Chet
Exactly thirty minutes after I’d left Arya standing in the hallway, there was a knock on my door. I opened I quickly, smiling at Arya, who was standing there in a long white nightgown and wet hair.
“Hey. Come in,” I said quietly as I opened the door wider. I stepped forward and gave her a quick kiss that made me hard in seconds.
“I’m not staying for long.”
I withheld a smile. I didn’t want her to think that I thought the situation was funny, because it wasn’t. I knew that.
“So what did you want to talk to me about, Chet?” She folded her arms and stared at me.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Is there a reason why you’re so upset?”
“You just kissed me again.”
“And you seemed to enjoy it.”
“I, well, I…” She was flustered. “Anyone could’ve seen us,” she said finally.
“Yeah, and that would’ve been a big deal because…?”
“You know why that would’ve been a big deal. They would’ve asked what’s going on—”
“I have bigger issues.” I cut her off and held up the newspaper I’d found on my mattress.
“Look at this ad.” I pointed to the full-sized photo of myself under the caption, ‘Want to Marry a Cowboy?”
Her eyes widened. “What is that?”
“My mom took out a newspaper ad,” I growled. “To help me find a wife.”
“I thought you weren’t ready to get married.”
“I’m not.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Well, about that,” I said softly, taking a step towards her, just wanting to feel her body heat close to mine. “I had an idea.”
“What do you mean you had an idea?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I had an idea.”
“An idea about what, Chet Hamilton?” I could tell that she was getting angry at me.
“You’re not this upset just because I kissed you, are you?”
“No. Yes. I just don’t understand what’s going on. You…you perplex me.”
“I’ve heard that said many a time,” I said with a grin.
She snorted. “And why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Come in. Relax. Have a seat.” I pointed towards the armchair in the corner of my room. She walked over slowly and sat down. I sat on the edge of my bed and looked at her.
My brain was ticking a million miles a minute and my heart was racing. I wasn’t sure if what I was about to suggest was smart, but I couldn’t stop myself. It had come to me when I’d stepped out of the shower and, well, I wasn’t sure it was the best idea I’ve ever had, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it could work.
“What are you thinking about, Chet?” Arya interrupted my thoughts.
“Well, it seems to me we both have a problem. You have no job—”
“Thanks for reminding me of that.”
“You have nowhere to live.”
“And the knife just goes deeper into my heart,” she said.
“And you’re worried about what you’re going to do with Eloise.”
“I just want the best for her,” she said softly.
“I know, and I want the best for her too. I want the best for both of you.”
“Uh-huh. And so what’s your problem?”
“My problem is that I have a meddling mother who will stop at nothing to interfere in my business.”
“Okay.”
“And my other problem…”
“So you have two problems?” she said.
“I do.” I nodded. I stared at her seriously.
“And what’s your other problem?”
“My other problem is you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How am I your problem? What have I done—”
“Arya,” I held my hand up to quiet her, “I want you very badly, and not just a kiss in the hallway or a smooch in the backyard. I want you.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, but from the way she blushed, I could tell she knew.
“I think you know exactly what I mean because I’m pretty confident you feel the same way.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.” I stood up and I walked over to her, taking her hands and pulling her up out of the chair. She stood up slowly and stared at me, her eyes flickering as she gazed at my mouth. “I have a proposition for you.”
“What’s your proposition?”
“I think it’s something that will benefit both of us.”
“Oh my gosh, just spit it out already!”
“I want you to marry me,” I said matter-of-factly. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened in shock.
“What are you talking about?”
“I want you to marry me. Not a real marriage, of course, maybe for a year or so, but this way it will get my mom off my back and it will allow you to stay here without feeling guilty. And…”
“And what?” she said.
“It will allow us to have intimate relations.”
“In-intimate relations?” She stumbled over the words.
“Yeah, like you and me sharing a bed, having sex, not worrying if my mom or my dad or my brothers know about us.”
“But…What? You want to marry me just so you can have sex with me?”
“That’s not the only reason why I’m marrying you. I just gave you the reasons. It will be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“I can’t marry you to stop your mom trying to set you up with someone, and I can’t marry you just so I have somewhere to stay. I have to take care of Eloise myself.”
