Sean opened one eye when he heard Macy's mother call out her name. He lifted his head, looking toward the bedroom door and saw Rose standing there with one fist on her hip.
"You too, Sean,” she said. “I'm not holding breakfast a minute longer. Now up with the both of you!"
She winked at him before pulling the door shut behind her as she left. Sean looked over at Macy, grinning when he saw her. The sheet was barely covering her bottom, her long legs exposed to the hip. The night before replayed in slow motion in his mind's eye and he felt himself stir at the images. He'd taken her until their bodies were too spent to move. He lost count of the times he'd had her and knew if he never got another chance to love her, he'd have last night to sustain him. He wondered how she'd react to it this morning, though. It was easy to not think about it last night. The wine had a lot to do with it but even he wasn't naive enough to blame it completely on his inability to control himself while buzzed. Truth be known, he'd wanted her, just as he'd said he did. Wanted her and, thanks to the wine, had the guts to tell her so. She'd happily reciprocated his advances but now he worried she'd think he took advantage of her. Did he? Did he let his inebriated state of mind sway his judgment? He hadn't forced her, she said yes and clearly participated in their love play, but was she too drunk to know what she was doing?
A wave of guilt big enough to make him queasy washed over him and settled in his stomach. Would she wake hating him? Hating what he'd done to her? Would all those brothers downstairs skin him alive when they found out what he'd done?
"If we don't get moving soon, she'll be back,” Macy mumbled.
Sean focused his gaze on the back of her head. “I figured as much."
She moved then, grabbing the sheet and pulling it up her back, tucking the end under her chin before sighing. “I think we got a little drunk last night."
"Yeah,” he said. “A little."
She moved her head, burrowing into the pillow. “Is the morning after always this embarrassing?"
"I wouldn't know. I've never slept with a woman I wasn't already in a relationship with."
"Me either,” she said. “Uh, with a man, I mean. I've never…"
Sean chuckled and reached across the bed, laying his palm to her back. “I knew what you meant,” he said. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her shoulder. “And you have nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything, I should be the one embarrassed for taking advantage of the situation."
She turned over then, looking up at him. “You didn't take advantage of me, Sean."
"No?” he said, raising one eyebrow. “Sure feels like it."
"Well, I was here too, you know. I remember how it all went down."
"Too much wine and cares thrown out the window?"
She grinned and nodded. “Yeah. Something like that."
He stared at her for long seconds before smiling. “You're not pissed at me then?"
She shook her head, looking away from his face before she blushed a pretty shade of pink and diverted her gaze. “No."
He grinned. “No? Then why are you blushing?"
She jerked the sheet up over her head before mumbling, “Let's get up and go to breakfast before mom comes back."
"Not until you tell me why you're blushing."
She laughed and held the sheet tighter. “You're naked, Sean."
He looked down at himself, noticing not an inch of the sheet covered him. He was bare ass naked, sprawled across the bed in all his glory. Had Rose seen him like that as well? He laughed before leaning toward her and tugging on the sheet. “Think your mom will be blushing when I look at her as well?"
Macy laughed, her shoulders heaving. “Oh god! I can't believe this is happening. My pretend boyfriend just flashed his goods to my fifty-eight year old mother."
"Well, chances are, she'll forgive you for being late for breakfast now."
The sheet fell away from Macy's eyes enough for her to look at him. He could tell by the wrinkles around them that she was smiling. “Don't think she isn't going to be mad at you just because you look good naked."
Sean raised an eyebrow at her. “You think I look good naked?"
"Oh god!” she yelled, jerking the sheet back over her head. “Put some clothes on and go downstairs so I can get dressed."
"What? You're not going to let me see you naked now? I want to make sure what I remember seeing is the real thing and not some alcohol induced hallucination."
"You're not seeing me naked,” she said. “Now get dressed."
Sean laughed and crawled from the bed and grabbed a change of clothes. He tossed them on the end of the bed before looking at Macy and grinning. She was still lying there with the sheet over her head.
He shook his jeans out and stepped into them before pulling them up. When he grabbed the waistband to snap them, he looked into the mirror mounted on Macy's wall. She was watching him, the sheet pulled down just enough to show him those big blue eyes of hers. He bit back a smile and continued dressing, ignoring her best he could. When he sat down on the bed to pull on his socks, he said, “Okay, you can look now. I'm dressed."
