“So does half of Copper County.”
“Oh my god— Saxon— there are comments?—”
I lean down. “Read them.”
“I can’t?—”
“I’ll read them,” I say, plucking the phone from her hand.
Her pulse jumps at my fingers brushing hers.
I scroll. “‘He finally found a woman to tame him.’”
She groans. “Saxon?—”
“‘She’s adorable.’” I pause. “Can’t argue with that.”
She swats my arm. “Give me that!”
I hold it over my head until she gives up, glaring. She’s flustered. Pink-cheeked. Breathing too fast.
Beautiful.
“Relax,” I say. “It’s handled.”
“Handled?” she repeats, stunned. “Handled? Saxon, the entire town thinks we’re engaged.”
“Seems that way.”
“And you’re… okay with that?”
I shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She stares at me like I’ve spoken in tongues. “Because it’s not true.”
“It’s a solution,” I counter. “A temporary one.”
“A temporary fake engagement,” she says, exasperated.
“Exactly.”
“You’re insane.”
“And you’re overwhelmed.”
She opens her mouth to argue—and doesn’t.
I lower my voice. “Let me help you.”
Something softens—dangerously—in her expression.
“Saxon,” she whispers. “This is too much.”
“I’m not asking you to marry me.”
“That’s literally what we just told everyone.”
“Only because it protects you.”
