Evie had definitely over packed, but part of the reason for that was she hadn’t wanted to make any assumptions about the sleeping arrangements. A fake engagement was a far different thing from a real one, and so far away from prying eyes, they wouldn’t need to pretend.

Not that she wouldn’t have been happy sharing a tent with Declan.

It surprised her to think of just how happy she would be with that arrangement. It had been nice to have him around for the last few days. More than nice. It felt right. Normal. And every time he wrapped his arms around her or kissed her, despite the fact that she knew it was just for show, she couldn’t help but feel that there was some truth to it too. At least for her.

It was the last thing she needed with everything going on with Jonah and Tony, but dammed if she wasn’t falling for Declan McCormick.

“Evie?” Declan’s voice brought her back to the moment. She turned to see Declan standing with the poles for his tent in one hand, the fly cover in the other. “Don’t laugh,” he said. “I know I’m not super experienced at all this, but I can’t figure out how this works for the life of me.”

There was no way she wasn’t going to laugh. She left her tent, already set up, and crossed over to him. “What’s going on? Surely you’ve set up a tent before?”

He pretended to be offended. “Of course. But this tent definitely seems to be missing a key piece.”

“And what piece is that?” She bent down to examine the situation, spotting the problem at the same moment that he told her.

“There’s no tent.”

He was right. They had the poles and the fly that covered the top of the tent, but there was definitely no tent in the bag. She straightened up. “I don’t know what to tell you.” She shrugged. “This is our old tent and maybe Jonah was playing with it. Either way, how do you feel about sleeping under the stars?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” He took a step toward her. “But, if I’m not mistaken, there looks like there might be some room in your tent?”

She blushed. Hard.

“After all,” he continued. “We are engaged.”

There was nothing she would like more than to feel the heat of his hard chest pressed up against her back as his arm wrapped around her, holding her tight while they fell asleep in the fresh air. But she had no idea how to tell him that.

“I…there is…if you—”

“It’s fine.” He squeezed her arm and smiled. “I was just teasing. I’m good outside.”

Disappointment flooded her.

It’s not real.

Those words were starting to play like a mantra in her head. And she was really starting to hate it.

“Since I don’t have a tent to set up, I guess I’ll get started building a fire.”

Declan turned away and she released the breath she’d been holding. “Sure. I’ll go find some kindling.”

Evie didn’t go far, but even the little distance from the camp was enough for her to clear her head. It had only been a few days since they’d announced their fake engagement, but there’d been a definite switch in their relationship. Besides the ring on her finger, of course.

It was closer. There was more heat. More tension. More…just more.

She had to constantly remind herself that Declan was just acting, but for the life of her it didn’t feel like acting. It felt real. Especially because with every minute that passed, Evie found herself wanting with all of her heart for it to be real.

She took longer than she needed to gather some sticks, dry grass, and bark that was dry enough to help start the fire. But by the time she started her way back to camp, she had a little bit more clarity on the situation. Declan was a great guy. He had to be, considering what he was doing for her: lying to his whole family, the whole town—everyone. And not just a little lie either—a huge one.

What kind of guy did that for a friend?

The kind of guy who wanted to be more than friends.

No. She had to stop thinking that way. She needed to remember what was at stake, because it was the only thing that mattered. Jonah. Her life. There was no way Tony was going to take it from her, not now. Not after everything.

She needed to get out of her head. She needed to stop thinking about Jonah and Tony and what might or might not happen. There was no point. At least not tonight. She might as well enjoy herself in the woods, especially because it would take her mind off everything.

The mountains always did that for her. Ever since she was a little girl, she would escape to the mountains and into the woods to clear her head and feel better. First with her mom and dad when she was young, and then friends when she was older, and then it was just her and Jonah. Something about being in nature stilled her thoughts. And made her feel better. So many people were surprised when they found out she was a outdoorsy girl, but she liked to surprise people.

Especially Declan. They both had a lot to learn about each other still, and even if it wasn’t ever going to be a real relationship, she knew she was going to enjoy learning everything she could.

She paused at the tree line on the outskirts of their little camp and watched him, bent over the fire pit. She resisted the urge to laugh as he was clearly having trouble getting the fire going. But she didn’t want to intervene, at least not right away. Might as well give him a chance.

But he must’ve heard her, because he turned around and smiled that killer smile of his.

