“And how have I fallen short?”
She shifts from foot to foot.
I step into her space and graze my hand over her shoulder and down her arm before taking her hand in mine and kissing it. “Cateline, this might be news to you, but I don’t like perfect. I like real, even flaws. Bedhead, rosy cheeks from exertion, morning breath.”
“Are you saying I had morning breath?”
“No. I liked watching you sleep. You were as peaceful and sweet as a kitten.”
She discreetly breathes into her free hand.
I tip her chin up so she’s looking at me. “I like that tooth right there that’s a little crooked and the way your eye sometimes twitches.”
“I’m not sure whether to be insulted or infuriated.”
“How about flattered.”
She shakes her head, but that doesn’t shake the smile off her lips, which are perfect, for the record. “You’d be a terrible husband.”
“We’re engaged. You’re wearing a ring. Should we test that theory?”
“By getting married?”
I pause a beat as the words and their meaning catch up to both of us.
“I’d rather do it in a church,” we both say at the same time.
Cateline goes quiet as if not expecting me to say that. Then she says, “Actually, I have a proposal.”
I tug her close to me. “No, Cat. I’ll be doing the proposing. I’m a man. Traditional.”
“I mean, we could get married. It would help me with my green card. It might appease your coach and commissioner.”
“That’s an idea...” And not reasons I want to hear.
“You don’t want to marry me.” She pouts.
“Not for pretend.”
She bites her lip. “Let’s see how the next few days go and think about it.”
“We could, but so you don’t have to hold your breath and wait, the answer is yes, I’d marry you so you could get your green card.” I was hoping to marry her for more virtuous reasons, but I’ll also do a solid and help the woman out. The wolf in me agrees that’s the smart approach. Forget vows and all that.Pfft.That’s for guys who’re ready to settle down. Apparently, guys like my brother.
A man with more missing teeth than Cain asks Cat to dance.
Like a baboon pounding its chest, I want to claim my territory. Once upon a time, I made myself into a sovereign nation, independent, but would it be so bad to have a visitor to my shores? Maybe I want to be loved for more than my looks and football.
Maybe I want to marry Cateline for real.
27
CATELINE
The wedding yesterday was fun, but the proposal to marry Connor so I can get my green card gets muddled in my mind between truth and pretend.
Dancing with him was better than I could’ve imagined. Kissing him is a dream. But forever with a guy who goes by “Wolf?”
I glance at him as he loads things from a storage unit into the Jeep. Yes, his muscles set me on fire.
