Page 27 of The Husband Contract
I laugh. “It’s a lyric from a song I heard once upon a time. But let me let you do your job and make the bed. I’ll take a quick shower. Let me know what time you get off work, and maybe we’ll get dinner before we go stargazing. Would you like that?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’m off at six.”
“Sounds good,” I say.
“I mean, I’ll have to go home and change, but I can be back by seven.”
“Perfect. I look forward to it.”
“Thanks. I look forward to it, as well.”
She offers me a small smile, then shoos me toward the bathroom. “Now scat! I need to concentrate and make this bed. And Katherine told me to remind you to give me your breakfast order so we can make sure you’re fed.”
“Thank you. I am very, very much looking forward to eating.” I lick my lips, and she blushes again. I know she’s caught the connotation and secondary meaning of my words. “I’ll go shower now before I get myself into trouble.”
“It is so dark out tonight,” Willow says, her voice low as she walks ahead of me. “I don’t normally come out this way. I hope we don’t get lost.”
“That’s because it’s nighttime, and we’re away from all the buildings and artificial light. We only have the stars and the moon to guide us,” I say, walking behind her, my hand resting lightly on the small of her back. “Don’t worry, though, we will never be lost when we can see the sky. The Northern star will be our guide."
“I know. What constellations are we going to see again?” she asks, looking back at me. She looks sexy. Her hair hangs loose down her back, her tight black top emphasizes her breasts, and her black jeans fit like a second skin. I can’t help but feel something in my stomach as she looks into my eyes.
“Well, I have an app,” I say, laughing and pulling out my phone. “I don’t know the constellations that well, but I just point the phone to the sky and it’ll tell us.”
“Oh. From the way you were talking, I assumed you knew all about constellations.”
“I just said that to get you to agree to go on a date with me,” I admit and run my fingers throughmy hair in a boyish fashion. Step one is to make her think I’m just a boy looking to impress a girl. In the sweetest and most romantic way.
She starts giggling. “This is crazy,” she says, shaking her head, her blonde hair flying over her shoulders. “This is absolutely so crazy.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because we barely know each other. I literally just met you, and you’ve already asked me out on a date. To gaze at the stars, yet you don’t even know the stars that well.”
“I’m not mad about it, are you?” I offer her a warm smile. Step two is to make her think I’m approachable and warm. “At least we get to be together.”
“No, I guess I’m not mad about it.” She laughs. “I just—ow!” she cries out as she trips over some rocks.
I quickly reach over to grab her before she hits the ground. She clings to me, her breath ragged. I can feel her heart racing against me. Her body is cool, but soft and pliable. I’m surprised by how strong she is as she hangs on to me. She has an inner strength. Self-preservation runs through her veins, which is likely how she tells herself that what she’s doing is okay.
“Oh my gosh, I nearly fell and busted my face,” she says, laughing shakily. “Thank you so much for catching me.” She stares into my eyes, a small smile on her lips as she takes a deep breath of the night air.
“I’d never let you fall,” I say softly. Step three is to establish the connection that we have and what a good man I am. She blushes, and then I press my lips against hers for two seconds before leaning back.
“Trust me,” I whisper, “I would never, ever let you fall.”
She looks breathy and taken aback, and I can’t help wondering if she deliberately tripped over those rocks. Maybe she is playing a game, as well? Maybe we are playing each other. How did she not see them? Yes, it’s dark, but themoonlight casts enough light to see the path, and we were just talking about the rocks a few minutes ago. I have a feeling this is part of her plan—to make me fall for her and make me feel protective of her. Well, I’ll fall for her, all right. A twisted smile crosses my face for a few moments. What an insidious situation for us both to be in, faking it for each other.
“Do you like it here in Whispering Haven?” I ask as we continue toward the open field. I’m carrying a small telescope that I’d brought with me from the city. I’m excited to see the sky a little clearer. It’s not often I get to come out far enough in nature to be able to stare at the stars.
“I don’t really know how to answer that,” she says as we walk.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I do like it here, but it’s not necessarily where I think I’ll be for the rest of my life. I have plans.” She pauses. “But we don’t need to talk about that right now.”
“I see.” I study her face. “You don’t want to tell me about your plans? Are they small plans, big plans?”
“Big,” she says with a grin. “Very big.”
