Page 16 of Destined For Forever

Sean leaned toward her and slipped an arm around her shoulders. He’d taken a long shower before dinner and she’d avoided the awkwardness of having to avert her eyes while he changed by choosing to stay downstairs talking with Ethan and Monroe. Now he smelled even better than before—like soap and something woodsy.

“How do you make that work?” Monroe asked, shaking her head. “Long distance is hard.”

“We Skype every night before bed,” Sean replied. The words rolled off his tongue so smoothly that even Lily was tempted to believe him, which was a little unnerving. “And knowing that we’d finally be together in person for the wedding made it even sweeter.”

The man could charm a toy right out of a child’s hands.

“Isn’t that right?” When his eyes roamed her face, it made every cell in her body melt on the spot. How did he do that? “Being apart only makes the build-up even better.”

“Uh, huh.” She couldn’t seem to get any words out.

This was everything her teenage heart had desired—everything she poured into her writing. The feeling of being wanted, of being seen. It was addictive.

“I should help you clear up,” Lily said, pushing back on her chair suddenly. “I’m sure Sean is desperate to get some sleep after the long flight.”

Ethan and Monroe exchanged cheeky looks, as if Lily was trying to hurry things along so she and Sean could jump into bed. She didn’t mean it like that! Heat rose into her cheeks.

You’re making things believable. It’s a good thing.

Just as she reached for her plate, however, everything suddenly went dark.

“Ah crap,” Ethan muttered. “I had a feeling that was going to happen. You guys stay here. I’ll go find the torches.”

His phone lit up, casting his face in an eerie blue glow.

“This place isn’t haunted, is it?” Lily asked with a nervous laugh.

“You don’t believe in that crap, surely?” Sean made a pfft sound. “Come on now.”

“We actually do have a haunted house locally. An entire family perished there in the late 1870s and it’s one of our most popular landmarks.” Monroe laughed at Lily’s horrified gasp. “Don’t worry. There are no ghosts in the inn, I promise.”

There was a thump from outside the kitchen, followed by a curse.

“Can you remember where Lottie left the spare batteries?” Ethan called out from another room. “Of course, she chose this week to go stay with her sister.”

“Excuse me a moment. I need to show my fiancé what is probably staring him right in the face,” Monroe said with a laugh. “Be right back.”

Monroe left Sean and Lily alone in the dark. Outside, the storm obscured the moonlight, so only a faint glow made it into the darkened house. The wind rattled the panes of glass in their frames, and howled like an animal. When something thumped outside, Lily squeaked.

“First you believe in ghosts, and now you’re afraid of the dark,” he said, chuckling. “Am I going to have to protect you tonight?”

His words sent a delicious shiver down her spine and the reality of their fake relationship—namely the sleeping in the same bed part of it—was starting to sink in. This was like going on a diet and then having to stare at nothing but chocolate cake all day long.

“I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself,” she replied, keeping her voice low. “And don’t go thinking about putting any moves on me in the middle of the night, okay?”

Sean made a snorting sound. His chair scraped as he pushed it back and stood, his arm brushing by her hip in the darkness. “Please. If there’s any touching in that bed it will be because you’re begging for it.”

“Egomaniac much?” she muttered.

“It’s not ego. I simply know what I’m good at and what I’m not good at.”

Lily gulped. She did not need Sean to tell her he was good at making women want him—she had a lifetime of proof all on her own.

“And I certainly don’t enjoy putting moves on anyone who isn’t feeling it.” He came closer, though whether it was intentional or not, Lily had no idea. “So, I’m perfectly happy to sleep on the floor if it makes you more comfortable.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t make you do that. I’m sure we’re perfectly capable of sharing a bed without getting handsy.”

For some reason, she didn’t feel as confident about that as she would have liked.

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