The success of the place made it easy for his dad to save up and provide more for his family than he’d ever thought possible. Wyatt and his three sisters grew up wanting for nothing. At the same time, their dad insisted that they also learn to work and appreciate what they had. While he set aside a share of the family’s wealth for each of them, their money was put into individual bank accounts that were only accessible after their twenty-first birthdays.
Violet had managed to ruin that for the rest of them. As the oldest in the family by five years, she’d taken her money, gone on a tour of the world, and come back nearly broke two years later. She’d spent the last fifteen years married to a man that didn’t have nearly as much money as she’d like him to have and made sure her unhappiness with life was evident to the rest of the family.
Their father had since decided to hold onto their inheritance until he was satisfied that they were well established in life. With the influence of their mother, unfortunately, that meant seeing their children happily married and settled in Clearwater. Lucy, his other older sister, was married. The only ones left waiting for the blessing of their parents—and ultimately their inheritance—were Wyatt and Bonnie.
When Wyatt graduated college with a degree in business, Dad made him a manager of the country club. Over the years, that position morphed into being a business partner and head of personnel. In other words, he picked up the slack where needed.
He normally didn’t mind, but it irritated Wyatt to no end that his dedication didn’t seem to be enough to earn his inheritance. Unfortunately, he’d made the mistake of sharing his future business goals with his father.
It was Wyatt’s dream to open Joyful Hope Stables, a place where people could enjoy horses and learn how to ride at prices anyone could afford. He got the idea from the few horses they had at the country club. Wyatt had witnessed the way the horses helped people gain self-confidence, including Gran, and wanted to extend that to others. Maybe even hire some therapists to provide hippotherapy to adults and children alike.
It was a goal his father found ludicrous, insisting that putting money into a charity project that would never earn it back was foolhardy. Wyatt had long ago stopped trying to explain his dreams. While he got along with his father okay, they would never see eye to eye when it came to managing money.
Mom explained that until Dad was convinced that Wyatt was settled and stable, he’d see none of that inheritance money.
He could’ve seen his dreams realized a lot earlier, but since he didn’t have a family to support, he’d been putting away money every month. He was finally in reach of going forward with his plans, and all without the use of his family’s money.
As Wyatt settled in his office and went through a list of resumes he was considering for a job opening in the golf center, he couldn’t keep his mind off Chrissy and what he’d asked her.
If her expression was any indication, there was no way she was going to agree to go with him to Gran’s birthday. He read through another resume before setting it aside. A thought came to him.
What if he offered to pay Chrissy? Hiring a woman to pose as his date to his own grandmother’s birthday party wasn’t too pathetic, was it?
The moment the thought went through Wyatt’s mind, he dismissed it. That was a crazy idea. If his family ever found out that he’d become so desperate, they would never let him live it down. He couldn’t blame them, either. He would rib one of his sisters for months over something as crazy as this.
The idea ping-ponged between the worst thing he’d come up with and one that seemed plausible as he worked his way through the day. By the time three forty-five rolled around, he was ready to put the country club behind him and go talk to Chrissy. With any luck, she’d take pity on him after hearing his story, give him one of those smiles that seemed to light up the coffee shop, and agree to go with him out of the goodness of her heart.
Hey, a guy could hope.
Chapter Two
Wyatt waited for Chrissy to hang up her apron, gather her bag, and walk around the counter. Only then did he ask her if she’d like to sit down so they could talk. To his surprise, she shook her head.
“I’m in here all day. There’s only so much coffee smell a girl can take. Let’s walk down to the fountain.” She led the way through the dining area and outside. The heat of the day hadn’t begun to diminish yet, leaving the air feeling thick with humidity.
Wyatt followed, aware of how the ends of her hair bounced around her shoulders as she moved. The sun brought out the stripes of purple, which were more visible now that her hair was a lighter color.
The fountain she spoke of was at the center of the downtown area less than a block from the coffee shop. It was a well-known fixture during town events such as antique car shows, holiday festivals, and even the chili cook-off in the fall.
Right now, most people in the area were cutting through the center on their way to or from somewhere else. Chrissy approached the fountain and sat on the circular brick rim that served as a bench. She looked at Wyatt expectantly.
He’d had everything all planned out when he left work. Now those words tumbled around inside his head like a load of socks in the dryer. He finally sat down beside her and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m going to try and make a long story short here.”
He paused. “My paternal grandmother just turned ninety, and we’re celebrating with a party this weekend. I’m especially close to her. I have three sisters and no boy cousins. It’s Gran’s dream to see me married so that I can carry on the Tabor name and be happy.” He sighed, wishing it didn’t all sound quite as far-fetched as it did. “Or at least that’s what my parents are constantly telling me. I’m going to be honest and say I think it’s more them than it is her, but once my mom gets something in her heard, there’s no talking her out of it. At this point, I need to take a date to hopefully make my parents happy enough to let the subject drop. Then maybe Gran can actually enjoy her birthday and not have to witness yet another round of family drama.”
Chrissy watched him warily as she ran one hand through the fountain water. The movement caused little ripples to extend from her skin in every direction. “You’re kidding.”
