Page 45 of From Grumpy to Forever
“Oh.” I tried to stifle the giggle with my hand, but it didn’t work. I crossed the room and took the bag from him, giving his arms a once-over. The scratches didn’t look too bad. “I didn’t think of that. Thanks for doing that.” I let my fingers linger on his skin. “Thanks for all of this. I didn’t expect Jacob to just…”
“Were you going to tell me what a problem he was being?”
Suddenly exhausted, I left him standing by the door and moved toward the bed. “I was hoping I could handle it. I sent him a copy of our marriage certificate and that should have been enough.”
“But it wasn’t.”
I shook my head, flipped the blankets back, and crawled into bed.
Without another word, and with an expression I couldn’t read on his face, Reid took his duffel and moved past me to the attached bathroom.
The stress from the last few hours seeped from my pores, and for the first time, I wondered whether we were going to be able to pull this off. I had no idea how long Jacob planned to stay or what his agenda was beyond making my life difficult.
That wasn’t entirely true. I knew exactly what his agenda was. He wanted to prove my marriage to Reid wasn’t real so he could challenge my right to the inn. My lawyer had already warned me that if I was found to be in violation of the terms, the will would be null and void, and the inn would be put up for sale. Considering I didn’t have any money besides the small amount that was part of my inheritance—that I’d also lose—I wouldn’t be able to buy it.
Not only that, but all the money that I’d put on credit to start the renovation while we waited would come due and I’d have no way to pay the debt.
It had been a risk. A big one. I knew it at the time, but I did it anyway because I’d been so sure it would all work out okay.
Now…I was having doubts.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and dropped my head back against the headboard, willing the headache that was rapidly forming to go away.
“You should have told me.”
My eyes snapped open to see Reid standing in the bathroom door with nothing on but a pair of boxer shorts.
“What are you…what…did you…” I tripped over my words, unable to form a coherent thought as my eyes raked over his bare chest.
I knew he was strong. I felt those muscles when we danced and when he wrapped his arms around me to hold me close while he kissed me. But knowing was different than seeing. And I was seeing a lot.
“Do you have a headache?” He stepped closer, his face a mask of concern.
“What?”
“You were pinching your…”
Reid touched the bridge of my nose so gently, I closed my eyes again and took a deep breath.
“Yes.” I nodded. “A little bit. It’s just been…” I blew out a breath. “Well, it’s been a lot today.”
“It has.” He smoothed his fingers over my forehead and down my cheek. “And it’s not over yet, because…” He shrugged and looked to the other side of the bed.
“Oh.” It was only then that I realized that, of course, Reid was going to be sleeping in my bed with me. Logically, I knew that with Jacob here and in Reid’s bedroom, there weren’t any other options. But somehow my brain hadn’t made the connection of what exactly that meant.
Or that it was only a few hours ago when my bed was exactly where we were headed.
“Don’t worry.” He moved around to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers back. “I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”
I knew he would. Even if I didn’t want him to be. And if I wasn’t so emotionally wrung out, I definitely wouldn’t want him to be.
The mattress sunk under his weight, and I braced myself a little to keep from rolling into him.
“Unless, of course, you don’t want me to be.”
For a moment, I considered the stress relief that Reid would no doubt be able to provide, but ultimately it wasn’t right.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of me wanting it or not.” We were lying so close I could feel his hot, pepperminty breath on my cheek.
