One year later…

It’s a beautiful Friday afternoon. After a week of non-stop rain, the weather’s finally cleared up. The sky is periwinkle blue and there’s not a cloud in sight.  Of course, the traffic on the 400 is stop-and-go, but like they say, you win some, you lose some.

Cam hates being stuck in traffic, so I’m behind the wheel of the Porsche. If I drive, I thought, at least I won’t have to hear him bitch about idiot drivers who don’t tie down their canoes properly.

I didn’t realize that there would be another benefit.

Cam’s fingers trail down my arm. “I like this dress,” he says, his eyes lingering appreciatively on my cleavage. My insides clench at his fiery gaze. “Blue’s a good color on you.”

His fingers move from my arms to my thighs. The sundress has ridden up almost to mid-thigh, leaving my legs bare and exposed. His voice deepens as he caresses my skin. “Did you do as I asked?”

No panties, he’d ordered with a wicked gleam in his eye. If I have to be stuck in traffic, you’re going to make it worth my while.

“Maybe,” I reply, keeping my tone nonchalant. “Maybe not.”

His lips turn up in a grin. “There’s only one way to find out for sure…” he says, his tone teasing. He slides his hand between my inner thighs, and I inhale sharply as he touches me with whisper-soft strokes.

“Cam,” I warn him, as a familiar need fills my body, “I’m driving your car. You don’t want me to crash it.”

“It’s just a car,” he says with a smile. “Surely you know that by now, Mads.”

I look at the man at my side, love overflowing in my heart. I’d given up on dating, given up on finding someone that ever made me feel. Then I found Cam again, and I discovered what happily-ever-after feels like.

And it feels amazing.  

Misti is in her junior year in college. Cameron offered to pay for her to go to school in Toronto, but she declined. I think she’s seeing someone in Calgary, but she won’t tell me what’s going on. I’m not too worried; she’s roommates with Jenna, who’ll keep her out of trouble. The two of them are flying in tomorrow to spend a week with us at the cottage. I see the two of them fairly often--Cam makes sure of it--but I still miss my baby sister.

As I’d foreseen, my father tried to wheedle money out of Cam. We refused. “We’ll pay for rehab, if you’ll go,” I told him. He called me an ungrateful brat who thought she was too good for her family. We haven’t been in touch since. Somewhat predictably, he is back in jail, this time for a parole violation.

Things are more complicated with Cam’s family.

When Cam found out about his father’s latest attempt to pay me off, he evicted him from the house and cut him out of his life. Cameron’s grandfather is still in contact with Joseph Drake, as is Emily, but I haven’t seen Cameron’s father for a year now.

I would like to pretend that I want Cam to be reunited with his father, but I can’t lie. Joseph Drake has never apologized for what he did, and until he does, Cameron won’t entertain any suggestion of a reconciliation.

While Cameron’s relationship with his father has eroded, his relationship with his grandfather has strengthened. Edward Drake had been horrified when Cameron pointed out how he’d treated his paralyzed daughter. Once Emily had regained consciousness, the two of them had a long heart to heart. None of us know the particulars of that conversation, but the cottage isn’t for sale anymore, not to Ryder, Cameron or anyone else. Edward Drake rewrote his will to ensure that on his death, Emily will inherit the cottage that is so dear to her heart.  

Once that decision was made, tensions decreased dramatically and the family started to heal. The cottage has become a place of warmth, fun and laughter. We spent Thanksgiving there last year, and had a surprisingly wonderful time.

“Penny for your thoughts, Maddie.”

Cameron’s fingers are just inches away from my clitoris. My nipples harden and my muscles tense in anticipation of his touch.

God, I’m lucky.

By the time we get to the cottage, stars are shining in the night sky. Ryder, Zoe, and baby Charlotte are there already, as is Emily and her caregiver Jenny.

Ryder and Cameron greet each other cordially. I hug Emily and Zoe and coo over Charlotte. “She’s become so big,” I marvel, picking up the nine-month old. “Look at her.”

