Chapter 9 #3
“I like seeing you be comfortable here,” I admitted. “And I like seeing the smile on your face. I think I just like you in my general vicinity.”
Her blush deepened. “I think you already said that today. You need some new lines. You’re losing your touch.” She stood, holding on to the table for balance as she readjusted her socks. “And quit getting me off track. Surely you have other donors in the organization?”
Everyone pitched in as much as possible with their families and bills to attend to, but I was the principal patron. I wasn’t prepared for her to have that information, at least not yet.
“No one of note. No one with those kinds of funds hanging about,” I replied.
She bit her bottom lip. “Local businesses? Maybe you could pool some money for land? Seems like it would be in their best interest, maybe even a tax write off?”
I shook my head. “I already tried to get a few bigger factories to donate materials, and I was declined every time.” Looking back, that was probably my father’s doing, too.
“Hmm. Didn’t you say you get more estate money once you marry?”
I didn’t think anything could stop me from watching her, but with that, I froze.
“It doesn’t have to be legit, does it?” Her voice echoed in my ears.
How in the hell had I not thought of that?
Probably because I never want to marry anyone.
I’d have to be in love to do that, and I had never been in love with anyone that deeply, except for maybe the woman who was in front of me. “I-I mean, this isn’t a movie. I’m sure there isn’t a romance clause in the terms,” I stammered. “But who would I marry? And what would be in it for them?”
I watched her begin to pick at her cuticles. Julianna East was nervous.
“I could do it,” she whispered.
The words made me exhale deeply, and I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I was shaken to find her face was beet-red and her eyes wide.
“I’m sorry!” she exclaimed, her voice frantic. “I didn’t mean?—”
Did she think I was reacting unfavorably to her? Without hesitating, I did what my instincts told me to do. I took the four strides to where she stood, gathered her up, and pressed her to me. It would have been a hug between ordinary friends, but it set my body ablaze.
I relaxed visibly, relieved.
I wanted it to be her.
I backed away to avoid asserting myself. She must have felt it because she stepped back and sat in the chair, her lips parted and her dark eyes entreating.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever offered me,” I said, running a hand over my short hair. “But you know I can’t do that.”
Her brow furrowed. “Because of my surgery? Will that delay things too much?”
I’d forgotten about her surgery for a moment. Now that she’d reminded me, a brilliant thought leapt to the front of my mind.
“I should have been thinking of you and your surgery. And I shouldn’t have said no because if we get married, I think I can help you, too.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? How? I won’t let you or Whit pay for my surgery if that’s what you’re?—”
“No,” I interrupted. “That’s not what I’m saying.
I’m also not saying you shouldn’t use Whit’s money because you should.
But if we marry, you’ll have my health insurance.
I’ll have to check on the specifics for surgery, but my insurance is pretty damn good.
You could end up paying much less for all this. ”
Her mouth dropped open in shock, but she didn’t miss a beat. “Best idea you’ve ever had, Dracula!”
I rolled my eyes at her use of my nickname, but I was smiling.
Lakey, tongue wagging and sensing the joy, came right up to Julianna.
Julianna took long strokes down her fur and spoke without looking at me.
“So, it’s a deal. We get married in name only.
A civil, quickie service at the courthouse…
” Those words conjured up images of having Julianna in a dark corner, all to myself, able to touch her velvet skin and hear her intake of breath.
“I’ll benefit from using your health insurance, and you’ll get money for Mill Creek Aid? ”
“1.1 million dollars, to be exact,” I said. Her eyes popped wide.
“Do you think you’ll have problems getting the money? There won’t be any delays once we’re legally married? ”
“I’ll make a call.” I was acquainted with a lawyer in town whom I trusted to do some reconnaissance work.
“That’s very mob-esque of you,” she said, teasingly.
What did a man say who planned to marry a woman for money and insurance purposes?
“Seriously, you don’t have to do this.”
She smiled. “Cold feet already?”
“No, not that. I’m not sure if having me on your record is a good idea.
To have to tell someone you were married before.
You know, when we eventually…” My voice trailed off.
I didn’t want to say it. But if we were going to do this, we needed to establish that it was temporary.
It was the safe and responsible thing to do.
Yet I didn’t want to be safe or responsible. I wanted to pull her to me, tell her all my wayward thoughts, and decimate any chance of us being merely friends.
“On my record?” She laughed. “Is there someone keeping tabs on me? I don’t think there’s a more noble reason to fake marry someone than to help them inherit a million dollars to build a community center.
If someone later can’t understand that it sounds like I’d be hitching my horse to the wrong cart. ”
I smiled at the metaphor that Grams used to use sometimes. Her Appalachian sayings were ingrained in our minds and hearts. “Okay. But if you change your mind anytime, you can tell me. Don’t feel obligated because of the money.”