“Are you just gonna stand there and watch me all day?” He sat back and propped his arm up on his knee.

She crossed the space to him and dropped down on the ground next to him, examining his setup in the fire pit

“Well, I’m happy to help. If you want it, that is?” He hadn’t outright asked for her help, and Evie knew enough about men that she knew their pride could be easily hurt. Although she had a feeling that might not be the case with Declan.

“Oh.” He stood and dusted off his pants. “I’m more than happy to accept your help. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I started a campfire.” He shook his head. “That’s actually kind of embarrassing to admit, but I haven’t really had the opportunity. The rules are different in other countries. And, I know this will sound totally stupid, but…I actually have staff for that.”

She burst into laughter because it sounded so pretentious, and so unlike Declan, who was as far pretentious as one could get.

“Don’t laugh at me,” he protested with a laugh of his own. “It’s not like that at all. It’s just…”

“It’s just that you’re too busy saving the world to start fires.”

He smiled and nodded. “That’s exactly it.” He crouched down next to the fire pit again and looked up at her. “So what do you say you give me a few tips?”

There was no way Evie was going to pass up on such a nice request, so she grabbed a stack of the kindling she gathered and went to work building the basis for what could be a strong, hot fire. Declan asked questions as she worked, and she was more than happy to show him what she was doing. When it was time for the match, she handed it to Declan so he could do the honors. Instantly, the dry branches caught the flame and the fire flared to life. Evie bent down and blew gently on the embers before rocking back on her heels to see Declan watching her. She couldn’t fully read the expression on his face, but whatever it was that he was thinking, the look in his eyes made her blush.

---

Declan was learning a lot. It had been a long time since he’d been camping. And even longer since he’d spent so much time alone with a woman he was interested in. Probably because he couldn’t remember the last time he was so interested in a woman.

And he was.

They cooked a simple dinner of hot dogs roasted over the fire, and fresh vegetables that Evie had packed. It wasn’t until the sun started going down that Evie retrieved the bottle of wine she brought in. She poured them each a glass and handed him one before sitting across the fire again.

Declan liked watching the way the reflection of the flames danced against her skin. He never would’ve guessed that she like to spend her free time outdoors like this. But he liked it. A lot. She kept him guessing, that was for sure. The more he learned about her, the more he wanted to because as awesome as he thought she was before, he realized just how incredible the woman was.

“What are you thinking about?” Evie took a sip of her wine.

He had to blink hard to keep from staring as her tongue darted out between her lips to lick up a stray drop. It was an incredibly sensual move, particularly considering she had no idea the effect she had on him. And she did have an effect. A big one. It wasn’t until she asked the question again that he realized he was still staring at her, mesmerized.

He shook his head and blinked hard, needing to look away for a moment. “Sorry,” he said. “I got distracted. What was the question?”

She giggled and it was such a cute and unexpected sound that he instantly wanted her to do it again. Hell, if he could make her giggle for the rest of his life, he would die a happy man.

The thought hit him out of the blue.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked again.

“You really want to know?”

She nodded.

“I was just thinking how your giggle was the sweetest, sexiest sound I’ve heard in a long time.” It was honest, but he hadn’t meant to say it.

Her mouth dropped open and then she quickly brought her hand up to cover it.

“I’m sorry, Evie. I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” she interrupted him. “You don’t need to apologize. I just…you make me laugh, Dec. And I need to laugh right now. Thank you.”

The idea that he could do something for her, even something as small as making her laugh, made him swell up with pride. It turned out he liked doing things for her. He liked it a lot.

He took a sip of his wine. “You don’t need to thank me, Evie.”

“I don’t need to thank you?” She leaned forward and put her arms on her legs. “Are you crazy? Of course I need to thank you. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough. I mean, what you’re doing for me…” Her words trailed off and she dropped her head.

“Evie?”

She shook her head and wouldn’t look up.

Dammit. Was she crying? He wanted to make her giggle. He wanted to make her smile. And laugh. Not cry. The last thing he ever wanted to do was make her cry. Declan put his wine down and moved quickly around the fire pit. He put his hand on her shoulders and pulled her to her feet and right into his arms.

Damn, she felt good in his arms. He dropped his head and inhaled the sweet scent of her.

