Practically Married

by Karin Beery

  “I’m not talking about that either, but you’re clearly too stubborn to be sensible. Find me when you’re ready to listen, but you need to know I’m considering my options.”

  Perfect. He might as well sell everything and move to Detroit. Russ couldn’t do that, though. Ashley owned the house. The tension climbed up his spine, tightening around his neck like a noose. “I need to get out of here.”

  “Take the rest of the week off. Seriously, don’t come back until Monday. Think about what I said.”

  “Fine.” Russ yanked his coat off the floor and righted the chair. “If you happen to find any legal-looking documents from Tom saying he was crazy and didn’t mean anything he said in his letter to Ashley, give me a call.” He crossed the room, ready to get out of the stifling office.

  “Russ?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Huh?” He looked back at Chad.

  “The wedding. Congratulations, man.”

  “Thanks. We’ll talk later.” After he talked to Ashley. The township’s proposal affected her now too. What would she think about it? The idea of discussing his future with her eased the tension.

  Clear blue skies and frosty air greeted Russ outside, the morning sun blinding him. He dug the phone out of his pocket, his bare fingers stiffening in the cold as he dialed. Almost nine. Ashley had to be up by now, though he’d left her asleep on the couch again.

  “Hello?” Her soft voice moaned the word into his ear, stirring his heart and easing the morning’s pressure.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “Um … yeah. Who is this?”

  Of course she wouldn’t recognize his voice yet. That reality chilled him more thoroughly than the wind. “Russ.”

  “Oh, hi.” She yawned into the phone. “What’s up?”

  “What are you doing this morning?”

  “I’ve been awake for five seconds. I haven’t made plans yet.”

  “How about we start our date early? I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes and take you out for breakfast.”

  “No.”

  So much for that idea.

  “I can’t be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  “How long do you need?”

  She yawned again. “Half an hour? Coffee first. Then we’ll talk. Uh … how did I end up on the couch?”

  “I’ll pick you up in half an hour and tell you all about it.”

  *******

  At 10 a.m., Russ paced the kitchen, lecturing himself about falling for Ashley’s thirty-minute estimate. They’d shared a house for a week. He knew how long she took in the bathroom, but what could possibly take so long?

  Footsteps clicked on the hardwood. “Okay, I’m ready.” She walked into the kitchen and stole his breath away. Black heels and jeans. Long, dark waves and a fire-engine-red sweater. Her pink cheeks creased with a relaxed smile that was worth the wait. He couldn’t look away.

  She’d looked comfortable last night, but today pushed her out of the comfortable zone and right up to beautiful. Russ fought to control his expression, not wanting to let her see how much she’d affected him.

  “Are you okay? You look sick.”

  Maybe he was trying too hard. He smiled instead. “I’m fine. You look amazing.”

  “Thanks. Where are we going?”

  “That depends on what you want to see. We can go to Traverse City and see where Liz lives, or go up to Cheboygan to visit Rachel. She’s always happy to have company.”

  “Do we have to visit anyone today?”

  “Not if you don’t want to.”

  “I’d like to drive around, but I’m not ready to face your sisters again so soon.”

  Russ laughed. “I can understand that.”

  “Thank you. What are my other options?”

  He pressed a hand against the soft material on the small of her back as he ushered her to the door, then pulled her coat off the rack and helped her into it. “Let’s go to Petoskey. It’s far enough from everyone that you can see northern Michigan without having to explain to anyone why we didn’t stop by to say hi.”

  “Perfect.”

  *******

  Ashley clung to the door handle, straining to see the edge of the road through the rain-streaked windshield. The wipers thwapped across the glass, but the world blurred around her. “Are Novembers always this rainy?”

  Russ barely held the steering wheel with his right hand as his arm rested on his leg. “Not often. A little colder and it’d be snowing. Don’t you like the rain?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “It’s not usually this bad here. It’s the freezing rain that makes things tricky.”

  “How often does that happen?”

  “There’s no way to know. What’s with you and rain?”

  A car whizzed by, throwing a wave of water into Ashley’s sightline and testing her nerves. Russ didn’t seem to mind, but she couldn’t tell without taking her eyes off the road. While her ability to see through the windshield wouldn’t change the driving conditions, knowing where they were going alleviated some of her anxiety. She’d been so focused on the wedding yesterday that she hadn’t considered the weather before going out. Today, however, every raindrop pounded on her heart.

  Risking a quick look to her left, she made eye contact. Her pulse spiked. “Shouldn’t you be watching the road?” The truck slowed, and they coasted to a stop along the shoulder. “What’s wrong? Why did we stop?”

  “Why do you hate the rain?”

  “What?”

  Russ slouched in the driver’s seat, watching her. His eyebrows pinched together above his nose as the corners of his mouth folded down.

  Her blood simmered. “Don’t pity me. It was raining when my parents crashed. I know it was an accident, but it could happen to anyone.”

  “But it was raining?”

  A chill rippled through her. “Yes.”

  “How did it happen?”

  “Another driver lost control and hit them. The police said he was speeding and spun out. He had a head injury, so he doesn’t remember the accident. He got to walk away with no memory of killing my parents.” Someday that injustice wouldn’t hurt so much.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “Why not?”

