15. Fifteen
Fifteen
Kyla
“I’m sorry? What?” I asked, completely dumbfounded by what Rhett had said. “That was just a cop-out to get him to leave. He saw the ring and . . .” I froze, blinking rapidly as I replayed the last hour in my mind. “Abi was the one who said I married her brother and then, almost as if you planned it, you pulled up.”
“And you kissed me.” He gave me a smirk—a sweet and sexy smile. He raised an eyebrow as he held my stare.
“It . . . seemed like a good idea at the time,” I stammered.
“Think of it this way. If we stay ‘married,’ David won’t stay around for long. Hell, he may even leave within the next few days knowing he’s not going to get anywhere with the ranch. You and I both know he’s not here for the ranch. But if you’ve moved on, if you’re happy, he’ll have to accept it. ”
“You don’t know David.”
“No, but I know men like him. You deserve better.”
I tilted my head. “And what do I deserve? A fake marriage?” I pursed my lips and crossed my arms. The logical side of me was screaming that this was insane.
Rhett winced slightly, shrugged his shoulders. “You deserve someone who loves you. Who lets you shine and become who you are meant to be. Not someone who holds you back, and for now, that can be me.”
“Rhett. This isn’t logical.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
I shook my head. “So what? We say we’re married and act like a couple every time he shows up. He’ll ask for proof you know. He’ll call my mother. And then next thing you know we have to prove it to her too, and she’s just as bad.”
Rhett blinked a few times, his mind working, making me wish I could read his thoughts. I watched as his eyes narrowed, the muscles in his jaw tensing, and then his eyes met mine. He nodded and looked at the ring in his hands.
“Well then—” he began, his gaze thickening. His blue eyes made me melt. “We’ll have to show proof.”
I swallowed, biting the insides of my cheek to keep my jaw from dropping. He just looked at me, his eyes tense on me. He didn’t blink. He didn’t move. I didn’t even think he breathed.
“Wait. What?”
“Marry me, Kyla,” he added simply. “Really, truly, marry me. We won’t have to fake anything. It would be real, and David can see it’s real, especially if you kiss me like you did today, every day.” His voice was low and husky—serious. He walked towards me, his scent of wood and leather getting closer with each step.
David didn’t smell like that. David smelled like cologne, the deep cologne that stung once it hit your nose. I used to love it, but now it made me want to vomit. The way Rhett smelled, the way he held his body—cocky and confident—if I was being honest, was sexy as hell—the complete opposite from what I was used to. For a moment, he hovered over me, so close we were almost touching. Then he sank to one knee, holding up the dainty ring in between his thumb and forefinger, his gaze under his cowboy hat never once leaving mine.
“Marry me,” he repeated.
“Rhett . . .”
“Even if it’s temporary.”
“It’s not really real . . .”
“It will be real.”
“Temporarily?”
“Temporarily real.”
I narrowed my eyebrows at him, looking at the ring and then his eyes. There was no doubt or fear in his gaze. He was genuine and . . . real .
“Kyla,” he said softly, as he rose to his feet, his hand reaching for mine. His thumb and forefinger lightly brushing over my chin as our eyes met. “Marry me?”
With a small flutter rising in my stomach, I gave in. “Okay,” I whispered, praying that it wasn’t as dumb as I thought it was—Marrying Rhett, and turning the ten days into who knew how long. How temporary would this be ?
He smiled and moved his hand to cup my face, his thumb trailing the line of my jaw. He leaned down and lightly kissed my forehead, the touch of his lips bringing unknown comfort to the known anxiety that crept through my skin.
“I promise to keep you safe,” he whispered, and I felt the shivers trail up my spine.
I was getting married.
I didn’t want to believe it, but I was really getting married. One simple lie for fifteen minutes had turned into me standing next to Rhett in the courthouse. He held my hand as the officiant went through the standard marriage ceremony, and a random man I didn’t know acted as our witness. My heart fluttered each time he mentioned Rhett being my husband, and me being his wife—but here we were.
I said “I do” softly—half of me dying to shout the words, the other half dying to run and hide again. Rhett said them with confidence as he squeezed my hand a little tighter. When the officiant said with joy, “I now pronounce you husband, and wife,” Rhett wasted no time. He cupped my face and kissed me, tingles following the flow of his lips against mine, before he pulled away, leaving me wanting more.
I felt him smile against me, and heard a whisper of a promise. The exact same thing he told me last night. I’ll keep you safe .
Inhaling in his woodsy smell, I opened my eyes to look at him. My husband.
“Congratulations,” the officiant said, clapping his hands together. “Now, we just need to finalize the license . . .”
“How long did you say we’ve been married for?” Rhett asked as his fingers trailed down my bare arm to my hand and on instinct, we laced out fingers together.
I didn’t dress up for this. I just wore a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. I left my hair down and slipped on a pair of flip flops. Rhett at least tried to look decent and wore a white linen button down that he left open, with a light blue shirt underneath and his signature belt buckle and Wranglers. His cowboy hat and boots just brought everything together. He was dressed as I guess any cowboy would be for a wedding.
Our wedding.
Blinking, I furrowed my brow, trying to remember if I even mentioned that. After clearing my head, I nodded. “I think I said two months.”
Letting go of my hand he lifted his forefinger and thumb to my chin, his eyes searching me. “I’ll be right back.”
Then he left, patting the officiant on the shoulder. They went to the desk, leaving me standing in the small room by myself. I wanted to follow, but I was nervous to hear what they were talking about. I had been told to not eavesdrop on David’s business dealings, but to stand and be respectful. I knew Rhett wasn’t like that but I still couldn’t help my reaction.