“If someone told me this, I’d feel the same way. But I promise, I’m not joking. Gran’s birthday is four days away, and I need someone to come as my date.”
“So instead of actually finding a girlfriend, you’re just going to pick one out at the coffee shop like you would a bagel?” Her voice rose just slightly as she spoke. She pulled her hand out of the water, wiped it off on her jeans, and then rested it on her lap. Drops of water darkened the bricks and the fabric of her pants. “You realize just how desperate that sounds, right?”
“Of course I do. That’s why it’s important that my family assumes you and I have known each other for a while and that you wanted to go to this party with me.”
The look of disbelief on her face gave way to exasperation. “I’m sorry. I’m not in the habit of blatantly lying to strangers.” She stood up and brushed off the seat of her pants. “Look, I do hope that your grandmother has a wonderful birthday.”
Wyatt leapt to his feet and grabbed her wrist to keep her from walking away. “Contrary to how it might look now, I’m not in the habit of lying, either. This is the lesser of two evils. I care a great deal for Gran, and I’ll do anything to make this celebration a good one for her. If that means making people happy for one night, then it’s worth it. Do you get what I’m saying?” He let go of her wrist, and she took a step backward.
He could tell she was feeling sympathetic toward him and his story. But he could also see that she hadn’t been convinced. He couldn’t blame her. The original plan that he’d considered over and over again back at the club came to mind. Before he could second-guess himself, he blurted out his thoughts. “What if I paid you for your trouble?”
“Excuse me?”
Chrissy’s eyes widened, and this was the first time Wyatt noticed the flecks of gold
amid the brown. There was something about her eyes that made him want to keep staring into them. Instead, the frown on her face, coupled with the way she’d dropped her arms and straightened her spine, told him he was losing her attention fast.
Wyatt held up a hand to stop her. “I get that this is a weird and uncomfortable situation. But if you go with me to Gran’s birthday, you’ll be doing me a huge favor. Essentially, you’ll be my birthday gift to her. So if I pay you for your time, I’m really just buying Gran a birthday gift.” He cringed at how cheesy that sounded. “Five hundred bucks for the day.”
If he thought her eyes were big before…
“You’re going to pay me five hundred dollars to have dinner and cake with your family? Who can afford to do that?”
He wasn’t about to tell her that it didn’t even make a dent in his bank account, but that wasn’t going to help him out now. “The party is being hosted at the country club at five on Sunday evening. I doubt it’ll last more than three hours, if that long. There will be steak, chicken, and cake and ice cream for dessert. I’ll pick you up, take you home, and then we can go back to small talk at the coffee shop again. Come on, what do you say?”
~*~
Chrissy truly wanted to laugh at Wyatt, tell him no, and walk away. But five hundred dollars for one evening? That was pretty hard to pass up, especially when it would pay for most of Emma’s medication for the month.
He’d mentioned that having a stranger go with him to the party and lying about knowing each other was the lesser of two evils. Maybe that was the case for her, too. Maybe it was more important to get this extra money to help Emma than it was to tell what would amount to a little lie. Not to mention that, technically, he was the one telling it anyway.
Ugh, she hated that she even had to seriously consider something like this to make extra money. Thinking about Emma going into the job interview this morning was enough to make up Chrissy’s mind. Okay, God. Is it horrible I’m even considering it? Surely You understand why I’m doing this.
She pointed a finger at him. “Five hundred dollars, and I’m out of there by nine no matter what’s going on with the party.”
He seemed surprised, yet hopeful, that she might be agreeing to his crazy scheme. “Absolutely.”
“And you’ll pay me in cash when you pick me up?”
“I’ll pay you half then and half when I drop you off at your house that evening.”
Chrissy would’ve rather had the money all upfront but understood where he was coming from. “Okay, that’s fair.”
“So you’ll do it?” He ran his fingers through his hair. Hair that magically fell back into place despite the humid air and the gentle breeze. He slid his hands into the pockets of his black slacks.
For the first time, Chrissy noted how fancy his button-down shirt was. Where did he work? She looked into his green eyes and the hope shining there.
“Yeah, I’ll do it.”
“This is great!” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “What’s your number? I’ll text you mine, and that way we can stay in touch between now and then. The party is casual, so don’t feel like you need to dress up. Do you know where the country club is?”
“Yes, I do.” There was no need to mention that Chrissy had driven by many times but had never actually stepped a toenail inside. She couldn’t afford the membership if she’d wanted one. Against her better judgment, Chrissy gave him her cell phone number. Moments later, her own phone pinged. She glanced at the screen and the number along with the words, “Wyatt Tabor.” She’d be sure to add him to her contact list once she got home. “Okay, it came through.”
“Seriously, thank you. You’re saving me, and if we can keep this between the two of us, I’d appreciate it.”
He gave her a smile then, one that lit up his eyes and brought out a subtle dimple in his right cheek. As if he weren’t already attractive enough. Unable to come up with the words anyway, Chrissy made a motion to lock her lips and throw the invisible key over her shoulder.
What she really needed to do was go home and see how Emma’s interview went. “I’d better get going. I guess I’ll see you at some point this week?”
