Chapter 9 #2
“Well…” Charlie snaps. “Do you accept my proposal or not?”
I hum thoughtfully. “I’m considering it.”
“Oh my god,” she practically shrieks as she shoots to her feet. “You have got to be the most infuriating man alive.” I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me, earning a fierce scowl. “What the hell is so funny?”
“You are,” I drawl. “You’re hot as hell when you’re all riled up.”
“This is exactly what I meant about us not being compatible.” She glares at me like she can’t decide if she wants to throttle me or kiss me.
“You’re an arrogant bastard who thinks you know best, and I get off on pushing your buttons way too much.
We’re like gasoline and matches, and we’d go up in flames if we did this thing. ”
I offer her a wry grin, winding an arm around her waist. “You mean get married and raise our kid together?”
She places a palm on my chest and rises on her toes so we’re eye to eye. “See, even now we can’t stop provoking each other.”
“It’s called foreplay, sweetheart,” I say softly, brushing my lips against the tip of her nose. “We’ve been dancing around each other for years, neither of us willing to admit what we’ve both known for a while now.”
Her eyes are stormy with irritation and a flicker of reluctant longing. “Yeah? And what’s that?”
“We’re both attracted to each other and were too stubborn to admit it.” I lower my voice, drawing Charlie another inch closer. “The wedding gave us an excuse to give in without overthinking it, and an easy out the following morning.”
“Which we both took,” she retorts dryly.
I decide against reminding her she’s the one who slipped out before I woke up that morning.
Still, she has a point. We agreed it was supposed to be just one night, and it’s one of my biggest regrets.
I had a real chance back then to fight for her when it would’ve been clear that I wanted her, long before the baby entered the picture.
“Besides, that’s all in the past now,” Charlie adds, her hand still splayed across my chest.
“Then prove it,” I challenge, sliding my hand to the back of her neck. “I’ll accept your proposal, and we’ll live together as platonic roommates since you’re so sure the past is behind us.” I hold up my finger when she tries to interrupt. “But we’re sharing a bed. Nonnegotiable.”
I remind myself to follow her lead, making her comfortable enough to agree, but not so easy that she can ignore this chemistry simmering between us.
“Where would we live?” she asks tentatively.
“That’s easy. Your place,” I state.
She eyes me warily. “Really? The man who usually only leaves his ranch for business is suddenly going to move into my cramped apartment twenty minutes away? You won’t even have closet space or drawers. I’m not rearranging anything until I know this is actually going to last longer than a week.”
I thread my fingers into the hair at her nape. “I’ll make do.”
“You’re being too accommodating. I don’t like it.”
“I plan on being real accommodating where you’re concerned from now on,” I murmur.
“Remember.” Charlie holds up a finger in warning. “No hanky-panky included, mister.”
I guide her closer, so our lips are mere inches apart. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
“And I want a huge ring that I can flaunt around town,” she states, looking up at me through her lashes.
“Only the best for you.” I have just the one in mind. “So this means we’re doing this thing, hellcat?”
Her breath ghosts against my mouth. “Yeah, I suppose we are.”
I lower the brim of my hat as I walk down the courthouse steps.
Unfortunately, Bluebell requires that the marriage license be obtained twenty-four hours before the ceremony.
So here I am, leaving fifteen minutes after Charlie to finish securing one before we tie the knot tomorrow to avoid being spotted together.
Everyone will find out what’s going on soon enough, but we’d rather avoid the barrage of questions until after it’s official.
God knows Ma will be devastated when she finds out we got married without telling her, but Charlie didn’t even want to tell her friends. So we agreed to keep it between us for now. There’s not exactly a rulebook explaining why she’s getting hitched to the man she swore she couldn’t stand.
I’ve just reached the sidewalk when Ethel’s voice stops me in my tracks.
“Hello, Heath,” she shouts in a singsong voice.
She’s standing across the street, adjusting an armful of shopping bags so she can wave at me.
“Goddammit,” I mutter.
I quickly fold the marriage certificate into thirds and shove it into my back pocket as she crosses the road to join me.