She lowered the sheet, her cheeks once again stained pink. “This is really awkward."
"Only if you think so,” he said, grabbing his shoes. He slipped them on before bracing his hands on his knees and looking over at her. “We can either pretend it didn't happen and move on or know it did and ignore it. Which ever you prefer."
She shrugged her shoulder and looked at him.
"All right then.” He grinned and stood. “I'm going to go on down. Hurry and dress. I don't want to be left alone with your mom too long. Hard to tell what she'll say now that I know she's had a good look at my package.” He winked at her, watching her roll her eyes before walking to the door and leaving.
Macy willed herself not to blush as she entered the dining room. Everyone was there, already eating. She crossed the room, taking her seat beside of Sean and smiled at him when he poured her juice and winked at her. She filled her plate, spearing a fried potato with her fork when Derek said her name.
"Macy, did no one ever tell you how thin these walls are in the house?"
She scrunched her brows, not sure what he was talking about. Her mother said, “Derek!” before the others laughed.
"There's certain things in life a man never wants to know,” Derek said. “And knowing my baby sister is having sex in the room beside me is one of them. You should have waited until your wedding night."
"She's lived with the man for two years,” Pam said. “It's a little late for that."
Macy stared at them, watching the grins as the others snickered and made crude comments. She glanced at Sean and noticed, for once, his face was red. Letting her gaze land on every person at the table, they were all smiling, except her daddy. His face was just as red as Sean's was.
"Oh my God,” she whined before dropping her fork and staring at her plate. Her family heard them last night? Having sex? How loud were they?
"Don't worry, Sis,” Matt said. “No one knows but us."
She looked back up at him and shook her head. A dozen people knew and that was twelve too many! Being embarrassed in front of Sean seemed ridiculous now. That had been a piece of cake compared to this.
"Stop teasing your sister,” Rose said. “Or you boys will be on dishes duty for the rest of the week."
The guys snickered and continued eating, ignoring her. Macy's breakfast didn't look nearly as appetizing now. She looked at her mother, watching the woman wink at her before glancing at Sean. “This can't be happening,” she whispered.
Sean moved his hand, resting it on her thigh under the table. He squeezed lightly until she looked up at him. That one look told her everything would be fine. Her family was just teasing her and she knew he was right. It's what the boys did. She smiled back at Sean and nodded her head before turning back to her food. They were nearly finished eating when her mother gasped and stood up quickly. Her eyes were wide and she was smiling at Grandma Avery. When she turned that happy gaze on her, dread settled in the pit of Macy's stomach. Whatever her mother just thought of, wasn't good. She could feel it.
"Macy!” her mother said. “I have the best idea!"
"Oh no,” Bruce said. “This can't be good. She's got that look in her eye."
Greg nodded and laid his fork down. “The one that says, ‘I'm about to make your life miserable but you better play along regardless?’”
"Yeah. That one."
"Oh be quiet, both of you,” Rose said before turning her attention back to Macy. She grinned and that feeling of dread Macy felt multiplied. “I just had the most wonderful idea."
Macy glanced at the others, watching them shake their heads before looking back at her mother. “What kind of idea,” she said, hesitantly.
"Well,” Rose said, beaming. “Since Grandma Avery is with us this year and her health isn't all that great, and Sean did just ask you to marry him, why don't you get married now! It'll be a Christmas none of us will ever forget."
The silence was deafening. Not a noise was heard other than the wind whistling past the windows. The kids had even stopped eating to look at the adults and listen to what was going on. Macy stared at her mother's smiling face before chancing a glance at the others. Shock was evident on their faces but gradually, she saw them all smile and turn to look at her. “Ma… married?” Macy said, weakly.
"Yes,” Rose beamed. “It's not like you haven't been living together for years anyway. You're practically married now. A ceremony is just a way to make it all legal at this point. Why not do it now, surrounded by your family?"
She had her there. Macy gulped and stared at her mother's face. Was she serious? She wanted them to get married? Now?
The gleam in her mother's eye told her she was.
Her pulse started racing seconds later. She snuck a glance at Sean and noticed his eyes were wide, his gaze locked on her mother. What had they done! “Um, that's a nice idea, Mom,” Macy said, hoping her voice didn't tremble as much as she thought it did. “But we just got engaged. It's a little premature to talk about wedding plans at this point."
