Betzy snatched her shoes off the floor, plopped back onto the opposite side of the couch, and slipped into them.
Now Mom’s warning would be even greater. He could really get his heart hurt in this one.
Sawyer forced himself to stand, still reeling from disappointment, and wandered into the kitchen to look for his keys. Mom chatted with Betzy beside the Christmas tree, something about the cabin. There was a fair amount of snow up there, according to Betzy. It wouldn’t compare to the Colorado slopes Mom planned to ski with Ted, but the cabin did have a small ski resort nearby.
Sawyer wondered what the week ahead would look like. He looked forward to the mild snow. Even more, he looked forward to spending time with Betzy. Would they get another chance to recreate the moment they’d missed out on just now?
A fresh ache tore through him from the disappointment. They’d been so close. He shook his head, snatched the keys off the counter, and shuffled back into the front room.
Hearing Betzy and Mom in conversation, watching their faces as they related on the topic of wrapping paper of all things, Sawyer couldn’t help but crave the future he’d dreamt of all the more.
His mind shot to the task Betzy had circled on her list—the one about convincing her grandma that they were, in fact, in love. He liked the idea. This might prove to be a very nice week after all.
With that thought, Sawyer cleared his throat, dangled the key ring from his finger, and grinned when they turned his way. “Guess I better get Betzy back home.”
The article said she liked to hold onto the wheel, huh? He was man enough to let her do that. Of course, where this ruse was concerned, Sawyer had a plan of his own. One that helped Betzy see they were right for one another after all.
Sawyer Kingsley could be more than just her fake fiancé. He could be the man she’d always wanted.
“What do you say?” Sawyer said, shifting his gaze from Mom to Betzy. “Want to take the wheel?”
Chapter 12
Betzy rested a box of fresh groceries on the countertop and pulled in a breath of crisp, mountain air. She loved being at the cabin no matter the season, but nothing beat coming up here at Christmastime. Especially when the heavens had gifted them with a few fresh inches of powdery white snow.
She glanced toward the large, central staircase to see Sawyer helping Grandma take her things up to her preferred room. Mom and Matthew were getting settled in their rooms on the main floor, directly across from one another.
Betzy grinned. That was another thing she loved about their getaway in the woods. Here, they lived more like the rest of society. Or close to it. Carrying their own bags, driving their own cars, often even cooking their own food. At least their own snacks after the private chef was done for the evening.
Soon, Matthew’s daughter, Emmy, would come with her two kids, Lilly and Link. Betzy couldn’t wait. The small children had a way of brightening every event.
“So, you got the most eligible bachelor of NYC to agree to propose to you?” Duke asked Betzy as he stacked a few drinks in the fridge.
Zander, Duke’s twin, nudged him with his elbow. “Shut up, man. You’re going to make it awkward.”
“It’s already awkward,” Duke hissed. “Pretend that we’re going to get married. Who does that?”
Zander snatched one of Duke’s favorite drinks and cracked it open. “Shut up, man. Or I’ll tell everyone about the stupid thingyoudid.”
Betzy rolled her eyes. She knew Duke well enough. He wasn’t as rude as he let on. But as she looked at the exchange between her twin brothers in the quiet pause, she realized that something was off. What exactly did Zander have on him?
They stared at each other, those perfectly proportioned faces—identical save Duke’s scruff—a reflection of the same, I-dare-you glare.
Duke’s eye twitched. And suddenly he was reaching out, snatching the drink from Zander, and tipping it back.
“Ahh,” he said after a big gulp of it. He bumped Zander as he headed toward the back deck. “I knew you wouldn’t tell.”
Zander’s nostrils flared. “He signed up for some wedding game show. You have to marry someone you’ve never even met if you get picked.”
Duke stopped walking, the drink, partway to his lips, hovering in the pause.
Zander glared at the back of his head. “Want me to say it louder next time?”
Duke didn’t respond.
“That’s what I thought.” Zander moved his gaze to Betzy and gave her a knowing grin.
Betzy waited until Duke made it onto the patio before speaking up. “Thank you. And is that true?”
