Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Ajme Williams

  Oh, and then there was the little matter of our daughter. He’d left without a look back, which meant I was alone when I learned I was pregnant. He wasn’t there when I was puking my guts up between classes at college. I was so fortunate that my family, as conservative as they were, stood by me. My mother watched the baby while I finished school and worked part-time. That was why I still lived at home. Now that I’d finally paid off my student loans and had a stable job with health benefits, I was ready to move out. I was ready for me and my sweet Alyssa to have our own place. Not to get married and move in with Wyatt.

  I looked at the paperwork on my desk, but I couldn’t get my mind to focus on it. Checking my watch, I saw it was close enough to five that I could leave. I gathered my things and headed out of my office.

  “Is he back?” I nodded toward the mayor’s office.

  Trina nodded. “Yep. Do you need to see him?”

  “No. I’m heading out to Salvation Station to see Ryder.”

  “Oh, I’ll join you. I could use a drink after today. Wyatt is one tall sexy drink of a man. Why you didn’t jump at the chance to marry him is beyond me.”

  I stared at her, reminding myself that she didn’t know that Wyatt had broken my heart.

  We walked down the street to the bar and grill. Because it was just five, it wasn’t yet filled with locals getting dinner or a drink.

  Ryder was at the bar, restocking glasses. He smiled and nodded when he saw us.

  “Tough day ruling the world?” he asked as Trina and I took seats on barstools.

  “She turned down a marriage proposal,” Trina said.

  Ryder’s brow lifted.

  I shook my head. At first, I thought I might have wine. Now I was leaning toward a double shot of something stronger.

  “Wyatt is back in town,” I said.

  Ryder’s jaw dropped. “No shit?” He looked at me and then Trina, before turning back to me again. “Does he know?”

  I gave Ryder a hard glare to not talk about Alyssa in regards to Wyatt.

  “Know what?” Trina asked. “That he has to be married to save his ranch? Yes, now he does. But the deputy mayor’s commitment to the town stops at a marriage of convenience.”

  “Married to save the ranch?” Ryder’s brows knitted as he processed the information. “Actually, sis’, that might not be a bad thing.”

  Jeez, not him too?

  “That’s the first time you’ve ever said anything that I agree with,” Trina quipped.

  Ryder leaned over the bar toward Trina. “Oh, I don’t know. There was that night in high school, where you agreed with everything I said…and did.”

  I wanted to tell them to get a room already. Whatever had started to simmer in high school, still snapped and crackled between them, but for some reason, they ignored it. Since I didn’t want to get in between my brother and friend, I tried to stay out of it.

  “Shut up, Ryder and make me a drink,” Trina quipped.

  He smirked and poured us both a shot of whisky. “Looks like you both could use it.”

  “Cheers.” I held up my drink and then downed it. I closed my eyes as the smooth burn flowed down to my gut.

  “So, what’s this about Wyatt and saving the farm? Stark after his land too?” Ryder asked.

  “Yes. Apparently, there’s a question about Wyatt’s rights to the land now that his father ran off.”

  “Nothing a little marriage couldn’t help fix,” Trina said, holding out her glass for another shot.

  Ryder looked at Trina. “Why her? You could marry him.”

  “I’d do it in a minute.” Trina waggled her brows.

  My brother frowned.

  “But my bestest friend and deputy mayor is a better option if the goal is to stop this prison. Plus, you should have seen the lasers she shot at me when Wyatt asked if I’d marry him.”

  My brother choked on the water he was drinking. “He what?”

  Trina waved her hand. “He was just annoyed that Sinclair rejected him.”

  Ryder looked at me.

  “Personally, I think he likes you,” Trina said. “At the very least, he was hurt that you thought the idea was too ridiculous.”

  “He was not.” I tapped my empty glass on the counter, telling my brother I needed another drink.

  She shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder how it was that you ever ended up pregnant. You’re clueless when it comes to men. First the mayor and now Wyatt Jones. You’re like the Pied Piper.” Trina finished her drink and hopped down from the stool. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. When I get back, Ryder, I’d like another drink.”

