Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Abby

Amber: So why were you in a chapel with Rafe Mendoza?

Amber: Did you actually get married?

Amber: I haven’t been on social media and only just now got your DM.

Amber: Abby, this is important! Why were you in Vegas with Rafe and then sent me a message and picture about being married?

Amber: Abigail! If I have to hunt you down to get some answers, I will.

I nearly dropped my phone as I read Amber’s texts. I didn’t remember sending anyone pics or messages. And given everything that had happened lately with Katie—Nolan’s ex had been bullying her and getting her fans to troll Katie—I’d been avoiding social media in general.

But I quickly opened the right app and, sure enough, I’d sent a message to Amber with the picture I’d deleted and a note about being hitched. Something about it being fun and how it’d keep Aunt Lori from asking me questions about San Jose.

The fact I’d contacted Amber wasn’t a surprise. Out of the BFF Circle, she could keep a secret the best. Emmy was pretty good too, but these days I felt guilty about asking her to keep things from West. And even drunk, I’d probably remembered that.

Of course, my messages now complicated things because Amber would want to talk about it. Plus, she would also watch everything Rafe and I did closely.

Resisting a sigh, I blurted, “She knows about our wedding.”

Rafe was at my side in the next second. “Who?”

“Amber King.” I explained about drunk messaging her and added, “We’re going to have to rope her into our master plan, to some degree.”

“Why?”

“Thinking about it, this could be a good thing. Amber can say she knew about us. Combined with Emmy knowing about my childhood crush—yes, you were right about that part and only that part—my family might buy it better.”

“Buy what better, though? Have you remembered the night we got married?”

I wished. All I remembered were fuzzy moments of laughter. “Not yet. However, I might have a story that’ll please my family. We can say that we kissed, had explosive chemistry, and ended up getting married in Vegas as a spur-of-the-moment type of thing.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You want to tell your aunt that we got horny after a kiss?”

I rolled my eyes. “You must not know my aunt very well. You haven’t been to many dinners at our house, but she full-on teases Beck, West, and Nolan about breaking beds now that they’ve found love.” He looked dubious, so I added, “Do you really want me to show you some of the texts she sent? They’d make anyone blush.”

“Er, no. I believe you.”

I smiled. “Maybe I should show you a few, just so you get to know my family better.”

“I can get to know your family without reading your aunt’s lust-filled messages.”

I laughed. “You’ll get a few soon enough. She’ll add you to the group chat before you can blink.”

“Maybe I’ll keep a second phone, one for emergencies, and then I can ignore the other one.”

“She’ll just ask you about her comments when you next see her. Aunt Lori loves teasing and annoying us with emojis. And since she helped raise us, putting up with it is the least we Wolfe siblings can do.”

Sometimes I forgot about how much my aunt had given up to take care of us. After her husband had been killed in action—he’d been a Navy SEAL—she’d moved to Starry Hills to live with us kids and our mom.

He grunted. “Okay, now I’ll feel like a dick if I try to ignore her.”

After searching his gaze, I said softly, “You’re a much sweeter person than you let on, Rafe. Aren’t you?”

“On second thought, maybe I should get that second phone…”

I could tell he was teasing and did my best not to smile. “Well, you can try, but she’ll find out your second number. From me.”

He narrowed his eyes, and I batted my eyelashes, acting all innocent.

Just as Rafe opened his mouth, my phone beeped again. And again.

A quick peek told me that Amber hadn’t given up, and I said to Rafe, “I need to answer her or she’ll just keep messaging me.” After typing a quick reply, I met his gaze. “I’m going to talk with her tomorrow, so we need to figure out what our marriage will look like to the outside world. Will we be the kind of couple who touches all the time? Holds hands? Or will we be the type who only show affection in private? Maybe somewhere in between?”

I knew what I wanted, even if it’d be dangerous. But I wasn’t about to blurt that I longed to hold Rafe’s hand again.

Even if it’d probably lead to another “moment” and us nearly kissing.

Not for the first time, I wished I could remember the night we’d gotten married.

He replied, “It’s going to take more than an hour or two to figure things out. So we’ll sketch out the basics today and after you talk with Amber tomorrow, we can practice being a couple in private.”

At his heated gaze, a jolt shot through me and ended between my thighs. Part of me wanted to know if he would kiss me, strip me, and make love to me. You know, just so we didn’t have to lie about the wedding being consummated.

