Page 36 of Skating and Fake Dating
The way he looks at me makes me feel wonderfully lightheaded, like I’m the only girl on that dusty dream road. The only woman for him.
His fingers trace my cheek and then he cups my jaw, sending tingles dancing across my skin.
“Say you’re mine,” he says in his low Southern rumble and then adds, “and I’ll be yours.”
I blink as if trying to decipher a foreign language. “Oh, right for show. For the family. We have to be convincing.” The words are thin and frail like I’m doubting their significance.
Lifting my chin, I’m about to speak a declarative sentence with confidence and authority. But our gazes snap together and I lose track of my thoughts, our surroundings, of everything except for the whisper of space between us.
He says, “Say it like you mean it.”
The words melt off my tongue when I say, “I’m yours.”
His gaze doesn’t waver.
I repeat, “I’m yours, Carson.”
A smile lifts his lips, and he says, “You’re mine.”
The space between us evaporates and our lips brush in the faintest of kisses. It’s like the first time touching silk or velvet.Seeing a sunrise and welcoming its warmth. That perfect moment when a scoop of ice cream turns creamy and lickable but not a melty mess. It’s so brief I fear I imagine it, but the way we both scramble for our breath—and footing—says otherwise.
I’m now made of cotton balls: soft, fluffy happiness and I feel like I could float away.
I ride this high until we get to the chapel, where Tagg waits outside. The sky clouds over and his beady eyes land on me. My stomach churns and I slow to a crawl just before the granite steps that lead inside.
CHAPTER 16
BAILEY
Never mind. I was wrong. This will be brutal. Not because I won’t be meeting Taggert at the end of the aisle, but because there’s no chance of me taking the wedding march anytime soon.
“Did you forget something?” Carson asks.
Seizing this opportunity, I turn to him and say, “Yes. I left my sanity somewhere—” I gesture vaguely behind me.
“I can see why. But I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Which is what I don’t understand.” I adjust my ill-fitting dress that’s a little too big around the bustline and keeps sliding down. Or perhaps it’s too small. I don’t know, except Odette insisted I wear the itchy, strapless, tube-like pumpkin spice confection.
My mother barks, “You’re always late. Break that bad habit for her, would you, Carson? Phil saved us seats. Hurry inside.”
Carson turns slowly, not in a hurry at all, but I grab his wrist. Only my hand doesn’t quite close around it like the links of the handcuffs did. But for better or worse, the proximity feels familiar. “Or we could make a run for the border. Canada isn’t far.”
He chuckles. “This is your family. And you can’t back out. You’re laced up. On the ice. No stopping now.”
“But you see how they are.”
“And I hear what they say,” he confirms.
“So—?”
His words from mere moments ago filter back.I’m here, aren’t I?
Searching my eyes, I’m sure Carson sees desperation, but I only glimpse certainty. Confidence. And a kind of cockiness I’ve only observed in hockey players.
Cupping his hand around mine, Carson leads me up the steps and into the chapel. The room falls into a hush as we parade down the aisle to where Dad sits. On the wooden bench, I’m squished up against Carson, feeling his massive frame, solid against mine. Our arms and legs practically zipped together. My mouth is dry and I feel like wilting. Conveniently, I could rest my head on my fake date’s shoulder. It’s pure toned muscle, but if I nuzzled in a bit, I bet I could find a soft and cozy spot. These thoughts occupy my mind until the music changes and the ceremony begins.
Somehow, I remain upright and survive Tori and Tagg exchanging their vows. No one demands they forever hold their peace. However, I felt eyes on me when the minister asked if there were objections to the couple entering into matrimony.