“Evie, look at me.” When she still wouldn’t look up, he tried again. “Please. Look at me, sweetheart.”

She looked up then. A tiny tear glimmered on her cheek. He wiped it away quickly and because it felt right, pressed his lips gently to hers. It was a soft kiss at first. Just enough to keep her from crying anymore.

He’d never kissed her without an audience watching their performance. This was different. It was real.

She reached up and threaded her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and the kiss deepened.

A small sound escaped her lips and all of a sudden he had a new favorite sound. Everything this woman did just made him want more from her.

Declan didn’t know how long they stood there locked in embrace, lips exploring each other, but it wasn’t long enough when she pulled back and tentatively touched her fingers to her lips. “I didn’t…I wasn’t…that was…”

“Perfect,” he finished for her. “It was perfect.”

She blushed, but her smile told him she absolutely agreed with him. There was no way she couldn’t because that’s exactly what that kiss had been. Perfect.

More so because they hadn’t been performing for anyone. That kiss wasn’t for anyone but them. And damn, if he didn’t want to do it again.

“Can you promise me something?” He waited until she nodded before continuing. “Don’t thank me again.” Before she could protest, he kissed her again. Harder this time. “I’m here because I want to be.”

---

Evie wanted to be there, too. In fact, there was nowhere else she’d rather be than sitting around the campfire, snuggled up with Declan’s arm around her. It felt natural. And when she looked down at her left hand and the way the diamond sparkled in the campfire light, she could almost believe she really was Declan’s fiancée.

How would that feel?

It would feel exactly like it was feeling at that moment.

Perfect.

Evie tipped her head up to the stars and snuggled a little closer to Declan. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.” He stroked her hair lightly, tucking it behind her ear.

“Were you ever going to ask me out?” She wasn’t sure whether it was the wine or the cover of darkness or what it was that had emboldened her, but the question just slipped out.

Evie could feel the rumble in his chest as he chuckled. “Honestly?”

“Of course.”

“I wanted to.”

“But you weren’t going to.”

“No.”

She spun in his arms and looked him in the eyes the best she could in the firelight. “Why not?” she demanded.

He didn’t answer right away, so she added, “Honesty, remember?”

Declan nodded. “Right.” He shifted so he could look at her better. “Well, I think you’re beautiful and smart and sexy.” She felt a special thrill at his words, particularly the last one. “But I also think you’re a very special woman.”

That didn’t make any sense. Those were all reasons he should have asked her out.

He must have seen the confusion in her eyes.

“And that’s why I didn’t ask you out,” he said. “Because you deserve a relationship. A partner. A…” He picked up her left hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “You deserve this. For real.”

“And…”

“And I couldn’t give you that. I didn’t want to ask you out knowing I could never give you what you needed.”

Because he works so hard. Because he travels. Because he’s so busy saving the world. Evie could come up with a million reasons to explain why Declan had kept his distance. Because the truth was, even though she’d asked the question, she didn’t want to know the answer.

It was enough to be with him like this, sharing this time, even if it wasn’t real. It was enough.

It had to be.

“I’m glad you’re giving me what I need now.” The words came out with way more sexual innuendo than she intended, but Evie surprised herself by not caring or being embarrassed at all.

“And what is it that you need, Evie?” Desire shone in his eyes by the glow of the firelight, and in that moment Evie knew without a doubt exactly what she needed.

She reached up around his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair so she could pull his face down to hers. It was her turn to kiss him, and when her lips pressed on to his, and the desire sparked through her body like a firecracker, she didn’t hold back.

---

Damn.

Just. Damn.

Declan knew he was screwed. When her lips touched his, initiated entirely by her, he knew he was in trouble. Because Evie Rose could kiss. Damn, could the woman ever kiss. But it was more than that, too.

There was something behind her touch, behind her kiss that Declan felt deep in his bones.

And that was why he was screwed.

This woman made him feel. He’d known it from the moment he’d met her. Evie Rose was different. She was special. And he’d meant what he’d said: Evie deserved everything. What she didn’t deserve was a man who would kiss her like he meant it, only to take her to bed and in the morning not be able to give her exactly what she needed.

But dammit if that wasn’t exactly what he was going to do.

His hands slipped around her so he could pull her over and onto his lap and kiss her properly. She straddled him, sitting in his lap so that every bit of her pressed against him. His cock hardened at her closeness, throbbing with his need for her.