  “As you wish.” He nodded like he was a servant. Ryder waited until she was out of earshot and then said, “Marriage or not, he needs to know about Alyssa.”

  “I know.” I looked down, feeling the weight of the ramifications of a summer day ten years ago bearing down on me.

  Ryder put his hand over mine. “You know I’m here for you, no matter what?”

  “I do.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “How come you’re not mad at Wyatt for running off like that and now showing up like nothing happened.”

  My brother shrugged and grabbed a towel to wipe the bar. He hadn’t been that upset ten years ago when Wyatt had left which made me wonder if he knew something I didn’t about Wyatt.

  Then again, I had my own secrets around Wyatt. It wasn’t until I found out I was pregnant that I confided in Ryder about my relationship with his friend. I’d been in college for a couple of weeks when I realized I was pregnant. Everyone except my brother thought it was a fling with a college boy.

  But I’d told Ryder at first to get help in finding Wyatt so I could tell him. I’d been so sure that if he knew he was going to be a father, he’d come back to me and follow through on his promises. While I felt like Ryder wouldn’t be angry at my and Wyatt’s relationship, he’d likely be hurt that he hadn’t been told. And I wasn’t sure how’d he react to Wyatt’s knocking me up.

  Fortunately, Ryder was supportive and loving. He was a fantastic uncle, and I was glad to have a father-like figure in Alyssa’s life since Wyatt wasn’t around. But now he was around.

  “Did you know he was leaving Salvation?” I prodded.

  “No. But I have no doubt that he felt the need to go.”

  I admired Ryder’s ability to accept people just as they were, even as it was sometimes frustrating.

  “If he’s back though, Sin, he needs to know.”

  “What if he doesn’t stay? I don’t want Alyssa to be hurt.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Alyssa or you?”

  “Both. He just took off. We had no idea where he was. Turns out he joined the military. Did you know that?”

  “No, but it makes sense.” Ryder mixed two drinks for me and Trina, going heavy on the mix and lighter on the booze. “Whether he stays or goes, he has a right to know. Was he a jerk to run off? Maybe. But he didn’t know about Alyssa-”

  “That’s not my fault.”

  “I know. But if he had known, he wouldn’t have left. I believe that. I don’t know who he is now, but if he’s like the Wyatt I knew, he’ll stay if he knows. He’ll do what’s right.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t want him hanging around out of obligation.”

  My brother gave me a disapproving glare. “That’s not fair. Plus, you have to consider what you’re denying Alyssa. If she found out about Wyatt, she’d resent you for not telling her.”

  Dammit, he was right. “I just need to think. To figure out his plans. If the farm gets sold, he’ll probably leave.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Sin.” Ryder shook his head, and it reminded me of my father when he did the same thing when we disappointed him.

  “What’d I miss?” Trina rejoined us. She looked at the drink. “Jack and coke?”

  He nodded.

  “You remembered.”

  “I aim to please.” Ryder winked at her.

  She gave him a sideways glance as she lifted her drink and turned
to me. “So, what should we toast to?”

  “I have no idea,” I said, picking up my drink.

  “How about to Wyatt Jones' efforts to kick Simon Stark’s ass out of town?”

  “I can drink to that.” I clicked my glass to hers, but before I could sip, I heard a low chuckle behind me. I knew that laugh. I turned in my chair. “Wyatt.”

  He smiled. “Still thinking of me, I see.”

  Damn him. Was there no escape from him?

  9

  Wyatt

  I’d been halfway back to the farm, when I turned the truck around. I wasn’t ready to return home. What I really wanted to do was hunt down Stark and give him the proper ass-kicking he so richly deserved. Who the fuck sent goons out to harass older women? It was like we were living in a fucking movie. I had to hope that like in fiction, all would end well. But because real life didn’t always have a happily ever after, I was still on edge. I was pissed at my father for trying to sell the farm out from under my mother and me. I was frustrated that the mayor’s office wasn’t showing more support for the farmers. And I was hurt that Sinclair found the idea of marrying me so distasteful.

