Chapter 344: Never Letting Go

Nathan’s POV

“We are not really getting married. What are you talking about?”

Kayla hissed, folding her arms and looking down at me like I’d lost every functioning brain cell I had.

Which is reality is the truth. Are my brains even functioning at this point? Because all I can think about is making her my woman.

“This is not real. It would just be… a contract marriage…you know…like in movies and stuff. Temporary.

Something to get Caleb off my back and protect my son. Once he leaves us alone, it ends.”

Temporary.

The word nearly offended me.

So that was her plan?

Fine.

Then she should prepare herself, because if Caleb staying in the picture was what it took to keep her by my side, I’d make sure that bastard never truly disappeared.

The thought came fast.

Dark.

Possessive.

Dangerously tempting.

Then I immediately shoved it away.

Jesus.

No.

I wasn’t that selfish.

I wasn’t going to use her fear to trap her…But there were other ways. Other ways that won’t make me come off as a creep…

She stared at me when I didn’t answer right away.

“If you’re not okay with it,” she said carefully, “I’ll find someone else. There are tons of guys out there.”

“No.” The word came out sharp enough to cut glass.

She blinked at his sudden and sharp I sounded and I softened my tone. Barely.

“I’m fine with it.” There’s no way I’m losing an opportunity to be her man.

Her brows rose.

“In fact,” I continued, standing up, “I know someone who can make the marriage certificate look so legit even a judge would salute it.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you a police officer?”

“Captain,” I corrected.

“That makes it worse! How are you okay with forging documents?”

I grinned.

“Yes, I’m a police officer.”

Then I stepped closer. “But I’m also just a man trying to impress the woman he loves.”

She froze. Actually froze…like someone just pressed a remote button.

Then she stepped back so fast you’d think her feet had caught fire.

“It’s not serious,” she said quickly, brushing imaginary dust off herself. “You’re getting too into character. No one is here now, Mr Nathan. You can snap out of it.”

I leaned closer.

“What makes you so sure I’m in character? And why are you calling me Mr Nathan?” I asked softly.

Her lips parted. Something wanted to come out. She wanted to hurl something at me.

I saw it.

Then just like always, she swallowed it back.

Interesting.

I’d noticed that about her.

She was always holding something in.

Words.

Feelings.

Reactions.

Even anger.

She had a whole storm locked behind those eyes and forced herself to act like a light breeze.

I didn’t blame her.

Life had clearly taught her to build walls.

Strong, tall ones.

Walls that said no one gets close enough to hurt me again.

Too bad for her.

I didn’t have the patience to chip away brick by brick.

I’d kick the damn thing down with one push.

“Because we’re not close. Also, it’s really all an act,” she said firmly. “To get Caleb off my back. And I’m grateful you helped me.”

“What’s in it for me then?” I asked with a grin.

She frowned. “What?”

“If I do this for you.” I stepped closer. “What do I gain from it? I’m no philanthropist you know.”

Her eyes immediately looked everywhere except my face.

Ceiling.

Door.

Window.

Salt shaker.

Cute.

I smiled.

Because beneath all that careful behavior, I knew there was something wild in her.

Something reckless.

Something sharp and fun and dangerous.

She just needed one push.

And no one would recognize the woman she’d become after that.

“What do you want?” she asked quietly.

I want you.

I want your mornings.

Your son calling me when he needed something.

I want to annoy you daily.

I want your laugh in my house.

I want your anger too.

I want every version of you…especially the naked one.

But saying all those things now would send her running.

So I only shrugged.

“Don’t worry. My price isn’t that high. And I’ll tell you after thinking about it carefully.”

Then I reached for her hand.

“Come on. Let’s go get that certificate. Who knows what that bastard will think of next? What if he questions our relationship? Demands proof? Takes this to court?”

Her eyes widened.

“You’re right.”

And then she grabbed my hand and started tugging me toward the door.

I let her pull me and just then, something inside me melted.

Finally, my obsession was holding my hand.

Maybe it was instinct for her.

Probably how she tugged her son through crowds.

The thought hit me hard.

This woman had raised a child alone.

Handled bills alone.

Fears alone.

Sleepless nights alone.

And now that deadbeat snake wanted custody?

My jaw tightened.

Even if I had to use my father’s name to help her… something I hated doing with my being.

People always whispered I only got where I am because of daddy’s connections.

