Chapter 11 Allie
ALLIE
Allie sat at the table with Ash and Maya, unable to believe how easily the two of them had adapted to the joyful chaos that was her family.
Maya had run right out with Chance to see the calves and come back in happy and excited. She had even delighted Allie’s mom by eating two bowls of chicken and dumplings while the adults regaled each other with stories about how their week had gone.
Ash had stayed by Allie’s side, even holding her hand for a moment as he talked easily with her family.
How isn’t this real?
Everyone was done with the meal and sitting back now, patting their bellies.
“I guess Cash will be along sooner or later,” her mom said.
“Bella called while you were getting dessert out of the oven,” her dad said, nodding. “She said they’ll be by as soon as they can.”
“Dessert?” her nephew Nick asked, his eyes shining behind his glasses.
“Let’s let our supper settle for a few more minutes,” Zane told him with an indulgent smile.
“I’ll start some coffee,” Dad offered.
Tripp got up too.
“Allie,” he whispered on his way past. “Come on.”
He’d been trying to pull her aside all night, so she excused herself and hopped up to follow.
Tripp was the only one who knew her secret, and her stomach twisted as she trailed down the hallway after her brother’s enormous form.
But she reminded herself that he most likely just wanted to talk about someone’s Christmas present.
The Lawrence family was growing by leaps and bounds these days, so family members would usually work together to plan special gifts for the kids instead of trying to do everything individually.
As the holidays approached, Sunday dinners could start to feel like spy conventions with everyone dragging each other off to whisper and smile as they concocted their festive surprises.
“I’ve been trying to get you alone all night,” Tripp grumbled when they reached the living room.
“Sorry,” she said. “Everyone kept coming in and I didn’t want to leave Ash to make his own introductions.”
“Has he introduced himself to you yet?” Tripp asked, moving all the way into the room to the fireplace, where they were as far as possible from the kitchen and any prying ears.
“What do you mean?” Allie asked.
“He’s not who he says he is, Allie,” Tripp said. “He’s some super-rich bozo. He owns the beverage company that makes that soda Dad loves.”
“I know,” Allie sighed. “He told me this morning. And in fairness, he never lied about what he does for a living, he just never volunteered it, and I never asked.”
“That’s kind of the same thing,” Tripp said.
“He wants to make his own reputation here,” Allie said. “He probably doesn’t love the idea of people thinking of him as some rich bozo, as you so eloquently put it. And he’s not just some corporate suit. He’s had a lot of success, but it’s based on his grandfather’s old recipes.”
“Oh, and did his grandfather have an old family recipe for energy drinks?” Tripp asked, arching a brow.
That was a fair question.
“Yeah, I read about that too,” Allie admitted. “He seemed kind of uncomfortable when I brought it up.”
“He should be,” Tripp retorted. “Kids drink that junk and get sick.”
Allie nodded. She couldn’t argue about that part. Tripp was right.
“You know I’m not actually marrying him,” she said after a moment. “So I doubt I can change his mind about his business, but I’ll talk to him.”
“Allie, that’s not what I’m trying to say,” Tripp growled.
He cast his gaze at the fire for a moment, as if he were gathering his thoughts, then turned back to her.
“I’m saying that he’s been intentionally dishonest with you and everyone else about his money situation,” he said. “And now he wants to lie about something else, and he wants you to lie about it with him. I don’t like it.”
Tripp was the wild card of the Lawrence family. He was impulsive and unpredictable in ways Allie had never dared to be. So seeing him slow down on a wild plan and express caution really meant something.
And he made a really good point, except for one thing.
“Tripp, I was the one who came up with this whole idea,” Allie reminded him.
“But he went right along with it, didn’t he?” Tripp asked. “And look at him today. His ex isn’t even here, and he’s acting up a storm anyway, pretending like he’s hanging on your every word, holding your hand.”
Allie tried not to wince. The day with Ash had felt so good. Was he really only listening to her because he was pretending to be in love with her?
“Whatever else he’s doing, he’s going to help my students,” she told her brother, calling on the calm she projected in her classroom, even on days when things were chaotic. “So I’m along for the ride.”
“What do you mean he’s going to help your kids?” Tripp asked, looking even more suspicious.
“We’re putting in a greenhouse at the school,” Allie said, unable to keep the smile off her face just thinking about it. “And he’s going to provide everything we need to maintain it.”
“Why?” Tripp asked. “Tax write-off?”
“No,” Allie said. “Well, maybe, I don’t really know. But mainly in exchange for me tutoring Maya, and…”
“And what?” Tripp asked.
“And going along with this fiancée thing,” Allie admitted quietly.
“So you made a bargain with him?” Tripp asked, looking horrified.
“He’s not a goblin prince in a fairy tale or something,” Allie said. “People barter all the time in real life. You covered a shift at the ice cream shop for Charlotte last week in exchange for one of her homemade pumpkin pies.”
“That’s not the same thing, Allie,” Tripp said softly. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You were fine with me falling for him before you knew he was rich,” Allie realized out loud.
