“I like adult games,” Kade said with a straight face. He felt Presley gasp, and she squeezed his hand tightly. “I brought a new card game we should try too.”
“You’re not too old to be on Santa’s naughty list, young man,” his mom said, her lips twitching at the corners. “Make sure you bring that new game in case we want to give it a try.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Clutching the book to her chest, his mother’s focus shifted to Presley. “Thank you for sharing such a fun talent with our family, Presley. The children loved it.”
“Thank you,” Presley said, her voice soft and filled with emotion. “I had fun too.”
His mom looked at Kade again. “Don’t be too long,” she said on the way back out of the library. Then she did something that completely floored Kade. His mom turned the light off and pulled the door closed.
“Wow, she must really like you,” Kade said, still stunned by his mother’s actions. Was this the final sign that he needed to broach the topic he’d brooded over all day long? He had to believe it was. He found Presley’s hand in the dark and reeled her to him. “I like you too.”
He wasn’t quite ready to say the other “L” word and mean it in the way he should. Besides, he felt like it was only right that he and Presley date for a little while. But this time for real. And, if things continued on the path they were on right now, then he wanted to give her Grandma Hunter’s ring along with his heart. Did the idea of getting married still scare him? Absolutely, but it scared him even more to think of Presley eventually finding someone else.
“I like you too,” she said with a heaviness he couldn’t decipher without seeing her face. “But we can’t keep doing this.”
“Sneaking off to make out?” he teased.
“No.” She swatted him on the chest and then left her palm to rest there. “Kade, your family is amazing, and they think we’re really getting married. I didn’t count on our arrangement hurting anyone else.”
He felt the same way. His sisters would kill him if he didn’t give this relationship a shot. At one time or another, all three of them had warned him not to mess this up. “I know, I didn’t either.”
“I’m not sure I can go through with it.”
For a moment, Kade felt like he couldn’t catch his breath. Was she saying she didn’t want to be with him? Or was she talking about the fake proposal tomorrow?
“Hang on.” He let go of her and made his away across the floor to the light switch. He needed to see her face before they discussed this any further. “That’s better,” he said as the room brightened.
“Is it?” Presley glowered at him, blinking a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light.
He smiled and took her hand, leading her over to the leather recliner and pulled her onto his lap. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, I suppose we do.” She bit her bottom lip, something he noticed she did whenever she was distressed.
Slanting forward, he placed a light kiss to her mouth until she released her lower lip and kissed him back. He allowed himself to linger for a moment more before moving his mouth to kiss her forehead. “You’re amazing,” he said, edging back to look into her eyes.
“Thanks.” Presley had one hand around his neck, absently fingering his hair brushing against the collar of his sweater. “I think you are too.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been so distant today,” Kade said, not sure how wise it was to have this conversation in such close proximity. Her touch was driving him wild, and he wanted to kiss her again. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
Presley’s fingers stilled, resting at the base of his neck. “Is it the proposal tomorrow?” she asked.
“Yes and no.” He swallowed, gathering up the courage to tell her that he was done pretending.
“You don’t have to go through with it, Kade,” she said, her chin dropping down so he couldn’t see her eyes.
“I’m not backing out of the deal.” He waited until she was looking at him again before he continued. “Presley, I don’t think either of us is ready to be engaged.” Hurt flickered behind her eyes, and he quickly added, “Yet.”
“Yet?” she questioned softly.
“I know your brother might not like it, but I want to date you for real.” He held his breath, hoping she felt the same way.
Presley’s eyes widened. “For real?” She nervously moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “You really do?”
“Yeah.” Now it was his turn to feel nervous. “If that’s what you want too.”
Her blue eyes held his for what seemed like an eternity. Then her mouth curved up into the sweetest smile. “Yes,” she said with a light laugh. She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth, which didn’t last long enough. “Do you know how much easier it will be when the camera crew is here to film our proposal now that I know it’s real?”
Wait a sec…proposal real? Kade’s throat constricted as if somebody had slipped a rope around his neck and tightened it. He didn’t mean the engagement was real just that his feelings for her were genuine. They needed to date and get to know each other as boyfriend and girlfriend before they changed their status to something more permanent. Because what if Presley changed her mind about him? What if he wasn’t ready to make that kind of life-long commitment?
Presley’s smile fell as she studied his face. “What did I say?” she said, sliding off his lap to stand up. Kade was still processing the conversation in his mind to keep her close to him. “Are you about to break my heart?” she choked out.
Kade glanced at her and felt horrible. Her eyes looked listless and hollow as if someone had snatched the sunshine out of her. “Presley…I—” His gut twisted into a thousand knots as her blue eyes shimmered with tears. The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry.
“You didn’t mean it,” she said with a sniff. A single tear spilled over her bottom lashes and slid down her smooth cheek.
“I did mean it,” he said, standing up beside her. He reached for her hands, but she snatched them back and moved away from him. “This is not going how I planned,” Kade said, shoving his hand through his hair. Okay, so he hadn’t planned anything out, but he thought he was a better communicator than this. “I meant what I said about us dating for real. I’m just not ready to be engaged.” He blew out a harsh breath. “I don’t think you’re ready for that either.”
