The Country Bride: Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book 4

by Lucy McConnell

  “I agree. But you don’t have to take it from someone else. There’s plenty of success and happiness to go around.”

  “You’re living in a dream world.” Dad shook his head. “You got this job because someone else didn’t. You’ve taken someone’s place.”

  Paige turned to go. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” He didn’t. He didn’t know about Mr. Walker’s first wife dying. He didn’t know Addison needed a mom. And neither of those things was Paige’s fault. The Lord hadn’t called Mrs. Walker home because Paige needed a job. It didn’t work like that. Everyone had a path to tread, and this was hers. The fact that her road merged with the Walkers’ was just the way life worked out.

  “Bleh!” Dad threw up his hands. “It’s useless to reason with you.” He grabbed her and crushed her against his chest, wrinkling her new dress between them. “You’ve got a rough road ahead of you, Penny Paige,” he said into her hair. “Don’t be a stranger.” He kissed her head and then headed back out to the barn, his shoulders dusted with moonlight and his head bowed.

  There wasn’t anything to left to say, and Paige made her way across the lawn to the back door. The overhead light cast everything in a yellow glow.

  She turned the knob and stepped inside the dark kitchen, only to have it flood with light. She held her hands up to block the glare as her eyes adjusted. Around the table sat her whole family. Even Jacob, Taylor, and their two kids were there, grinning like fools.

  “What’s all this?” asked Paige.

  “We wanted to wish you luck,” said Matthew.

  “I made a cake!” Neveah chimed in. Sure enough, a nine-by-thirteen pan sat in the middle of the table. “It’s dark chocolate with lemon frosting. Your favorite.”

  Paige leaned over Neveah’s shoulder and swiped her finger through the yellow icing for a taste. “It’s perfect,” she said.

  Neveah beamed under the praise.

  “You guys didn’t have to do all this.” Paige ran her hand along the back of Neveah’s chair, feeling like a complete loser. Her family—though crazy—was supportive, and she paid them back with half-truths.

  Mom put her arm around Paige’s shoulders. “We couldn’t let you run off to a new job without knowing your family is behind you.”

  Paige’s omissions made her ears burn. Maybe they would have understood her desire to become a bride. Maybe they would have allowed her to drive off tomorrow morning without them.

  Yeah, and maybe her horse Kitty would sprout wings.

  “No matter where you go, you will always be our Penny Paige.” Mom kissed her cheek. “Now, who wants cake?”

  Paige was served the first piece and given the chair at the head of the table, near her oldest brother and his family. She carefully hung her dress on the hook on the back door. David and Matthew leaned against the kitchen counter, smack-talking about their next game of basketball. Hannah and Neveah sat together at the counter, whispering behind their hands. Noah took the seat to Paige’s left, and Mom took the one next to him.

  Taylor had Maria situated between her and Jacob. Jacob had his hands full making sure John didn’t get his hands full of cake. At two years old, John was all about sensory play, and he grunted when Jacob moved the plate out of his reach.

  “So what is your new job?” Taylor glanced at the dress and then back to Paige.

  “I’m a nanny of sorts.” Paige rolled a piece of cake around her in her mouth, trying to swallow around her guilt. It was darn near impossible with her tongue as dry as a summer’s day.

  Noah harrumphed. Paige ignored him.

  “How many kids?” asked Taylor.

  “Just one. Addison. She’s six.”

  “Like me,” chimed Maria.

  “Yep. Just like you.” Remembering what Mr. Walker said about Addison making friends, Paige decided to lay some groundwork. “Would you like to come over and play one day?”

  Maria nodded, her mouth brimming with cake.

  “Are you sure your employer won’t mind?” asked Mom.

  “I’m sure. We’ve already talked about it.” Paige swooped a spoonful of frosting off the cake and ate it quickly, hoping to ward off any more questions. The tart lemon flavor bit her taste buds.

  “Can I come over tomorrow?”

  Paige choked on her frosting. Tomorrow was not a good day. Thinking of Addison’s constant chatter, Paige decided putting some time between the wedding and Maria’s visit might be a good idea.