This woman has the worst timing. Why the hell is she in town during the middle of the workday again anyway? The cabins are always cleaned between guests, and the general store runs smoothly, so I’ve never had a reason to set strict hours. But now I’m beginning to think I should.
Ethel flashes me a smile. “Funny running into you at the courthouse.”
“Had to pick up a permit,” I lie.
She tilts her head, shifting the weight of the shopping bags in her arms. “For what?”
“A new fence line.” I swipe sweat from my brow. “We’re expanding the boundary out on the north pasture.”
Why the hell couldn’t I have come up with a more believable excuse? There’s no way Ethel will buy that. It’s common knowledge around here that fence permits are a bullshit regulation that are never enforced unless dealing with public or shared land.
Sure enough, Ethel narrows her eyes in suspicion. “Aren’t those usually filed at city hall?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah. Carol reminded me, but I’ll have to stop by next week. Gotta head back to the ranch—”
I trail off when I spot Charlie down the street outside her shop, setting out the Open sign.
I briefly saw her at the courthouse when she signed the certificate, but she left first to avoid anyone spotting us together.
She’s wearing a distressed T-shirt with the words Plot Twist scrawled across in retro script and a wildflower graphic, paired with flowy linen pants.
She’s so damn pretty right now, but I’m already looking forward to the day those same pants stretch tight over her belly round with my baby.
Ethel follows my gaze, grinning. “Looks like someone’s preoccupied. No wonder you ended up in the wrong building.”
I clear my throat. “Good seeing you again, but I’ve gotta run.”
She’s far too observant for my comfort, and I have to get out of here before she starts connecting dots and spreading rumors that’ll reach my folks before I can tell them myself.
“Isn’t that your truck parked outside the hardware store?” she asks, pointing in the opposite direction.
Shit.
I was too busy daydreaming about Charlie and forgot where I parked. Now Ethel definitely suspects something’s up.
I scrub my hand across my face. “Yup, got a little lost there.”
Lost in a town I’ve called home my entire life. She’s definitely not buying that excuse.
“Mm-hmm,” Ethel drawls, clearly not convinced. “Have a great day, boss,” she hollers after me as I head toward the hardware store.
“You too,” I mumble, lifting my hand.
I’m unable to resist glancing back at Timeless Threads, but Charlie must have gone inside. I consider going over to see her, but it would only attract unwanted attention, especially with Ethel still watching.
We’re set to meet at the courthouse tomorrow afternoon at three. Like today, She’ll show up fifteen minutes early to avoid anyone getting suspicious about us arriving together.
I’m worried running into Ethel may have thrown a wrench in our plans. She’s best friends with Carol, the courthouse clerk, who’s just as chatty.
Carol is the one who issued Charlie and me the marriage certificate, and I’m hoping she can keep quiet for the next twenty-four hours—and that Ethel doesn’t mention seeing me, which would raise too many questions about why I was really there.
Once I’m out of Ethel’s sight, I head to the bank and duck inside, hoping to avoid any more unexpected run-ins with nosy locals.
Thankfully, it’s not busy, and the teller immediately takes me back to the vault area where the safe-deposit boxes are kept.
After confirming which one is mine, she leaves me alone to unlock it.
I take out the ring box inside and open it to reveal a marquise-cut diamond framed by a halo of smaller diamonds.
It was my grandmother’s, and when she passed, Pops gave it to me, saying it was meant for my future wife.
That was when Charlie was strictly off-limits, and I’d made peace with the fact that I’d never get to slip this ring on her finger. I figured if I ever got married, whoever she was wouldn’t want one that belonged to someone else, so I left this one locked up, never expecting to use it.
Now that things have changed and Charlie is my bride, I want her to have it.
Not only does she appreciate sentimental pieces but I also like the idea of her wearing something that has belonged to my family for generations.
It’s a symbol of my commitment, even if she still believes this arrangement is strictly about convenience.
One day, she’ll understand I didn’t fight this hard just because she’s carrying my child.
I did it because she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to be my wife.