  “It obviously still upsets you.”

  “I don’t mind talking about my parents.” Ashley crossed her arms. “It’s the look.”

  “What look?”

  “The ‘poor you’ look, as if I’m the only person who’s ever lost a loved one, like I’m a pity case because I’m alone. I don’t want people feeling sorry for me. I’m not—”

  “I don’t feel sorry for you.”

  Their breath fogged the windows as his reaction fogged her head. “You don’t?”

  “Not at all. I’m impressed.”

  She wasn’t sure how to take that. “Why?”

  “Aside from the whole driving-in-the-rain thing, you seem to have things together. You’ve lost a lot of people in your life, but that hasn’t stopped you. I was wondering how you do it.”

  “I didn’t handle it well at first, but it’s been almost twenty years. The time helps.” A gentle swell of concern for Russ warmed her heart. “I remember nights when my head hurt from all the crying and thinking during the day. It fades, though.”

  He nodded, but his expression didn’t change.

  She turned to face him completely. “I didn’t realize you were struggling so much. I should have noticed.”

  “There’s no way you’d know.” He unlatched his seatbelt, letting it slide back into the panel. “Come on, slide over.”

  “What?”

  He reached over and unlatched her belt. “Slide on over.” He tapped the steering wheel, and every ounce of her strength melted away.

  The rain pounded in time with her heart. “No.”

  “You can do this.” His fingers wrapped around hers, pulling her toward the center console.

  She pulled
away toward the comfort of her door. Russ gently tugged her arm. She shook her head, but somehow her body moved closer to the center. “Why are you making me do this?”

  “I would never make you do anything. You drove in the rain yesterday. Why does today scare you?”

  Rivers rolled down the windshield, captivating her. “I never leave while it’s raining.”

  “And the weather was clear when you left the house yesterday.”

  She focused on the rivulets. The same substance she needed to survive had killed her parents. Children laughed and danced in the rain. Ashley shivered.

  Russ’ warm hand covered hers, entwining their fingers. He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of her wrist. “You’re trembling.” He loosened his grip but didn’t let go.

  She admired their hands together—his large and tan, hers smaller and pale. His free hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing across it, spreading a trail of moisture. Tears?

  Breaking contact, she looked away and wiped her face. “I’m not usually a crier.”

  Russ chuckled. “Are you sure?”

  Between the nightmares and the rain, she’d cried more in the last week than she had in the last year. “I promise, I don’t usually cry this much, not even when I talk about my parents.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I do.”

  Russ exhaled loudly. “Good, because I lied. I wouldn’t mind a few less tears.”

  His honesty tricked a smile out of her. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  He cupped her face again, then slid his fingers into her hair, tickling a tender spot on the back of her neck. Her eyelids fluttered down. The closeness soothed her. Tom had promised her friendship. With Russ she had understanding. Support. A tenderness that surprised her.

  And chemistry. Goose bumps popped up on her arms as he wove his fingers deeper into her hair. Man, did they have chemistry. She’d given up on that fairy tale years ago, but being with Russ changed her mind. He changed everything.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  She looked at him. “For what?”

  “For being here.”

  But she hadn’t done anything. Of course, John and Rose hadn’t done much after her parents’ funeral, but they made themselves available, and that eased worries she hadn’t even identified. “I’m glad I could be here. I remember what those days were like.”

  “How did you deal with it?”

  “Sometimes I laughed. Sometimes I cried. I’m a girl, so I talked a lot.”

  Russ wrapped his other arm around her. “I’m not much of a talker.”

  “Don’t try to force it. You’ll work through your grief when you’re ready.” She leaned back, smiling at him. “Have you met that person yet who swears he knows exactly how you feel because he lost his dog once? Or because his eighty-nine-year-old great aunt died, he completely understands what you’re going through?”

  Russ’ lips twitched. “Not this time, but I remember that from my dad’s funeral. People kept trying to tell me what to expect next. I hated it.”

  “I’ll never forget, at my parents’ funeral, this guy who used to work with my dad walked up and hugged me, then started talking about how his mom had recently died peacefully in her sleep, so he understood exactly how I felt. I know he meant well, but I wanted to punch him.”

  Russ’ laugh reverberated through the cab, relieving the heaviness of their shared grief. Before she could talk herself out of it, Ashley touched his beard. “I like hearing you laugh. My aunt says a cheerful heart is good medicine, and I’ve found that to be rather accurate.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. The butterflies in Ashley’s stomach fluttered. His grip tightened, inviting her in as his eyes darkened.

  “Russ?”

  His lips captured hers, fierce and passionate, as if his next breath depended on the touch of her lips. Ashley locked her arms around his neck. Each kiss pulled at her heart, drawing her closer to him, urging her to let go. She surrendered, kissing him back, matching his passion and eagerness.

  His lips left hers, caressing her cheek, jaw, the soft spot beneath her ear. She trembled. A warm breath washed over her neck.

  “We might not make it to Petoskey in time for breakfast,” he said.

