“Yes,” I whisper. “I don’t have any other choice.”
Calder moves to get more coffee. “That’s right, and remember it’s not just us who will suffer the consequences. There are other lives on the line too. Your father’s and Allie’s. “
I know he isn’t intentionally threatening me, but I can’t seem to separate him from the danger. Which makes sense, since he’s the entire reason I’m in this mess to begin with. He returns to my side and hands me a cup of coffee.
“I don’t want to put anyone else at risk. I’ll do whatever I can to make this believable.”
“He hands me a cup, and I realize I can’t escape the truth neither of us wants to face. Something between us is changing. And I don’t know if that makes things better or infinitely worse.
Saint
The blue sundressfeels wrong against my skin. Not because it doesn’t fit, it does, perfectly, all of it carefully chosen to present the right image. The pretty bride out with her new groom. Calder wants all eyes on us, and he’s dressing me up to do it. Even if it’s like thirty degrees out. Thankfully, my legs look okay, even with the bruises from my run the other night. They felt worse than they actually looked.
“You ready?” Calder’s voice comes from the other side of the door.
No. I’ll never be ready. But I open the door anyway because I learned days ago that resistance only prolongs the inevitable.
He’s leaning against the kitchen counter, dressed in dark jeans and a black button-down that makes his icy-blue eyes even more striking. Cowboy hat in place, and dang, it looks good on him. For a moment, he just stares at me, and something flickers across his face, something that might be appreciation or possession or both.
“You look perfect,” he says finally. “I love your hair down.”
“I look like a prop.” The words come out sharper than I intend. “Your perfect little wife, dressed up for the performance.”
His jaw tightens. “That’s exactly what you are today. And you’ll play the part, or people die.”
The threat should scare me more than it does, but after everything, I almost...what?Trust him.It’s not a threat, it’s a warning.
“Let’s just get this over with.” I brush past him and walk toward the door.
His hand catches my wrist, not rough but firm enough to stop me. “There’s been a slight change, and I want to make sure you’re prepared. Sawyer told me that my father saw the fake wedding photo I sent to the paper this morning and warned me that he’s already pissed. That means we need to do our very fucking best to prove we’re in love. Don’t let the fear and worry bleed through your mask. I want you to smile and stay close to me. Act like you’re exactly where you want to be. Understand?”
I understand my life depends on convincing an entire town that I willingly married the man who kidnapped me. I understand perfectly.
“Of course,” I say, and the moment he releases me, I head out the door.
The drive to Black Hollow Creek proper feels both too long and too short. I press myself against the passenger door and watch the mountains give way to valley. The rodeo grounds come into view—a sprawl of tents and trucks and livestock pens, already packed with people.
Everyone will see us there. Everyone will know.
That’s the point after all.
“Remember,” Calder says as we pull into the parking lot. “You’re happy. We’re happy. This is what you chose.”
“I know.” The words taste bittersweet.
He comes around to open my door, offering his hand like some gentleman. I take his hand because I have no choice. His fingers lace through mine, strong and warm and possessive, pulling me close to his side as we start walking toward the entrance.
His heat is helping cut some of the chill on my bare legs.
People are already staring. Whispering. I can feel their eyes on us like insects crawling across my skin.
“Ignore them,” Calder murmurs.
“Kind of hard when?—”
“There’s the happy couple!”
Levi Bishop jogs toward us, all easy grins and charm, already dressed in his bull-riding gear. His eyes flick between Calder and me, reading something in our body language that makes his smile falter for just a second before he forces it back into place.