  That last one really bothered me a lot. Probably more than it should considering what I’d done. She had every right to be wary of me. Even so, at one time, she and I were as close as two people could be. Or so I thought. Maybe I had it all wrong ten years ago. Maybe her talk of a future together once she finished college was just to placate me until she left for school. Perhaps that was why she didn’t even think about coming with me when I showed up asking her to run away.

  All this was whirling around in my brain, making me tense and surly. My mother didn’t need to see me in a mess, so I headed back to town for a drink at Salvation Station. As I made my way back through the city limits, I noticed that most of the rest of the town hadn’t changed in the last ten years. It was much the same, but it felt foreign, which I supposed meant I’d changed. Sinclair had too. Perhaps that meant the marriage idea was nuts because those two kids who loved each other madly didn’t exist anymore.

  This was the first time I’d be walking into a social situation since returning home. Who would I know in the bar? Who’d remember me? Who’d care? Right now, I’d be happy to be ignored by everyone except the bartender.

  As I drew closer to the bar, the air around me changed. I knew exactly what from. My gaze was like a laser as it found Sinclair sitting at the bar with Trina.

  “How about to Wyatt Jones' efforts to kick Simon Stark’s ass out of town?” Trina said, holding her drink up to toast.

  “I can drink to that.” Sinclair clinked her glass, but before she could drink, she turned to me, wide-eyed. “Wyatt.”

  “Still thinking of me, I see.”

  “Holy hell. Look who’s back.”

  My gaze jerked to the bartender. Jesus, it was Ryder. He was still here?

  He came around the bar, barreling toward me. I couldn’t decide if he was going to belt me, which he’d have a right to do considering what I’d done to his sister ten years ago, or hug me.

  “Jesus, where have you been?” Ryder gave me a hug, his smile as warm, real and wide as I remembered growing up. I was glad to see that life hadn’t pounded the affability out of him. And that his willingness to forgive was as big as Everest. After all, I’d left without a goodbye to him. I still wasn’t sure if he’d known about me and Sinclair, but if he did, he’d forgotten or didn’t care.

  “Here and there,” I said in response to his question.

  “Pull up a stool, man. What can I get you? Beer?”

  “I’ll have a whisky or I’ll look like a pussy next to these boozy women.”

  “Can’t have that,” Ryder said, getting a glass and pouring me a double shot. “On the house. In thanks for your service.”

  So, Sinclair told him I’d been in the military. Or maybe it was Trina.

  “We were just discussing my marriage of convenience idea,” Trina said.

  I glanced at Sinclair who rolled her eyes.

  “It’s not the worst idea,” Ryder surprised me by saying. So maybe he did know about me and Sinclair’s past.

  Sinclair glared at her brother.

  “What do you think, Wyatt?” Ryder asked. I studied him, wondering if this was a test. If I was for it, then would he pound me into a pulp? If I wasn’t for it, would he be mad I was rejecting his sister? Shit, maybe I should have just gone home.

  “He was all for it,” Trina said.

  Since Ryder wasn’t shooting me the death stare, I said, “I can see the merits of the idea. The land has been in my family for nearly a hundred and fifty years. I’d hate to be the Jones that lost it to a greedy interloper.”

  Sinclair groaned. “Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?”

  I shrugged. “That ownership transfer stuff proves how important that land has been to the family, my father notwithstanding.”

  “How’s your mom?” Ryder asked.

  “She’d like to stay in her home.” Okay, so I was laying it on a bit thick.

  “Plus, Sinclair would be in a better position to openly fight for the farmers,” Trina added. “The mayor isn’t wanting his office to put a thumb on the scale, so to speak. But if she was married to Wyatt, of course she’d weigh in to save her man’s legacy.”

