Practically Married

by Karin Beery

  “This is all so overwhelming.” She searched Russ for emotional clues. His shoulders and face sagged. She didn’t like doing that to him. “I won’t fight you on this. I don’t care what the letter says. The farm is yours.”

  “And any paperwork you have to support ownership would be great,” Rob said. “You really should have your own copies of any legal documents you sign, anyway.”

  Russ leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. “Of course, but I always gave my copies to Tom for safekeeping.”

  Some of the weight left Ashley’s shoulders. “That means there’s proof someplace. All we have to do is find that paperwork and get this settled.” Her stomach rumbled. “After lunch. Is anyone else hungry?”

  Russ nodded. “I’ll look through the office this week. Until then, do we have any of those little pickles left from the memorial?”

  “I think so.” Ashley hopped up and met him at the refrigerator. When she opened the door, he peeked over her shoulder. Spotting the little green bottle, she grabbed it and a few other jars, then stuffed them into Russ’ hands. “Sandwiches?”

  “Sure.”

  Rob cleared his throat. “I take it we’re done with this conversation?”

  Ashley turned back to the lawyer in time to see him packing up his briefcase. “We might as well be. Nothing really changes unless we have those papers, so we should probably find them first.”

  “And whenever we figure this out, there’s the issue of Russ’ one year waiting period.”

  Ashley sighed. “I’d almost forgotten.”

  “It’s your house, so you can do whatever you want.” Rob plucked an apple from the fruit bowl. “You enjoy your lunch. I’m going to go back to the office to pretend like Russ has a perfectly organized filing cabinet around here somewhere.”

  If only. Ashley returned to the refrigerator as Rob’s footsteps faded away. Cheese, meat, bread, more cheese. She handed everything to Russ. Unlike his paperwork, he couldn’t possibly lose the food between her hands and the kitchen counter.

  But what if Russ couldn’t find anything? What if they weren’t good roommates? Could she get enough work in the next year to save up a down payment on a house? Panic squeezed her lungs. Ignoring the leftover veggie tray and fruit salad, she reached for the gelatin and set it on the island.

  Russ handed her two slices of bread smashed around a pile of lunchmeat. “Looks like we can add the farm to our list of unexpected events.” He threw together another sandwich, then stood beside her, both of them leaning against the counter, munching away. He tore through his food, staring at the floor. Ashley bit into her sandwich, but it gummed up in her mouth. She tossed it on the counter and grabbed the bowl of green, jiggly comfort instead.

  Russ opened a drawer. “Spoon?”

  “Thank you.” She took the largest spoon and scooped out a mound of lime gelatin and whipped cream. “You know, as crazy as it’s been since I got here, none of this should surprise me. Tom used to do this to me all the time. He’d start talking about things he forgot to tell me, then get mad that I couldn’t follow the conversation. Of course he’d forget to tell you about me.”

  “You should’ve been his business partner. We always had stuff showing up at the farm without explanation. You’re the first bride, though.”

  Ashley’s laugh bubbled up, comfortable and relaxing. Nice. So was the dessert. And the company. In all honesty, grieving with Tom’s family had been the friendliest, most enjoyable week she’d had in years, all things considered.

  Russ reached behind her, brushing his arm across her back.

  His nearness warmed her like hot coffee on a blustery day. She’d known nice men her whole life, but something about Russ … Ashley risked a peek at his rugged face. Firm jaw. Weathered tan. But she’d seen him cuddle with his nephew, and she’d held his hand while they gazed at the stars. Her pulse jumped.

  This was what she had wanted with Tom—comfort, friendship, companionship. She had most of that with Russ, and then some. Her dreams of Tom had never affected her blood pressure the way Russ did. She knew from her conversations with Tom that Russ was older and had dated less often, but was he lonely? A spoonful of gelatin melted in Ashley’s mouth as she sneaked sideways glances at him.

  Russ seemed to like her. He certainly made her heart flutter. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made, but would Russ see it?