"Why?” Rose said. “You're engaged. Talking about the wedding is exactly what people do when that happens."
"Oh,” Macy said, not knowing what else to say.
"All we need is someone to perform the ceremony. What's the name of that man from the church down the road, Gerald?"
"Tim?"
"Yes!” Rose said. “He can do it, I'm sure, and we can do it here, in the house. Your family is already here."
"Uh, yeah,” Macy said. Think, Macy. Think! “Uh, what about our friends?"
"What about them?"
"Well, uh… we'd want them to be here as well,” she said, smiling at her quick answer. She glanced at Sean, and nudged him with her elbow. “Right, honey? We'd want our friends here."
He nodded too rapidly. “Yes. Our friends and… and a church wedding! Macy has always wanted a big wedding.” He leaned back in his chair and draped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to his side. “I couldn't possibly deny her that. It's been her dream."
"Oh,” Rose said, waving a hand in the air to dismiss their response. “You can still have that. We can plan the biggest wedding Charleston has ever seen for later in the year. No one has to know you've already done it. How would they?"
What turned out to be a slight suggestion snowballed into a full-blown arrangement within minutes. Her mother and sister-in-laws went straight to work, hashing out details like something possessed. Macy watched them while her heart raced in her chest. She was too scared to move. To blink. She saw Sean out of the corner of her eye and the shock on his face matched her own. He was just as blown away as she was.
When he turned his head to look at her, she mouthed, “Sorry,” to him before shrugging her shoulder. She didn't know what to do now.
He inhaled deeply and stood, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the front door. He helped her with her coat, slipping his own on before they darted out the door. Once outside, they nearly ran to the woods and to the clearing she'd shown him a few days before. Surrounded by the stillness of the forest, they stared at each other, speechless.
Macy was the first to find the ability to talk. “What do we do now?"
"I have no clue,” he said, rubbing a hand over his head.
Her shoulders sagged. She was hoping he'd have an answer. “I'm sorry."
"For what?” he asked.
"For dragging you into this."
The corner of his mouth twitched into what she assumed was supposed to be a smile. “It's not all your fault, Macy."
"Yes it is."
"No. I'm just as responsible,” he said. “I agreed to this plan to begin with. Hell, it was even my idea to ask you to marry me."
She stared at him, watching him turn his head before sighing. He started pacing the forest floor, long laps that disturbed the pine needles and leaves. He didn't say anything for long minutes but when he stopped and turned to face her, she saw hope shining in his eyes.
"Regardless of what they say or do, we can't get married without a marriage license, right?"
Macy nodded her head at him. “Yes. We have to apply for one."
"Both of us or just one?"
"Um, I'm not sure,” Macy said, shrugging. “I've never bothered to check the laws."
"Well, we can't get married without a license. That much I do know. As long as we don't apply for one, the marriage won't happen."
Macy smiled for the first time in over an hour. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. They couldn't get married without a license and she sure as hell wasn't going to go get one. And neither would Sean.
When they got back to the house and went inside, the sight of her family preparing for the wedding that wouldn't be didn't make her nervous now. It saddened her, instead. They were planning an event that wouldn't take place. She felt bad for lying to them then. For getting them excited over nothing. They were happy because her little white lie had snowballed into a glacier big enough to disrupt their world. They were giddy over the prospects of their baby girl getting married. Married to a man who volunteered to help her out of the goodness of his heart. A man she'd trapped. She turned her head and frowned up at him.
"Don't say it,” Sean said. “Don't even think about it."
"I can't help it,” she whispered. “I feel terrible."
"And how terrible would you have felt telling them you'd lied to them? That we planned this behind their back? You would have ruined their Christmas.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, turning her to face the room before lowering his head to whisper in her ear. “Look at them, Macy. They're happy. Let them have this moment."
She sighed and leaned into him, comforted by his presence. His grip on her shoulder tightened. When he placed a kiss to the top of her head and whispered, “Every thing will be okay. I'll make it all okay,” tears filled her eyes. This wasn't even his mess and he was willing to fix it for her. She not only pulled her parents into her deception but she was doing the same to him. Using him to make herself look less pathetic. She shook off his hold. “I can't do this,” she said, before bolting out of the room and back out the front door.