  Sinclair did another eyeroll and sipped her drink.

  “One big happy family.” Ryder’s expression directed at Sinclair seemed to hold a secret meaning. They’d often done that growing up. Being twins, it was like they had a secret silent language.

  She made a face at him that I interpreted to mean for him to shut his trap. It was then I registered what he said. One big happy family. Did Ryder think it was a good idea that I marry his sister? Even after all these years?

  “You don’t have a problem with this idea?” I asked him.

  Ryder looked me in the eye. “Nope.” He paused for a moment and added. “Never did.”

  What the fuck did that mean? I looked at Sinclair to get a clue as to whether or not she’d told him about us.

  The door opened and a couple of men strode in and up to the bar.

  “What can I get you?” Ryder asked them.

  “Two beers.” The one who sat next to Trina said. “Hey Trina, what’s up?”

  She turned to talk to him. With both Ryder and Trina otherwise engaged, I stepped closer to Sinclair.

  “Want to get a booth?”

  She stared at me with suspicion.

  It made me miss the days when she’d look at me like I was a superhero. Or with desire in her eyes. Now she just seemed wary of me. I wondered if there was something I’d done since coming back that merited her distrust or if it was just residual from when I left town ten years ago.

  Perhaps she was afraid I was going to hit on her. But my ego couldn’t take much more rejection, so I said, “I just retained a lawyer. You don’t have to worry about marrying me. I just want to catch up.”

  She stiffened. “You have a way of turning things around that make me the bad guy.”

  She was right. I didn’t mean to, and at the same time, I couldn’t help how I was feeling.

  “Come have a drink with me and I’ll apologize.”

  She pursed her lips, but slid off the stool and went over to an empty booth. I sat across from her even though I wanted to slide up right next to her and pull her hair down to see if it was as long as it had been ten years ago.

  “You don’t really think the getting married idea would work, do you?” she asked.

  “Actually, I think it could. My lawyer is going to try and work around the marriage thing, but even she said my being single could be a problem.”

  “She?”

  “Jeannette Schmidt.” I saw a flash of heat in Sinclair’s eyes at the name. She knew I’d once dated her.

  She pursed her lips in distaste. “Too bad you can’t marry her.”

  “Too bad,” I agreed, only because I got the feeling Sinclair was jealous.

&nbs
p; “Do you suppose she’d be willing to give up her hopes, dreams, job, husband and kids to be with you? You ask a lot of the women in your life.”

  She’d effectively pushed me back. I looked down at my drink to figure out what to say next. Then I looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry I was an asshole. Selfish asshole.” I clarified.

  “Yes, you were. Are. You get away with it because of all that.” She made circles with her finger pointed at me.

  “All what?” I wanted to reach out and take her hand. Maybe suck on that finger.

  She smirked. “Don’t play coy, Wyatt. You know what you do to women.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t care what I do to women. What do I do to you, Sinclair?” That was probably the wrong response and I thought it would send her running back to the bar.

  She shook her head, but I saw a slight upward twitch of her lips. “Asking me to marry you in a marriage of convenience is asking a lot.”

  I wanted to tell her there was nothing convenient about this idea. “This marriage idea is another selfish asshole thing. But I don’t know that I can do this without your help, short of starting a riot of angry farmers with pitchforks running Stark out of town.”

  Sinclair laughed, and it was so fucking lovely my heart ached. She finished her drink. “I’ll need more liquid courage to be convinced.”

  Huh? My brain hiccupped. Was she changing her mind?

  I held up my finger. “Hold that thought.” I stood and went to the bar, and reaching behind it, I grabbed the whiskey with a nod to Ryder.

  “Don’t get my sister drunk,” Ryder called out.

  “She’s in good hands,” I called over my shoulder.

  I returned to the booth, this time scooting next to her and pouring us each another shot.

  She shook her head. “I shouldn’t. I’ve had too much already.”

  “I’ll look out for you.” Every day and twice on Sundays.

  She studied me. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”