LITMIR.BIZ

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of us—and where was I? Oh, yeah. Separate rooms. But everywhere except in bed, we would be together, making it work.”

      “But it would be a lie, Will. We would be lying to everyone.”

      “No, we wouldn’t. Because we really are married. And it’s nobody’s business but ours how we choose to be married. And if it did turn out that you were pregnant, we would already have a life together. Think about that. Think about our innocent child.”

      A wild laugh bubbled up inside her, and she couldn’t quite hold it back.

      Those black brows drew together. “What’s so funny?”

      “It’s just...you, Will. Determined to protect my reputation, so set on doing what you consider the right thing. I mean, we don’t even know if we had sex, yet you’re already talking about protecting the baby.”

      He looked a tad insulted. “Exactly. On all counts. What of it?”

      “So...I would pay you rent?”

      He scowled. “Of course not.”

      “But if I’m going to be staying at your place—”

      “You mind doing some of the cooking, keeping things tidy, generally helping out around the house?”

      “Of course I don’t mind, but I should still pay you—”

      He cut her right off again. “You help out where needed. That’s more than enough payment for me. Believe me, there will be plenty of work to do. And the house has three bedrooms. I can only use one myself.”

      A minute ago she’d been laughing. She wasn’t laughing now. She held his gaze across the table and silently admitted to herself that she really had been dreading facing everyone alone, being a joke, a laughingstock. “Some people will still gossip,” she warned.

      “So what? Let ’em talk. They’ll get bored with it pretty quick when they see that we’re just a nice, happily married couple. They’ll have to find something else to talk about.”

      “I just...”

      The waitress appeared. She refilled their coffee mugs. “Can I get you two anything else?”

      “A check.” Will waited as the woman pulled the bill from her apron and set it on the table. She scooped up his empty plate and moved on. He regarded Jordyn silently for a second or two before prompting, “You just, what?”

      She forked her fingers through her hair. “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

      “It’s my plan. You bet I’m sure.”

      Jordyn marveled at him. She thought back to all those years growing up, when he used to thoroughly annoy her with his overbearing know-it-all big-brother act. She probably should have appreciated him more. If she had to be accidentally married to someone, it helped that she’d chosen a guy who’d always looked out for her, a guy who wanted the best for her, one who intended to stand up for her, stand up with her, until she left Rust Creek Falls behind. “You’re one of the good guys, Will, a real hero. And I mean that sincerely this time.”

      “Just say that you’ll do it.” His quiet voice was gruff.

      And even though she still had her doubts, the possibility that there might be a baby had tipped the scales for her. “All right, yes. Let’s do it. Let’s go ahead with your plan.”

      There was a silence. They stared into each other’s eyes. Finally, he said, “Give me your hand.”

      She reached across the table to him.

      “Uh-uh. Your left hand.” He dipped into the breast pocket of his Western-style shirt—and came out with the wedding band she’d abandoned on the nightstand in his room the day before.

      Tears burned behind her eyes at the sight of it. Suddenly, the moment seemed filled with meaning. Her heart ached—but in a good way, really. “Leave it to you to think of everything.”

      His fine mouth quirked. “Your hand, Jordyn Leigh.”

      So she held out her hand, and he slipped that ring back on her finger. And then she found she was reaching with her other hand, too. He met her halfway. They held hands across the table.

      “Thank you,” she whispered in a voice that only wobbled a little bit.

       Chapter Four

      On the way back to Rust Creek Falls, he kept shooting her glances out of the corner of his eye.

      She knew he was working up to something. “Okay, Will. Whatever it is, you might as well just say it.”

      He shot her another glance then stared at the road again.

      She gave it a mental count of ten before she prodded, “Still waiting. Better just tell me.”

      “Ahem. About tonight...”

      She folded her arms across her middle. “What about it?”

      A swift, measuring glance, then, “This is my last night at the Manor. Tomorrow I take possession of my ranch.”

      “Right. You told me that Saturday—before we did a whole lot of crazy stuff and then forgot about half of it.”

      “I think you need to stay with me.”

      “We already agreed on that.”

      “No, Jordyn. I mean tonight. In my room. We’re married, remember? We need to play to that.”

      She thought about arguing—that she’d slept at the boardinghouse last night, that one more night wouldn’t matter that much. That they’d agreed on separate rooms and they wouldn’t have that at the Manor, not and keep up the fiction that they were blissful newlyweds.

      But then again, well, she’d already spent one night in his bed. At least this time she would remember whatever happened there. “All right. I’ll stay with you at Maverick Manor.”

      * * *

      She got him to drop her off at the boardinghouse and promised to meet him at the Manor in an hour and a half.

      Upstairs in her room, Jordyn got right to work packing an overnight bag. Once that was done, she started gathering the rest of her things together for tomorrow. After work she would pile everything into her old Subaru and follow Will out to the ranch.

      The door to her room stood ajar as she packed. She’d left it that way on purpose for Melba, who appeared just as Jordyn was tucking a stack of T-shirts into one of the suitcases spread open on the bed.

      “So it looks like you’re leaving us earlier than you planned,” Melba said, huffing a little from the climb up the stairs.

      Jordyn went to her. The old woman wrapped her in a hug. Jordyn breathed in her comforting scent. Melba always seemed to smell of lemon polish and cinnamon cookies.

      Melba stroked her hair. “I heard the news that you married Cecelia’s brother. Congratulations, honey. I know you’ll be very happy.”

      Jordyn felt a sharp stab of guilt at deceiving Melba, who had always been kind and generous to her. “Thank you. I’ve known Will forever. He’s a wonderful man.” She stepped back from the old woman’s embrace. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you yesterday. It was all kind of sudden.”

      “Sometimes love is like that.”

      “Uh, yeah. Yeah, it is—and listen, I’ll come back tomorrow, after work, to pick up everything and turn in my key, if that’s okay.” Melba took her hand and pressed a small piece of paper into it. It was a check, the amount Jordyn had paid ahead for her July rent, plus her original deposit. “Oh, no. Melba, I didn’t even give you notice.”

      “Shh, now.” Melba patted her cheek. “Consider it a wedding present from Old Gene

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