I punched the button to shut off my tablet screen. Inventory would have to wait for the weekend.
I glanced at the guys by the window. They weren’t paying attention to us, and their glasses were still full. “Wemade an agreement,” I said quietly. “We agree to marry and look happy so his dad will change his mind and think we’re having lots of little James babies to pass the land down to.”
She was quiet for several heartbeats, her keen brown gaze scrutinizing me. “What do you get out of it?”
I appreciated that she didn’t assume I was so smitten with the man I’d do anything, that being on his arm was enough.
Even if that was the case.
“Uh . . . I wanted a baby.”
Her strangled gasp grabbed the attention of the customers. She turned her back to them and crossed her arms. “Autumn,” she hissed. “What the hell—” She shook her head. “Never mind; that makes a lot of sense, really.”
Should I be insulted? “Yeah, well, it’s off the table.” She kept quiet, waiting for me to answer. The truth piled on the end of my tongue. “One, we haven’t done it yet.”
Sympathy welled in her eyes and my nape prickled.
“I was drinking the first night, and he didn’t want to take advantage. Then he realized how nervous I was and said we had time for me to get used to him. It didn’t take long for me to notice how weird he gets about the idea of a kid.”
“I imagine. He’s not planning to move here for this charade, is he? The sale will either go through or be done in the middle of November. He’d be faced with abandoning a kid.”
“No, he’s not staying.” A little fissure in my heart opened. This was the risk of enjoying the dream. “The divorce papers are ready to go when he is.”
“Autumn,” she said flatly.
“Whatever. I don’t want to make babies with a guy who isn’t sure he wants them. I don’t mind helping him stop the sale.” At her censuring look, I rolled my eyes. “Yes, okay? I like having him around. Can you blame me? Waking up to that every morning? It hasn’t been a hardship.”
Her lips quirked. “It is nice to open your eyes to someone you want to climb on top of with every heartbeat.”
“Almost TMI.” Though her feelings for Jonah were no secret. “He helped put the set together for the music program tomorrow night. And he’s fencing with his dad today.”
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this.” Her tone said I’d hear it anyway. “But he’s been gone since he graduated. He doesn’t know his dad sober. You and I don’t know his dad drunk. Hank James is just a pleasant guy we see around town.”
He’d always say, “How are the Bailey girls today?”when he passed us on the street, and he’d always end chatter with, “Tell your folks hi from me, will ya?”
“Gideon’s going through some things emotionally, and he doesn’t strike me as a guy who’s usually in touch with his emotions.”
I ground my teeth together. I couldn’t argue.
“I’m worried, Autumn. I can see you really like him, and the way he looks at you and how he defended you the other night is the only reason our brothers haven’t dumped him in some ravine.”
“I’d like to see them try.”
“It’d be a show for sure.” She sighed. “You’re getting attached, getting your hopes up that this marriage willbe real, and he’s not looking beyond whether his dad will sign the papers.”
“I’m not getting my hopes up. Divorce papers, ready to go, remember?” I couldn’t forget. Because of those, I wasn’t thinking about what it would be like to wake up, smile at him, maybe have a morning orgasm, and then sit at the table over our orange juice and eggs and talk about the upcoming day.
I wasn’t thinking about what it would be like if he hung up his clothes in my closet. Sure, we couldn’t make room for much, but there could be space. I wasn’t thinking about upgrading to a place with more bedrooms and a bigger garage. That pickup he mentioned buying would be parked by mine. Would he understand that I didn’t want to build on my land? Would he be bitter if he couldn’t live where he was raised?
“I can see the hearts in your eyes,” Summer said. She gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Just keep talking to me at least, okay? You and Scarlett were there for me when I thought Jonah and I were done. And Wynter’s not a stressed-out new mom anymore. We’re all here for you.”
“No, I can’t tell Scarlett. I can’t expect her to keep something like this from Tate.”
“Talk to Wynter. She needs some juicy drama to fuel her marketing inspiration.”
Wynter was head of marketing for Copper Summit, and now that she was back to work full-time, she was supercharged with ideas.
We already had a virgin drink in the bar called Fool’s Gold. I could just imagine what Wynter would come up with.My sister’s marriage is fake, but our bourbon is not.Or would she name a new line Summit’s ImpulsiveBlend? A Vegas Wedding Special Barrel? Copper Summit Split?
