The Fake Engagement

“I don’t just think it. I know it.” He helped her out of her clothes.

“I like that.” She chuckled. “You think I’m beautiful.”

“Is this going to go to your head?”

“Probably. What woman wouldn’t let it go to her head?”

He couldn’t help but smile as he stripped her of her clothes. He was only speaking the truth.

Helping Eliza into the tub, he heard her sigh.

“I rarely drink. I normally don’t like it, but with everything going on, I felt I had to.”

“You felt compelled to drink?” he asked.

“I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this mess,” she said. “Do you have any ideas?”

He knelt by the edge of the bathtub. It was a shame he’d put bubbles into the water, covering her delectable body. All he wanted to do was take her back to his bedroom and kiss every single inch of her, but that time would come.

“Why don’t we just let it play out?” he asked.

“You want to let our parents plan our wedding?”

“Would it be so bad?”

“Preston, clearly, you’re drunk, and I’m the one who is still sober. Do you think it ends with them planning a wedding?” She shook her head. “No, it ends with them making us get married by the end of our vacation. That’s what happens. There is a reason my parents are here, and my best friends.” She sighed. “The only thing that is different is it won’t be in December when the ground is covered in snow.”

“It does look so beautiful covered in snow.”

“I can’t believe how similar our dream wedding is.”

“I can’t believe how sober you’re sounding right now.”

She laughed. “I’m not. I probably won’t remember much of this conversation.”

“You won’t.”

Eliza shook her head.

“Then how about I reveal this: I don’t think it will be a bad thing, us getting married,” he said.

She started to laugh. “I don’t know when you turned into a jokester.”

“I didn’t.”

“You want to get married?” she asked.

“I want a whole heap of things. Do you think it’s just young girls who make a list of ten?”

There was a break of silence.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Believe me or not, it’s true. We both had similar ideas, but mine were more directed to the goals in my life rather than anything else.” He reached out and stroked some fingers through her hair.

“I like it when you do that,” she said.

“Doing what?”

“Touching me. I shouldn’t care, should I?”

“I like touching you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Come on, let’s get you washed and put to bed.”

Eliza hadn’t said no. She wasn’t in a position to say yes.

He picked up the sponge and lathered it with soap, then began to clean her up. She spent a great deal of time groaning and cursing her body for not being able to move. He still found her cute.

With her body clean, he washed her hair, and then pulled the plug. She had no desire to throw up, so he grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her body, and carried her through to the main bedroom.

She did complain about him carrying her around, but like always, he ignored it and just did what he wanted to do. He put her in a pair of shorts and a tank top, helped her into bed, then crouched down, pushing some of her still damp hair off her face.

“I’m so tired,” she said.

“Then sleep. I’ll be back in a second with some food.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I hate food.”

He smiled. That was the alcohol talking.

Preston left the bedroom and immediately went downstairs. He didn’t like the thought of leaving her.

In a drunken state, anything could happen.

Juliet and Mackenzie were in the kitchen when he entered. They were clearly drinking coffee.

“How is she?” Juliet asked while Mackenzie stood.

“She’s fine. Don’t worry about it, I’m taking care of her. How did she get that bad?”

“We didn’t realize how many shots she’d taken, as well as drinking a few shots of whiskey.”

“It’s fine. I can handle everything. She is being well taken care of.”

The room was quiet as he got some bread and poured out a large pitcher of coffee. For himself, he actually made a sandwich, but for Eliza, dry bread was the key to soak up some of that alcohol.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Mackenzie asked.

He looked up, staring at Eliza’s friend.

“I’ve got to get this to her. She needs to eat.” And he wasn’t about to tell her best friends how he felt.

“She’s in love with you too,” Juliet said. “It’s why she got so drunk.”

“What? The thought of being in love with me was just too distasteful for her?” he asked.

“No, it was the knowledge that she had fallen in love with you long before coming here. Part of her wishes she could marry you right here,” Juliet said. “But to her, this is all fake, remember? Not a single part of this is real.”