* * *
“Home sweet home,” Burke cooed.
Justine squeezed her eyelids tight before working to open them. She’d slept most of the way home, something she hadn’t planned on doing, but how could she avoid it when the last few days had been filled with more fun, hope, and joy than she’d experienced in a very long time? The days spent with Burke and the Benton family had been like a dream.
“Hi,” she said softly, shifting in the passenger seat to face him.
Burke moved in slowly, slightly grinning as he did, until his lips were very close to hers. He kissed her then, instantly stirring an interest with those strong, heavenly lips.
Sparks of heat flared low in her tummy as she brought a hand to his cheek, reveling in the feel of his chiseled jaw beneath her palm. How had she not known that kissing could be this good?
Goosebumps rose along the surface of her arms as Burke deepened the kiss, the sound of that raspy whimper at his throat. He pulled back slowly, teasing her lips with the velvety trace of his tongue, then hovered over her mouth just a breath space away.
Yes, this was a nice thing to wake up to.
He paused there as his breath seemed to hitch. As if he was…nervous or unsure.
Justine slipped her hand through his hair, hoping to encourage him in the quiet pause, sensing now, even in the stillness, that he had something to say.
Tenderly then, she kissed him along the side of his face, up and over his temple, his brow. With a series of small kisses, she made her way down the other side of his face.
When her lips hovered over his again, Burke spoke at last.
“I’m falling in love with you, Justine.”
Euphoria bloomed within her at the sound of those words, enhanced by the gentleness of his touch as he grazed her lips with his once more.
“Am I still sleeping?” she asked, halfway wondering if it were true. But she was quick to form a reply.
“I’m falling in love with you too,” she said, realizing the deep truth of those words.
His mouth was on hers again in a celebratory kiss, taking Justine to new heights even still. She thought back on her moments of worry and doubt, the upset she’d felt at not knowing where things could lead. But in that moment, with his declared love still hovering in the air, and Burke’s lips locked on hers, Justine threw that caution to the breeze.
After Thanksgiving, they had one more day to keep up the ruse. But how much of an act was it now? Sure, she and Burke weren’t engaged, and they hadn’t known each other for months as they’d said, but at least one thing—the most important thing, as she saw it—was true: The two actuallywerein love. He’d introduced her to his family, and allowed her to become a part of his life.
For now, she’d focus on those things and try not to dwell on the rest. Yet just as she vowed to do that very thing, a spark of fear shimmied into her mind. Or maybe it was her gut. The hoax was still afoot after all, and even in one short day—even at one simple event—a lot could go wrong.
Chapter 23
Burke tossed his shoulder bag onto the bed and hurried over to the hamper beside the armoire. He had exactly sixty minutes to shower, get dressed, and drive out to Justine’s for the event.
As he tugged at the laces of his boots, his phone let out a buzz. He hurried over to the bed, grabbed the device, and scrutinized the screen through narrowed eyes.
Message Failed.
His brow furrowed as he tried to dissect which messages had failed and why. He hadn’t been on his phone all week.
The cabin, he realized. Some mobile services worked there, others did not. Burke had fallen into that latter category, which hadn’t been a problem. He’d spent several hours catching up on business before he left, and again after dropping Justine home too.
So what message had failed?
Burke tapped on the screen and, within seconds, realized exactly what had failed to send. “Crap.”
It was a text to his business partner. Sent after declaring his love for Justine. It only seemed right. The trouble is, he hadn’t thought to send it until he got back to the Benton’s cabin.
Burke:Greg, just a quick note to pull the Piney Falls property off the listing. I know it’s priced high and not likely to sell, but I’d rather we pull it completely for now. I’ll explain later.
“Crummy carrier,” Burke mumbled. Quickly then, knots of anxiety forming in his gut, he copied the message, pasted it into a new text box, and hit send once more.
