“What’s going on, son?” Dad asked as soon as he’d settled into a chair.
Austin sucked in a deep breath. "I haven’t been dating anyone. It's not what you think. I'm not really engaged."
"Then why did the boys say you were getting married?" His dad's heavy eyebrows lowered.
Austin looked at the ceiling for a moment before sighing. He couldn't lie to his parents. "Cheyenne showed up here a few days ago. She wants to take custody of the kids."
"What?" Mom's face registered panic.
"Why now?" Dad said, his brows lowering even further.
"Apparently, Tucker is up for a promotion. He works for a family friendly company, and they want to use the kids to show that they're dedicated to their family." The derision in his voice grew sharper with each word.
"I always knew if Cheyenne showed up again it’d be because she was up to no good." Disapproval filled his mom's face.
“Tell me about it.”
Savannah had been near tears when she came home and told him about the horrible shopping trip with her mom. He had a feeling if it wasn’t for Debbie the whole day would have been absolutely miserable. He hated to think how horrible it might have been for Savvy if Debbie hadn’t been there to build her up and cheer her up with ice cream and the opportunity to drive one of the most expensive sports cars in the world.
Now she was in her room with Rainy, gushing over her dress and the pretty accessories Debbie helped her pick out.
Seeing Savannah behind the wheel when the Porsche pulled up outside only an hour ago nearly gave him a heart attack. Then Debbie climbed out of the car, and their kiss came flooding back to him, and it was all he could do to breathe while his heart raced a hundred miles an hour. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to keep from walking outside and pulling her into his arms again. Instead, he smiled and waved at her through the window and waited for Savannah to come in.
For a moment, he thought she might follow Savvy inside after his daughter hugged her, but she just smiled and waved back. Then she slipped into her car and drove away.
Dad shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear Cheyenne’s back, but I don't understand what that has to do with you getting engaged."
Austin told his parents how he’d panicked by lying about being engaged to a wealthy woman when Cheyenne first threatened him with an expensive and messy custody battle. He left out the part about said woman being willing to marry him for the sake of the children.
"And this Debbie just agreed to be your fiancé?" Mom asked. "Isn't she the one Savvy's doing the painting for? Why would she agree to such a hair-brained idea?"
"We've become pretty good friends, and she loves kids. The boys really like her."
I like her.
Did kissing her in the pantry make them more than friends?
"I'll say," Dad said. "They wouldn't shut up about how nice and pretty she is and how big her house is."
Now mom's brow creased. "I understand why you felt she'd be a good safeguard against Cheyenne, but are you sure you know what you’re doing getting mixed up with another wealthy woman?"
"I'm not getting mixed up with her. This whole engagement is just pretend." Maybe if he said it enough he'd believe it. Because each time they kissed, an electric charge shot straight through his veins. It felt reckless and dangerous yet exhilarating. It filled him with a magnetic charge that made him never want to let her go.
Crap. I’m totally mixed up with her.
"Tell that to your sons,” Dad said.
“I can’t. I can’t risk them telling Cheyenne the truth.” Not that she even bothered to talk to them today.
Austin rubbed his hands over his face. He really should have considered how a fake engagement would affect the boys, especially when the threat from Cheyenne was over, and he ended the relationship.
And he had to end it. His pride wouldn’t let him marry a woman who was so rich it would feel like she was supporting him and his family.
“It’s nice of Debbie to be willing to help you out,” Mom said, “but I worry that you might fall for another rich woman. Don’t forget how miserable you were trying to keep Cheyenne happy.”
He’d never forget how difficult life was with Cheyenne, but he was definitely falling for another rich woman, and there wasn’t a single thing he could do about it. Especially if they kept kissing.
“Debbie’s different. She’s not spoiled and selfish like Cheyenne. She actually grew up as the oldest of a large family with modest means.”
