25
Megan peeked over at Adam and got to see the color drain from his face. She had to keep going or she would never be able to finish. “It was our wedding night. I was to sleep in the bedroom, and Adam had agreed to be on the couch. I was tense from the stress of the fake wedding, so Adam offered to massage my shoulders.”
A few ladies in the audience made noises of approval. Who wouldn’t? Adam was all hunk. She was sure they were imagining him giving them a massage. She pushed away a smile. “We talked for a few minutes, but as our conversation turned more intimate, I grew uncomfortable.”
Adam looked like he wanted to crawl under his chair. She hated embarrassing him like this, but she had to get everyone to understand.
Penelope rubbed her hands together. “Then what happened?”
Adam leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. She was hurting him. She had to get the rest out. “Adam admitted to me that he had really fallen in love with me.”
The audience froze, and the silence was deafening. Megan clenched her hands and tried to muster up her courage. “I freaked out. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I couldn’t handle his admission at that time. I clammed up. And when he asked me if I felt anything for him, I couldn’t admit my true feelings.”
Adam’s head snapped up, his blue eyes meeting hers in a piercing stare.
“Are you saying that you have feelings for Adam as well?”
It felt like everyone in the room was holding their breath, waiting for Megan to speak. “I do.”
The room exploded in noise, and Penelope once again had to quiet everyone. “Are you in love with him?”
Megan stared at Adam, his body tense waiting for her answer, like a panther watching his prey. “Yes.”
He jumped from his chair and snatched her up in a crushing hug. Before she knew it, his lips were on hers, with an intensity she’d never felt from him before. When she pulled back, he said, “You’d better not be playing me, Megan Holloway.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “I’m not. I tried to tell you, but you’d left and wouldn’t answer my calls.”
Adam picked her up and swung her around, planting another passionate kiss on her. “You sure know how to make a guy sweat.”
Penelope laughed along with the rest of the room. “If you two love birds could sit again, I do have a few more questions.”
Megan pried herself away from Adam and sat. Adam took her hand in the warmth of his own. A montage of videos of them kissing displayed on the screen. Penelope motioned to the television. “America watched your passionate kisses. How did it feel, kissing Adam like this but not realizing that he was actually falling in love with you?”
“I was confused. My heart was falling for him, but in my head I knew we were supposed to be acting for the camera. Except his kisses were intoxicating.”
Adam grinned at that, and wiggled his eyebrows.
“When did you finally admit to yourself that you were in love with him?”
Megan pursed her lips in thought. “I didn’t allow myself to realize it until Kyle came right out and asked me. Then it hit me. I knew I had fallen for him.”
Penelope’s eyebrows drew together. “I don’t remember Kyle asking you about Adam.”
“They cut that part. Probably because it made it obvious who I would choose.”
“That makes sense. Now, I only have one more question.” Penelope looked between the two of them. “What are you going to do now?”
Adam spoke before she had the chance. “We’re going to go on a proper honeymoon!”
The audience laughed, and Penelope shook her head, though she was smiling. “Now, Adam, loving someone and marrying them are two separate things. Are you sure Megan wants to make that kind of commitment right now?”
He turned to her, his eyes pleading. He slipped from his chair and got on one knee. The audience cheered, then quieted down so they could hear. Megan’s heart jumped into her throat.
“I know we’re already married, but you deserve a proper proposal.” He took both of her hands. “Megan Holloway, I fell in love with you so completely, I can’t imagine my life without you. Even though you enjoy putting me through torture…” He paused, glancing around at the studio and getting a chuckle from the audience. “My life would never be the same without you.”
She blinked back the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. Adam smiled, and continued. “I would be honored to call you my wife. My real wife. Will you marry me for real?”
A few shouts of approval echoed through the room before everyone held their breath, waiting for Megan to answer. She squeezed his hands, butterflies tickling her stomach. “Yes.”
The crowd went nuts. Adam pulled her up for another embrace. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me,” he whispered in her ear.
And then the audience melted away as he gave her another toe-curling kiss.