Part of me wants to be wrong. Wants to see her and know she isn’t the woman from Vegas or my past.
My heart thunders wildly, blood thrumming in my ears as I wait. Eventually, the crowd slows until only the occasional person trickles in. No sign of the woman.
I should be relieved and yet, hope still swells within me. For a moment, I take my eyes off the door to look around. The dance hall is full of mingling singles who sway to the country music playing on the stage.
Carl joins me by the wall. “Lucinda says you can leave,” he says, clearing his throat. “Couple of the other guys volunteered to take over.”
Again, I should feel relief, and yet something sinks into the pit of my stomach. “Sure,” I mutter, pushing off the wall. “Thanks.”
Carl gives me a nod as I tear my eyes off him and the dance floor. Disappointment swells within me as I slip out the side door. It takes me behind the Saloon to the trash, which stinks. My nose crinkles, but it’s easy enough to ignore as I make my way to my truck.
I take in the gathered vehicles; mostly looks like guests were driven over, though the cabins and tents aren’t far. Most could walk if they wanted to. There’s a direct route here. As for thefolk from town, they either took the bus or drove in, though they appear to have done the former.
My gaze catches on a nearby woman. Dark hair pulled back in a slicked-back ponytail and no glasses allows me to see her face clearly despite the darkness.
I come to a complete halt as she steps under one of the floodlights lining the Saloon. And for a moment, I can’t breathe.
I’d know her face anywhere. The soft features, the green eyes. Those plump lips as they moved against my own.
Even the drunken haze from Vegas clears enough for me to know it’s her.
Olivia.
My wife.
I’m walking towards her before I know what I’m doing. Each long stride that propels me forward is filled with purpose. Need.
As if she senses me, Olivia’s eyes swing over the darkness before landing on me. For a moment, confusion swells in her expression. Until I whip off the cowboy hat, and realisation slams into her.
“You,” she says as I stop in front of her. “Ford?”
God, the sound of my name on her lips is divine. It makes me shiver, watching as she tastes it, like she’s saying it for the first.
“Howdy, darlin’,” I murmur, heart racing as I inch closer. “You are not who I expected to see tonight.”
Colour flushes her cheeks as she ducks her head. “You know why I’m here, then?”
I thumb the ring on my left hand before holding it up. “I think I have an idea.”
Her eyes, green like the paddocks in spring, flicker to the band. The colour drains from her face as she reaches for my hand. I let her take it, enjoying the softness of her fingers all too much. “You have a ring?”
“You don’t?” I ask, stepping forward. The heat of her body sears through me, tempting. I’m almost certain she’s the same woman from the bar now. “I could change that, you know.”
Olivia shakes her head slowly, blinking hard as she drops my hand. “No. I, uh, only have the certificate.” She drops her stare to her purse and digs out a piece of paper. It’s almost identical to the one I found online and printed. “Here.”
“I know about this,” I reply, not taking it. “I have my own.”
Finally, her bright eyes flicker up to mine. “Oh, okay.” Surprise flickers in her eyes, but she puts the certificate back in her purse. “Well. I think it’s obvious why I’m here, then.”
I raise a brow. “No, I don’t think it is.”
“We accidentally got married in Vegas,” she says, looking at me like I’m crazy. “The only logical thing for us would be to get an annulment.”
I knew this was coming, and yet, I shrug. “I was going to say we give it a shot,” I reply, smirking. “Maybe let the Vegas magic have some time to…marinate.”
The look ofyou really are crazysettles on her face. “What?”
“You and I were drawn to one another for a reason,” I explain, setting my cowboy hat back on my head. For a moment, something flickers in her eyes. “Maybe it’s the universe's way of saying we should give it a shot.”
