The Small Town Preacher's Fake - Lucy McConnell Page 0,62

this works.” He got in his car and snaked around the potholes to get out of the parking lot. Once on the road, he checked the time. It was after midnight.

He glanced upward and started praying. The only way he was going to get Evie back was if the Lord was on his side. “Dear God, You brought her into my life. Please help me to keep her.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Evie

It was official: Evie hated yarn. She threw off the afghan and wrapped up in the sheet. Another sleepless night on the sofa, and she wasn’t any closer to finding peace than she had when she’d left. Someone really needed to write a book on how to leave your husband who you’d fake married and fallen in love with—a manual would be epic right now.

She got up and went to the kitchen for a cold glass of water. It was too hot in here. That, or she was just plain miserable. She hadn’t shared a bed with Seth, but she missed her room nonetheless. She missed knowing that his door was slightly open, that if she called out, he’d answer.

Car lights flooded the room, and then it dimmed again. Tires crunched on the driveway. What on earth? She got up on her tippy-toes and pushed the curtains aside to see out the window over the sink.

Seth’s car idled, and then the engine cut.

Her heartbeat spiked, and she dropped the curtain. He’s here, her heart whispered. She racked her brain for a reason for him to show up besides coming after her, because she didn’t think she could take a letdown. She hadn’t taken anything of his. She hadn’t left anything behind. So …

Her breath caught as a spark of hope ignited. Maybe, just maybe, he loved her. She sucked in her cheeks.

The sound of a car door opening had her sprinting about the room. She hurriedly fixed her hair in the mirror by the front door. At the last second, she pulled a couple of tendrils out to frame her face. She blew into her hand and sniffed. Scrambling for a mint, she chewed ferociously. Her mouth lit on fire with the explosion of peppermint, and she alternately huffed and sucked in air as she scrambled to find her robe.

Just as she was tying it off, there was a small knock on the door. She ran for it, then came up short, not wanting to appear too desperate. Who was she kidding? She was so desperate for this man’s love. She lunged for the handle and yanked the door open, throwing herself at him.

He grunted on impact.

“You came,” she said into his collarbone.

His arms came around her, and he buried his face in her hair.

Tears gathered and fell faster than she could count them. She pulled him tighter and tighter still, relishing the feel of his warm body against hers and the protection she felt in his embrace. He smelled of soap and laundry detergent and him.

He cleared his throat, and when she pulled back, his eyes were shiny—as if he was moved by her affection. She thought back to the times she’d tried to show him that she was a safe place for his heart. The only things she hadn’t done were holding him, touching him, and kissing him. Perhaps that was the key and she’d missed it all along. She ran her hand down the side of his face and paused, feeling his stubble against her palm. Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead against his chin, breathing him in and vowing never to hold back her affection.

“Evie, sweet Evie,” he whispered as he pressed a kiss against her skin. His lips were warm and inviting, sending thrills up and down her whole body. He pushed her back and held her away, his hands on her shoulders. “I have something I have to say.”

She swallowed and nodded, her heart thudding so loudly she could barely make out his words.

“I’m in love with you.”

“Well, I hope so.”

Seth’s head jerked back.

She let out a giggle. It was not the time to laugh, Seth was being so serious, but the sound had burst out just like the smile that split her cheeks. “Sorry. Keep going.” There was more. Her husband was a man of words. As much as she wanted to get right to the kissing part of making up, she’d let him say all the beautiful things he’d planned. He really said the most wonderful things.

He shook his head slightly, as if