  Only one way to find out. Ashley set the bowl on the counter before stepping in front of him. Inhaling deeply, she summoned her courage as her pulse quickened.

  Russ’ chewing slowed. “You okay?”

  “I think we should get married.”

  *******

  Russ choked on salami and disbelief. Ashley shoved a glass of water at him, but he waved it away as he braced his hands on the counter. He struggled to breathe, his head spinning.

  Ashley pounded on his back. Now she wanted to save him after nearly scaring him to death? She pounded again. The food finally dislodged itself, and air rushed into his lungs. He sucked in a deep, cleansing breath.

  “Are you all right? Can I get you anything? What do you need?”

  He needed a minute to think. Gasping for oxygen to clear his head, Russ walked to the sliding-glass doors and stared outside, looking at anything but Ashley’s lovely face. What was he supposed to say? She’d just asked him to marry her. How did a man respond to that?

  As he scanned the horizon, her reflection appeared in the glass. It came closer until a hand landed on his back. Small circles warmed his shoulder where she rubbed it, like his mom used to do when he got sick as a kid. His mom’s actions always made him sleepy, though. Ashley’s hand somehow triggered every nerve in his body. And she wanted to marry him.

  “Russ?” She stepped closer, pressing her warmth against him. This was a bad idea, right? “Are you okay?”

  “No, I’m hallucinating.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I. It sounded like you proposed.”

  “It could solve our problems.”

  Russ watched their reflections, her arm partially wrapped around him as she continued to rub his back. Soft and warm. Trembling. Her eyes shifted. Her lips pursed. Unless he was mistaken, she was as nervous as he was shocked. “We should probably talk about this,” he said.

  “I know. It’s sudden, but it fixes everything. We can both live here, the farm stays in your family. It’s basically the same plan as before.”

  “Not quite.” Russ returned to the kitchen to put some much-needed space between them. “You’ve prepared for marriage, and now you want to substitute me for Tom.”

  “That’s not true, I thought—”

  “That any Russell man would work?”

  “No! Tom talked about you all the time, and I’ve spent a week with you, and I think you’re a wonderful man. I wouldn’t suggest spending the rest of my life with someone simply because he happened to be related to Tom. I’m not that—”

  “I’m wonderful?”

  “—shallow, I … what?” Ashley stopped, red-faced and wide-eyed.

  “You think I’m wonderful? You barely know me.”

  “I know a lot about you.”

  “But you don’t know me.” They stared at each other from opposite sides of the room, the click of the furnace making the only sound.

  She shifted her weight. “Maybe you’re right.” Finally, a moment of sanity. “Tom told me that you’re Edgar James Russell the third, and you own a farm with your cousin. You grow apples, peaches, and cherries, but your favorite fruit is blueberries. You’re thirty-eight, never been married, played football and basketball. You used to watch the History Channel with Tom because it reminds you of your grandpa.”

  A strange familiarity filled the room. “I didn’t realize you knew all that.”

  “Tom liked to talk about you.”

  “I’m impressed that you remember so much, but that’s not all there is to me.”

  “I know that too.” Her gaze dropped to the f
loor. “You love your sisters, but you love their kids even more. You’re a hard worker, but your family comes first, to the point that you’ll drive a stranger around your farm to help out your mom. You were willing to miss your cousin’s memorial to make sure a woman you just met was okay.” She looked up, drawing his gaze back to the sincerity in her eyes. “You look like you stepped out of an Eddie Bauer catalog, you smell like a playground, and you’re all the best parts of Tom.”

  Russ’ throat tightened. No one had ever said anything so nice. Ashley’s words, her eyes, her smile all made him want to know her the way she knew him, but he couldn’t get sucked into her delusion. “I’m not a replacement.”

  “I’m not looking for a replacement. I’m looking to get on with my life. Our futures are linked now whether we like it or not, and I thought …” Her gaze dropped again.

