"I know this isn't the way you wanted all of this to go, but thank you for taking me up on my offer." Her expression softened.
How easily I could have fallen in love with a beautiful woman like her. "No, thank you." I closed the distance between us and leaned down, brushing my nose against hers. "You made my mother's day."
"No, Gavin. You did." She slid her hands up my chest and pulled me down for a long slow kiss.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Maddie
He looked perfect in his suit, standing at the front of the ceremony with the preacher and Ron on either side of him. His jaw had been locked in place, and the depths of emotion in his eyes had almost split me in two.
He was thinking about his mother and his father. He had to be. Hell, I was thinking about my parents and how much they loved each other. Had I really sold us out for a sum of money? Both of us? We had to walk through the fake motions of the best day in most people's live, and it was all for nothing. For a scam I was running.
I cupped the side of his neck as we stood in his house and brushed my thumbs down his throat as I pulled him closer. The soft brush of his lips against my quickly turned into something so hot it hurt.
He ran his tongue over mine and slid his hands down my back to cup the top curve of my ass. A moan left me as the thickness of his growing erection pressed against my stomach.
"I want you on top of me," I mumbled against his mouth, half-expecting him to tell me to hush and stop being bossy.
"I'd like that." He moved back and licked his lips. "I'll get the shower going. You grab a bottle of wine from the kitchen and two glasses. Meet me in there, and I'll help you out of your dress."
I couldn't find words. The softness in his voice gave me a false sense of hope, and it almost seemed like speaking might destroy it and send me tumbling back into reality. We would be over soon, and he would be in his own world, and I'd be back in mine. Without him.
After grabbing a bottle of white wine from the fridge, I picked up two glasses and kicked off my heels. The sound of him humming something gave me pause.
The Wedding March.
A smile lifted my lips. He could pretend to be a hard-hearted guy all he wanted. He wasn't one at all. He was a romantic. No wonder he was so damn pissed over my offer to play his fake bride for money. It spit in the face of what he believed to be true.
He wasn't jaded about having a beautiful, loving relat
ionship with someone like his folks had. Hell, like my folks had. He was all for it. Maybe his writer's block was due to the fact that everything in his life that represented that love, that hope, was dying.
And I had spit on the little bit that was left.
Sickness swelled in my stomach as I walked into the bedroom and extended the wine and glasses to him.
"Gavin," I started.
"No. No more words. I know we're both a little off because of what happened today, but let's not dive into it. Alright?" He set the wine and glasses down, leaning over to pour it as I watched him.
He had undone his tie and had his button-down shirt opened a little bit, giving me the perfect view of his beautiful chest and stomach.
I moved closer and slid the shirt off his thick shoulders as he stood up. My eyes moved around his face as if asking permission. He nodded, knowing exactly what I was up to.
"Turn around, Maddie." His voice was deep, thick.
I turned slowly and let my head drop as he unzipped my dress and pushed it off of my shoulders. His hands snaked around my waist, reaching up and cupping my breasts. The soft press of his mouth against the side of my neck caused a tremor to run through me.
His warm chest pressed against my back and rough fingers slipped into my panties, opening my folds and rubbing in a rhythmic fashion.
I moaned and leaned back against him as emotion raged through me. "You were perfect today."
"You were, too," he murmured against my neck and rimmed my opening. "Go get in the shower, and I'll be there with a glass of wine shortly. Let's finish up this act with one last night together."
I couldn't speak, or tears would drip down my face. I nodded and stepped out of my dress with his help. It was hard to keep my back to him, but I managed it somehow. I got into the shower and moved under the spray, washing off my makeup as a few tears escaped.
Would tonight be our last night?