Page 64 of Fake It Till You Make It

Eli towered over Bucky. Did the man seriously want this to get physical? Noah had opted out of the wedding, choosing to attend the bachelor party only. Tobias, well, he’d decided to work so the others could enjoy the festivities. Even without his brothers, by the stern expression of the other men flanking the family, including the minister, Eli had a calvary if it came to blows.

Eli released an audible sigh. “Ruth, you and Phoebe come over here.”

Bucky spit a glob of tobacco at Eli’s boots. A string of tinted saliva dribbled down his chin.

“You and the brat stay put, Ruth,” he snarled, a clear and present threat in his tone.

Eli didn’t say a word. He clamped one hand on Bucky’s shoulder. The other man winced but said nothing. When he tried to wiggle free, Eli’s knuckles visibly blanched.

“Put the kittens in the basket,” Eli enunciated, thrusting the grass-woven carrier at Bucky.

Reluctant but compliant, he deposited each kitten in the carrier. “This ain’t right, you interfering between a husband and wife.”

Eli gave him a rag doll shake. “What ain’t right is you believing Ruth and Phoebe don’t have options. Our door. Matt’s door is always open to them. The woman loves you. I respect that. But she has options if she ever wants to leave your hind parts in the rearview mirror.”

“Sure does,” Amarie said, walking right up to Ruth and wrapping her in a big hug. Several of the wedding attendees affirmed Eli’s statement with a concert choir ofYep. Ain’t that the truth. We got your back, Ruth!

“Give the basket to your daughter, Bucky.” Eli’s tone made it clear that if Bucky made the wrong decision, he’d suffer the consequences.

Stiff and shaky, the father handed the basket to Phoebe. “Here you go, kid.”

Phoebe added a wide-eyed Formerly to the bunch before taking the gift.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Amarie pushed back tears. How could a father intentionally hurt the family who loved him this much? Gosh, Eli could have humiliated the man. Instead, he chose to lead him to the right answer. Be a better man for his family. Hopefully, years from now, Phoebe would remember the good parts, that her father had chosen her happiness over his selfish need to punish them.

Matt came forward, taking Bucky by the arm.

“I’ll make sure this fella gets home safe and sound. You and your woman go on back to having fun.” Eli nodded and released his grip. Bucky sagged in relief.

“Come here, my fearless girlfriend.”

And oh boy, her, fearless? And did he saygirlfriendaloud? She hoped that was a prophetic word. Like really, speak a new Amarie into existence.

Eli gestured, crooking his finger in Amarie’s direction, but before she could comply, he entered her atmosphere, tall, dark, solid, a mountain protecting her from any storm. Amarie felt Eli everywhere. Their minds melded, their bodies blended into one of those sensual man-woman sculptures of soft curves, hand and hand, hip to hip, impossible to distinguish a beginning or an end, infinite.

“You were amazing,” she mouthed, inhaling him in. His warmth soaked beneath her skin bringing with it rich notes of churned earth and mountain breeze over cool waters.“The whole ‘put the kittens in the basket,’ so gangsta. I still have goose bumps.”

“Stop talking,” he whispered, lifting his fingers to push one of her errant curls behind her ear. “You’re like a shield-maiden of women and children. But when your boyfriend says he’s got you, I got you. No more charging into battle without me.”

“Hmm, as a shield-maiden—your words, not mine—I make no promises. You’ll just have to stay ready,” she quipped, meeting his eyes. A gasp escaped her parted lips at what she saw there. Protection. Promises. Passion.

“Duly noted,” he whispered, and then he pressed his lips to hers.

“Finally,” she sighed into his mouth. His taste exploded on her tongue, dark, rich, and spiced. Whistles and “put a ring on it” catcalls seemed to spur Eli on. With one hand, he angled her head, and with the other, he gave her bottom a quick squeeze.

If she described their first kiss as thorough, this one moved mountains. Yes, insides liquefied, rivers overflowed, and she moaned in satisfaction. As Eli deepened the kiss, caressing her tongue with his, Amarie wanted to rip her own panties off. Really, why even wear the things when she wanted to cavewoman cub him and drag him back to her lair?

“Amarie,” someone called, “heads up.” When she broke away from Eli, dazed and swimming in a dopamine fog, a bouquet of golden sunflowers separated by white and yellow daisies was about to hit her in the head. Geesh, who’s ill-timed idea was this? Gracie Lou’s of course. Though she appreciated the sentiment, she’d much rather keep kissing her prince. Her first instinct was to back up, but then she stepped forward, both arms extended. Spreading her fingers wide, she reached for the symbol of good things to come. The satin ribbon hooked on her thumb.

“Yay,” the women cheered. “Amarie and Eli sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s—”

She looked at Eli, smiling, and he didn’t turn away. Reminiscent ofThe Lion King, Amarie raised the fragrant bundle high, balanced in both hands. “I-be-a-winner,” she sang aloud in theCircle of Lifecadence.

Caleb, the happy groom, called to all the party people from beneath the white satin-wrapped pavilion. Once he had their attention, he raised a full mug in toast. “Come on, folks; it’ll take more than one Bucky to break up our good time. Y’all, just look at the cat-that-ate-the-canary-grin on Eli.” Caleb drank from his mug before continuing. “You saved us from having to take Bucky behind the barn to put him out of his misery. It’s me and Gracie’s wedding day, and we’re putting our money on Eli’s city girl to win his hand in the bachelor auction.”

That would be a miracle considering Amarie wasn’t a registered bidder in the auction. How fair would it be if his pretend partner won the auction instead of a woman Eli might genuinely be interested in for the long-term? Their arrangement had a finite date, sort of, indirectly. Though she had to admit, this fake partnership involved real feelings. And she wasn’t alone in a breach of their agreed-upon policy.