Needing Happily Ever After - Elena Aitken Page 0,17

everything that had come out of her mouth that afternoon had been a lie. But not that.

It really would be amazing to raise a family at ElkView. The house was phenomenal. It was large, sure. But not ostentatious. Despite its size, it felt cozy and she’d always felt comfortable there. Lots of timber and natural stone throughout, it had always reminded Katie of a ski lodge, without the ski hill.

Still, despite the beautiful surroundings and knowing why she was lying, it felt awful. Certainly, Damon and his father had never gotten along very well, but he was a nice man and she didn’t like lying to him.

“I think it sounds wonderful,” Anthony said after a moment. “Where is the ceremony to take place? Because if you haven’t decided on a location yet, I’d love to suggest the patio right here. The view is amazing and—”

“Yes!” Katie jumped on the opportunity because clearly she hadn’t thought out any of the details yet. “It would be perfect to do it here.”

“This is all so crazy.” Damon shook his head. “It’s happening so fast. I mean, I don’t want you to rush the wedding, Katie. I’m sure that Dad will be able to wait—”

“Damon,” she interrupted smoothly. “If your dad wants to see us exchange vows, I don’t see what’s so wrong with that. And no one is rushing anything.”

She smiled as sweetly as she could when Damon turned to look at her, shock written all over his face.

“Katie, I just—”

It was another instantaneous decision, but she did the only thing she could think of to keep him from ruining their whole deception right then and there.

She kissed him.

Katie’s lips. On his.

Katie’s lips.

She was kissing him.

Right there in front of his father.

It took Damon a moment—or two—for his brain to catch up to what was actually happening, but when it did, it caught up with a ferocity.

Katie was kissing him.

Damn.

All these years just being friends, and not once—okay, maybe once…or twice—had Damon actually ever thought about kissing her. After all, you didn’t kiss your friends.

But maybe you did?

No!

His brain was going off on a tangent—a wild one and one that could definitely use a little exploring when he was alone—but it would not serve him to forget exactly what was going on at that moment.

But her lips were soft and she tasted like the tangy crispness of gin with a little lime.

He lifted his hand to her cheek and cupped it gently. And just like that, the kiss was over.

It probably had only lasted mere seconds, but it might as well have been hours because despite the fact that the kiss had been chaste and very G-rated, something had shifted. In a very big way. Katie had kissed him. And damned if he didn’t want her to do it again.

No.

He wanted to kiss her. Up against a wall where his tongue could explore every inch of her mouth. Where he could suck on her bottom lip, maybe nip it a little. Where he could feel her breath coming short and fast against his chest. Where he—

“Damon?”

Katie’s voice jerked him back into reality and the moment at hand.

He blinked slowly and Katie’s face, different somehow now, came into focus.

“Having the ceremony at ElkView will be perfect, won’t it?”

The ceremony. The wedding.

Her kiss had distracted him completely from what had just happened. Had they really agreed to get married in three days? That was very different than a pretend engagement. A real wedding was something completely different.

“We have so much to do.” Katie was still talking. Something in her eyes flashed, as if she were trying to convey a message to him. Slowly, his brain caught up with what was happening and why they were there in the first place. “And it will be extra special because ElkView will be our home, too.” She flashed a smile and somehow Damon made the connection. He was going to get ElkView. He was going to meet his father’s ridiculous conditions and buy his childhood home. And it was all because of this woman.

He shook his head in silent wonder and smiled. “That’s great.”

“It really is.” Katie turned. “Thank you, Mr. Banks. It really does mean a lot.”

His father waved her gratitude away. “I know it seems like a silly thing,” he said. “And you both must think I’m being ridiculous.”

“Well—”

“Not at all.” Katie cut him off swiftly. “You only want the best for ElkView. I completely understand.” She squeezed his hand. “We both do.”

Somehow they managed to