“Aww, he’s even calling you ‘sweetie,’” Belle teases, bumping my shoulder.
“Oh, stop, he’s like my dad. He’s just being nice,” I groan, pushing her away.
“I mean, he is old. You wouldn’t be married to him long if you did let him put a ring on it,” Eve adds onto the joke.
She and Belle snicker at my expense. Rolling my eyes, I lean around the doorway to snag my bag and jacket from the office and look at both of them.
“I’m going home for the day. Belle, you’re in charge, and Eve,” I say, pinning my eyes on her, “get back in the kitchen and help clean up whatever mess you made. When I come in tomorrow I better not see a single spot of sauce anywhere on the walls or else I’m kicking you out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She salutes me with her hand on her forehead. “I’ll be home once dinner is cleaned up.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you both later.”
Wrapping my coat tighter around my chest, I step out of the front door and head for home. As I walk through town, I can’t help but shake the idea of finding a ‘rent–a–husband’ and how much I wish such a thingexisted.
As promised, Eve strolled into the apartment around eight o’clock once dinner was cleaned up and the staff had been given their evening duties. We hung out for a little bit before retiring to our own separate spaces for the night. Being more like a ninety-year-old woman than a hardly thirty-year-old, I have been wrapped up in bed for the last two hours and enjoying the small whimsy that comes from lying in my room under my heated blanket with nothing but my twinkle lights on.
I’m doing what I’ve been doing every night for the last several weeks.
Trying to figure out what to do in order to save the inn. Even hours later, Belle’s idea of a temporary husband is still fresh in my mind. Sure, I want arealhusband some day but since I don’t think myrealhusband is going to come walking through the door anytime soon, I need to figure out a temporary fix. And quick because every time a new day turns over is one day less that I have to figure this out.
I look over at the vintage analog clock I have on top of my dresser and make note of the time.Ten thirty. I’m usually asleep by now. I would be if this stupid family will wasn’t haunting my dreams and ruining my life.
Blinking a few times, I try to focus on something else. Something else that will settle my heart and help me fall asleep. Without meaning to, a pair of green eyes pop into my mind as well as two perfectly formed dimples. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear him apologize until he did. It doesn’t make up for how he treated me but it still healed a part of me I didn’t realize is still bruised and broken.
‘I hope you know that I’m here if you need anything. I mean that. Anything you need,I’m here for you.’
I sit up straight in bed as his words hit me like a freight train along with a completely insane, totally impractical idea. A hail mary of all hail marys but one I think I’m desperate enough to attempt if it means saving the inn.
Without thinking about it too much, I jump up from bed and head for my closet. I find my boots and pull them onto my feet, stuffing the pajama pants I have on into them and pulling on a heavier coat since it’s dark outside and a good fifteen degrees cooler than it is during the day. My body moves on autopilot as I grab my keys then my wallet, and quietly step out of my apartment so I don’t wake up my roommate. Before long, I’m pulling up to the Wyte’s Christmas tree farm and stomping up the steps of cabin 2B. It doesn’t take him long to open the door after I knock. When he sees it’s me, his eyebrows reach for his hairline.
“Noelle? What are you doing here? It’s past ten. Aren’t you usually asleep by now?”
“Can I come in?” I ask, but I don’t wait for him to answer before stepping inside to escape the winter chill that’s creeping into town.
“Sure, yeah.” He closes the door behind me and follows me with his eyes as I make my way inside.
Standing in front of the wood-burning fireplace, I squeeze my lips around my teeth and wonder if I’ve made a stupid mistake.
“Noelle,” he says apprehensively. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
I shake my head and force myself to look at him. “No, everything isn’t okay.”
He takes a step closer with concern written all over his face. I wish he wouldn’t look at me like that. I hate the way my heart flips when he looks at me like that—like he actually still cares about me at all.
“What is it? How can I help?”
It’s now or never.
I take a steadying breath and pull my shoulders back before saying possibly the most insane thing I’ve ever said.
“I need you to marry me.”
CHAPTER 9
Nick
Ifeel every muscle in my face fall at once.
