Fall in Love Book Bundle: Small Town Romance Box Set

by Grover Swank, Denise

  “I don’t know if this is stupid or… I don’t know, pointless to say, but…” She blew out a breath, lifting her eyes to mine. “Thank you, for talking to me, for being my friend when you didn’t have to be.” Her brows bent together, a shade of pink tinging her cheeks. “I never feel more like my real self than I do when I’m with you.”

  My next breath lodged somewhere in my throat, stuck and swelling with every new inhale I tried to take. Her words broke me as much as they filled me with longing and hope. It should be Anthony she felt most like herself with, since he was the man responsible for the diamond glittering on her finger.

  But it was me.

  Her eyes searched mine, her body leaning forward, down, toward mine. She was so slight that even on her knees, we were nearly face to face with my head propped up on one elbow. The closer she got, the more I saw the strawberry juice stained on her lips, smelled the sweet scent of her breath as her lips parted, saw the sunburst in her hazel eyes under the glow of the sun.

  I knew in that moment that all I had to do was move toward her even an inch, and I could kiss her. I knew that if I reached out a hand, wrapped my fingers up in her red hair and pulled her into me, she would submit.

  But I didn’t.

  I couldn’t.

  I’d promised her — just friends. And I would respect those boundaries until the day she didn’t belong to another man.

  Until the day she was actually mine.

  “We should go,” I whispered with her mouth inches from mine, her lids fluttering shut.

  She popped them back open, blinking several times before she pulled back, clearing her throat on a nervous nod of acknowledgement. “Yeah. Yeah, we probably should.”

  But before she could stand, I reached out, covering her hand with mine.

  I smoothed the pad of my thumb over her wrist, the smooth palm of her hand, the shiny skin over her knuckles. I hoped the touch would say everything I couldn’t.

  I feel the same way.

  I want you, too.

  I’m here, whenever you’re ready.

  I stood, wrapping her hand in mine to help her up before I released her and put the space between us again, packing up our picnic without another glance in her direction.

  The ride home in my truck was quiet, only the soft melody of my playlist and the wind whipping in from the windows the only sounds between us. Ruby Grace looked out the window the entire time, her eyes distant, mind somewhere far away.

  I let her be.

  When I pulled into the department store parking lot, parking next to where we’d left her convertible, she finally pulled her gaze inside the truck.

  “We didn’t get a thing done today,” she said, unfastening her seat belt.

  I smirked. “But do you feel better?”

  At that, she sighed, a genuine smile coloring her lips before she nodded. “I do. I really do.”

  “Then it was a successful day.”

  The sun had already set, the department store long closed, and the light from the moon above and my headlights seemed to be the only ones in the world.

  Ruby Grace reached for the door handle, but paused, looking back at me over her shoulder. “Thank you for today, Noah.”

  “Anytime, Legs.”

  She shook her head, pushing the door open and sliding out before she closed it behind her. She leaned her elbows on the edge of the window, her hair a mess, skin sun-kissed, smile lazy and sated.

  “I’ll see you around.”

  I nodded. “See you around.”

  Her smile slipped, eyes searching mine for something that I was sure she didn’t find because she tore them away too quickly, crossing her arms over her chest and walking across the lot to her own car. She slipped inside, offering me one last wave before she pulled away, turning left down the main drag that would take her all the way home.

  And I just sat there, hands on the steering wheel, eyes on my passenger seat, and heart somewhere down the road with a girl who didn’t even realize she had it.

  Chapter 13

  Ruby Grace

  “I call bullshit.”

  I smirked, holding my cell phone between my ear and shoulder Saturday afternoon as I packed up all the supplies for the centerpieces Annie and I were going to make that day. Photos of Anthony and me throughout the year had been printed, frames of the same size waiting to be filled, flowers and jars that would hold floating candles rounding out the look.

  We had a lot of crafting to do.

  And apparently, a lot of talking, too.

  “There is absolutely no way you spent an entire day in a bathing suit with Noah Becker and he didn’t put his hands on you.”

  “Not even once,” I assured her, hiding my own disappointment at that fact. I folded the top on one box before working on filling the next. “He’s my friend, Annie.”

  “Friend, shmriend. He wants you. And the way you talk about him, I think you want him, too.”

  “This is literally the first time I’ve talked to you about him, other than when you forcibly left me alone with him that night at the Black Hole.”

  “Exactly. You don’t talk about him, but you spend at least four days a week with him and have been since you got back into town. You never talked to him before you went to college.”

  “Yes, I did,” I argued. “I sat behind him in church, remember?”

  “Right. Must have been thrilling conversations between a nine-year-old and a senior in high school,” she deadpanned.

  I sighed, plopping down on my bed and surveying the half-packed boxes around me. I didn’t know why I was trying to hide it from Annie. She was my best friend. She could see through me like a jelly fish.

  But admitting I had feelings for Noah to her — to anyone — was dangerous.

  It was impossible.

  If I admitted it, I’d have to do something about it — and that something was either give him up, or give Anthony up.

  I couldn’t do the latter.

  I didn’t want to do the first.

