As I say it, though, I realize it’s true. I do want the best for Declan. He returns my smile, and I feel he wants the same for me. And, just like that, peace sweeps through me at the man I’m choosing to go through this fake marriage with.
More Wilds crowd closer to us, and Declan introduces me to Colton and Dylan and their wives, Sky and Jasalie.
“Nice to meet you, Mia.” Colton kisses my cheek.
Dylan follows suit, and then they, in turn, introduce me to their cousins, Michael, Michael’s younger brother, Ayden, and his wife, Bella, plus Colton’s best friend, Jenson, and his wife, Olivia. Michael and Ayden are both dark-haired and look so similar.
“We’ve been so excited to meet you!” Bella says as she hugs me. “And I don’t care what the rumor is going around tonight—I think you two are for real.”
Before I can react, Sky and Jasalie beckon all the women over to a private corner of the tent.
Sky’s got fiery red hair and green eyes that feel like they see right through my charade, and Jasalie’s tall and thin with straight blond hair. They’re super friendly, and they welcome me into the family warmly. Then, they turn serious.
“We heard what’s going on,” Sky says to me in a quiet voice.
“Oh, crap,” I say too loudly.
Jasalie laughs softly. “If you weren’t living on Wild Ranch, Declan no doubt would have been able to keep it from his cousins. But…”
“I know,” I interject. “He told me he had to tell Luke and Luke’s brothers. But you guys don’t even live in Montana.”
“If it makes you feel better, Declan didn’t say anything to us,” Bella says. “Cam did. And only the cousins know. And their wives, of course. But for what it’s worth, you can’t do better than Declan. He’s honorable and trustworthy.”
Savannah has joined our group, and she nods immediately. “He’s the best brother-in-law in the world,” she says fondly. “I have to say, though, your kiss at the altar looked pretty real to me.”
I flush with heat. “What can I say?” I put on one of those smiles I’ve seen Declan use with the public. “We’re great actors.”
Jasalie’s gray eyes flash with amusement, and I get the feeling she doesn’t buy my lie for a second. But, all she says out loud is, “I think you two will do very well together.”
Olivia nods, and I like her right away. She’s down to earth and kind. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to,” she says with such confidence I believe her. “It always does.”
A small army of children rushes us before I can answer her.
Sky scoops a tiny red-headed toddler into her arms. “Luke hired a nanny for all of us for the night, but we wanted our kids to have some fun before going to bed. This little guy is Kent. We named him after Colton’s late father.”
“He’s adorable,” I tell her.
“Thank you.” She kisses his chubby cheek. “Kent, this is your aunt Mia. Can you say hi?”
“Hi,” he says with a big smile.
“Hi, Kent.” I pat his head gently.
“Colt and I have two sons now,” Sky says with a laugh. “Kent’s my oldest. They’re a wonderful handful.”
“I bet they are.” A pang of envy slices through my chest.
I’ve always wanted to be a mother. But after my mom passed away, my dream of being one myself got pushed to the back burner. Maybe because I pushed the dream there on purpose. Something about losing my mother made me cautious. And once you get cautious, it’s hard to be fearless about stepping into the future.
“Oh, look!” Sky says with a smile. “Kent’s reaching for you, Mia!”
I come out of my head to see that her son’s got both of his arms outstretched in my direction. “Mi-mi.”
I swallow hard. Only my mom ever called me that pet nickname. Not that any of the Wilds would know that.
“Here.” Sky extends Kent into the air and toward me. “Why don’t you hold him for a minute? Believe me, he’ll get squirmy in about two seconds, so a minute is generous.”
“Oh. Um, I don’t know…”
