Falling for the Fake Fiance (Snowpocalypse) Page 15

  Aaron stood up and shook Colton’s hand.

  Is this what he really wanted to do? Babysit the social elite? That job didn’t sound a bit appealing anymore. He’d rather do something useful with his day. Help people in a meaningful way. Maybe this was penance for the one person he couldn’t help.

  Thirty minutes later he was back in Sam’s apartment. He wandered the room, gazing out the large bay window that overlooked the capital. He didn’t mind the traffic. He didn’t mind the loud noises. Hell, he could put up with both if he needed to, but the city was missing one key component: Jill.

  His damn knees nearly buckled just thinking about her. He’d been an idiot. How could he have left without going over there? Fighting for her. Showing her that he loved her? He pounded his fist against the window. Fuck this.

  He couldn’t be in this city. This thought process wasn’t rational. The job meant a steady income and a new life. But he didn’t give a fuck. He’d take Jill over money any day. And then he realized the date. Tomorrow—he had until tomorrow to make her change her mind. Hopefully it wasn’t too late.

  …

  Jill was at her mother’s house, a celebratory birthday dinner. Except this time, she didn’t have Aaron to deflect. Or Gage for that matter. Her brother never made it home because he was called in last-minute for an extra shift. This was the makings for the best thirtieth birthday party ever. The plus side—more cake for her.

  Whatever. She didn’t need anyone to help her with her problems. She’d pushed Aaron away—and if he could be happy in D.C., that was all that mattered. It still hurt like hell, but it was better to sever ties now and have the possibility to love again than to be completely broken two months from now. At least, that was what she had to tell herself to roll out of bed the past couple of days. Now she could focus more on Emily, which was exactly where her priorities needed to be.

  Jill was busy staring a hole through her shrimp creole when the doorbell rang.

  Nobody moved to answer. The bell rang again a few moments later.

  “Are you going to get that, Jill?”

  She looked up from her soup. Her mother had been extra snippy with her ever since she found out Aaron had left town. “It’s your house.”

  Her mother gave her a pointed look.

  Oh brother. She sighed. Fine. Maybe walking around for a couple of minutes would help get her mind off Aaron. She shouldn’t even be giving him a second thought. Her ex-fake-fiancé who she was really in love with would not ruin her birthday. Especially on shrimp creole night. Because the least she could do was enjoy some spicy goodness and singe one of the body parts that still held the taste of Aaron.

  Jill opened the door and was met with a wall of broad shoulders and a trim waist. Nope. Not happening. He’d get one finger on her, and she’d turn to a puddle of molasses on the floor, and there’d go her resolve. She still felt a little guilty breaking it off over the phone, but there was no way she could have done it face-to-face.

  “What are you doing here?” She put her hands on her hips, trying her best to look affronted by him randomly showing up at her mother’s house.

  He raked a hand through his hair and started to pace back and forth on the front porch. “I didn’t take the job.”

  “What? That’s all you’ve been talking about since you’ve been back.” She didn’t really see how that pertained to her, or why he felt the need to come over here and tell her…but a tiny part of her liked that he wanted to share this with her. But all it did was prolong the inevitable—he’d find another job soon. Especially with his skill set. She didn’t even know why she was still in the doorway. Even when she knew better, her body wanted to be near his, which made her hurt even more.

  He stopped pacing and stood directly in front of her. His hands shot out to go to their familiar place at her hips, but he stopped last-minute and shoved them in his pockets. Jill must have been wearing her don’t touch me vibe proudly tonight. “I’ve had a couple of days to think. I’m pissed.”

  That was…not what she was expecting to hear from him. “You’re pissed? Why? I thought you’d be happy you didn’t have to marry me and you could go on with your career.” It was why she’d called things off in the first place—so they could both have the chance to be happy.

  “It’s complete bullshit, Jill. I thought we were doing great. I wanted to help you. And you’re pushing me away. And fuck, I’m an idiot because I let you.”

  Oh God. Please don’t do this. “It’s for the best.” You’ll destroy me.

  “Jill.”Her name was a plea. There was a desperation in his voice that made her heart clench, the same way it did when he played with Emily, and when he held her hand, rocking them both quietly on the porch swing, watching the stars. And when his hands did…other stuff.

  “I don’t think I can live that lie for two months.” She bit her lip, trying to find some way to get him off her porch before she folded onto the ground and had a good ugly-cry for a few minutes. “My heart can’t take it.”

  “Listen—” He let out a heavy sigh. “I have been protecting my heart for a long time. It’s not easy for me to lower my guard. But here it goes.” He stretched his neck from side to side, rubbing the back of it with his hand. “I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you. The very first day.”

  Jill rolled her eyes.

  “I’m serious. You were wearing a yellow sundress, and you were sitting out on the boardwalk with Mia and Kate.” He continued without giving Jill a second to speak. “When I saw you, it literally took my breath away.”

  “You were asthmatic as a kid.”

  “Dammit, Jill, let me be a fucking cliché for a minute. You smiled at me and my whole world shattered. Actually, I think you were smiling at my friend Duke, but I’ll let that slide. When I realized you were my next-door neighbor, I knew I’d hit the jackpot. And then you asked me to set you up with Duke. And then John. And Casey.”

  “How is this helping?”

  “It crushed me. Every single time. But I did it for you, Jill, because all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I’d do anything to put a smile on your face, even if that meant you kissing my best friend.”

  She arched a brow. “Does that mean you’re going to set me up with your best friend?”

  “Hell, no. You are mine.”

  That word. Mine. It hit her on a visceral level, throbbed in her veins. “This is all just such a mess. I don’t know what I want anymore.” But as her heart thundered in her chest, she knew exactly what she wanted—him.

