“Says the woman who’s marrying a man for money.”
“Googlesays it happens more often than we know.” I paste the excuse onto my bad decision as if it’ll make it all better. It won’t—doesn’t. The delusion is nice, though.
Her brows arch high. “YouGoogledmarriages for money?”
“IGoogledcontract marriages, yes. They’re quite common in the world of business.”
She blinks at me. “Which you aren’t a part of.”
“Wasn’t a part of. Apparently, I am a part of that world now.”
She slouches back in her chair. “All right. When is the wedding?”
“I don’t know. Soon?”
She crinkles her nose. “He’s right. Youarea lunatic.”
“I’m friends with you, aren’t I?”
“Touché.” She smiles, but it’s still a little—or a lot bewildered. “Seriously, though, you know you don’t have to do this, right?”
“I do have to. He’s already paid my debts.”
“So, pay him back.”
“I can’t. That’s why they were debts.”
“They can’t have been that bad. You don’t have anything.” She can’t know how much those words hurt. “I’ve got a little savings. I can help you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t need help. I want to do this.”
Her brows inch high again. “You do?”
“Sunset Falls needs him whether they want to admit it or not. This town has been dying for years and if nothing changes, it’s only going to get harder. People are going to be forced to move, to abandon houses andshops—lives. Soon we’re going to be like one of those boarded up towns on the way to something better. Sunset Falls is more than that, Madelyn, and Briggs is willing to roll out the money this town needs to start really making money.”
She nods like she gets it. I’m not certain she does, though. At least not my part in it.
I continue, “I need you to keep this between us, okay?”
She draws an X over her heart. “I won’t tell anyone. Cross my heart.”
“You’re the best.”
“I’ll remind you of that claim when I’m demanding details. Intimate, personal details.”
“As long as you don’t tell anyone, it’s a deal.”
Madelyn snorts. “Because apparently you’re so fond of making those.”
I groan but say nothing. She isn’t wrong, so…
16
SEAL THE DEAL WITH A KISS
BRIGGS
If there’s one good thing to be said about Daniel Alder, it’s that he had a nice house and decent taste. He was, however, on the brink of losing the vineyard and hobby ranch he owned. Looking through the man’s books, I can’t say he was exactly good with his money.
