The Fake Engagement

“What is it?” he asked.

“I’ve yet to find the right guy to settle down with.”

“You mean the right guy hasn’t come along.”

“Nope.” She shrugged. “You never know what happens.”

He couldn’t help but glance down at her stomach, Melinda’s premonition ringing in his head. He didn’t hear the cook make it, but Eliza had recited it word for word to him. Melinda never got anything wrong.

Eliza smiled. “I bet you used to bring all of the girls to this place.”

“No. You’re the only one who has ever been allowed here.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he said.

“This place is a great make-out zone.” She held her hands out as if he was slightly dumb.

“I know how good it can be, believe me, but this wasn’t about luring girls here to make out with. I planned my future here.” He got to his feet. “Come on, I’ll take you through the tour.”

He pulled open the door on the right, and Eliza laughed when she saw the bridge. “Oh, my God, this is amazing. How could you have ever left this place?”

Preston walked her toward the other tree house. “This was where I’d keep snacks.” He opened a couple of boxes. “It has been years, so everything is now gone.”

She chuckled. “I would expect so. I still can’t believe you ever want to leave this place. I mean, seriously, Preston, this is amazing.”

“Do you have a treehouse back home?”

“Nah, I wasn’t the treehouse kind of person. My dad wasn’t that creative. Not like your dad.”

“Do you like my parents?”

“They’re great people. You’re lucky, Preston. I know you sometimes don’t think it, but they do love you, and they support you.”

He nodded. “The tour doesn’t stop there.” This time, Preston grabbed her hand and walked her across the next bridge. He opened the door, and sure enough, there was his furniture. Still in great condition for the most part. His dad had purchased him some secondhand beanbags to sit on. They weren’t the most comfortable, but he didn’t care.

Eliza laughed.

As she did, a roll of thunder struck through the air.

“It’s okay,” Preston said. “This place is kind of water-tight.”

Eliza nodded. They took a seat on each beanbag. He wasn’t going to lie, they kind of had a stink to them.

A very rotten stink.

Another crack of thunder rumbled through the sky, a flash of lightning, and then out of the blue, it started to rain.

Slowly at first, and Preston was super impressed nothing got through the roof. Then the heavens opened up and went from plain old raining to pouring it down, and the once water-tight treehouse was no more.

Eliza released a little scream.

“Crap. We’ve got to get to shelter.”

He opened the other door and started to climb down. At the bottom, he waited for Eliza. When he was able, he grabbed her around the waist and helped her to her feet. Taking hold of her hand, he locked their fingers together, and they started to run, heading through the woods.

The large trees offered them some cover.

Eliza cried out as another crack of lightning filled the air. Seconds passed before the thunder hit, but he didn’t stop.

He ran, making it close to the family’s summerhouse.

Twisting the lock, he found it was already open. He moved Eliza inside first and closed the door.

They were both soaked and freezing.

“I’m going to need your clothes.”

Chapter Twelve

Eliza had always wanted a treehouse. As a kid, she’d beg her dad to build her one, but he never found the time. It was only when she’d grown up that she realized why her father would never build her one.

He couldn’t do it.

Her father was the least crafty, unable to do anything that came to building or decorating. Her mother often did most of the repairs around the house. It was their relationship, and she knew her mother liked it like that.

Preston’s treehouses were amazing. No doubt about it.

As a kid, she would have spent so much time in one as she loved to get out of the house. Now she was soaking wet. The coolest she’d been in the past couple of weeks. The heat had been a pain in the ass, even going back to the city.

“What?” she asked.

Preston had his hand out, as if to take her clothes from her.

She couldn’t help crossing her arms over her chest.

“I need your clothes. You can’t wear them. They are soaked.”

“It’s a little warm.”

“Eliza, it’s freezing.” He pulled his shirt off his chest. “See, I’m going to get down to my boxer briefs.”

“You’re going to see.”

“I saw you in a swimsuit. What do you think is going to be more revealing?”

“Duh, my underwear.” She wore lace. The kind of sexy lace that showed off rather than covered up.

“We’re adults here, Eliza. You can trust me. I’m not going to attack you.”

“I didn’t say you were.” She gritted her teeth. “Fine. Fine.” It was logical for her to remove her clothes in front of her boss.