  “Let’s let Aunt Paige get settled in first.” Taylor wiped Maria’s cheeks with a napkin.

  Jacob was having much less luck with John, who had managed to poke himself in the eye with a spoon. A yellow glob dangled a moment before landing on Jacob’s black pants. “Ugh!” He managed to smear it from his thigh to his knee. “Help?”

  Taylor went to the sink for a wet cloth.

  “But Mom. Faith moved, and now I don’t have anyone to play with.”

  Taylor handed the cloth to Jacob. “You two will have the whole summer to become friends.”

  “Yeah—best friends,” added Noah.

  Paige caught something in his tone and narrowed her eyes in warning.

  “Close as cousins, I’ll bet,” added Noah.

  Paige kicked at him under the table.

  “Ow!” Jacob leaned down to rub his leg.

  Noah snickered at Paige’s poor aim.

  “Sorry,” said Paige. “I guess I’m just nervous about tomorrow.”

  “What’s to be nervous about? It’s not like your marrying this guy or anything.” Noah licked the frosting off his fork and winked.

  Since being discreet wasn’t working, Paige punched him in the shoulder. “Shut. Up,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “He’s right, Penny Paige.” Mom leaned forward to see around Noah, who was rubbing his shoulder. “You can quit at any time.”

  “Sure. Sure. It’s not like you signed a contract or anything.” Noah scooted away as Paige swung again. Her fist caught air, and Noah smirked.

  “You signed a contract?” Jacob asked in disbelief.

  Paige pasted on a smile. She was so going to get Noah for this. “An employment contract is all. With a confidentiality clause.” She hoped Noah would take the hint.

  Taylor whistled. “These people must be rich to go to all that trouble to protect their privacy.”

  Noah grinned like a cat with a mouse under its paw. “Rich enough to pay for anything. A nanny, a cook, a gardener, a lawyer, a wife …”

  Paige rocketed to her feet so fast her chair made a screeching noise against the linoleum. “Thank you so much for the cake and everything. You guys are wonderful.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Mom, her palms in front of her.

  “I still have to pack a lot of stuff and I need to leave early.”

  Noah got to his feet. “You mean we have to leave early.”

  Paige pretended innocence. “I couldn’t take you away from here another day. You’ve already helped soooo much.”

  “It’s no trouble. Besides, it’s not every day that my sister gets hitched … to a new job.”

  Paige gritted her teeth. If she didn’t get out of here soon, Noah was going to spill the beans. “Fine. I’m leaving at seven-thirty.”

  Chapter 13

  The day of his wedding, Cody woke up to a bang that echoed off the adobe walls around his house. It only took him a moment to recognize the sound of a shotgun. Throwing on a pair of jeans and stuffing his feet into his boots without socks, he ran outside, where he found Christopher scooping up a thick rattlesnake with a square mouth shovel. Badger, his black-and-white border collie, was going nuts barking at the corpse.

  “You okay?” Cody asked.

  “Yep. I got him before he got me.”

  Cody lifted the lid to the garbage can, and Christopher deposited the carcass.

  “Actually, Badger found him first and had a conniption. He was lucky he didn’t get bit.” Christopher shook his head.

  Co
dy reached down to scratch Badger behind his ears. The dog scooted closer and closer until he was sitting on Cody’s boot, his head pressed up against Cody’s leg. “You’re so needy,” Cody accused. Ever since he was a pup, Badger had begged for recognition. Not that Cody had given him much lately. He’d passed off care for the animal to Christopher.

  Great. Now he felt guilty for ignoring his dog. He’d spent the night disparaging over his physical response to Paige, his apparent lack of self-control, and his inability to keep his hands from acting on their own. With all of that, and now the dog, there was a lot of guilt floating around for such an early hour.

  Christopher leaned against the shovel. “Haven’t seen you for a few days. How are you doin’?”

  Cody scratched the back of his neck. He’d been so preoccupied with wedding plans and trying to keep up with work that he hadn’t filled Christopher in on things. With Paige living at the house and Christopher living in the apartment above the barn, she and Christopher were likely to run into one another now and again. And if Addison was anywhere nearby, she’d introduce Paige as her new mom. Better Christopher hear it from Cody first. “I’m doing well. In fact, I’m getting married today.”

