Okay."

I hesitated for a moment, almost leaned down to kiss her forehead—a gesture that felt suddenly natural despite its inappropriateness—but caught myself. Instead, I gave Amelia's bouncy seat a gentle rock as I passed. "Bye, little bug."

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