mom. Lied because she felt ashamed for being so unwanted. Undesired. Flawed enough that her own mother didn’t want her.
So here it was again. Round two. Now Justine had set herself up to look more pathetic than ever. Making up lies about being loved and adored by someone else. This time a man who’d sworn to marry her. And yet there was no such man.
Or was there?
A gasp pulled from her throat as she recalled Burke’s offer. There was a way out of this. There really was. There was a man who’d offered to help her. Offered to keep up the charade—and how very good he was at it.
One who did, in fact, want to spend time with her. Who cared if it was only to have a little noncommittal make out session beside the bonfire? She’d enjoy it as much as he would.
Sparks of delicious heat fluttered through her tummy at the image that brought to mind. Burke’s beautiful mouth on hers. His touch, his closeness, his affections. Charade or no—Justine suddenly craved it more than ever.
Just why had she been so adamantly against the idea before? What would be the harm in it?
To ensure she was being responsible, Justine took a moment to draft a list in her mind. She’d make two, actually. Pros and cons, starting with the pros.
1. It would make Wilfred very happy to see how loved she must be, for Burke to be willing to change his plans and all.
2. Vindication. This was definitely the bigger, more self-serving reason to go through with it. Just one glance at the godlike creature of Burke Richards and Brittany would be drooling clear down the front of her stretchy skirt.
The image sparked a deep thrill in her chest. Inviting warm, bubbly tingles, and something that felt an awful lot like joy. A wide grin spread over her face.
Yes. Justine wanted that moment so bad she could taste it. Debbie would meet him too, probably fanning her face all the while, and the rest of the town too.
Sure, she wouldn’t go on to marry Burke, but at least the people in town would know she’d been loved by him. Maybe she could even claim to be the one who ended things, saying she didn’t want to live in the city and he didn’t want to live in the country. Or maybe she’d say he was willing to move there for her, but he’d be giving up too much of himself, so she’d selflessly set him free.
When Justine considered that end of things, the high was harder to feel. Think about that part later, Justine. For now, she could focus on the great things that would come of it. Which brought her to the next pro.
3. She’d get more time with Burke.
At that thought, the inner warmth dropped to a place low in her tummy. Her dream came back to her then, the heavenly feel of his lips on her skin. Yes. Double yes. Spending more time with Burke was exactly what she needed. And deserved, actually.
A quick glance at her rearview said no one was coming down the road behind her. She moved her foot to the brake now, increasing pressure as she made her way to the side of the road. Another traffic check in each direction, and soon Justine was flipping the truck around and accelerating in the opposite direction.
Burke was at Mrs. Walsh’s cabin, was he? Easy enough. She knew right where that was. Everyone knew right where it was. Heck, it was one of the nicest cabins in all of town and it sat empty more days than not.
She’d go straight there, knock on his door, and ask him if he’d meant what he said. If he had—if he was, indeed, willing to play the role—she’d walk into the weekend’s events with her super successful and incredibly handsome fake fiancé on her arm. Right or wrong, truth or lies, she was tired of suffering over it all. For once, she’d focus on something she never had before—exoneration.
Chapter 13
The creek was nothing more than a dark blur as Burke held his fishing pole in place. Dumb automated backyard light. Every time he went still, the thing flicked off, leaving him in the darkness of the night beside the creek.
He hopped off the stump and waved an arm wildly in the air to trigger the sensor.
A small click sounded as the bright light flicked back on, casting a distant glow over the area before him.