  Russ could practically hear the energy seep out of her. What he actually heard was a sniff. The tension melted off his shoulders as Tom’s fiancée wilted. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “Whenever my sisters are upset, I apologize first and ask questions later.”

  Her chuckle lightened the mood. “That’s smart, but you don’t have anything to apologize for.”

  “I disagree.”

  Ashley peeked at him, her dark eyelashes framing those beautiful eyes. “Honestly, don’t worry about it. I’m a little embarrassed, but I’ll get over it.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed.”

  “I asked a stranger to marry me, and after you said no, I tried to think of all the ways I could convince you, but it’s just now occurring to me that maybe you’re involved with someone else, or not interested, which would be understandable.”

  Her mouth kept moving as Russ watched uncertainty derail her confidence. He liked to think that he understood women better than a lot of guys, but this one confounded him. He heard “fat” and couldn’t take it anymore. In two seconds, he stood in front of her, grabbed her arm with one hand, and clamped the other hand over her mouth.

  Ashley’s eyes bulged. “Whf?”

  “I want to set the record straight. I like having you here.”

  “Yof duf?”

  “I do.”

  Her cool fingers wrapped around his wrist and pulled his hand away. “But you don’t want to get married, and I understand that. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

  “You were trying to help. Tom left us in a bad situation, and you want to fix it.”

  “I guess, but proposing was a dumb idea.”

  “Maybe, although I can see why you suggested it.”

  “You can?”

  He shrugged. “You said it yourself. You’re crazy about me.”

  “I said no such thing.” Ashley pushed him away, her face twisted like he’d fed her lemons.

  He smiled, tempted by her feigned disgust. He liked being able to get under her skin, even if it meant riling her up. He couldn’t stop now. “Not that I blame you. I own a farm, live in a great house. My sisters tell me I’m pretty good looking. I can see why you fell for me.”

  Ashley’s mouth opened, but no sound emerged. She waved a finger at him, her arms tense, face red. Cute, if it weren’t for the bulging veins.

  After a few more finger waves, she made a fist and slugged him on the shoulder. “You’ve got some nerve! I just humiliated myself. I’m trying to deal with Tom’s death and your rejection, and you’re standing there basking in your imaginary awesomeness. I’m actually trying to fix our problem.”

  “You did call me wonderful.”

  “I lied!” Ashley hit him again before storming out the patio door.

  Good. Being upset might redirect her thoughts. No one married someone in a week. That was crazy. Only people in Bible times did that sort of thing. It might have worked for them, but that was a different era.

  Besides, Russ didn’t have time to think about marriage. Sure, it would be nice to have a family, but options were limited, and he was almost forty. Meeting someone, dating, hoping it worked. Nothing about that appealed to him. He’d wasted enough time with Jess. Never again. Every unattached woman he met was closer in age to his teenage nephew than to him. Russ shuddered. So he’d never have a family. He had a niece and nephews. That was enough.

  Outside, Ashley paced the backyard. The wind tossed leaves across the lawn as the sun hid behind dark clouds. It was cold for November, and Ashley had to be freezing in her short-sleeved shirt. As if on cue, she rubbed her hands over her bare arms. When she spotted him standing in the doorway, her chin hitched up, and she walked farther away. She must be embarrassed if she was willing to freeze instead of facing him. He should take her a coat. And say what? Here’s your coat. Sorry I don’t want to marry you.

  Ashley’s hair danced around her face. She tucked a piece behind her ear, but it didn’t contain the beautiful chaos.

  Tom had amazing taste in women. If Russ had the time and energy to waste, he’d look for someone like Ashley—confident, strong, and compassionate.

  The obviousness of the situation almost knocked him over. She wasn’t asking him to date her or romance her or even buy her a ring. She got a family and a house. He kept the farm and stayed put. No unrealistic expectations. No games.