“Evie.” He tried to stop himself. He couldn’t cross the line. Not with Evie. No matter how much he wanted to. Needed to. “We can’t…we shouldn’t—”

“We should.” She kissed him again. Harder this time as she pressed her body to his. “I don’t want to hear your reasons or excuses or whatever they are, Declan. I’m a big girl and I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions.” She kissed him again, slipping her tongue into his mouth. He groaned and his dick throbbed. “Tell me you want to stop,” she said when she pulled back. “Tell me again how we shouldn’t do this.”

He couldn’t and she knew it.

With a noise somewhere between a growl and a moan, he wrapped his arms around her and flipped her over. He held himself above her with his arms and took a minute to admire her beauty. She was gorgeous—with her lips moist and parted in need, the want reflected in her eyes, her hair spread out around her head. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, he’d wanted her just like this.

He traced his finger down her neck until it disappeared into the cleavage of her shirt. He deftly popped one button, and then another, until her breasts, creamy and white, laid out exposed to him. He groaned his appreciation and traced his finger around the top of her bra, slipping it under and around the edge of the lace.

“Evie?” He forced himself to look up into her eyes one more time. “Once I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”

She blinked hard. “Good.”

That was all he needed. He was done looking for reasons why it couldn’t happen. He was done trying to stop something neither of them wanted to stop and for the life of him, at that moment, with the most gorgeous, sexy woman beneath him, looking up into his eyes with all the need and want written there that he was most certainly reflecting back to her, he couldn’t think of one goddamned reason why it shouldn’t.

He lowered himself to her and kissed first the top of one creamy, perfect breast, and then the next. He slipped his fingers under the lace and found her nipple, hard and sensitive. He squeezed, eliciting a sexy groan as she arched her back with pleasure, while his tongue lavished attention on the other one, sucking and biting. Soon, Evie writhed in pleasure beneath him, wanting more.

And he’d be happy to give her plenty more.

There were too many clothes between them, and he needed to see her. Declan moved quickly, unbuttoning the rest of her shirt and sliding it over her shoulders. The bra, although it showcased her beautiful breasts perfectly, also needed to go. She grinned up at him while he unclipped it and removed it. He stopped in his clothing removal for a moment and gave her tits the care they deserved, lavishing attention on each one in turn until her hands finally reached out and started undoing his belt.

“Your turn,” she said. “Too many clothes.”

“I can’t argue with that.” Declan pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. Evie whistled in appreciation and he laughed before he stood to remove his jeans. In one move, he relieved himself of his jeans and his underwear. Evie didn’t whistle this time, but her eyes grew wide and her chest heaved with each deep breath.

Before he could lower himself again, Evie wiggled out of her jeans. Her body glistened in the firelight and Declan was sure it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

At least until she propped herself up on her elbows, crooked one finger and beckoned him. “Come here,” she said with a glint in her eye. “Now.”

Declan didn’t have to be told twice. He dropped his knees to the ground; she wrapped her arms around him and slid her hands along his bare back. The feeling of her hot, naked body against his skin was almost too much.

Almost.

“You are so beautiful.” He kissed her stomach, working his way up her body, taking his time to enjoy her. To taste her. But not too much time, his cock reminded him.

Her hands gripped him; squeezing his flesh, she pulled him to her until he was poised, ready. And was he ever.

Declan didn’t even need to ask because all of the answers were clear in her eyes and the way she moved under him.

When he finally, slowly entered her, he was almost completely lost at once. Never in his life had he felt the way he did at that exact moment. The power of it threatened to consume him, but somehow he managed to retain his control. After a moment, he started to move, slowly at first, basing his movements on her reactions. When she closed her eyes and tipped her head back, he increased his pace and when finally he felt her tighten around him, her fingers digging harder into his back and her whole body tightening beneath him, he released the grip he had on his control. But not before doing one more thing.

“Evie.” His voice came in pants. “Open your eyes.” On the edge of her own climax, she shook her head, unwilling to break focus, but he wasn’t going to allow it. “Evie. Look at me.”

She did so then. Her eyes fluttered open and their gaze locked together. A moment later, Declan felt his own release imminent and, looking into each other’s eyes, they crashed over the cliff together and Declan knew he was totally and completely lost.