  The shovel clattered to the ground, and Badger yipped in surprise. “What in the …?” Christopher blurted.

  Cody held up both his hands. “It’s not what you think. This is an arrangement for Addison’s sake.”

  Christopher continued to stare.

  “There’s been a new nanny every other month for a while now, and Addison needs some stability. So I’m getting married.”

  “To Ava?”

  “Heck no! Her name is Paige Baker.”

  Christopher rubbed his whiskery chin and stared over Cody’s shoulder. “Paige Baker …” Something sparked in his eyes, and then a slow grin spread across his face. “Well, good luck.” He slapped Cody on the back before scooping to pick up his shovel.

  Cody hurried after him into the cool air of the barn. “No trying to talk me out of it or telling me I’m a fool?” He desperately needed someone to tell him this was crazy, because so far everyone, from Addison to Pamela to Gabe, was supportive. Didn’t anyone have a solid head on their shoulders?

  Christopher stowed the shovel in the tack room. “Nope.”

  Thanks. “No advice on my wedding day, then?” Like “back out now while you still have a chance.”

  “Nope.” Christopher shoved his worn cowboy hat onto his mop of black hair.

  But Cody didn’t miss the knowing gleam in his eye, and it made him angry. “That’s just great. Thanks for your help.” He turned and stomped back into the house, slamming the door behind him.

  Addison was at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal. She jerked her head around at the noise. “Daddy!”

  Cody’s angst vanished at Addison’s bright-eyed happiness. “Good morning, sunshine.”

  Addison giggled. “Morning.”

  Cody took a bowl from the cupboard and joined Addison at the table, where he poured himself a bowl of fruity-Os and milk. There was no time for the special breakfast he’d planned.

  “Did you see Paige? She did her hair like mine so we’d match today.”

  Cody’s mouth was full, so he nodded. He’d wondered about Paige’s straight hair. It was kind of her to do that for Addison, but a small part of him hoped it wasn’t permanent. Her wild curls were something to behold, and it would be a shame to have tamed them.

  “Do you think Penny Paige is pretty, Daddy?”

  Cody’s jaw slowed down, and he chewed thoughtfully. If he said “no,” then Addison would think she wasn’t pretty either, since they matched. But if he said “yes,” Addison might get the wrong idea. Paige was naturally beautiful, and he got the impression that she wasn’t aware of just how stunning she truly was. She didn’t wear a lot of makeup—just enough to enhance what was already there. She had a fit figure: not slim and stick-ish, but shapely and fit. Cody bet she turned more heads than she knew, because she didn’t come into a room and demand people notice her—but notice her they did. At least, Cody had.

  Opting to protect his daughter’s self-image, Cody swallowed and said, “Yes.”

  “Me too,” Addison chirped.

  Trying to steer the conversation to safer topics, Cody said, “Paige left a hairbrush and a dress for you. Are you done eating?”

  “Yes.” Addison jumped from her seat and ran toward the stairs.

  “Wait, you forgot your dishes!” Cody called after her.

  “Ah.” Addison changed directions and hurried back to the table. “You used the milk last, so you have to put it away.” She dropped her plastic bowl into the sink, and milk splashed but didn’t land on her or the counter.

  Cody held back his sigh. He’d rinse it out in a minute. While they had a maid do the heavy work, he insisted Addison cleaned up after herself. However, this morning, he didn’t have the energy to make it a thing. “I’ll clear the table. Let me know if you need help.”

  “I will.” Addison was already up the stairs.

  Cody glanced at the clock on the microwave, and his stomach dropped out. They’d have to leave in twenty minutes if they were going to be on time for the ceremony.

  After cleaning the kitchen, he sprinted through a shower and shave and had his dress slacks and a blue button-up shirt on—the shirt not yet done up—when his cell phone rang. He answered, somehow knowing it would be Gabe. “Please tell me you were petrified on your wedding day.”

  A decidedly female chuckle came through the line. “It’s MaKayla.”

  “Sorry.” Gabe picked up a bottle of cologne and stared at it. Too much?