“No I wasn’t,” Tripp said.
“You said I had good instincts,” Allie reminded him, then lowered her voice to do her terrible impression of her brother. “He’s a good guy. There’s a reason your heart told you to say what you did. Don’t question it.”
“That doesn’t sound like me,” Tripp said.
But his eyes were twinkling.
“So you don’t trust my instincts now just because he’s got money?” Allie asked. “How is that fair?”
Tripp sighed.
“I guess when I thought he was a regular guy, you helping him seemed almost noble,” he said after a moment. “But now that I know he could probably hire a Hollywood actress to play his fiancée if he wanted, it worries me. What does a man like that want with my baby sister?”
You don’t think I’m good enough for a rich man, Allie wanted to say.
But she kept her mouth shut. She knew that wasn’t exactly right. Tripp had lived his whole life on this farm, and it made sense that he was slow to trust someone who was so different. And neither of them had any real idea just how different Ash might be.
Maybe I really should slow down…
“Miss Lawrence, Miss Lawrence,” Maya called out, her words accompanied by the sound of quick footsteps. “It’s time for dessert.”
“Be careful, Allie,” Tripp said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. “That’s all I ask.”
“Of course,” she promised him, squeezing his hand back and looking him right in the eyes so he would know she meant it.
“That’s my girl,” he said with a smile.
“Are you having dessert too?” Maya asked as she appeared in the doorway, her beautiful dark eyes dancing.
“Of course,” Allie told her, letting go of Tripp’s hand to take Maya’s. “And so is my brother.”
“Absolutely, I am,” Tripp said. “Dessert is my favorite meal.”
“Dessert isn’t a meal,” Maya said, laughing in delight.
“Tell that to my belly,” Tripp said.
Maya’s laughter filled the hall as they headed back to the happy sounds and delicious smells in the bright kitchen.
The next few hours passed peacefully. Tripp’s worries began to fade from Allie’s mind, and she enjoyed sipping her tea and listening to her parents get to know Maya and Ash.
The rest of the family had gone already except for Tripp, who lived at home like Allie. But Ash and her dad hadn’t even slowed their conversation.
While their engagement might be pretend, it really seemed like Ash was enjoying spending time with all of them, and she believed he was telling her parents the truth when he talked about his own family.
Before long, Maya was yawning and curling up on the kitchen loveseat.
“I think we’d better get going before Maya turns this into a sleepover,” Ash said with a smile. “Thank you so much for having us.”
“I want to stay,” Maya sighed half-heartedly.
“You’ll come back again soon, I bet,” Allie’s mom said with a big smile. “We all have to get to sleep now too. The animals need us to be ready to help them before the sun comes up.”
“Before the sun comes up?” Maya asked, popping up from the loveseat with great interest.
“Yes,” Tripp told her. “We head out to the barn so early, we have to use a flashlight.”
“Wow,” Maya whispered.
“I’ll bet he doesn’t mean a little phone flashlight either,” Ash said.
“Nope,” Tripp agreed. “We’ve got a great big one. Want to see it?”
“Yes,” Maya said.
“Well, it’s by the door, so let’s go find your shoes and coat,” Tripp said.
“Okay,” Maya said happily, hopping up and scampering down the hall after him.
Allie watched the two of them in wonder. Tripp was great with all the kids, but he and Maya were especially sweet together.
“I’ll walk you out,” she told Ash.
“Sounds good,” he said.
When they passed the living room, Allie saw that Tripp and Maya hadn’t made it outside yet. Instead, Maya was aiming the flashlight while Tripp made animal shapes with his hands in front of it, casting a sort of puppet show on the wall.
“Oh, Maya,” Allie’s mom said warmly. “That’s so much fun, isn’t it?”
Ash pulled on his boots as Allie slid her feet into her own, figuring she would walk them out to the porch.
“Step outside with me?” Ash asked her quietly.
Both her parents and Tripp were making shadow animals with Maya now, so she nodded and followed him out to the porch.
It was cold and clear outside. The clouds had moved on for now, and a million stars twinkled overhead. But she only had eyes for Ash.
“This was really wonderful,” he said, his deep voice low and gentle.
“I’m glad you had fun,” she told him, feeling grateful. She had been expecting him to ask her if she thought her family bought their lie.
“Your family is really special,” he said.
“I’m a little biased,” she said with a fond smile. “But I really think I won the family lottery.”
“Don’t look now,” Ash said quietly. “But they’re watching us.”
He took her hands and she barely breathed as his dark eyes drank her in.
“May I kiss you, Allie?” he asked softly. “They’re still watching, and I’m sure they expect it.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
It’s not real, she reminded herself as he moved closer.
But when Ash let go of her hands to cup her face, she forgot all about everything else, and the moment his lips touched hers, she was breathless, her heart fluttering like it wanted to take flight.
When he pulled back, his eyes were slightly hazy. He gazed down at her with so much tenderness and hunger in his expression, it left her feeling almost dizzy.
And Allie was sure in that moment that her feelings for Ash were anything but pretend.