Chapter 6
MARSHALL
“I don’t remember a fake relationship being part of the plan,” Ruby says as we wait in line for coffee at a food truck parked outside the entrance to local pumpkin patch attraction.
Though the haunted house and many other Halloween and fall themed events are closed for the season, they offer sleigh rides and sledding during the winter months. Hope’s talking to the owner, Sabrina, right now, coordinating some big sleigh ride send off for one lucky couple on New Year’s Eve.
“That’s because it wasn’t,” I admit.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Marshall.”
It makes sense now, why my sister decided to check up on us out of the blue.
She doesn’t trust me, and for good reason.
Once upon a time, I was a bit of a womanizer.
But that was when I was active duty in the Marines.
The last thing on my mind then was settling down in any one place, let alone with any one woman.
But I’m not that guy anymore.
Ever since I moved back home to Daisy Hills and opened a gym with Caden—a man who’s now my brother-in-law—the urge to put down roots has grown stronger each day. Then I met Hope, and it became all I could think about.
I don’t want anyone else—not now, not ever again.
I’m going to marry Hope Goodwin, even if it takes years for her to realize we’re meant to be together. She’s worth the wait.
We step up to the window to order and wait off to the side.
“I saw my shot, and I took it,” I say to Ruby.
“Hope’s one of my best friends. If you’re not serious—”
“I’ve never been more serious, Ruby.”
“Oh my God. You love her.”
Not a question. A realization.
“Wasn’t that obvious? Why else do you think I’d agree to be her tagalong for this? I’m allergic to party planning. And you could have just as easily demoted yourself and been Hope’s sidekick instead of me. Why did you pick me?”
Ruby shifts, looking away, as though I’ve hit on something. Maybe this was a setup all along. Just one that escalated a little more quickly than my sister anticipated. She studies me for several uncomfortable seconds, as though trying to pick apart a lie. Of course she doesn’t answer my question.
“You know the whole town knows this is fake, right?”
“So?”
“So, you might hit some bumps in the road if you don’t navigate this properly.”
“I’m aware.”
Our names are called, and I retrieve a carrier filled with three coffees and one pup cup for Gram.
“Hey, what does Hope do exactly?” I ask Ruby once I rejoin her near a picnic table. It’s a little chilly, but there’s no wind. And Gram is having a hay day in the snow. So much so he’s oblivious to the treat waiting for him. “I should probably know in case Hillary asks me.”
“You have to ask Hope.”
I’ve been trying, but I’ve been met with redirection every time I bring it up.
I bet it has something to do with what’s behind that locked door in her house.
My imagination has run wild with possibilities—some tame, some dangerous, some downright erotic.
Maybe Hope Goodwin, lover of Christmas and Hallmark movies, secretly supplies Daisy Hills with sex toys.
“Is it top secret?” I ask.
“Something like that,” Ruby says, her attention moving behind me as her flat expression lifts to a smile. She waves at someone—no doubt one of her many clients she’s built custom gardens for—and exchanges a few words.
“You really won’t tell me?” I ask once she finishes her chat.
I catch a glimpse of Hope and Sabrina near the front entrance.
It’s good to see Hope smile without her sister suffocating her happiness.
Hillary decided to treat herself to a spa day rather than share a back seat with Gram again while Hope consulted with vendors for the upcoming party tomorrow night.
“It’s not my secret to share. If Hope wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”
Hope shakes Sabrina’s hand and starts to walk our way. Gram perks, his ears standing at attention as he watches her approach.
“But I will say this, Marshall.”
“What?”
“Hope is one of my best friends. If you hurt her, I’m not above chopping up your body and using it for fertilizer in my garden.”
I shudder at the threat. “I believe you.”
“Good.” She flashes me a look, and adds, “And good luck.”
“Did someone get a pup cup?” Hope asks, nodding at the cup of whipped cream with a bone-shaped treat sticking out of it. Gram was so preoccupied—first with the snow, then with Hope approaching—that he’s yet to notice the treat. But at Hope’s mention of pup cup, he damn near loses his mind.
“You put the quarter in him, you get the honors,” I say, handing her the cup.
Ruby glances back and forth between Hope and me, her studious expression turning to thoughtfulness. Maybe she finally sees what I’ve seen all along: that Hope and I are meant to be together.
Hope giggles as Gram destroys his pup cup. Whipped cream splatters his face, her hands, and catches in her hair.
I comb my fingers through her silky strands to catch the cream. She watches as I suck my finger into my mouth and her eyes turn to liquid desire. Desire I remember all too well from last night, when I made her come so hard she nearly woke the neighborhood.
“Okay, I’m out,” Ruby announces. “C’mon Gram. You two kids have fun. Congratulations on not murdering your sister so far, Hope.”
“Hillary’s at the spa today,” Hope says. “You’re more than welcome to come with us to visit the rest of the vendors. This is your show, after all.”
“Actually, it’s Adrianna’s.” Ruby takes a sip of coffee. “No baby yet, by the way.”
“You sure you don’t want to come along?” Hope asks, and I can’t quite tell if she’s trying to avoid being alone with me or just simply being polite to her friend.
“I’m sure. I promised Caden I’d help out at the gym today since his partner is slacking off.” She accepts the leash I hand to her, not that she’ll need it. Gram knows what it means—he gets to go to his favorite place to hang out.
“Hey, I’m going in tomorrow.”
“Right,” Ruby says, waving at us both as she prepares to leave. “You two kids stay out of trouble. Or don’t. I’m not your mother.”
“I’m keeping you from the gym,” Hope says, the happiness in her expression deflating.
“No, you’re not.” I reach for her hand and tug her toward me. She steps between my open legs, and I trap her there with my knees. “I haven’t taken a day off in longer than I can remember. I needed this, Hope.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. January is going to be super busy. This is the only break I’ll get for a while.”
“You’re not exactly resting,” she says, dropping to sit on my thigh. It all feels so natural. So right.
“Don’t worry about me.” I comb the hair back from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.
She leans in for a kiss, and I swear my entire body comes to life with electricity.
Hope Goodwin is kissing me for no other reason than she wants to.
My dick perks in an instant. God I want nothing more than to claim this woman I love.
I was planning to wait until New Year’s Eve, but with the way she’s kissing me, I might lose that battle.
“Where are we off to next?” she asks when she breaks apart the kiss.
“I thought we might take a break, actually.”
“Oh?”
“Your sister won’t be done at the spa for a couple of hours, right?”
“Right.” Her cheeks turn red, but I doubt it’s from the cold. Not with the way she’s undressing me with her eyes.
“Would you hate me if I confessed that I really wanted to make you come again?”
“Kind of hard to hate you when you’re so good at it.”
“Is that a yes to going back to your place—”
“It’s a hell yes.”