“She’s crawling now,” Zoe says. “She’s a little menace.”

I cuddle the baby. “When’s Edward getting in?”

“In the morning,” she replies. “Noah’s bringing him up. Your sister is on her way too, isn’t she?”

I nod, only half-listening to Zoe. Cameron stretches languidly, his t-shirt riding up, exposing his hard abs, and I ogle shamelessly. Mmm.

Zoe says something to me, and I don’t catch a single word. “Sure,” I reply vaguely, and she bursts into a peal of laughter.

“Maddie,” she teases me. “Do you know what you just agreed to do?”

Oh dear. I move Charlotte’s little fist away from my earrings and give Zoe a rueful look. “I wasn’t listening,” I confess, stating the obvious.

Her lips twitch. “Because you were too busy checking out Cameron.”

Cameron hears us. “You ladies talking about me?” His eyebrow lifts. “Should I be flattered or afraid?”

“Flattered,” Zoe giggles. “So, you guys, have you eaten dinner? There are leftovers in the fridge.”

I’m about to reply that I’m starving, but Cameron shakes his head. “Maddie and I were going to take a walk,” he says.

We are? I give Cam a puzzled stare, but he avoids my gaze. “Right,” I murmur, my heart lurching.

We head outside. A full moon shines down on us, and the water laps at the shore in silvery waves. The night air is warm and balmy. Holding hands, we walk along the tree-lined pathway to the dock. Cameron is quiet. “Is everything alright?” I ask him, a little nervous at the way he’s acting.

“Between us?” He bumps my shoulder companionably. “Of course, Maddie. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Because you’re being a little weird?”

His teeth flash in the dark. “Nice night, don’t you think?”

We reach the shimmering lake. Normally, I’d kick off my flip-flops and wade into the water, but right now, I’m too exasperated with Cam. “Cut it out,” I tell him, turning toward him, but freeze when I notice he’s down on one knee and he’s holding a ring in his hand. The same ring he gave me before.

Oh. My. God.

“Maddie,” Cameron says, “Ten years ago, I saw this ring in an antique store, and I knew it was perfect for you.” He swallows. “When we broke up, I couldn’t bear to get rid of it. I put it in a box, and I thought I could forget. And then you came back into my life.”

My eyes fill with tears. There’s some sadness for the years we spent apart, but mostly, they’re happy tears. Against all odds, we found each other again.

“I love you, Maddie. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Laughing with you, loving you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I squeak out, giddy with joy. I sink down on my knees and throw my arms around him, almost knocking him off balance. The two of us collapse in a laughing heap on the deck, my body on top of his. “I love you, Cam.”

Cam puts his arm around my waist, and tightens his grip. His voice dances with amusement. “I’m going to take that as a yes on the proposal.”

I kiss him, molding my body against his, feeling his erection against my thigh. He slides the ring on my finger. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. This feels so right. Like coming home.

“Yes,” I whisper. “That’s definitely a yes on the proposal.”

Last year, when Cameron gave me this ring, I was terrified about the future. Not anymore. Now, all I can feel is joy that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man. We waited nine years for our happily-ever-after. I snuggle into the arms of the man I love. “I think we should celebrate,” I mutter, moving my body closer to his.

He chuckles, reading my mind perfectly. “Here on the dock? Anyone could walk by at any moment.”

“True.” Reluctantly, I abandon my thoughts of jumping him, disentangle myself from his grip and clamber to my feet.

“Shall we head to the bedroom?” he continues with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Like you said, we do need to celebrate.”

I grin at him, wide and happy, and look at the ring he slipped on my finger.

Against all odds, we got a second chance. This time, I’m not letting Cameron go. This time, it’s real and it’s forever.

* * *

Lovely reader, thank you for reading Fake Fiance.

If you enjoyed this story, may I recommend checking out my contemporary romance story MAX? It’s a friends-to-lovers romance that’s light-hearted and funny. Flip the page for an extended preview of MAX.