Page 81 of Matched with Her Fake Fiance

“Miles, what’s wrong?” Dani’s voice asks from behind me. I turn, grateful to see her standing there.

In a swift move, I bridge the gap between us and pull her into my arms. I pull back enough to lean down and kiss her, the action making chills run throughout my body.

I deepen the kiss, wrapping my arms around her waist and tugging her closer. It’s possible it’s just in my head, but she’s relaxed in my arms, her hands reaching up and twirling the longer sections of hair near my neck.

And then she goes rigid, as if she’s just realized something.

She steps back, nearly out of my grasp. Glancing around the hallway, she blushes as she sees a woman who must have been watching the show.

Dani steps forward and takes my hand. “That was some good acting, Señor Miles.”

I shake my head. “No acting needed.”

Her gaze shoots up to my eyes. “What do you mean?”

Blowing out a breath, I lead her into an alcove down the hall from the restrooms. This is one conversation I want without anyone interrupting.

“Dani, this all started out fake because I was too chicken to stand up to my mother about running my own life.” Her smile falls and she glances away. I take my fingers and softly turn her chin to look back at me. “This arrangement we’ve had is something I’ve never been more grateful for. I’ve had some toxic people in my life and you were there when I needed you most.”

“W-what are you saying?” Dani stutters.

“Dani, I’m saying that somehow, in the craziness of the past couple months, you’ve managed to show me that life can be different. Wonderful and fun. That I need laughter and love, the kind I get from you.”

She’s got her mouth open slightly and I want to kiss her again. Instead, I hold back, knowing I need to get this out before her kisses make my brain go haywire again.

“I quit, Dani.”

She blinks several times and says, “Wait, what? You quit our relationship?”

I hold onto her hands again and say, “No, I never want that to happen. I quit the company.”

“Are you okay? What happened?” Dani says, letting go of one hand to reach up and press it against my cheek.

“Well, I’m going to finish out the project with Oliver. And work on a few other projects that will help the medical community on its lower levels. I won’t be earning a ton at the beginning, but if you’re willing to stick with me through it, I know anything can happen.”

I step forward, feeling excited about the fact that I’ve finally been able to tell her all that. What I want most now is a kiss.

Instead, Dani places a hand on my chest to stop me. “Wait, let me rewind that a bit in my head. First of all, you said you don’t want to stop our relationship and then you want me to be with you after that? Are you trying to give me a job?” There’s a slight smile at the corner of her lips and the panic eases in my chest.

“Dani, I love you. I’ve never met someone so strong. After everything you’ve gone through and everything I’ve put you through, I was scared to tell you how I feel. Nervous that I’d be stuck in the friend zone after this weekend.”

She raises her eyebrows and grins. “You? Worried about the friend zone?” Her laugh fills the air of the small space and she grabs onto my lapels and pulls me in for a kiss.

What seems like minutes later, we pull back and I ask, “So is that a yes or a no to the friend zone?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Miles, I have loved you since game night with my family. So that’s a no to friend zone and a yes to whatever step we’re supposed to be on in this relationship.”

I run a hand through my hair and laugh. “We’ve done a lot of things all backward, haven’t we?”

“I don’t know if it would’ve worked any other way,” Dani says, her voice softer than before. She lifts her left hand and pulls the ring off. “Here.”

I take it from her and put it right back on her left hand. “This is right where it needs to be. On the ring finger of the woman I love.”

Dani blinks several times as tears form. “I love you, too, Miles.”

“Do we need Dr Pepper to seal the deal this time?” I grin, marveling at how much my life has changed in a few short weeks since we met.

Shaking her head, Dani jabs me in the shoulder. “Really? Is that going to be a running joke our entire lives?”

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