Chapter Fifteen
SHAUNA WAS COMPLETELY drained as she drove down her street Sunday morning after her shift at the firehouse. She pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. As she looked up at the rental cottage, her stomach sank, and she realized her mistake.
That wasn’t where she lived anymore.
At least not for the next few months.
She sank back in the driver’s seat, thinking about Friday night.
Brian hadn’t been happy about Zander driving them to the rehab center.
She’d reminded him that she didn’t feel safe alone with him, and eventually he’d stopped arguing.
When they arrived at the center, Brian had been so scared, he’d begged her again to let him detox at home with her.
It was agonizing. He’d gotten mean after that, accusing her of abandoning him and saying he didn’t need her.
His words had cut like knives despite knowing it was the addiction talking.
She was thankful Zander was there to help convince him that detoxing at home wasn’t a good idea for Brian or for her.
Zander had been incredible every step of the way. They’d moved most of her things into his house Friday night, and even though she’d spent the last twenty-four hours working, he’d been texting and checking in with her throughout her shift, making sure she was okay.
Clearly she wasn’t okay. She’d driven to the wrong house.
Work was a good distraction, but in the downtime between calls, she thought about Brian and felt guilty for letting Zander help her.
And for thinking about Zander in ways I shouldn’t.
Yesterday morning came rushing back, heating her cheeks.
She’d run into the bathroom to brush her teeth before work and had nearly barreled into Zander, naked, all his glorious muscles still dripping from the shower and a freaking python dangling between his muscular thighs.
He’d just cocked a grin and said, Mornin’, Angel, and had casually reached for a towel, while she acted like it was her first day with a new tongue, stumbling over an apology.
Don’t you know how to lock a door? He’d been amused, and as he’d taken his time drying off before wrapping the towel around his hips and covering up the monster that had been peppering her thoughts ever since, he’d said, Kitty doesn’t usually open the door and barge in.
It wasn’t only his appearance that got to her.
It was the way he was with her, fun-loving, caring, and unfiltered.
Why did she have to like that so much? And that smirk that said more taunting things than words ever could?
Then there were those mesmerizing eyes that always held playful innuendos.
Everything about him made her body come alive.
But that was not what their relationship was, and she had to wrap her head around that immediately, because she needed this fake relationship to work for Brian’s sake.
And that’s exactly what it was. Fake.
Determined to pack those misguided feelings away, she restarted the car and gave herself a pep talk as she headed to Zander’s house. She reminded herself she was a woman who knew how to handle men without falling all over them. She could totally do this, and anything else life demanded of her.
By the time she reached Zander’s place, she felt more in control.
She headed inside, greeted by the heavenly smell of bacon and the sound of Zander playing guitar.
She spotted him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as he played, and her traitorous body threw a little party at the sight of his naked chest, jeans hanging low on his hips, feet bare.
He looked up, catching her staring, and a smile lit up his handsome face. Arrogant bastard.
“Welcome home, Angel,” he said as she headed into the kitchen, and leaned his guitar against the wall.
“Did you buy a new guitar? I saw a shattered one in your car when you had the accident.”
“No. I have a few of them. How was work?”
Why couldn’t he be less attractive and more of an asshole? Was this some kind of test or punishment? “It was okay. Busy. How was your morning?”
“Pretty chill. You’re just in time for breakfast.” He turned off the stove and began piling bacon and eggs onto plates.
“Thanks, but you didn’t have to make enough for me. I’m not much of a breakfast eater, remember?”
“The way you fought me on eating breakfast the other day and then licked your plate clean? I know better.” He set two plates on the counter. “What do you drink after your shifts? I assume you’re tired and probably don’t want coffee, so you can rest for a while before we go out.”
“Water’s fine, thanks, but…we’re going out?”
“Yeah, after you get some sleep.” He filled a glass with ice water. “I’m taking you shopping for a wedding dress.”
What? “Zander, this isn’t real. It’s not a forever marriage, and I don’t even wear dresses.”
He came around the counter. “I don’t care if it’s forever or not. I’m taking you shopping for an outfit for our wedding.”
“Why is that so important?”
“Because neither of us wants to ever get married for real, so if we’re doing this, I want to do right by you. Every bride deserves to wear something special for their wedding.”
That was quite possibly the sweetest thing she’d ever heard. “You’re lending me money and marrying me. That’s enough—”
He sank down on one knee.
She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” He held up a gorgeous diamond ring.
Her jaw dropped, disbelief and shock spreading like pins and needles inside her. “Where did you get that?”
“I bought it while you were at work yesterday.”
“Please tell me those aren’t real diamonds.”
“What kind of cheap bastard do you think I am? I wouldn’t buy my queen fake shit. Now, can you please stop talking long enough for me to do this?”
“No. Get up! I’m not taking that ring. What is wrong with you?”
He rose to his full height. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I live by a code, and I don’t care if our marriage is temporary. You’re still going to be my queen, and that means something to me.” He cocked a grin. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold, you know.”
“Your reputation is not going to suffer if you don’t give me a freaking ring.”
“This has to look real, remember? A ring and a dress are basic necessities for a bride. If you don’t like dresses, well, I’ve seen your legs, and that’s a damn shame, but we’ll find you something else to wear.”
“We’re getting married in a courthouse next Friday. Nobody is going to see us.”
“I’ll see you. This is my only wedding, too, and I assume we’ll have to take pictures for the attorney.
It has to look like you’re wildly in love and can’t live without me, so let’s do it right.
Look at this ring. It’s perfect for you.
” He held it up again, as if the first time didn’t send her emotions into enough of a flurry, and said, “Four diamonds, and see how they’re inset flush with the sides of the band?
They won’t rip your latex gloves at work like a fancier setting would. ”
Her heart squeezed at his thoughtfulness. “Zander…?” She took a step back, overwhelmed. “I can’t take it. It’s too much.”
“Sure you can.” He flashed that heart-melting smile.
“I know you’re used to taking care of yourself, and I understand that being in control is as much a part of you as living life on a whim is a part of me.
But we’re getting married, and if you never get married again, I want to feel like you didn’t miss out.
I’m not trying to throw you a fancy wedding, but for once in your life, let someone spoil you. Let me spoil you.”
Emotions bubbled up inside her. “You already are. You don’t need to do more.”
“I want to do it. This is my wedding, too. Let me feel good about it. Come on, Angel. Let’s have some fun.
If we’re going to sell the world on this, we need to let go of our reservations and get swept away in the idea of holy matrimony.
” He took her left hand in his and said, “What do you say, Shauna? Will you marry me and show the world we’re not just great looking, but we’re also the best damn actors around? ”
He was too persuasive for his own good. “You’re not going to let me say no, are you?”
“Nope.” He slipped the ring onto her finger. “It fits. That’s got to be some sort of sign.”
“Zander,” she pleaded.
“I believe you mean, Yes, Zander, I’ll marry you.”
She laughed. “You’re getting this ring back after we end the marriage.”
“Is that a yes? Because I didn’t hear it.”
“Yes, you pain. Yes, I’ll marry you and wear your beautiful, too-expensive ring.”
“Attagirl.” He laughed and pulled her into a hug. “See how easy that was?”
“As easy as swallowing nails.”