Hurt flashed in her eyes, and she bit down on her lower lip. A few more tears escaped, trailing down her cheeks. It made him wish Travis was here to punch him in the face. Kade deserved it.
“I don’t understand,” she said in a shaky voice. “What about the film crew?”
“We’ll still go through with the proposal for the show.”
“And after?” she questioned softly.
“And after we’ll keep dating and see where this goes.” He took a step toward, relieved when she didn’t back away. Tentatively, he reached out and took her hand. Her fingers were cool to the touch and remained limp. “I care about you. A lot,” he said, running his thumb across her knuckles. “I think we have something special but I don’t want to rush into anything.”
Seconds ticked by, his heart pounding against his sternum as he waited for her response. “I care about you too.” Finally, she curled her fingers around his hand. “I don’t want to rush you either.”
His chest expanded, allowing him to draw in a full breath. “So, we’re good?” he asked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Yes.” She gave him a watery smile. “We’re good.”
“Good.” Kade tugged on her hand, and she came to him willingly. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
“Kade, I…” Her gaze flickered away, and she rubbed her lips together. “I’m glad we’re giving us a chance too.”
He might not be as great of a communicator as he’d thought, but he did know that wasn’t what she was going to say. Before he could question her, she looked at him and smiled. “So are going to tell Travis, or do you want me to?
”
The invisible noose tightened around his throat again, but he schooled his reaction so it didn’t show on his face. Telling Travis was a big deal and one step closer to either making their friendship stronger or breaking it altogether. “I’ll tell him.” He pulled her in for a hug. “Or maybe we can do it together in case he wants to punch me in the face.”
She laughed and slid her arms around his neck. “Chicken.” Then she pressed her mouth to his, cutting off his denial about being a chicken.
He let her take the lead, reveling in the softness of her mouth. His hands went to her hips as she slipped her fingers through the hair at his nape, her touch firing along his skin that started a slow burn in his belly. Kade deepened the kiss as his hands slid around to rest at her lower back. Need rushed through him like a torrent of water breaking through a barrier as he pressed his hand against her back to bring her closer. How had he lived without her? Without this?
The image of her sitting in front of his nieces and nephews, captivating them with her story while twisting the balloons into animals, materialized in his mind. She was amazing, and Kade had been captivated too.
Something shifted inside Kade, and that’s when he knew. He wanted more. He wanted her forever.
Chapter 17
Stacie let out a low whistle as Presley stepped out of her side of the bathroom and smoothed her palms down the front of the silky red dress. “Do I look okay?”
“Um, you look freaking amazing.” Stacie rubbed her baby bump. “I may ask to borrow that dress one day, but don’t hold your breath. Not sure if my pre-pregnancy body would’ve fit in that dress either.”
“You’re beautiful,” Presley said. “I hope I look as good as you do someday if I ever have kids.”
“Thanks, but I definitely see little Hunter babies in your future.” Stacie wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “When Kade sees you in that dress, he’s going to beg you to marry him right then so he can start working on making those babies sooner than later.”
“Stacie,” Presley said, feeling her cheeks go red. “We’re not even engaged.” Realizing what she’d said, she quickly added, “Remember, he’s going to propose in…” she glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. “Thirty minutes.”
Stacie studied Presley closely. “Will you tell me the truth if I ask you something?”
Shoot. Did Stacie know something? Presley couldn’t lie to her if she came right out and asked if she and Kade were really engaged.
“Yes,” Presley answered, her voice quavering with nerves. Part of her wanted Stacie to ask her so she could finally talk to someone. Brynlee still hadn’t returned her text or called her. Zuri hadn’t either, which made Presley think something was wrong with her phone. She’d lost it last night only to find it wedged between the cushions of the loveseat and turned off. Presley hadn’t sent another text to her future sister-in-law. Travis and Brynlee didn’t need her drama or intruding on their first Christmas together.
“Did my brother’s first proposal totally suck?” Stacie asked.
Presley laughed. Yes, the proposal sucked but it wasn’t his fault. “Let’s just say that this one will be much more romantic.” In her heart, she had high hopes that someday Kade would propose to her one last time. While she wouldn’t mind something fun like a flash mob or faking a fire drill, she just wanted it to come from his heart because he loved her. Not liked her or cared about her but really loved her.
Because she loved him. So much. She’d almost told him that she loved him last night but stopped herself in time. He didn’t want to rush into anything, and she wasn’t going to push him.
“Knock, knock,” Jamie said, opening the door a crack. “Can we come in?”
“As long as the we isn’t Kade,” Stacie said.
“Nope, he’s downstairs looking like a nervous wreck,” Allison said, coming in behind Jamie.
Both women stopped, and their mouths dropped open. “You are going to knock his socks off,” Jamie said. “I think the camera guy needs to capture that on film.”
“He does,” Allison agreed. “I wonder if they’ll listen to a civilian’s opinion?”
“So the crew is all here?” Presley asked, feeling like she might toss her cookies after all. She spied the garbage can and made her way over to it. “I think I might be sick.”
