Everything I Dreamed (Everhope Road #2)

13. Hailey

13

HAILEY

M y eyes flicker as I replay in my mind what I just heard, and register that Oliver is standing in front of me with no sign that he’s joking.

“Really, what did you just say?”

The only part of my frozen face that moves is my tongue swiping across my bottom lip to capture a bagel crumb, because of course, this strange turn of events happens when I just stuffed loaded carbs into my mouth.

Oliver hops off his stool and steps closer but stops mid-distance to me. “Marry me, Hailey.”

It’s a few heartbeats of silence. I examine him only to realize that this is apparently a conversation that we’re about to have. In that moment, my eyes fire disbelief and I square my shoulders.

“Uhm… we just kind of established last night that you and I can’t really define what is transpiring between us and decided to maybe see where things will go, and now we’re speeding into marriage?” My face puzzles from confusion. “Dating.” I hold one hand up level with my chest. “Marriage.” My other hand soars above my head. “Dating. Marriage. Marriage. Dating.” I adjust my measurements through my arms.

That’s when a hint of a smile crosses his face, and then he rushes to me while I stay seated. His firm hands cup my face, with his eyes anchoring my own. My entire body races because I can’t count the number of times this fantasy has crossed my mind. I’m a hopeless woman with a crush. But right now, something feels as though dream weddings will remain in a box.

“You’ll get the building,” he states.

Oh, convenience.

“Huh?” That’s what I manage to say.

“We can get married and then the owner will give you the building and you can open the preschool. I overheard the owner speak with the realtor. You’re so close.”

My breath gets caught in my throat. Oliver has so much conviction right now.

“B-but it’s m-marriage,” I stammer. “What happens… you know… later?”

“We’ll get a di— Once everything is officially yours, then we’ll figure it out. Hell, I could give you the money, I have it.” I shoot him an unimpressed glare because I’m never a fan of flaunting, but it makes him smile because he’s aware. “But you need a husband to get this one thing, and you can’t do that on your own.”

I should stand and break our contact, create distance instead of letting my body and mind sink into the idea. “Getting something because of marriage isn’t… I don’t know.”

“It’s also the only way to get the building. Maybe the bank will give you the loan if we’re married. Either way, I won’t interfere. It’s all yours.”

Am I in some odd dream that I’ll wake up from?

Gathering strength, I break our connection to stand and walk to the middle of the room, feeling his heated eyes on me the whole time. “Marriage is marriage. What happens in the long run?” I repeat.

His head drops low. “Di— That will be awhile in the future.” He didn’t finish the word divorce for the second time, but for some crazy indescribable reason, I don’t question it. I shove the idea that maybe we’ll never get a divorce deep into a dark corner in my mind where a dream has been locked away.

“What’s in it for you?” I examine him warily.

He lifts both of his hands and cradles the back of his head as he blows out a breath. Damn it, now I see his chest flexed, and it’s distracting.

“Everhope will be happy, everybody thinks it’s a great idea. The preschool, I mean. I’ll see you hap— Nobody needs to know the details or the fact you have a husband. Of course, maybe once everything is done and dusted then it might reach the public and my parents won’t bother me anymore about trying to find me a date, but by then, you will have the building.”

I stifle one laugh from that thought. He didn’t seem pleased when I reminded him what Carter said about being set up. But it’s such a minimal issue, too. Very marginal.

“My brother? Our friends? We literally said last night that we don’t need others interfering until we are confident with what we are. Remember? Climbing fences, pretending to borrow cups of sugar, you know, that kind of thing.” A grin of bewilderment graces my face.

A lazy smile is painted onto his face before he lifts his shoulders. “Nobody needs to know that we’re married.”

I titter. “How the hell does that work?”

He saunters my way with what I can only describe as swagger. Why must he look so damn sexy when he’s talking insanity?

He takes hold of a long strand of my hair and twists my lock around his finger. I’m too focused on his lips to meet his eyes.

“You know you can be married without living together. And in Illinois, we can get the license then marry the next day. I’m sure the county courthouse will have openings; they seem kind of bored these days anyhow, with permits for quilt markets.”

My throat bobs then I crackle a sound while I mull over this situation.

“People accidentally get married in Vegas all the time. Sometimes to someone they don’t even know. You don’t always need a logical reason to get married. It’s a wild adventure.”

No, Hailey. Do not contemplate this.

“You’re making no sense, Oliver. Isn’t there some law for this that might get us in trouble?”

Then he melts my uncertainty away. He snakes his arm around my middle and abruptly pulls me close. My belly presses against his center, and Oliver has a strange aura of persistence that feels unfamiliar to me. It’s heated and tense. Is this what he is like at work? No. It can’t be. Because I’m not that to him. Attraction aside, I know I’m not a contract he files away.

“For financial gain, you mean? This isn’t exactly that. Plus, it’s hard to prove, and besides, there is enough on paper to make it seem that our marriage is real. The thing is, Hailey, most people assume I’m going with the flow of things, not a huge risk-taker.”

“Really? Didn’t notice since you took so long to kiss me,” I reply dryly.

He slants a smirk on the right side of his mouth. “Don’t rile me up right now. I have no problem putting a pin in that subject only to punish you later with my hand.”

My mouth gapes open because there is no humor in his tone, and admittedly, it’s not a bad image.

He continues. “I am a risk-taker. It’s just I don’t until I cross a line, and then I’m kind of hard to reel in. I’ve crossed the line with you, so I’m not afraid to get a little spontaneous on this. Take it up a notch.”

Well, fuck me. This is what I get now? Oliver leaving me in awe of his tenacity that I’ve never experienced before with him?

It would be hard for any woman to turn away from this.

The man’s eyes are cloudy with a sweltering command.

I breathe through my pursed lips, and he doesn’t let me escape his hold, not that I’m trying.

“A secret marriage can’t last that long in this town. We have snooping neighbors too.”

He plants his long finger against my lips. “I’ll make the owner and the agent sign an NDA. We can say the owner dropped the marriage clause if anyone gets wind. I doubt anyone knows about the clause except us and those close to us. It will buy us time, at least until the bureaucracy is in order and you have the keys. Maybe people will find out later—or not.” He shrugs.

“Then they will wonder what the fuck we do with our marriage next?” I nearly screech.

He grabs the back of my neck to pull me in, and his warm breath crawls down my skin. “We can play the part until we have clarity about u— It will be easier then,” he whispers, and it causes a ripple to dive down my body to between my legs.

“Playing a part isn’t what we wanted last night.” Disappointment is apparent in my reply.

“I do want us to discover what we are… just… this is a little unconventional.”

His lips skirt to my temple. “You’ve always been the spontaneous one. An explorer. Don’t stop now.”

The answer is dancing around inside of me. The moves getting heavier, a turn coming natural to the rhythm. Your body sways alone or with someone, it’s a flow.

…one that flows out of my mouth.

“Yes,” I whisper. Then all the uncertainty of this unusual breakfast morning fades, and I surrender to him with confidence. “Let’s get married.”