Chapter 9
KADE
I slide my hand into Chloe’s, standing as she leads the way to the dancefloor. Asking someone to dance to a song that has zero requirement to touch the other person is one thing, but the emcee has been playing nothing but slow songs for the past thirty minutes.
If we weren’t surrounded by Chloe’s family and friends, I never would have asked her to dance.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to get through this without her noticing how hard I am.
I’ve been in an agonizing state of arousal all day.
Ever since she opened her cabin door earlier and I saw her in the emerald-green dress with her hair up and exposing her neck, I’ve been captivated.
The dress clings to all the right curves on her body and highlights the green of her eyes.
Having to touch and kiss her, to put on a show for everybody, hasn’t helped my “situation”.
This is dangerous territory, and I only have myself to blame.
I should never have turned up at her door this morning.
No sooner has the thought formed do I know that it is a lie.
I would happily be trampled by wild horses if it meant I got to spend more time with her.
Chloe turns to face me, a slightly glazed look in her eyes that tells me she’s had enough champagne to feel more at ease than she did when we arrived.
My curiosity about her family dynamic has only intensified as the night has gone on.
We’ve watched from afar as guests have approached the bride’s table or the photographer has called the wedding party out for pictures.
And yet, Chloe hasn’t been included in any of that.
She looks up at me, a satisfied smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
I know she’ll tell me when and if she wants to, but it doesn’t stop the question of why she’s such an outsider in her own family from swirling around in my head.
I mean, I understand to an extent, given the cold reception her parents have given me.
Stepping into my arms, she rests her head on my shoulder, pressing her body against mine like she belongs there.
I have no problem admitting to myself that today has been fun—minus the interaction with her parents.
Getting to play pretend and convince everyone that Chloe is mine has been almost as thrilling as riding in the rodeo.
We sway to the music as I stare at the wall ahead, focusing on anything but the woman in my arms.
“This is nice,” she murmurs, a soft sigh chasing the words.
“Yeah, it is.”
It takes two whole songs before I’ve got my body under control and on the same page as my mind. This is fake.
But it doesn’t have to be.
When tonight is over, we could see where this goes, at least for the time she’s here. Nothing about what I’m doing and how I’m treating her is a performance. I’ll admit that I’m attracted to Chloe. I want her, and if she’ll let me, I’ll make sure she at least enjoys her time in Coldwater.
“I’m sorry my mom was so rude earlier.”
My brows tug together, confusion pulling them low. “I don’t know when you’re talking about, but you don’t need to apologize for anyone, Chlo.”
She looks up at me, so close that if I dipped my chin, I’d be able to capture her lips with my own. All night I’ve been wondering if her lips will be as soft as the skin on her shoulder. It’s taken everything inside me not to find out.
“You weren’t there, but trust me, she was rude. And I didn’t stand up for you like I should have.”
My laughter rumbles in my chest, and even though it’s not loud, I know she feels it. “So you’re apologizing for something I didn’t even hear?”
Chloe blinks up at me. “I mean, yes, but only because I was a bad girlfriend.” My nostrils flare at her slip-up, but she doesn’t seem to notice. “I should have stood up for you, and I didn’t, so I’m not really apologizing for my mom’s behavior but for mine.”
“I forgive you.”
She settles back into my arms, uttering a faint “thank you” as she does.
We continue to sway to the music; it’s not a song I recognize, but it stirs something inside me. Something that makes me squeeze Chloe a little tighter, that fuels the need to protect her, which seems to have been there since day one.
Her voice is low, so only I can hear when she says, “I was supposed to come here with my ex.”
Jealousy sparks in my gut, and I look around as if the guy might be here. As if I might need to claim her as mine so that he doesn’t fucking touch her.
Chloe lifts her head again, looking up at me as she cups my cheek. To the outside world, it would look like an intimate gesture between a loving couple—perhaps that’s why I turn my face into her palm and kiss it. Her lips part, and her eyes grow wide.
After I kissed her shoulder in the foyer earlier, I was convinced that I’d overstepped, and I’ve been trying like crazy to find the right balance between putting on a show and not crossing the invisible line between us. But maybe, just maybe, she’s not as unaffected as I thought.
“I’m glad he’s not here.” It’s said more to confirm to myself that he isn’t, than anything else.
“Me too,” she breathes. “Kade?”
We’re not moving anymore, and I’m not sure which one of us stopped first, but this moment and whatever she’s going to ask of me feels important.
Chloe opens her mouth to speak, uncertainty and a spark of hope in her green eyes.
A blur of white slides into my line of vision. “I’m sorry, but can I steal my sister for a second?” the bride asks, her focus jumping between us. She looks just like Chloe, only a little younger.
You have got to be kidding me.
I dart my tongue over my lips, wetting them before releasing Chloe and reluctantly stepping back. “Of course, I’ll go grab a drink. You want one?”
Chloe nods, holding my gaze even as her sister drags her in the direction of a door beyond the main table.
I should be glad the dance is over. After today, we won’t have to pretend anymore.
No more playing the part of the boyfriend I want to be for her.
No more touches that are only for show. And yet I find my feet moving to follow her as I make a promise to myself that tomorrow, I’m going to take Chloe out and show her my town.
I’m going to spend as much time with her as she’ll give me while she’s here.