  She kissed his temple, then the crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes. He sighed against her, and she chuckled. “I don’t mind. This is the best drive I’ve ever taken in the rain.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Dusk covered Boyne Heights as Russ navigated the streets, Ashley sleeping beside him. He scrubbed a hand across his face as he replayed their day in his mind. One full day with her, and their relationship definitely wasn’t about convenience anymore. Convenience didn’t explain how she affected him.

  Each time they touched, his brain shut down. When she held him, everything seemed okay. He almost forgot about the stress of the farm and his family, but how long could that last? He and Jess had had physical chemistry, and look how that turned out. What if Ashley was as crazy as Jess?

  No, Tom had never liked Jess and had tried to warn Russ, but Tom picked Ashley. She couldn’t be nuts. Then again, Tom kept his engagement a secret, so maybe it wasn’t Ashley’s sanity Russ should be questioning.

  She seemed normal enough. She had smiled as they explored Petoskey, spoken intelligently without talking his ear off. He’d enjoyed the afternoon, but now they were heading back to the farmhouse. Back to reality. What would happen after the wedding when Mom went home, and life started again?

  “Where are we?” Sleeping Beauty yawned as she ran her fingers through her hair, rustling the already-messy mass.

  “Almost home.”

  “Darn it. The sun’s setting.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “I wanted to take pictures of the house and barn, but the light will be gone by the time we get there. That’s okay, though. I can take pictures tomorrow.”

  Russ turned the truck onto the main street, rolling along the quiet stretch of road.

  “Wait!” She squeezed his knee. “The courthouse. The sun’s perfect against the brick. Can we go over there?”

  “Don’t you need your camera?”

  She reached into the back seat, then produced a rectangular blue bag.

  “Where did that come from?”

  “I’m sneaky. I would have taken pictures in Petoskey, but I didn’t want to ruin the mood. Oh!” She pointed across him. “Over there.”

  Russ turned left, jumping the curb as he pulled into the courthouse parking lot. As he drove toward a vacant spot, he spotted her.

  Ashley leaned toward the windshield. “Isn’t that Jess?”

  “Yes.” His ex skipped down the front steps of the courthouse.

  “I thought she lived in Marquette. Why is she still in town?”

  “I have no idea.” But he could guess.

  Ashley opened her door before he stopped the truck. She hopped out, the camera pressed to her face, and snapped pictures as she walked. Why was she taking pictures of Jess?

  His shoulders tightened as he climbed out. The two women greeted each other. His gut told him to run, but his brain kicked into gear—nothing good could come from those two talking.

  Jess raised a hand, smiling. “Hi, Russ.”

  He tipped his head. “Jess.”

  “Your fiancée promised to send me copies of these pictures.”

  “Ashley. Her name’s Ashley.”

  “Yes, I know.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, tilting her head toward him. He’d once thought she looked cute doing that. Today he cringed.

  “I’d like to get a few pictures while the light is good. Do you mind?” Ashley looked between Russ and Jess, who took a step closer to him.

  “Russ and I can catch up while we wait,” she said.

  Great. Ashley headed toward the far side of the building.

  “She seems nice.”

  “I like her.”

  “I figured since you’re marrying her.”

 
“Yep.” A cold wind blew between them. “Why are you still in town? Don’t you have to work?”

  “You’re really going to marry her?”

  “Haven’t we had this conversation?”

  “I thought maybe you had come to your senses.”

  “And decided to marry you instead?”

  Jess stepped in front of him, arms crossed and icy-blue eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I meant. You just lost your best friend, and your farm is in trouble—”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “You’re emotional, and she’s pretty, but I know you. We have history.”

  “Not a good history.”

  “Those weren’t my best days. I get that.”

  “Not your best days? That’s like calling a hurricane inclement weather.”

  Jess winced, taking half a step backward.

  Guilt rammed into Russ. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “No.” She stared at the ground. “You’re right. That was a hard time. My job was a mess, we moved Nana to a nursing home, and my little brother went into rehab. And the thing with my parents. It was a lot to handle, and I didn’t do it well.”

  “You wouldn’t let me break up with you.”

  An unnatural shade of red seeped into her face, all the way to her hairline.

  His stupid, big mouth. “I’m sorry, I’m—”

  “Don’t be.” She snapped to attention, straightening her coat and looking him in the eye. “It was bad—embarrassing—and not just with you. I basically got myself fired, but you’d already broken up with me, twice I think, so I never mentioned it.”

  “Fired? I thought you left the credit union because of the job in Marquette.”

  “Hardly. I applied for a promotion and tanked the interview. I kept telling them I needed the job and how it fit into my five-year plan.” She shook her head, blonde hair swinging around her shoulders. “I rambled for half an hour. By the time I left the office, I was bawling. It was too embarrassing to stay after that, so I told everyone there was a job, but I needed to get away. I lucked out when the agricultural extension had an opening.”

  And Russ had thought the meltdown was about him. “I don’t know what to say.”

  She waved a hand as if to dismiss his misunderstanding. “I probably deserve whatever it is you think about me, but regardless of what that is, I’m worried about you. She’s a stranger.”