Fake Marriage Box Set

I blushed fiercely and looked away from him. He pulled my face back to his. “I will always respect you, Em. Always.”

“So, I didn't do anything wrong?” I squeaked out.

“Of course not. You did everything right.” He smiled and pushed at my hair again. “I know I’ve been an asshole, and I'm so sorry for that. I want you to know that I am all in, and there won't be any more assumptions made. I will talk to you, and we will figure it out together if I ever feel jealous. And let me make one thing clear: you will never be less than me. We walk side by side in this, and that is how it will always be, okay?” He looked into my eyes, and the smile that came across my face widened.

There we sat naked and wet from a shower that I had tried to crash, and he was being super sweet. The Luke that I was quickly falling for. He cupped my cheek then kissed me. The kiss turned hot, and soon we were tangled together in the sheets.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Luke

I watched her as she typed her knees pulled up beside her resting on the chair that I was sitting in. Her hair was pulled up on top of her head, and her glasses were on the tip of her nose. I smiled over at her. She looked up and smiled back.

“What?” She asked.

“You're too cute.” I reached over and tapped the end of her nose. She smiled then looked back at her screen, fingers moving over the keyboard as she worked. She worked for the rest of the morning, concentrating on her report. I leaned over her a few times to see what she was doing, but she swatted me away.

“Don't distract me.”

I laid a sandwich beside her and watched as she picked it up and took a bite. She nodded in appreciation and then went straight back to work. I finished my plans, called Ryan, and started dinner while she did. I’d seen people that could ignore everything around them, but she was a pro.

“You hear anything I just said to you?” I asked.

“Yes. Salad. Tuna steaks. Ready in fifteen minutes,” she repeated, never looking at me, but I saw her smile as she continued to work.

I pulled the last piece of tuna off the grill and turned to find her sitting in the chair, watching me.

“You really should wear a shirt more often.” She stuck her tongue out at me.

“I haven't had one on all day.”

“I know, and that's why I have had to completely ignore you.” She smirked before standing and taking the plate from my hands.

“So, if I don't wear a shirt, it increases my chances of getting laid?” I crowded her against the countertop, and she giggled.

“Your chances are always in the very high nineties, shirt or no shirt. Just flash those baby blues and drag that beard across my skin, and I'm done.” She laughed.

“Noted,” I laughed and nuzzled her neck.

She plated the food while I poured us wine, and we met at the table sitting down and chatting about nothing.

“I should have this done in the next day or so. It is amazing to me that this research didn't take longer than it did. I had enough grant money to keep me going for another four months.”

“So, you are almost done?”

“For the most part.” She smiled. “I have plenty of time on the lease, so I think I am going to try and do some work from here for a while. Granddad will be back in the office more now that the doctor cleared him for full-time work, but he did tell me that January first, the company is mine to do what I want to with,” she said nonchalantly.

“That's great.” I wanted to be excited, but a time stamp being placed on us made me a little weary.

“I think so.” She looked up from her plate, cocked her head to the side, and studied me.

“We can make this work, Luke. I know that long distance isn't necessarily something that you want or I want for that matter, but I don't see flushing this when it's only an hour or so. It's not like I'm moving back to Maine.” She sat her fork down and lifted her wine glass. “We’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so.” I smiled then tipped my wine glass toward hers.

We cleaned the kitchen, and then went out on the porch, drank coffee, and just enjoyed the sound of the soft rain as it fell. There were moments that I knew I would always remember, and this was one.

***