Cam stood up from one of the comfortable chairs, temporarily blocking part of the view of the Rocky Mountains.“You can barely fathom the concept of marriage, Telford, much less say it.That’s not good.After your mom passed—”
“She was killed,” Telford interrupted viciously.
“After your mom and grandfather were murdered, you were alone.You grew up alone.”Cam’s voice was soft, kind, but there was an ache and sympathy Telford hadn’t heard for years.
Another shiver ran through him, and a cumulus cloud must have scuttled across the sky as a shadow blocked the rays of gold kissing Cam’s expensive haircut and backlighting him with an ironic halo.
Briefly, a shadow crossed Cam’s face.“I don’t want you to be alone, Telford.”
“I’m not.”He had Cam—his business partner and friend.
“You’re a much better man than you think you are.You’re brilliant.Savvy but kind.You’re fair, honest, and loyal.But you hold your heart too tightly.Wife isn’t a four-letter word.”
“Yes it is.”
Cam laughed and walked toward him.“My bride’s arriving next Friday.I want you to be fair.We’re going to spend the weekend together.See how we suit.”
“You going to tell her that more than half the conversations were with me?”
“She’s mine.”Cam narrowed his eyes.“She doesn’t need to know all the logistics, though we will discuss contractual terms for the marriage.Expectations.Lifestyle.Goals.See if we want to pull the trigger.”
“That’s an apt description,” Telford groused.“And starting out a marriage with a lie is not a good start.”
“It will be fine—you’ll see,” Cam said confidently.
Suspicion rose hot and fast.“You didn’t book two women for next weekend, did you?”That would be so on brand.
Blindside him.Put him in a social bind where he couldn’t gracefully back away.No way.He wouldn’t have any part of that.Not even for Cam.
Cam laughed and again clapped him on the shoulder, though he knew Telford didn’t like that.“Now there’s a thought.No.Thought I’d seal my deal and then wear you down.”
“Hope you have Sydney drafting an ironclad prenup to protect your for-the-plot ass.”
“She’s dialed in.She already spoke to Vesna to give her the lay of the land financially—not that I’d cut off an ex-wife brutally, especially if kids are involved.I can be fair and generous.But don’t worry.Our company will not be part of the marriage contract.”
“That’s romantic,” Telford said sarcastically though hugely relieved Cam wasn’t letting his impetuous nature run too far ahead of him.
“Vesna has Slavic heritage.Her name refers to an ancient goddess of spring.Got me a goddess for a wife.”Cam looked happy, and Telford felt like a selfish jerk for wishing the whole mail-order-bride scheme far away.
“I can hear you thinking,” Cam said.“Heads-up, if next weekend goes well, she’s going off birth control, and I’ll be asking you to stand up for me.My best man forever.”
“What are the prenup terms?”Telford ignored the best-man announcement.He was already calculating a plan to save Cam from another one of his impulses, although this one was a much bigger change agent than wanting to launch a hostile takeover of a company Telford hadn’t fully researched yet.
“You’re not impacted financially,” Cam dodged—something he’d never done.“I’m going to head across the street to finally grab some Thai food from that truck you’re always going on about.Want me to bring anything back?”
“No.Not hungry.”The conversation and its implications had made him nauseous.“I’ve got some things to look into,” Telford dodged right back, ignoring the hurt that pinched at him.
They were men.Business partners.Friends.Not middle-school girls sharing makeup or clothing or boy tips or whatever middle-school girls did.
“Get your lunch delivered like you always do,” Telford advised.
He walked out of the room, needing to move and think and escape the idea of a bride—arranged or loved up—until he had more ammunition to shoot this dumb plan down.
“Nah, I’ll walk over.You’re the one always pushing me to have our business meetings walking along the river or to meet you for a trail run or mountain biking instead of at the gym,” Cam reminded him.“You extoll the virtues of fresh air.Hell, you’re the one who got me thinking about Montana and legacy and land.”
“What?”Telford bobbled his phone and barely caught it before it hit the acid-washed concrete floor that Cam had insisted on.
“Connect the dots like Steve Jobs.”Cam smirked.“You’ve only yourself to blame, Tel.”He left their suite smiling sunnily and humming the wedding march that sounded to Telford’s ruffled soul like a dirge.
