14
Levi
Four days. That’s how long I’d been living with Tess—mywife. Four days since I’d kissed her with all the pent-up feelings I’d been carrying for the last month. I couldn’t get it out of my head. The soft glide of her lips against mine, the way she tasted, the way she clung to me at the reception…it rewired my brain chemistry, my body.
Before my heart wenttha-thump…tha-thump…tha-thump…
But now, it sounded likeTess…Tess…Tess…
She and Luke had only been here four days, and this house didn’t feel like mine anymore. It felt like ours.
Luke’s toys were scattered across the floor, and Tess’s makeup was sitting on the bathroom counter next to my shaving stuff. Luke’s little light-up shoes sat by the door, right next to Tess’s bubblegum-pink running shoes and my black ones. Their snacks were in the pantry next to mine. Tess’s clothes were hung up next to mine. Luke’s spot on the couch was next to mine.
It was a complete intermeshing of three people—a family unit.
And God help me, I loved it. Every single part of it.
I actually used my house now instead of just moving between my bedroom and my office. Our nights were spent having dinner at the table and then watching movies Luke picked out, while having a “sweet treat,” as Tess called it. And in the rare moments when Luke fell asleep before Tess was ready for bed, she’d sneak him into bed, and we’d open a bottle of wine. She’d read on her Kindle while I pretended to review cases, sneaking glances at her like a lovesick idiot, until Luke noticed she wasn’t there.
But I was lovesick, and I was an idiot. My pulse would trip over itself when she’d walk into a room. Every time she laughed with Luke, I couldn’t help but laugh too. Whenever I saw my ring on her finger, a swell of possessive pride ran through me. It was stupid of me to think I could have her here, pretend to be her husband, and not fall for her more. Not fall for both of them, honestly.
She was just so…Tess. I loved everything about her. She was neat and tidy. She was fun and played games with Luke. She tiptoed around early in the morning, trying not to wake me up while I slept on the couch. When she’d make her coffee, she’d make a second one for me. I even loved the fact that she snored like a freight train.
It should’ve annoyed me, and I think if it were anyone else, it would. But not her. If anything, I found the wall-rattling sound almost comforting at this point.
Today was the first time I’d been up before her, so I decided to make her coffee for a change. While the espresso beans were grinding, I heard small footsteps creep into the kitchen. Tess shuffled in wearing a tank top and baby pink shorts with Valentine’s Day candy hearts on them.
“Morning,” I said over the whirring of the coffee maker while she went to the freezer. She bent over, and I couldn’t help but notice the yellow heart on her ass that saidkiss me. I looked at the counter, clenching my teeth. It was like the universe wasplotting against me. Daring me to push the boundaries of this fake marriage as far as I could.
“Hi,” she grumbled and slumped down on a barstool. She shivered as she ran the ice roller over her face, eyes shut like she was still struggling to wake up.
“Sleep okay?” I asked, looking at her while she couldn’t see. I loved seeing this side of her. The raw and real side that wasn’t done up first thing in the morning. I finished making her coffee and slid it towards her.
“Thank you,” she rasped and brought the glass to her lips. She licked the cold foam off her top lip quickly, and I was jealous that I couldn’t. “Slept terribly,” she sighed.
I chuckled, starting on my own coffee, my back to her. “Really? The way you were snoring all night says different.” When she didn’t say anything, I turned around and knew instantly I’d screwed up. She was staring at the counter, but wasn’t looking at it. Her mind was somewhere else, the ice roller and coffee long forgotten. “Tess?”
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be sorry,” I said, rounding the counter. “I was just teasing. I’m sorry. I really don’t mind it.” I loved it. It meant she was here…with me…where I was starting to think she belonged.
She blinked hard, shaking her head. “No, I know it’s annoying, but I can’t help it,” her voice cracked right along with my heart. I leaned against the counter, trying to see her face, but she had it turned away from me. “My nose was broken three years ago. It didn’t heal right, and I’ve snored ever since.”
My eyes drifted shut, and I wrenched my jaw. If I ever saw Jeremy…no, I didn’t even want to think about it.
Tess sniffled, and she wiped her eyes. “I can try the strips again,” she offered weakly.
I tipped her head back, making her look at me. “No. You aren’t going to change a thing, you’re perfect,” I said, lookinginto her bloodshot eyes. “I meant what I said. I don’t mind it.” I swiped a falling tear off her cheek. “I think it’s cute.”
She swallowed, her eyes searching mine. “Really?” I hated the uncertainty in her voice.
“Yes, sweetheart, really,” I whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Her pupils expanded, and I realized then what I’d done. What I called her.Fuck. I forced my hand away from her face, flexing my fingers at my side.
“You think I’m perfect?” Her voice was breathy, the sound wrapped itself around my heart like a vice.
My heart pounded with indecision. I couldn’t lie and say no, that’d break her heart. But if I told her the truth, there was no going back from it. It could change everything and ruin this happy little bubble we’d created with Luke these last few days. I didn’t want to risk that, but I also refused to hurt her.