“Absolutely. Have a good evening, Chrissy.”
“Yeah, you, too.” They waved at each other as though they’d just stopped to visit about the weather and went their separate ways.
This was, without a doubt, one of the strangest days Chrissy had ever had.
By the time she got home, she was starving, a little grumpy from dealing with the hot weather, and more than ready to kick her tennis shoes off and watch some TV. Emma’s car was already in the driveway, meaning Chrissy was the last to get home.
She unlocked the front door, stepped inside, and released a happy sigh as cool air enveloped her. Chrissy dropped her bag and keys on the nearby table and left her shoes on the floor nearby. The scents of spaghetti and garlic bread drew her to the kitchen.
Mom was draining noodles in the sink while Emma pulled a pan of garlic bread out of the oven. They both looked up and smiled at Chrissy.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” Mom said. “I was just about to call and make sure everything was okay.”
“I’m sorry I was late. I got held up on my way out the door.” She noted Emma’s casual clothes. “How’d the interview go?”
Emma shrugged. “Who can tell? I didn’t completely blow it, but I don’t think I aced it either. I’m supposed to hear back on Monday. I guess they have a number of other interviews scheduled this week.”
Chrissy exchanged a look with Mom, who gave her a firm glare instructing her to stay quiet.
“Well, I’ll be praying.” Praying that God would see fit to do whatever was necessary to keep Emma healthy.
“Thanks. What about you? How was your day?” Emma placed the garlic toast on a plate and carried it over to the little round table in the middle of their tiny dining area.
Chrissy used pot holders to transport the sauce followed by Mom and the noodles. “Oh, you know. I made some coffee. Served some scones.” Accepted five hundred dollars to go on a date with a guy I barely know. “It was a Monday.”
They sat down, Mom said a prayer for their food, and they began to dish it out. Once everyone had what they needed, Mom twirled some spaghetti around her fork but didn’t take the bite. “Well, it was pretty crazy at the bank today. We had a customer get so upset that the security guards had to escort him from the building.”
“What?!” Chrissy quickly finished her mouthful of food. “Was he your customer?”
“Thankfully, no. But I worry about him coming back. You always hear about angry customers returning to a business to seek revenge.” Mom chewed on her lower lip. The spaghetti noodles on her fork unwound themselves and flopped back onto her plate.
“I doubt you have to worry about that, Mom,” Emma reassured her. “I think that mostly happens on TV. I’m sure the security guard got it taken care of, and hopefully you’ll never see the guy again.”
As Mom and Emma tried to remember which television show they’d seen lately that closely resembled Mom’s day, Chrissy’s mind wandered back to her conversation with Wyatt.
Everything about him—from his fancy shirt to the expensive shoes he wore—spoke of money. Not to mention the fact he didn’t even flinch at offering half a grand to get her to go to the party with him. Here they were eating homemade spaghetti at a worn table in a crowded house. Where was Wyatt?
She pictured him in a mansion with a plate of caviar and crackers in front of him. Okay, maybe not caviar. Steak. The best cut cooked to perfection. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d eaten steak, a food that was a bit outside of their grocery budget.
There was no doubt she and Wyatt were nothing alike. The whole “opposites attract” idea flitted into her mind, and she mentally batted it away. That didn’t work in real life. She’d pose as his date at the party, and that would be it.
Suddenly, her mind began to wander as sh
e contemplated different possibilities. Would he introduce her as his date or his girlfriend? Surely she wouldn’t be expected to show any kind of affection toward him outside of sitting with him.
Chrissy’s chest tightened. No longer hungry, she pushed the spaghetti around on her plate and finally laid the fork down.
A long list of questions formed in her mind—questions she should’ve had the good sense to ask Wyatt before she’d agreed to this crazy scheme of his.
“You okay, Chris?”
The sound of Mom’s voice along with the touch of her hand was what finally jolted Chrissy back to the present. Both Mom and Emma were staring at her, concerned.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, just tired, I guess.” She’d eventually tell them about the pseudo-date—they kept very little from each other—but she didn’t have it in her tonight.
“Maybe you should turn in early,” Mom suggested.
“I might do that.” Chrissy did her best to eat a piece of garlic bread.
That night, Chrissy tossed and turned as different scenarios played themselves out in her dreams. Most were boring, some completely random, but it was the scenario where Wyatt put his arm around her shoulder and drew her in for a kiss that stayed with her when she woke up the next morning.
Chapter Three
Chrissy looked up from the cash register Wednesday morning and saw her friend, Raven Shaw, come into the coffee shop. “Hey! It’s so good to see you. It feels like it’s been forever.”
Raven grinned. “You, too! I know, I’m sorry I haven’t been in as much lately.” She gave her coffee order and then, since there was a brief lull in customers, leaned against the counter to chat. “Heath’s been helping his dad renovate the store.”
That had Chrissy looking up with surprise. “You’re joking.”
Heath’s father owned the camping and outdoor store in Clearwater. The building had been in need of some updating for a while, but he had been too stubborn to let Heath—or anyone else—help him make the changes. “How are they getting along?”
Marrying Chrissy (Brides of Clearwater Book 3) Page 2