Shaking my head and letting out a low grumble, I cursed at myself. Why was I still doing what he wanted me to do? I wasn’t in his life anymore. He had no control over me. I looked at the ring on my finger, a simple reminder that I could do whatever I wanted. Rhett wouldn’t hold me back. If anything he’d let me go when I needed to. But . . . would I want to after all of this was said and done?
I glanced up at him as he talked to the officiant and witness, so relaxed in everything. So calm. My mind began bouncing back and forth. The logical side of me screamed that this was insane and not only did I just ruin my life, but Rhett’s well.
Knots formed in my stomach as I tried to hold the nausea down.
“Kyla.” Rhett came up to my side and gently touched my elbow, his touch making that feeling fade. “The license is ready to sign.”
I smiled at him and nodded, allowing him to guide me over to the table.
“I just need your signature here.” I was handed a pen. “And Rhett’s here. The witness here.”
I looked at the paper before signing it, taking in all the details the cream-colored paper offered. The gold flourishes on the corners, the small print that said bride, groom, witness, county, date . . .
Holy shit, he had the date changed.
“How in the hell?” I looked at the post-dated license. It was dated for April 24 this year—two months ago.
“It helps when you know the officiant and clerk.” Rhett smirked, winking at me. “We’ve been married for a while.”
“I can’t believe you,” I huffed as I signed my name, making it officially official.
Rhett signed his name next to mine, and then the officiant spun the paper and did a fast signature. He gave it one more glance, nodding before he lifted his chin to both of us .
“Let me make a copy and get this in the system and then it’s yours. Congrats.”
“Thank you.” Rhett smiled as he watched him turn and leave. “I have a question,” he asked me, leaning up against the counter crossing his ankles. “Are you changing your name?”
I shot him a look. “Do I have to?”
“No.” He smiled, “But you can if you want.”
“Why would I? This is temporary, right?”
A corner of his lips raised, his eyes focused on me before he blinked slowly, turning his head back to the clerk.
“But . . .” I thought out loud. “If David asks, I did.”
“You got it, Mrs. Hartwell.” Rhett looked back at me, that light curve of his lips turning into a full blown smile by the time I met his gaze. He scoffed and shook his head lightly. “I think I just found the perfect nickname for you.”
“Welcome to the family!!” Abi's ecstatic scream hit my ears the moment I stepped foot in the main house.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close, completely taking me by surprise. Rhett had told me he let them know the gist, that this marriage was to trick David to get him off the ranch and away for good, and if and when my mother showed up, to show her that I was serious about my life. I should have known they would have taken it more seriously than I did. I was still in shock that I was actually married, that Rhett was my husband, and that David was somewhere nearby.
“Um . . .” I gave her a soft hug back. “Thanks, but I need to . . .” I stumbled, looking at Rhett who walked behind Abi’s back, removing his hat and placing it on the side table.
Charlotte came up in the hall, giving her son a quick pat on the back. “We’re having dinner, to celebrate. Let me see.” She reached her hand to me, grasping my left hand and bringing it closer. She smiled, and I swear I saw tears swell in her eyes before she blinked back up at me. “It fits perfectly.”
My eyes caught the small sparkle of the ring before I pulled my hand away.
“I’ll be right back, I need to . . .” I need to what? To breathe.
“It’s fine.” Charlotte smiled, her voice soft and sweet. “Take your time and we’ll see you at dinner?”
I nodded at her, mimicking her smile before turning to Rhett.
“Hey, Cowboy.” I cleared my throat. “Give me a few minutes, okay?”
“Sure, Mrs. Hartwell.”
I turned, hearing Abi say, “Ooo I like the sound of that on Kyla. Did she really change her name?” and I ran out of the main house and quickly walked towards Rhett’s cabin. Once I got far enough away, I pulled my phone out and dialed Grace’s number.
It rang and rang, and for a moment, I prayed it would go to voicemail, but then her voice hit my ear and the reality of the last fifteen hours sank in.
“Grace, I’m married,” I blurted out .
“Um . . .” she stuttered, her greeting coming to a complete stop. “Come again?”
“David showed up, and Abi told him I was married and then Rhett went along with it, and then we went to the courthouse and really got married, and Grace . . .” I opened the door to Rhett’s—or was it our —house and shut it quickly behind me, leaning up against the door to look at my finger. The golden band shimmered, and the diamond looked brand new, even though I knew it was older. I had a feeling it had a story behind it too, but my brain couldn’t focus on that right now. “I married Rhett.”
Silence.
More silence.
Did she hear me?
“Grace?” I finally said.
“You’re married . . . to the cowboy?”
“Technically.”
“Technically? Technically you’re married to the cowboy.” After a single beat, Grace squealed. “Okay, okay, okay . . .” She was hyperventilating. “I need to know the details. How? When? Why!?”
“How? I told you. Abi told David I was married to her brother, and Rhett rolled with it. When? Today . . . literally an hour ago. Why? To get David off my back. Not sure why Rhett agreed to it.” I blinked. It wasn’t my idea . . . it was Rhett’s, I was the one who “agreed” to it. “Well, I agreed. Rhett asked.”
“He asked you to marry him?” Grace exclaimed.
I knew my best friend, and I could guarantee she was pacing her living room, an arm flailing as she spoke. She most likely had a goofy smile on her face and her mind was buzzing. Just like mine was. There was no way I could give her enough details to satisfy her.
“Yes.” I sighed, looking back down at the ring on my finger. “And then he took me to the courthouse, and we got married. I’m married. To Rhett.”
“Well . . .” She paused. “That settles it.”
“Settles what?”
“I’m coming to visit.”