  Could it really be that easy? Was he ready to ask a woman to stay with him, to sacrifice her life to accommodate his? Farming wasn’t easy, even for a family who grew up with it. And Ashley saying she wanted a family didn’t mean she understood what that meant. His sisters would grill her, Mom showed up whenever she felt like it, and holidays were an exercise in anarchy.

  She faced the house, this time squaring her shoulders as she marched toward him.

  Could it really work? Forgetting his family, forgetting the farm, could he commit himself to that woman? To that kind, intelligent, beautiful woman? The chaos in his mind settled. The panic in his heart faded. Thoughts of dating sapped his energy, but watching Ashley accelerated his pulse. Plucking his coat off the chair, Russ slid open the patio door.

  Her eyes sparked. That kind of fire sure beat tears. Russ slowed his steps as she approached him. “I’ve been thinking about your proposal—”

  “Me too.” She stopped directly in front of him, toe to toe and completely oblivious to personal body space. Close enough that, even with the breeze moving around them, her spicy scent teased him.

  Her hair blew up at him, tickling his cheek. He tucked it behind her shoulder, enjoying the soft strands. “You were?”

  “Getting married is a good idea. Maybe I pitched it wrong. This isn’t simply a business proposition.”

  “Then what is it?”

  Her creamy skin went red, but she held her chin high, looking him in the eye. “It’s a marriage, with everything that word implies.” She sucked in a breath. “Everything.” Ashley grabbed the front of his shirt. Pulled him close. And kissed him.

  CHAPTER 16

  Russ’ breath warmed Ashley’s cheek, but his unyielding lips chilled her straight through. That shouldn’t be happening. He’d opened up to her. He seemed to like her. Her radar wasn’t that far off, was it? Maybe she needed a different technique. Releasing his shirt, she slid her hands up to his broad, tense shoulders.

  Strength and warmth wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. Russ tilted his head as his lips softened. The tang of dill clung to him. Strong fingers pressed into her back, guiding her against him, deepening the kiss. He held her—claimed her—and she let him.

  “Ashley,” he whispered against her lips.

  “Shut up.” She kissed him again. Unexpected emotions bubbled up. She didn’t recognize them all, but she didn’t fight them. When he kissed the skin beneath her ear, her knees melted.

  “I’ll marry you.” His lips moved back to hers.

  A million tingles raced up her spine. “What changed your mind?”

  A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “You’re a convincing woman.” His lips brushed her ear, cheek, temple. She opened her eyes and found herself look
ing right at his lips. Desire coursed through her. “Up here.” His finger tapped her chin up, shifting her gaze to his. The corner of his mouth lifted crinkling the skin around his eyes. “You’re also a surprising woman.”

  “You didn’t say yes because I kissed you, did you?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I’m not that shallow.”

  Ouch. “I deserved that.”

  “You did.”

  But was it true?

  “Don’t look like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you found a worm in your apple. I came out here to talk about it when you kissed me.” He dropped an arm from around her, and the wind bit at her skin. A heavy jacket settled on her shoulders. “See? I was bringing you a coat. I had a plan.”

  Ashley pulled the jacket close but still shivered. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “I think your idea has merit.”

  “I noticed.”

  A full smile filled his face. “Not this part, the whole thing.”

  “Tom and I had a—”

  Russ covered her mouth with his hand. “One thing I’d like to figure out is how we can do this, not you and Tom. If we get married, it’s about us, not about what you planned with my cousin.”

  She pushed his hand away. “But it was a good plan.”

  “I’m sure it was, but I’m not Tom.”

  No, he wasn’t. None of her interactions with Tom had ever startled her heart like Russ did, not to mention what his kisses did to her. His fingers squeezed the ticklish flesh at her waist. Despite the stiff brown coat between them, her skin sizzled.

  “Then what do you want?” she asked.

  “I want a wife, a family.”

  Her stomach rolled. She wanted a family too, but until kissing Russ, the act of creating one had merely been a theory. With her lips tingling from the memory of his, thoughts of that family nearly short-circuited her brain. “Me too. So … how do you want to do this?”