“Absolutely, sweetheart.” My grin is wide now as I see the way she’s actually thinking about this. “The ranch is the perfect place to be creative. And I’m more than happy to provide inspiration.”
She laughs now, and my heart swells to see her relaxing despite the situation.
“Give it a little thought.” I squeeze her knee. “I’m going to grab a shower, okay?”
She nods, and I leave her to think about what is no doubt the craziest thing that’s ever happened to either of us.
Standing under the hot water, I can’t help but feel guilty. I want this. I wanther.I feel like I’ve been handed the greatest gift with this unexpected thirty-day clause.
But Maisey…
She obviously doesn’t feel the same way. And worse, she actually needs the money. I don’t. My rodeo win yesterday—was that only yesterday?—netted me just over a hundred grand.
If I were a gentleman, I’d offer to pay her share of the prize money, get the annulment, and send her on her way.
I wouldn’t even notice the hit to my bank account.
But Iwouldnotice her absence.
That might make me an asshole. But I was also her husband.
For better or worse.
Chapter Seven
Maisey
Istill can’t believe I agreed to this.
Thirty days married to a cowboy.
But it’s not like I really have a choice, especially if we’re also going to have to pay them back for the hotel. I hardly have enough in my bank account to pay for rent, let alone a luxury suite in Vegas.
Besides, I can’t deny that the idea of spending my nights with a gorgeous cowboy making me come so hard that I can’t see straight all night, every night, while I spend my days painting, sounds like an opportunity that is unlikely to come around again.
Plus, staying on the ranch with him will give me a chance to look for a real job without all the pressure.
With the decision made, we’ve left our honeymoon suite behind so I can collect my things from the room I’ve been sharing with Patty. When I turned my phone on about twenty minutes ago, it practically blew up with messages from my stepsister.
Where are you?
You better be at the pool party tomorrow!
MAISEY!
It’s our last day. Don’t forget the pool party. I NEED my whole bridal party there.
Get down here!
I’m going to kill you if you ruin this for me!
Not one message asking me if I’m okay.
I disappeared from the nightclub with a strange man whom I’d justmarriedbecause ofher,and the selfish bitch can’t even be bothered to ask if I’m okay.
Not that I should expect anything different.
But it does confirm my decision to leave with Travis. It’s not like she’s going to miss me at her wedding in a few weeks. Well, except for making the photos unbalanced.
