Instead of listening, she shakes her head. “You might actually be insane,” she mutters, stepping back. “I need an annulment.”
Something sinks into the pit of my stomach. “Is there someone else?”
“It wouldn’t matter if there were,” she snaps, crossing her arms. “Me asking is more than enough reason for you to give up. I’m here to give you the heads-up and get your consent to make this easier on us both.”
She’s not wrong. After Tucker and I talked, I looked into the legalities, though I’m no divorce lawyer. We might be able to getan annulment without a divorce if we both agree, even though we got married in Nevada. But I’m no legal professional. And neither is she, based on her uncertainty.
“How long are you staying at Wild Vista?” I ask, ignoring everything else. Might not put me on the right side, but I have to try.
Olivia rolls her eyes. “Tomorrow, leaving the following day. I’m getting the annulment.”
“Give me tomorrow to convince you,” I suggest, stepping towards her.
She sighs. “Convince me of what?”
“That you and I are meant to be.” I take another measured step towards her, once again feeling the heat of her body. It’s enough to make me shiver.
“You don’t know anything about me,” she murmurs. “You probably didn’t even know my name until you found the license.”
“You would be right there, darlin’. But I haven’t stopped thinking about you. Had you not found me, I would have sought you out myself. The only reason I didn’t was because your name is common, and you didn’t tell me enough about yourself that night for me to find you.”
Her arms tighten around herself as she watches me, but she doesn’t make a move to step back. “It’s more than that. I have other responsibilities. A good reason why this won’t work.”
“What reason?” I ask, curious. “What would make me run?”
She opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Instead, she shakes her head. “If I give you tomorrow and Istillwant the annulment, will you give it to me? Will you sign the papers?”
I can’t stop the sinking feeling, but I give her a nod. “I’ll give you what you want, darlin’. You have my word.”
She holds out her hand for me to shake. “One day.”
I take it, heart racing. “We have a deal.”
FOUR
OLIVIA
Ford is outside my cabin bright and early, grinning from ear to ear.
Last night feels like a dream I can’t wake up from. I hadn’t expected to find him so soon, and then to have himwantto keep this marriage?
It doesn’t feel real.
Maybe I should have said something about Christopher, but I couldn’t. Fear overcame me in that moment, not because I want this to work, but because Ford reminds me too much ofhim.
It’s the hint of dimples when he grins, the same ones Christopher has when he starts belly-laughing during tummy time. It’s the colour of his eyes that gives me flashes to the night I can’t fully remember. I don’t know if it’s the two different times merging into one that has me so confused, but maybe what I told my sister has some truth to it.
Maybe there’s a chance FordisChristopher’s father. But how do I go about mentioning that?
Oh, sorry. I know I asked for an annulment, but could you perhaps offer up some DNA so I can test it against my son that could be yours from a one-night stand?
I doubt that’d go over well.
Shaking my head, I lock the cabin behind me. “Don’t you have work to do?” I ask.
Ford’s smile widens. “The boss gave me the day off after I explained what I had planned.”
My stomach sinks. “Have you toldeveryoneabout me?”