She heard Sean yell her name moments later and she picked her legs up higher trying to run in the snow. It was still falling, snowdrifts climbing the side of the house and trying to bury their cars. The tears were cold against her cheeks and she was tired before she made it to the back of the house. Sean caught her as she reached her father's workshop, grabbing her around the waist before turning her to face him. One look at the concern etched across his features and the dam broke. She cried, burying her face into his chest when he pulled her to him, his arms wrapping her tight against his body.
He whispered words she couldn't hear clearly into her hair and stroked the back of her head with one hand. When the last tear spilled over her lashes, she sniffled and looked up at him. “I'm being a baby about this, aren't I?"
He smiled. “Not wanting to hurt your family doesn't make you a baby, Macy. It makes you human."
She sighed and studied the front of his shirt, toying with the buttons running down the length of it. “I just wanted them to stop worrying about me,” she said. “That's the only reason I ever told them I had a boyfriend. When they asked who he was…” She shrugged her shoulder and lowered her head. “I didn't know many people then and you're the first person I thought of. I didn't know you very well but I knew enough about you to make it sound like we were a real couple."
"You don't have to apologize, Macy.” She glanced up at him and looked away a moment later. “Truth be told. I'm flattered."
She snorted a laugh. “Flattered some crazy woman has been carrying on an imaginary affair with you for two years?"
Sean lowered his head, leaning down toward her. “Especially flattered at the affair part. What man wouldn't be flattered a beautiful woman has been fantasizing about him for two years?"
"I never said I had been fantasizing about you!” Macy said before laughing.
"So you didn't fantasize about me then? Hmm… how disappointing because I have to admit,” he said, “The thought is too tempting to just let go."
"Stop trying to embarrass me, Sean."
"I'm not. I'm just discussing this affair we've had going on,” he said. “Tell me, since you have something to do a comparison with, was the fantasy me as good as the real thing?"
"Oh Lord,” Macy said, shaking her head. “You're impossible."
He grunted, softly. “That doesn't sound too promising. At least tell me you enjoyed it. I'll be sadly disappointed if my fantasy self wasn't pleasing you the way he should."
Macy looked up and grinned. “You're enjoying this way too much."
"Maybe,” he said. “But those tears have dried up.” To prove his point, he ran the back of one finger down her cheek. “I don't like to see you cry."
The look he was giving her was the same one he gave her in the house, when he was on one knee asking her to marry him. Her heart fluttered, a lethargic warmth stealing over her body. She sighed softly. “Why haven't you ever married?” she asked.
"I haven't ever found the right woman. Well, until yesterday, apparently."
His finger was still softly stroking her cheek, running over the curve of her jaw, and Macy noticed his other arm was still holding her close to him. “And what is your idea of the right woman?” He stared at her for long moments before he leaned down and kissed her. Macy was shocked by the move, even more so when he deepened the kiss, the hand on her face climbing into her hair to hold her to him.
She leaned into him, her arms snaking inside his coat to wrap around his waist. She pulled away from him to take a breath and asked the only thing going through her mind. “What happens when all of this is over?"
"What do you want to happen?"
"I asked you first,” she said.
He sighed, his fingers threading through her hair. “I dated my last secretary and it turned into a disaster, hence the mess you found when I hired you.” He looked down at her and shrugged his shoulder. “I don't know, Macy. I said I'd never date another employee but you seriously make me want to break that little rule."
"I do?” she asked.
He smiled. “Would I be standing in the snow kissing you while freezing my ass off if I didn't?"
"I don't know. Would you?"
He answered her by kissing her again. If what he felt for her could be judged by the kiss, Macy was sure to get her heart broken if he stuck to his ‘no dating employees’ rule. He kissed her breathless again, stopping only when the sound of laughter forced them apart. Macy turned, looking over her shoulder and saw her brothers Derek and Matt on the back porch looking at them.
"Macy, Mom is looking for you,” Derek said, grinning. “I wouldn't suggest any hanky-panky out here, either. Snow in your unmentionables will put a real damper on the evening.” They laughed again and jumped off the porch, heading to the woodpile.
Macy watched them for a few minutes before looking back at Sean. “I guess we should go and try to figure a way out of this before it's too late."
"Well, not that I mind my current position but… I can't feel my toes."
Macy grinned before letting him go. “Come on, city boy. Let's go get you warmed up."