Page 72 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

“Perfect. How do you feel about going on a date with me?” I ask, feeling suddenly shy. The fact that asking my wife out makes me nervous is an oxymoron. “We technically haven’t been on a real first date yet. What do you think?”

“Take our marriage public in Pleasant Hollow?” She asks excitedly. “Oh, I would love that!”

“Take our marriage public,” I repeat, smiling as I pull up to the garage at the house. I turn the engine off. “And have a conversation about us.”

“Oh, so not just a first date, but a first date that talks about the status of our relationship!” She razzes. “The romance author in me loves it. Where are we going?”

“Let me think about that and get back to you tomorrow, okay?” I slide out of the Jeep and pull my duffel bag from the backseat, slinging it over my shoulder.

“Sounds amazing. Are you home?” She asks softly.

“I’m home. Missing you,” I say. “Tomorrow, we need to talk about our sleeping arrangements.”

“I like that idea.” The smile I hear in her voice squeezes my heart.

“Good. Because I’m not sure I can live another day without waking up next to you.” I slip the key in the door and hit the light switch. I drop my duffel on the floor in the entryway and walk into the kitchen. On the counter, I see a pile of paper. When I get closer, I see it’s Susie’s finished book. I read the title page—Fate’s Quiet Promise,by Amelia Adams. Tears burn the back of my eyes, and my throat gets tight.

“Did you find it yet?” Susie’s voice breaks through the silence of the house, and I whip toward her, my eyes searching her face.

We’ll need to talk about this stealth-mode ninja stuff she’s got going on, but right now, all I can focus on is that she trusts me. She trusts me to see all of her before it’s been polished.

I cover the space between us in two steps, cup her face in my hands, and capture her lips with mine, pouring every ounce of emotion that’s been building up over the past few days into it.

“I love you,” I whisper. “Thank you for trusting me with the unedited version.”

“I love you, too.” Her thick voice sends tiny tingles down my spine. I feel her arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer. “I hope you enjoy it.”

“I am positive I won’t enjoy it,” I tease, pressing my lips gently to hers. “I’m certain I will love every word of it.”

The laugh she lets out grabs my gut and fills me with affection. “Even better, I’m going to love letting Nicole and Olivia know I get to read it before they do.”

“How about for now, just tell me what you think?” She mutters, her head resting on my chest. “But only the good things, okay?”

“I can’t make any promises.” A grin splits my face, and I kiss the top of her head. “Speaking of Nicole and Olivia. My mom and Liv are dying to meet you. Especially since Steve and Nicole told them you passed the twin test.”

“That wasn’t a test,” she scoffs, lifting her sparkling green gaze to mine. “It seemed ridiculously obvious to me.”

I smirk and lean in to kiss her again.

“Yeah, well, you tell that to my mom and sister when you meet them.” I snicker. “I love you. I am so happy to be with you again,but I can’t wait one more second to dive immediately into this book.”

“Your enthusiasm for reading my book is almost as satisfying as kissing you.” My lips curve up at her words. “But I think kissing may be the winner.”

Her arms slip from my waist to my neck, and she pulls me in for another kiss. This time she takes the lead, and I swear she’s conveying every ounce of love she has for me.

When she pulls back, I’m breathless. “How did you do that?” I ask.

“Do what?” She kisses me softly.

“Tell me a million promises of our future in that kiss?”

“Did I do that?” She says shyly as her eyes get all shiny.

“Yes,” I whisper, leaning my head against hers. “I hope I can be the man who deserves it.”

“You already are.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling the back of them burn just as my knees nearly buckle.

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