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My heart squeezes in my chest. I should have known it would be difficult for me to keep feelings out of this. It doesn’t help that Merrick is adorable and sexy, and it makes me feel too comfortable when we’re together. Pushing the feeling in my chest out of my mind, I smile at him, hoping it looks as carefree as his own smile. “Pretend, Kincaid.”
“Doesn’t matter, that’s what I am. If my girl makes treats, I should get one.”
It’s his smile that gets me, and the fact that he keeps referring to me as his. I sigh heavily, as if this is the hugest inconvenience of my life, and open the lid, offering him a Rice Krispies treat.
“Thank you, baby,” he says sweetly. He plucks one out of the container and takes a huge bite. “So good,” he mumbles over the gooey treat.
“You’re going to spoil your dinner,” I tease.
He smiles and winks. “I’m a big boy, Court. I can handle it.”
I can feel the heat of that combination between my thighs, but I ignore it, placing the lid back on the container. “It’s not much, but I couldn’t come empty-handed.”
Something crosses his face, a look I can’t explain. “You’re just like my sisters-in-law. They did the same when they first started coming around.”
“It’s the polite thing to do.” I pretend like he didn’t just compare me to the women his brothers have chosen to spend forever with. “Besides, I’m sure everyone contributes to the meals.”
“We do, but my mom does a lot of it. She enjoys it. Lives for it, really. She raised nine rowdy boys, and feeding us is her love language.”
“I can’t imagine the trouble you all got into growing up.”
“What?” He licks his fingers. The act is not supposed to be sexy at all, but Merrick makes it so. “You wound me, Court. I was a perfect angel.”
“Uh-huh.” I laugh.
He reaches over and taps my nose with his index finger. “Stick with me, kid. I’ll show you my ways.”
“You’re trouble, Merrick Kincaid.” I grin.
He shrugs, a smile playing on his lips. “For the next three months, I’m your trouble.” He starts the truck and backs out as if he didn’t just cause a ripple of desire to roll through me.
I shouldn’t be reacting this way to him. I know that. However, my experience with men is limited, with dating in general, and Merrick, he has this way of making me feel calm and comfortable in my own skin. With every interaction, I feel myself loosening up. Not just me and my reserved personality, but my heart, and the walls that the looked-over bookworm has constructed around it.
When this ends, I know it’s going to be painful, but it’s worth it. This time with him, to experience this feeling of acceptance and belonging from this man, he’s worth it.
Sweat coats my palms as we pull into the driveway of the building they refer to as Kincaid Central, which is also in the same lot as the boutique where I work. Merrick tells me he’ll get my door, and this time I don’t bother to argue with him. I’m nervous. I know we’re pretending. His family knows we’re pretending. I’m embarrassed that we’re pretending. It’s also a lot of people who know the truth.
That’s risky.
Merrick trusts his family, and I have no reason not to. Besides, they’re all helping me with this by keeping our secret. I just—I’m afraid of what they’ll think of me. Of my mom. She’s a great woman, truly. She’s just a lot sometimes, and I know she wants what’s best for me, and this is all my fault. I never should have lied about Merrick and me being together. I thought I’d considered all angles of this little ruse I’ve backed us into, but today, it’s another level of deceit we’re involving his family in.
I feel terrible, and I can’t shake the feeling this entire plan is about to blow up in my face.
Merrick takes the container of Rice Krispies treats from my hands and offers me his other hand, helping me out of his truck. I take it, cursing the wetness of my palm. Once I’m standing on solid ground, I suck in a lungful of air.
“Courtney.”
I look down at my feet, not wanting him to see my face. I try to pull my hand away, but Merrick doesn’t let go. Hidden behind the door of his truck that’s still open, he places the container of treats on the seat, wraps one arm around my waist, and the other he gently lifts my chin so I’m looking at him instead of the driveway.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” His brow furrows, as if he can’t understand why I’m acting so strange.
I rush to voice some of the thoughts dancing around in my head. “They’re lying for us. I feel awful, and my hands are all sweaty, and they’re going to hate me.”
“They’re my family, Courtney. They’re not going to out us if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I hate that I put you and your family in this position.”
“Babe, I offered. It’s you and me in this together.”