  “Gabe’s on a flight to Arizona. He wanted me to call and make sure you didn’t—these are his words, not mine—run away screaming.”

  He set the cologne back on his nightstand and sat on the edge of his unmade bed. “He’s too kind.”

  MaKayla laughed again.

  “At least one of us is enjoying this,” snarked Cody.

  “You remind me of me. I was nervous, but I just kept repeating the reasons I wanted to get married over and over again until I could see past a year married to Gabe and visualize the finish line.”

  “Uh-huh.” Cody got up to find his socks.

  “Your finish line is a lot closer, because the moment you bring Paige home, you’ve accomplished your goal. Focus on that moment.”

  Cody pictured Addison and Paige playing board games, going to the park, inviting friends over, painting their nails together, and doing who knows what else girls do. This was for Addison. She needed a steady female influence in her life. “I can do that.”

  “I’m ready,” announced Addison from his doorway.

  Cody’s jaw dropped at the sight of his little girl in a hot-pink gown, her hair brushed and pulled back by a matching headband, and her silver shoes sparkling. She had a little silver purse slung over one shoulder and smelled like strawberry lip gloss. Was this the same girl who couldn’t match her socks to save her life?

  “Cody?” MaKayla tried to get his attention.

  “Sorry. I’ve just seen an angel.” Cody grinned at Addison. “Addison looks like a ten-year-old.”

  Addison grinned, and Cody’s heart sank. Where had the time gone? One minute she was playing on the swings and the next minute she was carrying a purse.

  “Be sure and take pictures,” said MaKayla.

  “I will.” Cody turned his back to Addison, hunched his shoulders, and spoke low. “Tell Gabe I’m not running away.”

  “You got it.”

  They said goodbye, and Cody tucked his phone into his jacket pocket and put the jacket over his arm. “I guess it’s time to go.” He offered his arm to Addison, and she slipped her little hand into the crook of his elbow. Cody felt a catch in his throat and swallowed it back. “You look beautiful, Addison.”

  “Thank you,” Addison replied.

  Once Cody got Addison and her dress situated in the car, he settled behind the wheel. Kylee
, I hope you can see our little girl today. He started the car and paused. Please know that I’m doing the best I can.

  As he pulled out of the garage and angled the car down his narrow lane, he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Kylee smiling at him. He slammed on the brakes and whipped his head around, only to find an empty seat next to Addison. A sense of deep approval filled the car, starting down by his feet and rising like floodwaters. As it reached his heart, he understood, in the recesses of his soul, that Kylee wasn’t only approving of the marriage, but that she approved of Paige as Addison’s new mom.

  The lump was back in his throat, too heavy to be ignored or swallowed; it caused his eyes to sting and water. When he was at his most vulnerable, another intuition came, telling him Kylee approved of Paige for him.

  Despite the awesome feeling in the car, Cody’s fear spiked, and he was forced to take several fortifying breaths. His fear caused the peace to recede quickly, as if he’d pulled a plug, leaving behind just enough to firm his resolve in his decision to marry Paige today … for Addison. Addison was the reason he looked for a wife. Addison was the one who needed Paige. Addison was Cody’s purpose. Paige was not, nor could she be, for him.

  Chapter 14

  Paige and Noah waited in Pamela’s office for Cody and Addison. They were ten minutes late, and Paige wondered if she was about to be stood up at the ... not the altar, because they weren’t in a church ... so, at the desk? She considered Pamela’s desk and shook her head to clear her scrambled thoughts.

  Noah sat in the chair next to her, his heel tapping out a trotting rhythm. He shifted, sighed, and fidgeted as much as all her other siblings put together. Not that anyone else was here. Paige had made sure of that. The only reason Noah made the guest list was because she needed his help to transport the horses. She’d hooked up the trailer and filled the first bay with a week’s worth of hay. Noah’s fee for driving the second vehicle was to be able to stand as a witness.

  Pamela stood near the door with Harrison and the officiator. They discussed inane topics like the weather and road construction. Paige appreciated their efforts at normalcy, but this day was completely out of the ordinary for her.