Oh, no. Caleb wrapped his arms around Lauren and smiled at his parents. “Maybe you could give us some time here while we deal with this. We’ll be down to talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m going to get everything organized. This is going to be a breeze, Lauren, just you wait.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, her voice slightly high-pitched.
“Don’t be long now. We’ve got breakfast waiting.”
The door closed behind his parents, leaving them both in stunned silence.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You’re going to be okay.”
“No, I’m not.” She took a deep breath. “This is taking the white lies to a whole new level.”
“Look, Lauren, it’s going to be fine.”
She shoved the blanket off her body and shook her head. “No, it’s not going to be fine. You know why? They’re expecting me to become your wife. We don’t even know each other all that well and now they think I should be wife material. Oh, my, I don’t think I can even think right now. I feel a little sick. I’m going to be sick.” She got out of bed and pulled one of the small blankets around her waist, quickly rushing to the toilet.
He followed her, not even bothering with the blanket. He pulled her hair back but she didn’t vomit.
She merely hovered over the toilet, looking like she was going to throw up. Nothing came.
He waited.
Still nothing.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not going to be sick.”
“I didn’t think you would be.”
“This is wrong. This was only supposed to be for the weekend and a short time after.”
“It’ll be fine.”
She slumped down on the bathroom floor and glanced at him. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. Tomorrow we’re going home, and then we’ll figure everything out from there. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll handle my parents.”
****
One month later
Lauren was pissed off.
She didn’t even have a good enough reason to be, but it was there, simmering beneath the surface, waiting to explode, and she only had herself to blame.
The rest of the trip with Caleb’s parents had been easy. Sure, she had to sit and listen to his mother detail the most amazing wedding that part of her wanted. Caleb had to be his charming self, which made it hard to hate him. She saw a different side to the cocky billionaire when he was with his family. She found herself liking him, wishing their lies were real. Then of course, they had to go home on the Monday after. She still continued to work with him, but each weekend, she ended up living in Caleb’s apartment while going shopping with this mother.
Today, weekend four, and oh yeah, she was picking out wedding dresses. She even had to have a fitting.
After Louise had found the perfect dress, and Lauren couldn’t deny it really was beautiful and the one she would have loved, if not for the price tag, she’d been kissed and told she was going to make the perfect bride.
The lies were mounting up.
After entering Caleb’s apartment, she slammed the door and went straight toward the fridge where he kept his beer.
She didn’t drink. She hadn’t drunk during the entire farce they were dealing with.
“How did it go?” Caleb asked, his voice echoing through his apartment.
“How did it go? I’ll tell you how it went, it went perfect.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“Yes, of course it’s a problem. Do you know why it’s a problem?”
“No?”
“We’ve now got a wedding dress.” She closed the fridge door and glared at him. “I’ve now got a wedding dress and your mother seemed really thrilled with the idea.”
“And that’s a bad one?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t see how it can be.”
“Caleb, it has been a month and now we’re onto wedding dresses. She’s even talking venues. It’s going crazy and you seem really happy about this change. Why?”
“Simple, I am happy about it.”
“It makes no sense.”
He laughed. His arms moved around her body, holding her close. These moments, they were everything to her. They’d crossed the lines of an arrangement and were not deep into something else.
“I’m not talking to you.”
“You are talking to me.” He kissed her neck.
Lauren closed her eyes. For the past four weeks, they’d been avoiding the key topic of having sex with one another. It was part of the plan that neither of them had expected and well, now, her entire body was alert.
She enjoyed his kisses.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about,” he said.
Had his voice gotten deeper?
“Nothing.”
“Then why are your nipples hard?”
“It’s rude to point out a woman’s nipples.” She glanced behind her. She was still in his arms and, she wanted him to kiss her, to put his hands on her.
Seconds passed.
A minute maybe.
He leaned in close and when he kissed her, she didn’t fight it. The pull was intense.
Gripping the back of his neck, she went to turn but he pushed her forward, pressing her against the counter. His hands went to her tits, cupping them, kneading each one before he slid down to grasp her hips.