CHAPTER FOURTEEN
M y phone trembles in my grip and I pause on the porch before stepping inside. The ringing cuts to Bianca’s voicemail, which leads to the inevitable beep. I hang my head as the repetitive cycle continues, but that doesn’t stop me from leaving a message.
“Hey, Bee. It’s me. Again. I’m starting to get really worried. Your dad is nowhere to be found either. I really need to talk to you. It’s urgent. Your brother is still threatening to sell Echo. I’m not sure if he actually will, but it’s freaking me out. Not hearing back from you isn’t helping. Please call me. Day or night. Love you. Bye.”
Just as I disconnect the call, the front door swings open. My mother stands there in her Sunday best. She blinks at me before doing a visual sweep of the surrounding area. Crickets and the setting sun streaking across the pale sky are all that keep me company.
Her sharp blue eyes return to mine. “Were you talking to someone? ”
My arms wrap protectively across my middle to ward off the evening chill. “Just leaving a message for Bianca.”
“Still can’t reach her?”
I shake my head. “She must be really busy.”
Other alternatives are too traumatic to consider just yet. It hasn’t been that long since I’ve heard from her. But I’m nearing the point of asking Brody if he’s spoken with her in the last two weeks. My stomach cramps into a painful knot. The fact that Dennis has also gone off the grid only adds to my concern.
“Well, don’t worry about that now. Come in.” Mom practically yanks me over the threshold. “We have a guest for dinner.”
That’s not unexpected but slightly disappointing. My parents are connected to everyone in town thanks to the success of their general store. They frequently have visitors stop over just to chat. She tugs on my elbow when I don’t move fast enough for her liking. My sandals slip on the floor before I skid to a stop in the entryway.
The dining room isn’t visible from where I stand but two recognizable voices carry down the hallway. My heart lurches as I blindly stumble forward. When Dad and the man sitting across from him come into view, I can barely breathe.
“No.” My flight instincts kick in, but I only manage to retreat two steps before stumbling into Mom. “This isn’t real.”
“What’s wrong, dear? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”
It feels that way too. All of the color has undoubtedly leached from my face if the shocking numb is any indication. The scene in front of me plays like a horror film I’m forced to watch. I can’t move or look away. My unblinking stare is glued to where my father recalls the glory from his last fishing trip. His audience of one appears captivated by the story. Even from here, the glint of his scheming is noticeable. This very well might be a nightmare. The only saving grace—albeit tiny—is that they haven’t noticed me, too immersed in their conversation.
I duck behind the wall to hide in the shadows. “Why is Brody Benson in your house?” The question quakes off my lips, little more than a whisper.
Mom’s forehead creases as she studies my expression. “To talk to your father.”
“About what he caught at the lake last month?”
She appears bewildered, her mouth silently opening and closing a few times. “I figured you had at least some idea but maybe not.”
“Care to clue me in?”
She clasps my hands in hers. Excitement seeps from her pores as she leans close. “He came to get your dad’s permission before asking you to marry him. Such a fine gentleman. Your father gladly gave his stamp of approval. Isn’t that wonderful?”
The rug yanks out from under me and the room begins to spin. Forget the horror flick. I have the lead role in an old Western where the daughter gets hitched to the first eligible cowboy who comes knocking.
“This can’t be happening,” I murmur.
“Are you nervous? It does seem a bit sudden,” Mom admits. “But he’s very eager.”
“And diabolical.”
She laughs. “He must’ve forgotten to include you in his plans. Don’t be too hard on him. Love can be wild and reckless, especially early on. You two have moved rather quickly.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
The man has gone from a practical stranger to my intended jailer within a month. I peek around the corner. Dad and Brody are still engrossed in their male bonding. Nausea bubbles in my gut and I choke on bile.
My single status is in grave danger, along with my sense of self. This is punishment for keeping my mouth shut. I should’ve told them about his attempt at blackmailing me. Now he’s here, playing nice with my parents.
“I have to stop this,” I croak.
Mom’s grip on me tightens, drawing my focus back to her. It’s only then I notice the stars in her eyes. “Aren’t you happy?”
A hot sting blurs my vision and I blink at the threat of tears. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
She gasps. “You’re pregnant.”
“Mother!”
Her giggle is too innocent. “What? I’m ready to be a grandma. Sue me. Besides, it’s a reasonable assumption based on how fast Brody wants to have the ceremony.”
It feels like the control on my destiny is slipping from my grasp. I clap a palm to my clammy forehead. “There’s no baby. He’s in a hurry to get down the aisle because—”
“Twinkles?”
My shoulders take a hike to snuggle my ears. There goes the privacy protection this wall is supposed to offer. I expel a silent curse before stepping out from my hiding spot. “Yes, boss?”
