Read Online Her Faux Fiancé by Alexia Adams - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alexia Adams
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over here.” Although he doubted Analise would want to spend much time at the farm. There were too many memories of Karen tied up here. After her revelations about her fiancé’s death, Erik wanted to remind her of life’s joys, not its sorrows.
“If that’s the best you can offer, I guess that will have to do.”
Was there some way he could make his mother focus less on the past and try to find some joy in the future? A grandchild would probably do the trick. That was a scary thought.
His foul mood lifted as he parked in front of the Thordarsons’ house. A day with Analise held endless opportunities to touch and kiss her, something he was finding more and more addictive. As he stepped from the BMW, Analise and her grandfather appeared on the porch. She wore a light blue skirt and white top, her handbag slung over her shoulder as though they were going out.
“Oh, Erik.” She seemed surprised to see him, recovering quickly as her grandfather shot her a questioning glance. “
Afi
and I are leaving for Winnipeg. I should have called you—sorry you’ve had a wasted trip.”
“Seeing you is never a wasted trip. And I’ve got nothing on today. Why don’t I go with you to the city?”
“If Erik goes with you, then you don’t need me,” Gunnar said.
“But
Afi
, I want to spend more time with you.” Analise put a hand on her grandfather’s arm.
Erik winced at the contrast between Analise wanting to be with her family and him trying to avoid his.
“We were together all day yesterday. Go with Erik. I’m not feeling up to a long drive anyway.”
Analise looked ready to argue. She put her bag down on the porch as her grandfather sat on the nearest rocking chair. Mounting the stairs in one bound, Erik caught hold of her hand. Raising it to his lips, he kissed each of her knuckles, holding her gaze as he lingered on the ring finger adorned with his diamond.
“We don’t have to go today. We can stay home,” she said. Her voice was breathless.
“I don’t mind. I’m just happy to be with you,” he said. The porch had been swept clean, the windows washed, and the tall grass around the house had been cut back. Two cans of paint sat by the door. They had been busy yesterday. Analise looked tired. He could help Gunnar paint while she supervised. Or both Thordarsons could sit on the porch and tell him what to do. “Is there something around here I could help with? I’m pretty handy with fences.” Did she remember how he’d come over and help her grandfather when she was a teenager? Then, he’d made a big show of taking his shirt off and flexing his muscles, such as they were. It had worked to get her interest then, maybe it would help now.
For the first time, Gunnar looked at him with something like approval. “Go, sweet. Spend the day with Erik. You don’t need an old man tagging along.”
“
Afi
, you’re not an old man,” she protested.
“And I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here when you get back,” her granddad encouraged.
With a defeated sigh, she kissed her grandfather’s cheek, picked up her handbag, and followed Erik off the steps.
“Your vehicle or mine?” She jangled her keys.
“We can take yours. Why don’t you drive into town, and I’ll drive back?”
“Really?” Unlocking the doors, she slipped behind the steering wheel. “Jean-Claude never let me drive. He always had to be in control,” she added as she pulled onto the main road.
“I’m
not
Jean-Claude.” He cared less about control than the opportunity to spend the next hour and a half looking at the beautiful woman next to him.
“So I’m beginning to realize.”
As they approached the city, Erik noticed she fiddled with her sunglasses and her left leg bounced up and down to a rapid, silent rhythm. The drive in had been pleasant enough. They’d discussed her favorite places in the world and where she’d avoid in the future. She’d also quizzed him on the merger he’d been working on, seeming to
“If that’s the best you can offer, I guess that will have to do.”
Was there some way he could make his mother focus less on the past and try to find some joy in the future? A grandchild would probably do the trick. That was a scary thought.
His foul mood lifted as he parked in front of the Thordarsons’ house. A day with Analise held endless opportunities to touch and kiss her, something he was finding more and more addictive. As he stepped from the BMW, Analise and her grandfather appeared on the porch. She wore a light blue skirt and white top, her handbag slung over her shoulder as though they were going out.
“Oh, Erik.” She seemed surprised to see him, recovering quickly as her grandfather shot her a questioning glance. “
Afi
and I are leaving for Winnipeg. I should have called you—sorry you’ve had a wasted trip.”
“Seeing you is never a wasted trip. And I’ve got nothing on today. Why don’t I go with you to the city?”
“If Erik goes with you, then you don’t need me,” Gunnar said.
“But
Afi
, I want to spend more time with you.” Analise put a hand on her grandfather’s arm.
Erik winced at the contrast between Analise wanting to be with her family and him trying to avoid his.
“We were together all day yesterday. Go with Erik. I’m not feeling up to a long drive anyway.”
Analise looked ready to argue. She put her bag down on the porch as her grandfather sat on the nearest rocking chair. Mounting the stairs in one bound, Erik caught hold of her hand. Raising it to his lips, he kissed each of her knuckles, holding her gaze as he lingered on the ring finger adorned with his diamond.
“We don’t have to go today. We can stay home,” she said. Her voice was breathless.
“I don’t mind. I’m just happy to be with you,” he said. The porch had been swept clean, the windows washed, and the tall grass around the house had been cut back. Two cans of paint sat by the door. They had been busy yesterday. Analise looked tired. He could help Gunnar paint while she supervised. Or both Thordarsons could sit on the porch and tell him what to do. “Is there something around here I could help with? I’m pretty handy with fences.” Did she remember how he’d come over and help her grandfather when she was a teenager? Then, he’d made a big show of taking his shirt off and flexing his muscles, such as they were. It had worked to get her interest then, maybe it would help now.
For the first time, Gunnar looked at him with something like approval. “Go, sweet. Spend the day with Erik. You don’t need an old man tagging along.”
“
Afi
, you’re not an old man,” she protested.
“And I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here when you get back,” her granddad encouraged.
With a defeated sigh, she kissed her grandfather’s cheek, picked up her handbag, and followed Erik off the steps.
“Your vehicle or mine?” She jangled her keys.
“We can take yours. Why don’t you drive into town, and I’ll drive back?”
“Really?” Unlocking the doors, she slipped behind the steering wheel. “Jean-Claude never let me drive. He always had to be in control,” she added as she pulled onto the main road.
“I’m
not
Jean-Claude.” He cared less about control than the opportunity to spend the next hour and a half looking at the beautiful woman next to him.
“So I’m beginning to realize.”
As they approached the city, Erik noticed she fiddled with her sunglasses and her left leg bounced up and down to a rapid, silent rhythm. The drive in had been pleasant enough. They’d discussed her favorite places in the world and where she’d avoid in the future. She’d also quizzed him on the merger he’d been working on, seeming to
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