Let them whisper.

I didn’t care.

Not if it meant Kayla kept her child.

Not if it meant I didn’t lose her too.

Because somehow, insanely fast…she already felt like my life.

We stepped outside and Holly was waiting near the car like she’d been eavesdropping with spiritual gifts.

She gasped dramatically.

“Ooooh! Are we holding hands already? Is it official now?”

“Yes,” I started.

“No,” Kayla said at the exact same time.

She let go of my hand immediately.

“We’re going to get a fake certificate,” she explained.

“Nathan is pretending to be my husband for a couple weeks or so until Caleb leaves me alone.”

Holly blinked, and then started smiling sheepishly. “What if he doesn’t leave you alone?”

Kayla shrugged. “Then when that time comes, I’ll figure something out. Myself.”

My chest tightened.

She really thought everything in life was hers to carry alone.

Not anymore.

I made a silent vow right there.

Kayla was never slipping through my fingers.

Ever.

Holly jingled the car keys as I went over and dismissed my men that had come with me earlier.

When I came over, she nudged my arm. “Back seat, lovebirds. You’re the couple. I’m the chauffeur.”

We got in and she started the engine and looked at me through the mirror.

“Where to, Mr pretend husband?”

I smiled as I gave her the address and she entered it into navigation and pulled off.

Throughout the drive, Kayla barely spoke.

She just stared out the window, distant and drained.

Holly kept looking at me through the rearview mirror and making ridiculous signals with her eyes.

It looked like she was saying… ‘Move closer.’ ‘Touch her hand.’ ‘Do something.’

I almost laughed.

So I obeyed.

Little by little, I scooted across the seat until my thigh touched hers.

Then my shoulder. Then fully pressed against her side.

She didn’t even notice.

Her eyes were fluttering shut. Exhaustion was finally winning.

Poor thing.

Within minutes, she was dozing.

Carefully, I guided her head into my lap so she could be more at ease.

She stirred once, then settled.

I brushed hair from her face and softly patted her head.

Holly glanced in the mirror and grinned.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

No denial.

No shame.

Just the truth. Because I love Kayla.

She blinked.

“When did that happen? Didn’t you two just meet yesterday?”

“She crashed into me yesterday.”

“Exactly!”

“But, I first saw her last year.”

That got Holly’s full attention.

“What?”

I smiled, eyes still on Kayla.

“She had her son with her, so I thought she was married. Never approached her. But I kept my eyes on her.”

Holly gasped so loud the car swerved slightly.

“WHAAAT?!”

“Eyes on the road, Holly,” I said calmly.

She straightened the wheel but didn’t back down. “You secretly liked Kayla for a YEAR?”

“Longer.”

“Oh my God.” She slapped the steering wheel. “This is premium gossip.”

I smiled softly, still patting Kayla’s hair. “Can you tell me about her?”

“What?”

“What she likes. What annoys her. What makes her happy? Favorite foods. Habits. Everything.”

Holly looked emotional for half a second.

Then evil again. Mischievous as always.

“Oh, I got you.”

And she did.

Apparently Kayla loved cheesy fries, hated wet socks, cried at animal rescue videos, pretended not to like flowers but once sniffed a bouquet for ten minutes, hated when people chewed loudly, and would throw hands if someone touched her dessert without permission.

“She also dances terribly while baking,” Holly added.

“I do not dance terribly,” Kayla mumbled in her sleep.

We both froze.

Then Holly burst into laughter. “She was awake the whole time?!”

“No,” I said, smiling. “Instinctive defense response.”

By the time Holly finished exposing every adorable thing she knew, we turned into a driveway.

The fake certificate office.

Except it wasn’t fake at all.

This was the real thing.

Real building.

Real registry.

Real paperwork.

Real signatures.

Real marriage.

My friend inside worked at the civil registry office and had already fixed up everything after I dropped a text to him explaining everything.

He thought I was insane.

He wasn’t wrong.

But opportunities like this didn’t knock twice.

Kayla wanted a fake?

Cute.

She was about to get legally attached.

I gently tapped her cheek.

“Kayla.”

She stirred.

Then slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them in confusion.

Hair messy. Face soft with sleep.

Looking around like a lost angel.

And all I could think was… I want to wake up to that face every morning.

But don’t worry. I had it figured out.

Kayla would be mine.

I was never letting her out of my sight again.