Like that even mattered in modern day. And yet, if it would make the marriage even more legal, I’d be willing to strip and fulfill a long-held fantasy of mine.

It would only be sex, and nothing else. My heart was off-limits. But nothing said I couldn’t have a little fun.

Anything to erase Travis’s criticisms and manipulations and maybe finally banish his words about me not being very good in bed.

Rafe stepped closer, stopping about a foot away from me. He was only an inch or two taller, and yet he made me feel smaller and more delicate for once. Having height, wide hips, and extra weight often made me feel like a giant who’d break any man if I rode him.

You’re sexy and a catch. Don’t let Travis’s words hurt you further.

Which was easier said than done.

Rafe lifted his hand and traced my cheek with his forefinger. I leaned into his touch, and when he cupped my face, I closed my eyes and sighed. His hands were big and warm and a little rough.

But more than that, being near him felt…safe. Which didn’t make any sense.

His voice was lower than before as he said, “I won’t bring up past women unless I have to, but it’s common knowledge that I always touch and hold and show affection to any woman that I’m with. So I’ll have to touch my wife in public, Abigail. Often.”

The way he said my full name, deep and growly, made my eyes fly open. But his expression was unreadable, even as he stroked my cheek.

His eyes were a deep brown, almost black, and he had some of the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen on a man. It nearly made me smile, as it was a huge contrast to his rugged jaw, chiseled cheekbones, and faint dusting of scruff on his face.

Scruff that would tickle my inner thigh as he licked my pussy.

Holy crap, how was I ever going to fall asleep being in a bed only a few rooms away from his? The whole marriage consummation thing was starting to look more like a necessity, otherwise I’d never get anything done.

I finally croaked, “Okay.”

His eyes searched mine. “If I ever make you feel uncomfortable, you tell me. Poke me, step on my foot, or whatever to signal for me to stop, and I will.”

For a second, I merely stared at him. My past experiences with men, even beyond Travis, had often involved creative ways to avoid an unwanted touch or kiss.

Maybe you’ve been with the wrong men.

Even so, I wasn’t about to instantly throw down my barriers and think Rafe really wanted to be married to me.

Cynical AF Abby, that’s what I needed to be.

“Get too handsy, and I’ll punch you in the balls.”

He blinked. “Noted.”

“My brothers are overprotective, too. All five of them. Think you can handle that?”

“If you’re trying to scare me away, it won’t work, Abigail. Over the years, I’ve had to face hundreds of adrenaline-filled men on the pitch. I can handle your brothers.”

“Ah, but those men were merely playing a game. I’m their only sister.”

“Just a game? Are you trying to start another argument?”

“Well, technically, it is just a game. Sure, you got paid millions of dollars to play it. But at the end of the day, the world won’t collapse without soccer. Oh, sorry, football. ”

His hand darted to my side, and he tickled me. I squealed and tried to get away, but he merely followed me until he had me pinned against the counter.

As soon as his front touched mine, his fingers stilled, and I quieted. His heat and scent surrounded me, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around his neck, pull his head down, and kiss him.

Would it be hard and desperate? Or slow and lingering?

Would it be better than when I’d kissed him in my dreams?

Would it make me forget about everything and everyone but him?

Time passed slowly, like hours, and eventually Rafe cleared his throat and backed away from me. “I think we can act the part of a married couple just fine. The dinner is in three days, so we have time to practice some more. Well, a little. I have some meetings with my other head trainer and a walkthrough to do with the contractors.”

“Oh, right. Your business.” I bit my bottom lip and hesitated.

“Ask me, Abigail. Always at least ask.”

“Can I see where the tutoring section will be?”

He nodded. “It’s not finished yet, but in a way, that’s good. You can tell me what needs to be changed and I’ll see it done.”

“Just like that?”

“Of course. You know more about teaching than me, so why wouldn’t I listen to you? And don’t worry about the costs. That section is partly a gift to the students of Starry Hills, and I want to give them the best.”

I should say thank you, make an excuse, and then head home.

However, I blurted, “You seem to love this town. So why did you stay away for so long? And don’t say because you were busy with your career. Growing up, you doted on Emmy. You laughed hard with West, and even Beck. And then you left and didn’t come back for over a decade. Why, Rafe? Why did you abandon everything that once mattered to you?”