  It was like white water rafting. I was in the raft — cold, wet, terrified. Worst case scenario, I’d get dumped, hit my head on a rock and life as I know it would be over. Best case scenario, I’d make it to the end of the river.

  Still cold and wet, but alive.

  There was no easy way out of the situation I’d found myself in, and the best way I knew how to handle it was to just avoid making a decision at all.

  Noah and I were friends. No lines had been crossed.

  Everything was fine.

  “He’s just my friend, Annie,” I told my best friend, and myself, keeping my voice low. Mama and Daddy were gone, but Anthony was downstairs, working in Daddy’s home office.

  Not that I was talking about anything he couldn’t hear.

  At least, that’s what I told myself as I lowered my voice even more.

  “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “The fact that you have to say that…”

  “I know,” I said, sighing again. “I know. But, he makes me feel… like me. This summer has been so stressful with all the wedding planning, and when I’m with him, everything feels easier, lighter, more manageable. We have fun, even if we’re just making stupid chalkboard signs.”

  “Do you feel that way when you’re with Anthony?”

  I didn’t answer.

  A long exhale came from the other end of the phone. “Alright. Just get over here so we can talk about this, okay?”

  “I really would rather not talk about it and just make centerpieces.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to do both. Text me when you’re on your way.”

  I groaned. “Fine.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Ruby Grace?”

  “Yeah?”

  Annie paused. “Everything is going to be okay. Okay?”

  I nodded, ignoring the way my throat tightened at her words. “Okay,” I whispered back.

  When we ende
d the call, I finished packing up the last of the centerpiece ingredients, heaving the first box into my arms and carefully walking it downstairs. It was heavy, and I stumbled on a step, nearly crashing to the floor and taking the fragile contents of the box along with me.

  “Shit,” I murmured, balancing the box on the railing.

  I was on the middle plateau between the two flights, and I didn’t want to chance a tumble.

  “Anthony?” I called out, still balancing the box on the railing. “Can you help me with these boxes for a second?”

  No answer.

  I frowned, looking around at my options. I didn’t want to go back up the stairs, either, so I deposited the box on the floor of the square landing, trotting down the second flight of stairs and making my way back to Daddy’s office.

  “Anthony?” I called again.

  No answer.

  I heard his voice when I rounded the corner past the kitchen, making my way down the hall.

  Of course, he’s on the phone.

  I hung my hands on my hips, pausing in the hallway to debate my options. I decided to just get a glass of sweet tea and wait for him to get off the phone so he could help me load up the car. I was in no hurry, anyway.

  But before I could turn back toward the kitchen, I heard my name.

  “Yes, it’s been hectic being out here, but Ruby Grace has been great about it all. The crew filmed our dinner earlier this week, and she looked ravishing. She’s everything I could have ever asked for in a wife.”

  I smiled, a mixture of guilt and love swirling in my stomach as I leaned my back against the wall, folding my hands over my heart. It was rude to listen in, and I knew it, but truth be told, I needed to hear that kind of thing from Anthony.

  I needed to hear what I meant to him.

  “I know, Dad. Yeah. Right. Ha! I know, you should have seen us at the barrel tasting event. I swear, this town lives and dies by that distillery.”

  I smiled. That was Stratford, alright.

  “Oh, trust me, I can handle her father. With what we’re doing for him, I don’t think he could even pretend to not love me — even if that were the case,” Anthony said, lowering his voice.

  My stomach somersaulted, and I slid my back quietly along the wall, getting closer.

  “It’s not the only reason, Dad,” he said after a long pause. “No. I know. I understand. Listen, being a politician is all I needed to do in his eyes. We golf, shoot the shit, gamble at the casino, talk about how the extremists are taking the country to hell in a hand basket. He dragged me to the casino last week.” A pause. “I know. You think he would have learned after that, but… anyway. Her mom is a little tougher, but I play the perfect gentleman and she eats it up. Just have to open a few doors and call her ma’am and she lights up like a Christmas tree.”

  A pause.

  An exaggerated sigh from Anthony.

  “Dad, trust me, I get it. I know they’re not exactly what we had in mind for the perfect in-laws. They’re country bumpkins, but, they’re in the political circuit — even if it’s in a small way. This is what you wanted, right? The Barnett name is known in this town, and when we did the background check on Ruby Grace, we didn’t find a single thing that could come up and bite us in the ass during the elections. She’s clean. She’s poised. She has no aspirations of her own.” He paused again. “And, she’s pretty, which is a bonus.”

  Another chuckle.

  Another roll of my stomach.

  “Her mom has trained her well to be the perfect politician’s wife,” he continued. “Her family isn’t exactly the premier picture we had in mind, but they’re pretty clean cut. They’re reputable. And they need us to play our part, just like we need Ruby Grace to play hers.”

  I bit my lip against the tears stinging my eyes, confusion rolling over me and mixing with the betrayal. I didn’t understand it — any of it. He loved me. He loved my family.

  What part was he playing in our life?

  What part was I supposed to play in his?

  This can’t be Anthony. He wouldn’t talk about me like this. It’s all a misunderstanding.

  I tried to convince myself, fighting against the urge to hyperventilate as I pressed myself against the cold wall in our hallway.

