One Hot Fake: An Accidental Fake Marriage Romance by Sarah Brooks (free novel reading sites .TXT) 📗

to drive up to Arlen. “You don’t beat around the bush. Straight to the heart of the matter, that’s you.”

Declan smiles. “Yeah, when it’s important. I’ve seen how having a rift with your parents affects other areas of your life.”

I can’t imagine Declan falling out with his parents. “Did you fall out with your parents at one point?”

He shakes his head. “Not me. Ace. Even if they’re not super close now, Ace is at peace. I want the same for you.”

“Thanks. I think I might.” I hadn’t planned on it, to be honest, but seeing as we are bound to run into one another, I’d rather it was on my terms. Plus, I’m an adult.

“Were you close with your dad?” Declan asks.

“Heck no,” I say automatically. “My mom and I have always been super close. My dad loved his work, or that was the impression I got as he was never home. He was busy for the longest time; his was the only law firm in town.”

“He missed out on knowing one of the most amazing human beings I know,” Declan said.

His compliment warms me all over. “Thank you.”

Declan picks up his coffee and sips it. My gaze lowers to his mouth. I watch the movement of his lips and remember how it feels like when they brush against mine. Everything about Declan fascinates me.

“Does your ex-husband still live in Arlen?” he says.

I almost choke on my coffee. “The last time I heard, no.” My mom had offered the information a couple of years ago, probably in the hope that I would return home for a visit.

The place held horrible memories for me, but now, they don’t have a hold on me anymore. I don’t feel any anxiety at the thought of going to Arlen tomorrow.

I look at Declan, and gratitude flows through me. “You are a good guy,” I tell him.

He laughs. “I’m not sure a lot of people would agree with you.”

“Look how you offered to drive up to Arlen with me, and I know for a fact that you’re busy. Thank you.”

“It’s a chance for you to show off your big handsome husband,” he says, with a twinkle in his eyes.

“My modest husband, you mean?” I say.

He laughs. My favorite sound is Declan’s laughter. With him, there’s no holding back, whether it’s laughter or talking loudly, or expressing himself. Declan lets it all out.

Time flies, and when we drain our coffees, and I glance at the time, I’m surprised that we’ve been in the salad bar for almost two hours. The lunchtime crowd came and went.

Outside, Declan takes my hand again as he walks me back to the office. I can do this, I tell myself. I can handle a real relationship. I think that I’ve finally buried the ghosts of my past.

Outside my office, I stop and face him. “Thanks for lunch.”

“You’re welcome,” Declan says.

“And for everything else.” I don’t know how to put it into words. In his own way, Declan is showing me another life. One where love can feature in my life again. I’m peering through a crack in the door right now, and what I see makes me want to step in through the door. I want a taste of what it feels like to wake up to sunshine every day.

Declan seems to understand what I mean. He leans down to kiss me and then leaves. I let out a sigh. It feels good to feel alive.

Chapter 22

Marian

I’ve always loved road trips, though, over the years, I’ve gone on fewer and fewer. My life has been all about business, and as we drive toward Arlen, I feel as if Declan and I are on an adventure. I relax back in my seat and watch the landscape go by without paying particular attention to it. A yawn escapes my mouth.

“Sleepy?” Declan says.

“No, just relaxed.” I chuckle. “Too relaxed.”

We decide to spend the night in Arlen and return to LA tomorrow. It feels like a vacation, which it isn’t, as I’ve crammed several meetings with some vendors on my schedule.

“This reminds me of the times Father would take all of us out on the yacht for days on end,” Declan says.

“I suppose it’s the same feeling of getting away from everything,” I say. “Do you miss it?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. Ace loved it, though. For me, it made me feel like I was imprisoned and couldn’t get away. Sailing is still not my favorite thing to do, but if you want to go, I can make an exception.”

“I don’t have a strong urge to sail,” I tell him with a laugh.

“Good.”

I haven’t been home in years. I wonder what has changed. I know all of my friends left, but I lost contact with them way before. It was easier to drift away to keep peace with Leonard.

Now I know that bullies like that. They push away everyone you love so that you become completely dependent on them. By the time you realize what’s going on, you have no support, and no strength to fight him.

Lucky for me, I had my mom on my side. Without her, I don’t think I would have left Leonard. I shudder at the thought of living the same lifestyle. I would probably be dead. I must have drifted off to sleep because the next time I come to, Declan is calling me, except that he sounds so far off.

He shakes me and jolts me into full consciousness. “What?” I rub my eyes, and my surroundings start to make sense.

“You were screaming in your sleep,” Declan says, his tone worried.

I lay my head back on the seat, still caught between sleep and being awake. “I was dreaming about Leonard. He was hitting me, and I was trying to cover my face.”

Saying the words out loud transports me back to another time and place. I feel as if the Marian, who was married to Leonard and accepted his abuse, was a different person.

“He used to hit you?” Declan