  He got down on one knee and looked up at her with those damn blue eyes that made her breath catch every time. “Marry me, Jill.”

  “What? Are you serious? I thought we decided that it’d be best to go our separate ways.”

  “I’m serious. I don’t think I’ll love anyone as much as I love you. Being in D.C. made me realize I can do anything I want, but I can’t do it without you. You make me want to get up in the morning. You make me smile with your corny jokes. You drive me up the wall with your stubbornness.”

  She crossed her arms. “You really do suck at these proposals. I’m pretty sure there’s a handbook out there that says you shouldn’t insult someone you’re asking to marry you.”

  “Let me make my point,” he growled.

  “Fine.”

  “I will never find anyone who even compares to you. The reason I haven’t settled down in all these years is because I was looking in all the wrong places. I know it’s soon, and impulsive, but I promise you, I will be the best goddamn husband you could ever ask for. I even know how to load a dishwasher properly and manage to not burn grilled cheese.”

  “That’s a solid start.”

  He squeezed her hand. “And I want you to get Grammy’s inheritance so you can continue to send your Doogie Howser kid to private school.”

  She frowned. “It’s a little late for that. The will said I had until today.”

  “Then let’s do it.” He took her hands in his own, and she
fought the urge to let her eyes flutter shut. “Right now.”

  “Right now?” This was crazy talk. The man had to be insane, because at this hour, no one would be open without an appointment.

  “Yes. Get your mom, and I’ll go next door and grab my parents. I know a chapel down the road that does marriages late into the evening. But just tell me one thing. Do you love me?”

  She mashed her lips together. Dammit, she did. And even though this was the craziest plan in existence, she could see it working, could see them working. Because Aaron was it for her, too. “Yes, Aaron. I do.”

  “Then let’s do this. Make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me. There’ll be bumps along the way, but we’ve made a good team. We can figure it out together.” He produced a straw wrapper from his pocket and twisted it into a ring.

  Jill couldn’t help but laugh.

  “I promise to get you any ring you’d like after tonight, but this is the best I could do on such short notice. Marry me, Jill.”

  Her face hurt from smiling so hard. This man turned her into a damn fool. And he was back, really back, and in front of her with a paper ring and a promise. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes.”

  Emily stood beside Jill as she clasped hands with Aaron in the tiny chapel on the corner of Elm. They stood in front of a fireplace with candles in the hearth. Twinkly lights outlined the mantel, and it honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. This was crazy. And yet it felt right.

  She looked to where her mom and Aaron’s parent were sitting a few feet away, and a warmth filled her. They’d be all right. Everything would work out. Maybe Grammy’s plan hadn’t been so terrible after all.

  “Do you take Aaron to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  She looked up at him, squeezing his hands. His smile was her undoing. She never thought she’d say those words. But staring into Aaron’s eyes, she knew that she’d made the right choice. There wasn’t anyone else she’d want to spend the rest of her life with. It’d take some adjusting to the family dynamic, and they’d have to make sure Emily was 100 percent okay with Aaron before he moved in, but if he kept up the tea parties and cookie baking, they’d be settled into a unit in no time.

  As he slid a ring onto her finger, happiness welled up in her. Her partner. She looked into his eyes, and then she said the two words that felt so right when it came to Aaron. “I do.”

  …

  One year later…

  “Emily, hurry up—we’re going to be late.”

  A fireball of energy bounded down the stairs with a ladybug backpack flapping behind. “I’m ready, Daddy.”

  It still melted his heart, to hear Emily call him that. A year and a half ago, he didn’t think it’d be possible, doing the whole domesticated life, making waffles, going to dance performances, and yet here he was, enjoying every fucking minute of it.

  He gave his daughter a quick kiss on the forehead and handed her a Mickey Mouse waffle as they bolted toward the door. He’d drop her off at Brighton Prep, and then be on his way to work. Sam had moved into the area, and they’d started their own private security firm. It was only three men strong at the moment, but they had a handful of people they were interviewing this week.

  “Where do you think you’re going without saying good-bye?” Jill said from the powder room down the hall. She was fastening the emerald earrings he’d given her for their anniversary, getting ready for her job at the radiology center. With Aaron working, and the inheritance, she was able to quit her office job at the accounting firm.

  “I’d never dream of leaving without saying good-bye.” He took her face in his hands and swept her mouth into a kiss. Would he ever get sick of her lips? Hell, no.

  “Love you.”

  “I plan to show you just how much I love you tonight,” he growled into her ear. It was their one-year wedding anniversary, and he planned to show his wife just how thankful he was for her.

  “You guys are gross.” Emily pretended to gag and then shoved more waffle in her mouth.

  “What’s gross? Oh, you mean this?” He scooped Emily up in his arms, and he and Jill bombarded her with kisses on each cheek. Emily giggled, hugging them both around the necks.

  This right here, Aaron decided, was paradise.

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  Acknowledgments

  As always, thank you to my fabulous editor, Candace Havens, who helps guide me to write a much better book. A big shout out to everyone at Entangled, including Liz Pelletier, Curtis Svehlak, Heather Riccio, Holly Bryant-Simpson, Kaitlyn Osborn, Brittany Marczak, and my copy editors who help save me from my comma-inept self.

  To my rock star agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, who is in my corner, no matter what.

  A big thank you to Layla Reyne, who helped me with southern dialect. Any mistakes are entirely my own.

  Much love to my readers. You make my world go round.

  And to the BTUHSGFM. I love you guys.

  About the Author

  Jennifer Blackwood is an English teacher and contemporary romance author. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and poorly behaved black lab puppy. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she’s binging on Veronica Mars episodes and white cheddar popcorn.

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  www.jenniferblackwood.com

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