Page 33 of Make-Believe Match

“I’m coming,” I said loudly, hurrying to the door in my bare feet. It was probably Tabitha wanting to borrow something from my closet. She often showed up out of nowhere to paw through my things before she went out for the night, complaining all the while that all my clothes were too big for her.

But when I pulled open the front door, it wasn’t my cousin standing there.

“Devlin?” I stared at him in disbelief. He hardly looked like the same guy. No suit and tie, no dress shoes, no fresh shave and neat coiffure. Instead he wore jeans, sneakers, and a Camp Lemonade T-shirt. His hair was a mess. His stubble was well beyond five o’clock shadow. And above his watch, he wore a colorful beaded bracelet that looked ridiculous on his thick masculine wrist.

But those eyes. Damn it, they could suck the soul from my body.

“Nice shirt,” I said.

“I thought you might like it.”

“What are you doing here?” I would not be swayed by his charm. “I already told you, there’s nothing you can say to change my mind about selling to Black Diamond.”

“I don’t want you to sell to Black Diamond.”

I stared blankly at him. “What?”

“I don’t want you to sell at all.”

A cool autumn night breeze blew in, and my nipples puckered. Realizing I wasn’t wearing a bra, I crossed my arms over my chest. “What are you talking about? You know as well as I do that this resort will go under if it doesn’t get an influx of cash.”

“There’s another way,” he said anxiously.

“Another way to what?”

“Another way for you to save your childhood memories. A way for you to inherit Snowberry and turn it around.”

Tilting my head, I squinted at him. “You’re not making sense, Devlin. What way is that?”

“You marry me,” he said confidently. “We do this together.”

My jaw fell open, my arms falling to my sides. “What?!”

“If we get married, you can inherit right now.”

“You’re insane!”

“I’m not. It makes perfect sense.” Another chilly gust ruffled his hair, and he glanced behind me into my living room. “Can I come in so we can talk it over?”

“No!”

“Come on, you’re cold.” His eyes fell to my chest, and I quickly wrapped my arms around myself again. “You’ve got goosebumps, Lexi. Let me in. I just want to talk.”

“Fine.” I backed up and allowed him to enter, closing the door behind him. “But there’s no way in hell I’m agreeing to marry you.”

“Why not?”

“Why not?” I whirled around and stuck my hands on my hips. “Number one, it’s a scam. It can’t be legal.”

“It’s totally legal. We’re both single adults.”

“Two, Gran is never going to believe that you and I suddenly fell in love after what happened at lunch.”

“Gran will believe what she wants to believe.”

I glared at him. “Three, I don’t even like you, let alone love you. Why would I marry you?”

“Because you love Snowberry. And you can’t let it go.”