“I know you want a father figure for Eloise.”
“I never said that,” she said.
“You didn’t have to say it. You came here looking for her father. You came here thinking Beau was her dad.”
“Yeah, but he’s not.”
“I can be that father figure in her life. I really like her. I think I’d be a good father,” I said.
“You can’t do this. It just…”
“I think it makes a lot of sense.” I pulled her towards me and wrapped my arms around her waist. I pushed my erection against her, and she swallowed hard as she felt me. “I want you, Arya, and I know you want me too. And I think this situation could work out for the best of us.”
“But I just don’t understand. Are we just going to be engaged? Are we going to get married? Are we…”
“I figure with so many engagements in the family right now, we don’t even have to actually get married. We can just be engaged for a year or two. That will give you enough time to get whatever education you want and think about what you want to do in the future, and it’ll keep my mom off my back and let me concentrate on Horseshoe Ranch and ensure that we’re successful. Because Beau and Austin, as much as I love them, their heads are not in the game right now. All they’re thinking about is how much they want to get married and start families. I’m thinking about the longevity of this ranch. I’m thinking about future generations.”
“So you’re marrying me so you have time to work?” She made a face. “Does that really make sense?”
“We’re not actually going to get married. We’ll just be engaged,” I said. “And that way, we can share the same room and we can make love, and no one will be upset.”
“What about me? Maybe I’d be upset.”
“Would you be upset?” I asked. As my hand moved up the side of her body, she stilled. I kissed again, and this time, she kissed me back softly. I felt her hands stroke my hair, and I gave her ass a light squeeze and started tugging her nightgown up.
“What are you doing?” she whispered against my lips.
“I want to touch you,” I said softly. I pulled up her nightgown off over her head. She didn’t try to stop me. She stood there in just a bra and panties, and I groaned as I really realized just how badly I wanted her.
I cupped her breasts, relishing the feel of them in my hands, before reaching towards the back and unclasping her bra. I waited for her to stop me, but she didn’t. The bra fell forward and I pulled it off, staring at her naked breasts. I leaned down and kissed one nipple. She made a soft moaning sound.
“Chet, we can’t,” she said. I growled as I looked back at her and brought her in against me hard.
“I want you, Arya. I want you any way that I can have you. And I know you want me, too. This is a great idea. I’ve thought about it.”
“How long have you been thinking about it?”
“Just this evening.”
“So that’s not really something that…”
“I know it will work. I know you’re considering it.”
“I just don’t know. I just… What about Eloise?”
“She’ll love it here with so many aunts and uncles and grandparents. And we can send her to school, and you can concentrate on getting an education and being able to do what you want to do. I really don’t see any negatives to this situation.” I kissed her, and she groaned.
“I just don’t know, Chet.”
“Tell me.” I slipped my hand down between her legs and rubbed over her panties. I could feel that they were already wet.
“What?” Her voice trembled.
“Just tell me that you don’t want me, and I won’t even bring it up again.” I slipped a finger inside her panties and rubbed her wet clit, and she cried out. “Tell me you don’t want me, Arya,” I said as I slipped a finger inside of her. She leaned forward and bit down on my shoulders as I continued to finger her. “Tell me, Arya,” I said as I slipped my finger out of her panties and took a step back. She looked up at me with wide eyes that were full of lust. She licked her lips slowly and she shook her head.
“I won’t lie,” she said. “I do want you, but…”
“But what?” I said.
“I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had in my life.”
I pulled her towards the bed and lay her down. She glanced over at me as I got onto the bed next to her and I palmed one of her breasts, pinching her nipple gently. She squirmed slightly. I could feel her heart racing as I leaned down and kissed her stomach.
“Chet, I need to ask you something,” she gasped. I looked up at her. Her eyes were dark with desire. I could tell that she wanted me as much as I wanted her.
“Yes, I do.” I grinned at her.
“Huh?”
I winked.
“I have protection, so don’t worry.”
I went to kiss her on the lips and she burst out laughing. “No, that’s not it. I mean, you’re not being serious, are you, Chet? You cannot seriously expect me to be your fake girlfriend?”