His chuckle is warm, sliding over me like melted chocolate. “You can drop the formality. We’re far past that point, right?”
“Mhmm, sure.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” His smile is soft and kind.
The unfamiliar expression boosts his devastating appeal and gives me pause. He wasn’t lying about his charm being potent. My pulse gallops as I absorb the catastrophic impact. It’s no wonder he has my parents fooled. But I know what’s hidden underneath.
That reminder chases off the fog and I remain firmly planted at a safe distance. “I hear you’ve been busy plotting my demise again.”
Brody rises from his seat, rushing toward me like a lovesick fool. “There’s something I need to ask you.”
“Don’t you dare,” I grate out.
But he lowers to one knee regardless of my warning. The motion is smooth and practiced as if he’s been preparing for this romantic gesture. A muffled cry escapes from Mom, who’s watching this train wreck from the sidelines. She’s shedding tears like a winter coat in spring. A sideways glance at Dad reveals that he’s in a similar state of distress. That’s what I’m choosing to refer to the blubbering emotion pinching his face. Meanwhile, I’m two seconds away from fleeing the scene.
“If you don’t tell them the truth, I will.”
“Go ahead,” he taunts.
Another peek at my parents squeezes my heart in a vise. A painful ache spreads through me as I bring my glare back to Brody. “I despise you. ”
His lips quirk. “I wouldn’t have our blissful union begin any other way.”
Clarity washes over frazzled nerves, filling me with a sense of calm. I can play the part. At least until a feasible exit strategy presents itself. Revenge is patient and often underestimated until it’s too late.
A wide smile stretches my lips as I slip into the role he’s so desperate for me to fill.
I fan my eyes and release a dreamy sigh. “This is very sudden, darling. It’s almost surreal, like we’re in a fairytale. I can’t believe how much you love me, but you never skip an opportunity to lay it on extra thick. Isn’t that right?”
His right eyelid twitches. “You’re impossible to resist.”
“Well then? Go ahead.”
“Paisley Jane,” he croons. “I’ve been infatuated with you from the moment we first met.”
It takes strength I don’t possess to hold back a snort. When Brody pauses to let me recover, I roll my wrist. “Please continue.”
“As I was saying, your beauty is captivating. You have an undeniable sparkle—both inside and out—that illuminates any space you choose to enter. I’ve become addicted to that glow, wanting it solely for myself. Call me selfish and I’ll admit it. You’ve got me hooked on you, Twinkles. But more than that, you inspire me to be a better person. One who deserves you. I had no idea what I’d been missing until you showed me. With you by my side, I’ll be complete. That’s what our love does to me. If you’ll let me, I’ll prove myself worthy of your love. I can’t wait to spend my life making you happy.”
I try to remain unaffected, but I’m not a slab of concrete. The flutters in my belly expand and spread until I feel like I’m floating. This man knows how to win. That’s precisely why I’m caught in this predicament. But I can’t show weakness.
“What a fitting speech to describe our future together.” My breathy tone is too revealing.
Brody winks and whips out a blue box from his pocket. He cracks open the lid, nearly blinding me in the process. “Will you marry me?”
“Is that meant to resemble”—I squint at the glittery band tucked in velvet—“barbwire?”
“All the better to buckle you with,” he murmurs.
“You turned my contempt into an engagement ring. How appropriate,” I deadpan.
“You’ll also be dripping in diamonds. We both win.”
“That remains to be seen.” I thrust out my left hand for his taking. “Do your worst. I’m done dragging my feet.”
“Is that a yes?” The sincerity in his tone almost convinces me that I have a choice. As if this is legit and I can reject him without consequences. His unwavering stare does a good job selling the ruse too.
I groan and roll my eyes. “Yes,” I confirm.
Mom and Dad erupt in a chorus of congratulations. Their joy is almost infectious until the haze clears and I remember what’s at stake. Brody is ruining what’s meant to be one of the most memorable milestones of my life. I should cherish this moment, but it isn’t real. Instead, there’s a bitter taste in my mouth that I fear might be permanent.
My parents must notice that I’m struggling to choke down this wretched fate. They take the cue and disappear into the kitchen to fetch champagne. Maybe the bubbles will help me escape.
But when Brody slides the ring onto my finger, the cool metal feels like a shackle I’ll never break. “Perfect fit.”
With our audience preoccupied, I allow my grin to collapse under the weight of this lie. Anger consumes me as he stands to his full height. I grip the front of his shirt and yank him down to my level.
The hatred I feel sizzling in my veins demands that he burns with me. “You’re such a jerk. I’ll never forgive you for this.”
Brody lifts my left hand to pepper kisses on my knuckles. “Lucky for me, I have the rest of our lives to make up for it.”