Page 17 of The Make-Believe Marriage

Sitting on the barstools in the kitchen, my curiosity gets the better of me. “Why the long engagement?”

“Couple of reasons. We don’t really know each other that well. It’s only been a few weeks.” She shrugs, and I buy it. We’ve learned more about each other living together than most couples do in months of dating.

“And the second reason?” I ask when she doesn’t continue, hoping to get to the real reason.

“I promised I would.” She sips on her sparkling wine.

“Promised who?”

“Your sister. We talked on Christmas day. She’s worried I’ll hurt you and asked me to prove that I love you and I’m not in this for an easy meal ticket.” Krysten shrugs, but I can tell this is bothering her.

I reach over and cup her face. “I know how I feel about you, and I have a pretty good idea of how you feel about me. I get that my sister worries, but we should not let her dictate how we live our lives. You don’t need to prove anything to her, least of all your love for me.”

Krysten swallows and nods. “I know. The other thing is ...”

“What’s the other reason?” I prod gently when she stays silent.

“It’s been a tiny bit too tempting to live under one roof with you,” she says with an embarrassed smile. “Especially when you kiss me every chance you get. We could use a little space, I think.”

The look on her face makes me laugh. “Or we could head to the courthouse on Monday and get married. They open at nine.”