  But I couldn’t lie to myself, not when I was hearing everything I needed to hear to know the truth.

  “This was always our plan, Dad,” Anthony said. “She’s perfect.”

  A pause.

  “I know,” Anthony said. “The way I see it, Ruby Grace will be more than happy to take on the community projects. It’ll be a good look for the campaign. And, hey.” He lowered his voice even more. “Having her tied up in all of that will leave me plenty of free time for a little fun on the side… know what I mean?”

  He full-on laughed at that, and even from where I stood in the hallway, I could hear the gusto laugh of his father.

  His father, who had kissed the back of my hand when we met and told me how beautiful I was, how smart I was, how lucky Anthony was to have me.

  And it was all a show.

  It was all a lie.

  They need us to play our part, and we need Ruby Grace to play hers.

  A sob broke through my throat before I felt it coming, and I clamped my hand over my mouth, squeezing my eyes shut to force the tears back in.

  “I gotta go, Dad, I think she’s downstairs.” A chuckle. “Okay, I’ll call you later to discuss the speech.”

  I needed to move. I needed to get away from Dad’s office, from Anthony, from this house and this entire town. But I couldn’t move. The hardwood floor was quicksand, sucking me in, making it impossible to take even one step.

  Anthony rounded out of the office on a sigh, running one hand back through his hair before he paused, eyes lighting up at the sight of me. “Ah, there’s my beautiful wife-to-be. I was just coming to check on you.” He smiled, pulling the shell-shocked board of my body into him and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Need help with anything?”

  I couldn’t speak.

  I just stared at him, at his hazel eyes — the ones I’d lost myself in for hours over the last year — at his perfect blond hair, his perfectly sculpted body, his perfect Superman chin.

  And here I was, his perfect little abiding bride-to-be.

  Anthony frowned, searching my face. “Baby? Are you okay?”

  My stomach rolled violently at the nickname, and I blinked several times, awareness flooding back. “I’m fine. I just almost fell trying to get the boxes with the centerpiece stuff downstairs. Could you help me with them?”

  Anthony smiled, thumbing my chin before he kissed my nose. “Of course, my little do-it-all-by-herself. You should have just asked me in the first place.”

  I faked the best smile I could, snaking my way out of his hold. “One of them is on the stairs. There are three more in my room. Can you load them into the car for me? I’m feeling a little lightheaded, think I need some water.”

  Anthony swept my hair away from my face, still wearing that stupid, sympathetic smile. “Of course. You go hydrate and rest. I’ll be back.”

  He walked me to the kitchen, pouring me a glass of water before he disappeared up the stairs to retrieve the first box. As soon as he was gone, I took my first inhale, gulping down the entire glass of water before refilling it.

  My mind was spinning, heart racing, rib cage closing in on my lungs. Every second that passed, my hands shook more, and the tears I’d managed to hold back flooded my eyes over and over before I’d blink and clear them away.

  “All set,” Anthony said, bounding back into the kitchen.

  I didn’t realize how much time had passed. Everything felt like a dream.

  “Want me to come help? I can take a break from work. It is Saturday, after all.”

  “No,” I said quickly.

  Anthony frowned.

  I swallowed, shaking my head and forcing another smile as I placed my hands on his chest. I wanted to beat my fists on it, scream at him,
cry and kick him out and throw the ring on my finger in his face.

  But even in my frantic state, I knew that wasn’t the right thing to do.

  I needed time. I needed space. I needed to think, to process, to figure out what to do.

  Who to trust.

  “Sorry,” I said, still smiling. “I just, I haven’t had much time with Annie since I got home, what with her being pregnant and me doing all the wedding stuff. I need some girl time.”

  Anthony returned my smile in understanding. “Of course. Well, you two don’t get into too much trouble, okay?”

  My smile was shaky, but I held it as long as I could, closing my eyes against the urge to vomit when Anthony leaned in for a kiss. I turned my head, offering him my cheek, and he kissed it sweetly before pulling back, still framing me in his arms.

  “See you later this evening?”

  I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

  As soon as his hands were off me, I swiped my purse off the kitchen counter, bolting for the door. I practically sprinted across the drive to my car, hands shaking as I pulled the handle and climbed inside. The engine roared to life when I pushed the ignition button, and I threw it into reverse, kicking up gravel with my tires as I flipped it around and sped off down the old dirt road.

  My heart kicked hard in my chest, picking up more and more speed with every inch I put between Anthony and myself. My eyes flooded with tears, ones I couldn’t hold back any longer. They slid down my cheeks, hot and searing, my hands tight on the steering wheel, stomach lodged somewhere in my throat.

  Halfway down the road to the Main Street drag, I pulled over, trying to calm my breaths before I had an all-out panic attack.

  I needed to breathe. I needed an explanation. I needed someone to hold me and tell me it was all going to be okay.

  I needed Noah.

  The thought hit me as quickly and as unsuspectedly as everything else had that day, but it didn’t make me panic more. If anything, the realization soothed me, blanketing me like a silky sheet of reassurance.

  My heart rate slowed.

  My breathing evened out.

  My hands stabilized, the tears on my cheeks drying, no more falling from my eyes to join them.