CHAPTER 1
Bliss
“Bliss Jefferson, will you marry me?”
It’s my first proposal. I’ve been imagining this moment for several years now. I’ve rehearsed my reaction, thanks to watching so many proposals go wrong on social media, and I know the emotion I want to convey.
To make things even better, the man proposing to me is hot, successful,andmy longtime crush.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the type of proposal where I can leap into his arms and kiss his face. If I had that reaction, he would run away screaming.
“What’s in it for me?” I ask him as I fold my arms across my buttoned-up flannel shirt. The chilly spring air has a bite to it.
Zane Madden gapes at me, as though it never crossed his mind that I would expect something out of this marriage. He’s leaning against the side of his work truck, one of his boots crossed in front of the other, sipping an open mug of coffee.
Not quite what I imagined when I fantasized about a proposal from this man. And Ihavethought about it.
“What do you mean, what’s in it for you?” he asks, and he doesn’t sound sarcastic about it—just purely surprised that I would want something out of a marriage.
“Let me see if I understand correctly,” I say as I rock back and forth on the heels of my cowboy boots. “You want me to marry you so you can own the majority of your ranch? What do I get out of the deal?”
Oh, that’s right. He’s not asking me to marry him because he’s madly in love with me.
It’s because I’m the only single person in a hundred-mile radius.
As far as proposals go, it’s definitely the worst one I’ve had—also the best, since it’s theonlyone I’ve had.
Zane looks at me uncomprehendingly. “What doyouget out of the deal?”
“Yes, exactly. What am I going to get out of marrying you?” I tap my fingers against my elbow and wait for him to answer. It’s all I can do to bite my tongue and not start blabbering. I have to stand strong; otherwise, I’ll end up being a doormat for Zane—something I’d be tempted to do just so he wouldlikeme.
“Well …” He drawls the word out. Which isn’t fair. He’s not from the South, so he doesn’t get to bust out a drawl right now. “What do you want when we get married?”
When, notif,as if it were inevitable.
“The irrigated pasture with the straw barns off Coyote Creek.” I blurt out the words before I even think them.
Is that really what it takes to get me to marry someone? Somewhere for me to keep my sheep? I fold my arms across my chest and stare him down.
Zane mirrors my pose, except his is a lot more intimidating when those arm muscles are on display, that dang coffee cup looking tiny next to his bicep. “Wait, what?”
I shake my head. “You didn’t think I would marry you for nothing, did you?”
He tugs at his collar and clears his throat. Hedidthink that.
Well, surprise, surprise, Zane Madden. I am not an easy target. Not anymore.Not that Zane ever knew I was an easy target for him. I’ve been careful to keep that little crush a secret.
“You expect me to marry you, live with you, and not want anything out of the deal?”
“You’d have security?” He phrases it as a question, as though he didn’t even think about the fact that I might need to be persuaded.
“I already have a Ring camera.”
He smirks at that. “I meant you would have somewhere to live, and you wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I’d take care of you.”
“My dad already does that,” I fire back.
Dad’s fantastic that way. He’s told me I can live with him forever. It’s the way I want to be with my kids. Now, Mom, on the other hand, she would kick me out in a heartbeat if it meant she got grandkids. If she hears even a hint about this proposal, she will move all my belongings into Zane’s house herself.