She pivoted to me and put her soft hand on my rough face. My heart raced. “I’m not a child. This was my idea, don’t forget that,” she said, her features soft. “We can talk particulars later. Now, do you have anything here that I can fix for supper?”
I ran a hand over my jaw. I hadn’t thought of food. There was nothing much in the way of groceries in the house. I was a bachelor, and I lived like one.
She looked up at me with searching eyes. “Oh no. I have my appointment in Roanoke tomorrow. With all this, I didn’t even think about it. And I don’t have a vehicle.”
Of course, she didn’t remember. With me bursting into her life, the accommodation change, and now agreeing to get married, I was surprised that either of us remembered our own names.
“Use my truck. I’ve got a Jeep in the garage,” I cut in, shrugging, letting her know it wasn’t a big deal. She looked relieved, but her lips pursed.
“Why am I not surprised you have two vehicles? I can’t do that, though.”
“Can’t do what?”
“Take your vehicle.” She crossed her arms.
“I don’t think I asked.” I ignored the look on her face that told me she didn’t appreciate what I was saying. I continued, “It makes sense. Pick your battles, sweets. We’ll be married soon. We have to learn these things.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But since we’re handing out vehicles, can I drive the Jeep?”
I quirked my eyebrow. “It’s not that I mind, but the top is off, and I don’t think you’re going to want to drive around like that. It might mess up your hair and all that.”
“Au contraire,” she replied brightly, turning around from the empty fridge. “If the weather is okay, I’d love to take it.”
“Imagine the attention you’ll get,” I warned. “You want everyone driving around the city staring at you?”
Did I want everyone staring at her? The answer was a resounding ‘hell no’.
But as I watched the smile on her face dim a little, I heard myself blurting before I could stop, “It’ll be sunny tomorrow.
The key fob is hanging by the door. It’s got a full tank of gas. I’m curious to see how you like it.”
“Really?” She brightened once again.
“Sure. But I can put the roof on if you want me to.”
“No way! I want to try it as is. ”
“Okay, then.” I chuckled. “Maybe it’ll take your mind off the appointment.”
I tried to look disinterested. Did she want to go alone? Or was she hoping I’d ask to go with her? My mind was full of questions I usually didn’t have to deal with.
I wouldn’t ask. I couldn’t give her any more stress.
She was already going through a hard time with her pain, her job loss, and whatever demons she was fighting with Whit, not to mention the anxiety of an upcoming surgery.
And now, the added complication of a marriage?
She didn’t even have a car. There was no one else in town to watch after her.
If I hadn’t come along, she would have been alone.
I looked at her. It was the first time since we’d met again that I’d ticked off everything she was going through.
How much strength did one possess to maintain kindness and beauty under such rotten luck?
I stepped toward her. Her eyes widened slightly, and her mouth parted, but I ignored any sense of shock.
If she pushed me away, I would let her go.
I pulled her toward me firmly until our bodies touched.
I wanted her to warm up to my touch. I could be a patient man.
She looked back at me with wide eyes. I didn’t allow my eyes to break from hers, and I watched as her gaze went from surprise to soft acceptance.
It was all the permission I needed. I pressed my lips to hers.
It was a sweet kiss, something quick and without extensive lingering. Yet, the impact was profound.
She pulled back slightly. “Oh,” she said.
I wanted to go in for a deeper kiss, but refrained.
Patience.
I gently wrapped my arms around her, bringing her to me again like before. I couldn’t hold back the satisfied smile that crept onto my face as her chin instinctively rested on my shoulder .
“What’s all this for?” Her whisper tickled my ear. I hugged her a little tighter, my fingers slightly digging into her softness.
I put my mouth near her ear. “Marry me, Julianna Joy East.”
She stiffened a little, but as I rubbed her back lightly, her body melted into mine. Her heart beat in time with my own.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
I pulled her back from me a little so she wouldn’t feel the arousal she’d caused once again. That was going to continue to be a problem.
“When should we?” I asked.
“Any day you want,” she replied. “Not like I have a job or responsibilities on my schedule, although I am working on my resume and found a few things I can apply for online, so hopefully not long.”
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her eyes never left mine.
I was going to marry the girl I used to watch dance outside to her iPod with abandon, and who read in quiet corners of rooms. The girl who used to spy on me while I changed clothes in her brother’s room. The girl who haunted my dreams for so many years.
A chilling thought doused the flames that ignited.
This is not a real relationship. You’re getting too close.
I stepped back. “I’ve got a frozen pizza in the deep freeze in the garage for supper.” I headed toward the doorway, separating myself.
“Sounds great,” she replied with the sweetest smile, and I wished I could read her thoughts to tell if she could feel the tether between us that seemed so apparent to me.