One Hot Fake: An Accidental Fake Marriage Romance, Sarah Brooks [mobi ebook reader TXT] 📗

“Looks like it went well,” Declan says.

“It was fine and a little weird,” I tell him about Terri’s accusations.

“Poor woman,” Declan says. “She’ll spend the rest of her married life thinking every secretary is having an affair with her husband.”

“I’m finding it a little hard to be sympathetic,” I say. “She did the same thing to my mother.”

“That’s why it’s a nightmare for her,” Declan says. “Your mother called the resort when she couldn’t get hold of you. I spoke to her. She said that she and Josh will come at nine in the morning to look at the grounds.”

“So much for sleeping in,” I say.

“We’ll sleep early instead,” Declan says.

I smile. “Sounds good.” I can’t wait to snuggle up to him.

I’m glad I left Arlen and not just because of Leonard. I’d hate to be caught up in my parents’ relationships. I’d be forced to act as a therapist or referee, and I’m not interested in either of those roles.

Back at the resort, Declan and I slip out of our day clothes.

“No point in wearing anything,” Declan says. “I plan on making this a night to remember.”

My body heats up at the promise behind the words. “I second that.” I place my underclothes on a chair and slip into bed.

Declan joins me seconds later and pulls me to lie on his chest. I love his manly smells, and I inhale them as the tension in my muscles ebbs away. My mind drifts to Michelle. Lilly would have been a few years older than her. I wonder if they would have been friends.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Declan asks softly.

I inhale deeply. Thoughts of Lilly crowd my mind. She has been a secret for so long, but now I feel an urge to talk about her.

“You asked me why I called the store and the business Lilly Love …” I say.

“I did, yeah,” Declan says.

I take a deep breath. I have never talked about Lilly to anyone, not even Brooke or Jason. But I’m tired of keeping her a secret. I’m tired of feeling sad and having no one to talk about my sadness with.

“In the last year of marriage to Leonard, I got pregnant and lost her when I was five months pregnant.” There’s a catch in my voice as I speak, and I hope that I don’t burst into tears.

“What happened?” Declan says.

“I fell when I was going up the stairs to escape Leonard,” I say in a small voice. “I went into labor thirty minutes later, and when she was born, she was dead.”

I remember the whole thing as if it were yesterday. “She had a perfect little face with the cutest features. She would have been a beautiful girl. I named her Lilly.” My heart fills like it’s going to burst from the emotions that the memories bring. It’s painful to remember but also a relief to talk about it.

I can feel Declan tense underneath me. He rubs my arms up and down.

“I’m ashamed that I didn’t leave him immediately. I stayed another month. And during that time, I wasn’t allowed to talk about Lilly. He kept saying she hadn’t been a real person. Then, it was fate that she had died, and she would have crowded our relationship.”

A sob chokes me.

“His reaction removed the cobwebs from my eyes. For the first time, I saw who Leonard was. He was a monster. With my mother’s help, I left Arlen and vowed never to return. I left Leonard to deal with the divorce.”

Declan wraps his hands around me and holds me close. “Bastard! I’m so sorry you went through all that.”

Tears flow down my cheeks.

“He’s lucky all he got away with was a broken nose,” Declan says, his voice harsh.

I’m confused. “What are you talking about?”

Declan lets out a sigh. “I suppose I might as well come clean. After I dropped you at your dad’s, I went to the bar I told you about for dinner. Guess who happened to be seated at the counter next to me?”

My heart beats so loud I can hear it thrashing in my ears. “Who?”

“Leonard,” Declan says. “I got so mad when I looked into his beady eyes. So, I goaded him until he got mad enough to throw a punch. I dodged it. Then I did what I’d dreamed of doing ever since you told me that he used to abuse you. I punched his nose.”

I should be upset with Declan for fighting. Instead, I burst out laughing. “I wish I’d been there to see it. He must have been so mad.”

“He’s a coward, and cowards don’t get mad,” Declan said. “They run away.”

I prop myself up on my arm to look into Declan’s face. “Are you serious? He ran off?”

“He ran away for dear life, to be precise,” Declan says, and I laugh.

When my laughter dies down, I look at Declan with new eyes. “No one’s ever fought for me before.”

“I’d do anything for you, Marian Carter,” he says as he strokes my lip with his thumb.

Tears flood my eyes. I believe him. I bring down my mouth to his, and we kiss slowly as if we have all the time in the world. Which I suppose we do. We have all night.

Declan pulls me on top of him, and I align my body with his, parting my legs to make space for his erect cock.

“Do you know how much I love you?” Declan says.

My heart swells, taking up all the space in my chest. What if he means it? What if Declan does love me? It’s too much to think about right now, so I shove that thought to the back of my head to be dealt with later.

I cover my mouth with his and kiss him as if both our lives depend on it. Declan’s big hands caress my back and ass, going down to my thighs. He brings his hands back up to caress my breasts.

His cock throbs against my thighs, and I