“Don’t you dare,” Stacie said. “Just take a deep breath and let it out slowly.”
“Yeah, you’ve got this,” Allison said. “You’re the Princess Warrior, remember?”
She was the Princess Warrior, and her Prince Charming was downstairs waiting to fake propose to her. So maybe this proposal was going to suck just as much as the first non-existent one.
Another knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Presley said, wondering if it was Marilyn. Kade’s mom had been a little on the grouchy side today and didn’t want the grandkids running around in other areas of the house other than the great room and kitchen. She wanted the house to look perfect, adding more pressure to an already stressful day.
“Come in,” Presley said when the knock sounded again. She hoped it wasn’t Jillian. Something was up with her. Kade’s ex had done a complete one-eighty, acting all nice and sweet to Presley as if they were BFF’s. It had started last night after Presley and Kade came out of the library to play Stacie’s new game with everyone. To be honest, it was kind of creepy how nice Jillian was being to Presley. Kade hoped her change of heart was because she finally accepted that he was with Presley now. It was highly unlikely. More like she was plotting her revenge, and being Presley’s friend was the best way to do it.
“Hello,” a redheaded woman said as she pushed the door and zeroed in on Presley. “I’m Natasha, the director of this segment.” She reached out and smoothed a lock of Presley’s blonde hair. “I’ve got a makeup artist out in the hall. She needs to fix a few things, and then we’ll be ready to start filming.”
“Okay,” Presley said as a petite Asian woman came into the room, pulling a large rolling suitcase with her.
“I’m Lilly,” she said, setting her suitcase down on the floor. “And you’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” Presley watched as Natasha escorted Allison, Jamie, and Stacie out. Allison paused long enough to offer her opinion about capturing Kade’s reaction like Presley was wearing a wedding dress, and the videographer wanted to capture the groom’s first look.
Natasha grunted something Presley couldn’t hear and closed the door. Consulting her iPad, she talked about what was going to happen while Lilly pulled out a white plastic cape and draped it around Presley’s neck.
For the next ten minutes, Natasha told her the order they were shooting in. She wanted Kade and Presley alone for the proposal. After that, she wanted to get some footage of them with the family and then ask Kade and Presley a few questions like when they met. Since Presley had already filled out a questionnaire Zuri had forwarded, Natasha handed her a printed script with the answers she and Kade had given. “Mr. Hunter has his copy, so hopefully it will go smoothly.” Natasha tapped on her iPad. “We’ve got families too, so we want to be done before four so my team can be home for Christmas Eve.”
“Of course,” Presley said, feeling bad they had to be here in the first place. She wasn’t sure why they couldn’t have done it on another night and just said it was Christmas Eve. At least they were getting an early start. It was only nine-thirty in the morning.
“Lilly, have her ready in ten,” Natasha ordered. “Text me when you’re ready to come downstairs.”
“You got it, Nat,” Lilly said, giving Presley a wink. “She’s intense but good at what she does,” she added after Natasha left them alone in the room.
Eight minutes later, Lilly declared Presley as perfect. After removing the white cape, she loaded her stuff back into the suitcase and then texted Natasha Presley was ready for the camera.
Since Presley had previous experience with being filmed, she kind of knew what to expect. Basically, you did what the directo
r told you to do. Apparently, Natasha had taken Allison’s advice. They were staging Kade, so he stood in front of the living room fireplace, waiting for Presley to come up behind him. It was going down exactly like a groom’s first look. Presley hoped for a little Christmas magic to grant her wish that someday she would come up behind Kade, wearing a white wedding dress instead of a red cocktail dress.
Standing at the top of the stairs to wait for her cue, Presley automatically went to twist her mother’s wedding ring. It felt weird having her finger bare even though she’d only worn the ring for a few days. Glancing down, she rubbed her thumb over the empty space. Would she ever wear another ring there? One that Kade gave her and not the one she’d found tucked away in her mother’s jewelry box?
“Places everyone,” Natasha called out. “And roll camera.”
There were two cameramen working. One a close-up and the other distance. Presley smiled, trying to act natural as she descended the stairs. From the corner of her eyes, she saw part of Kade’s family hovering in the other room. Marilyn stood in the front, next to her daughters and Jillian.
“Cut,” Natasha called out. “Let’s take it from the top, Presley, but this time don’t look like your constipated.”
Constipated? She’d probably inadvertently made a face when she spied Jillian watching her like a hawk tracks its prey. “Sorry,” Presley said before turning to go back up and start over. “I’m just nervous.”
“You’ve got this,” Lilly said when Presley reached the top of the stairs.
Presley started down the stairs again, this time focusing on Kade in the other room. She couldn’t wait to see him again. After their intense conversation last night, mingled with some pretty hot kissing, she’d expected him to be distant this morning. It was just the opposite. He woke her up early this morning so they could work out in the gym together. After, they’d soaked in the hot tub and talked about some of their best childhood Christmas memories. There had been more kissing involved, but that was cut short when Kade’s stepdad joined them after his morning run.
Her Stand-In Fake Fiancé Page 14
