He gasped. “She’s not going to peek in while we sleep, is she?”
Kelly burst into laughter.
He frowned as he stood up and walked over to the bed. “You shouldn’t scare me like that.”
She held down the covers to invite him in on the other side of the bed, and he reminded his body that this didn’t mean what he wanted it to mean.
It was only when she was drunk that she’d wanted him for anything but a friend. She wasn’t drunk now. This was real life. And she had no interest in him that way.
Yet.
Things could change. They had forty-four more days.
When he looked over at Kelly, she was smiling at him. “You’re a real trooper to put up with Grandmama like this.”
His breath hitched at the fondness in her face. “I don’t mind. Really. You were joking about her peeking in on us, though. Weren’t you?”
“Of course.” Her eyelashes lowered, as if she were suddenly shy. Then she reached over and put her fingers on his shirt, very lightly. “I didn’t realize you slept in pajamas.”
“I don’t normally,” he admitted, giving himself a firm lecture about how, just because she touched him, didn’t mean she wanted him to touch her. “I thought it might be more polite to wear more clothes, though.”
“Oh.” Her mouth quivered. “So I shouldn’t buy you some nice flannel pajamas for your birthday?”
He choked on amusement. “Please don’t.”
“Too bad.” Her hand was still on him, resting gently on his chest. “Is it…don’t you find it kind of strange, that we’re married?”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“You seem like it’s no big deal.”
He couldn’t tell if she wanted him to think it was a big deal or not. “Well, it’s not as strange as I’d expect it to be. I mean, it’s you. How bad can it be?”
He lifted her chin so she was meeting his eyes again, and her mouth widened into a slow smile.
He couldn’t seem to pull his hand back, and they kept smiling at each other. And he was starting to wonder how wrong it would be if he just leaned over to kiss her.
She looked warm and soft and fond—like she really liked him. Maybe she wouldn’t pull away.
Before he could decide, a clanging from somewhere in the house startled him so much he jerked, pulling his hand back like he’d just been caught doing something naughty.
“What is that?” he asked.
“It’s Grandmama.” Kelly was already getting out of bed. Her tank top had slipped down over one shoulder, showing more than it should have of her cleavage. “I gave her a bell to ring if she needed me.”
“And she rings now?” Peter felt like a bucket of frigid water had been poured on his head. “What could she need?”
“I don’t know, but I better go check on her.”
Peter sighed as Kelly hurried out of the room, her slim body graceful, desirable, completely out of his reach.
He was never going to get Kelly to see him differently if they didn’t have any privacy. She’d never agree to move out of her grandmother’s house, though. She was completely committed to taking care of her, and she’d never believe the old woman would be okay on her own.
Maybe they could get away for a short time. A honeymoon. That was what they needed.
After all, it would be completely natural to take a little honeymoon.
That would be perfect. Some time alone with Kelly, so she could see he could be more to her than a friend.
He would think of something.
As long as Grandmother Beaufort didn’t come with them.
Five
The next morning, Kelly woke up with the absolute certainty that something was wrong.
It didn’t take her long to figure out what it was.
She was sleeping in the guest room downstairs, and the covers and pillow beside her showed clear evidence of someone having slept in the bed with her.
Peter.
The shower was running in the bathroom, so he must have already gotten up and was getting ready for the day.
She had an eight o’clock class today, and it was almost seven. She needed to get up pretty soon too.
Sitting up, she rubbed her face and straightened the straps of her tank top. Last night hadn’t been as awkward as she would have expected. She and Peter had watched some TV, talked casually, and then eventually fallen asleep. She hadn’t rolled over on top of him or anything embarrassing like that during the night. While she’d been brutally aware of his body right beside her, she’d managed not to act like she was particularly uncomfortable with the arrangement.
She’d have to keep up with the same demeanor. She couldn’t let this fake marriage damage their friendship. It never would have happened at all if she hadn’t gotten so wasted in Vegas, so she was the one responsible for ensuring that they got through it with as little difficulty as possible.