Page 7 of The Awakening
It looked like we were heading home together.
Me and my fake wife.
Chapter Four
Ellie
It wasn’t real. Gavin was only trying to protect me. But sitting on the sofa, snuggled under his protective arm after he had saved me from the wrath of my father made me wish we truly were a couple. While I’d dreaded the idea of being married to Ray, there was something about Gavin that made me feel the exact opposite. Giddy even. But I needed to control that feeling. It was crazy—he was a virtual stranger, and he wouldn’t want me if he knew the whole truth. I rested my hand on my belly. It was still too soon for me to show.
Why he was offering this, I couldn’t fathom, but going along with his plan would give me a little more time to figure out what I was going to do. But more importantly, it got me far away from Montana.
“What now?” Part of me didn’t want to know because I was worried he planned to dump me off somewhere before I could get my bearings. The other part of me was scared he would want to keep up the charade.
“We pack our bags. I hadn’t planned on leaving this early, but I did promise to be home for Christmas, and I won’t leave you here.” He tightened his arms around me. “Like it or not, wifey, you’re part of the Morton family now.” He shook his head. “You have no idea what you’re in for.” His chuckle made me smile.
“I’m going back to bed.” We’d been woken in the middle of the night, and being on the lam for the last few days was catching up to me. Shifting away from Gavin, I stood and headed for the bedroom.
“Well, I suppose since it’s our honeymoon, I should join you, little spoon.” Gavin heaved himself off the couch and winked at me.
His words broke the tension, and I laughed, which was a virtual miracle after what had gone on earlier. “Come on, husband.” I held out my hand for him. Although I’d reached for him, I was still surprised when he placed his palm in mine. We were going to have to make this look real, so this was probably a good place to start.
Lying in the bed next to him, I made no effort to keep my distance. After what we had gone through with my father—being woken in the middle of the night, all but held at gunpoint—there was an intimacy that made me crave his closeness. Tucked up against him, feeling his warmth, that safe feeling returned. He’d proven himself worthy of it. A weaker man might have crumbled under the pressure earlier. He barely knew me, and he owed me nothing, but he’d protected me even with three rifles pointed at him. The way he out-witted my father and brothers with ease was nothing short of amazing.
When I woke again, Gavin’s side of the bed was empty. I wandered into the kitchen, looking for him. The pot of coffee was half full, and on the counter beside it was a note. I picked it up and read it as I went to get a coffee mug.
Ellie,
I’ve gone to check the cattle and make arrangements so we can leave here this afternoon.
Won’t be gone long. Get ready to go.
Gavin
There wasn’t much for me to get ready, but I could help Gavin. Sipping my coffee, I walked into the bedroom and opened the closet. His wardrobe was simple, all plaid western shirts and jeans. There was a suitcase tucked into the corner of the closet.
I set my cup down on the bedside table, pulled the suitcase out, and flopped it on the bed to unzip it, then I folded everything neatly, hoping to avoid wrinkles.
An hour passed, and I’d packed everything I thought he might need. Staying busy helped me keep my mind off the events of the last twenty-four hours.
The door swung open, and Gavin entered the house. His dark hair was covered in snow and his cheeks were rosy from the cold. Although he looked like he had fought with a blizzard, the sight of him simultaneously put me at ease and caused my body to heat.
“I need to get out of these clothes and then we can leave.” He said as he peeled off layer after layer of warm clothes, his attention catching on the bags I’d set at the door. “Did you pack my stuff?”
“I left you a change of clothes on the bed, but I packed the rest. I figured we needed to get going and it would save time.” I hesitated. Was he mad that I’d gone through his things? “I hope I didn’t overstep.”
“Not at all. Thank you.” He nodded and walked into the room to change. He left the door open, talking to me as he moved around the room. “I’ve been thinking. There is only one way to make sure you’re safe, and I’m not sure you’re going to like it. We have to actually get married.”
What? He didn’t even know me, and I’d broken into his house last night. “No, Gavin, you’ve already done too much. It was one thing to make my father think that we had eloped. But to actually go get legally married? I can’t do that to you.” I shook my head. We’d only just met. Would he really be willing to marry me after such a short time? Just to keep me safe?
“You aren’t doing this to me Ellie, I chose this. We’ll go to the courthouse and get a license. I booked us in at the justice of the peace in two hours. That’ll give us enough time to get everything sorted before our flight.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because you deserve to have a life. You can’t stay in this town, and you shouldn’t have to live in hiding.” He came out of the bedroom, his shirt still half unbuttoned.
I sucked in a breath at the sight of his muscular chest.
Moving closer to me, Gavin brought his hand up, but before he touched my cheek, I flinched. He dropped his hand and continued buttoning his shirt.
