Forcing a smile to her lips, she moved close to him. When she was near him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve got you.”
“Eliza, is everything okay?” her mother asked.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” She hated lying. She’d never been the kind of person to lie to her mother.
“Well, seeing as Lydia is the designated driver for tonight,” Marsha said. “And you don’t seem to have drunk a wink, I will let you take Eliza home.”
“I was already going to, Mom,” Preston said.
His mother gave his cheek an affectionate tap. “Good boy.”
She wanted to argue with Marsha, but again, the whole scene would have been too much.
Her mother pulled her in for a hug. “Love you, honey. See you back at the house.”
Eliza nodded.
Preston walked her toward his car and held open the passenger seat. She didn’t argue with him and slid into the seat, waiting.
The door closed, and she couldn’t help but flinch.
He climbed behind the wheel and started up the car.
For several minutes, they drove in silence, and it wasn’t long before they were entering his street.
She rubbed at her temples, feeling the start of a headache.
“I can’t keep lying like this,” she said.
He pulled up onto the drive. “I know that.”
“So, tomorrow, I will be handing in my resignation and I will also be leaving, after breakfast.” She hadn’t made any plans like this. Just the thought of never seeing Preston again, she felt like her whole world was falling apart. She swiped at her tears. They were useless.
“Eliza,” he said.
She held her hand up. “I’m going to go in first.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed toward the front of the house.
Greg was at the door, along with his sons.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I am. Thank you so much. I had a wonderful time tonight, but I think I must have eaten something. I’m feeling a little sick.” She made her excuses quickly.
She went straight to Preston’s room. She didn’t shut the door and went to the bathroom.
Stripping out of her clothes, she stepped into the shower and turned on the spray. The cold water covered her body in tiny little ice droplets that didn’t stop. She released a cry and tilted her head back.
This is for the better.
There is no way you can continue working for him with the way you feel.
The lies kept forming in her head.
Each one seeming to be worse than the last.
The truth was that after working with Preston, she’d fallen in love with him, and rather than turn her back and do the healthy thing, she’d stayed.
The tears fell thick and fast.
Covering her face, she gave way to the sobbing. The past few weeks, playing his fake fiancée, had been the best of her life. She’d enjoyed every single touch, caress, and just being near him.
His family was amazing.
This town was exciting.
Melinda’s premonition had been terrifying, but she’d loved it. There was not a part of her time here she hadn’t enjoyed. Going to his den, making love, fucking, just being with him. She had loved every single second, and to get to see a part of the man he never showed the world, that had been even better.
The shower heated up quickly, and she turned it off, wrapping a towel around her. She used another towel on her body.
After drying off, she changed into a pair of sleep shorts and one of Preston’s shirts, which still smelled like him. The scent of him wrapped around her, comforted her.
Entering the bedroom, dressed and dried, she looked at him.
He sat on the bed.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
She nodded and went straight to the bed. Climbing beneath the covers, she lay down and watched the door.
There was no sign of him.
She heard the shower as it turned on, and after several minutes, it turned off, signaling the end of the shower.
He didn’t make her wait for long, entering the bedroom, dressed in a pair of boxer briefs.
She closed her eyes but sensed him as he moved, going from the shower to his side of the bed. The bed moved as he slid inside.
She waited.
She hadn’t put a valley of pillows down.
More than anything, she wanted him to hold her, but he didn’t reach for her. Not for a few seconds.
Tears leaked out of her eyes, and when she thought it was pointless to give up hope, one of his hands banded around her waist, pulled her close, and his lips pressed against her neck.
Now, this felt complete.
****
Preston couldn’t let her go without her knowing the truth. That was his first thought the next morning. The next was that he didn’t want to go back to the city. Westcliffe Heights was his home. Being back here for longer than a few days had helped him to realize what he’d been missing out on.