Chapter 41
Logan
I give Gigi a ride straight back to the ranch. The less time we’re out in Darcy the better. Small towns are naturally nosy, and I want to get this whole wedding business done without questions.
“I think that went well.” Gigi’s voice drags me out of my troubled thoughts. “Except for my stupid comment about Texan men. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” I assure her. “They had no idea what you meant.”
“I don’t think Macey suspected anything. She’s sure mad, though, about you getting engaged.”
I ponder this in silence.
“I hate her thinking I’m getting in the middle of whatever you two share,” she says. “But you know we have to be all-in for our plan to work.”
“Of course I do.”
“She adores you. You know that, right?”
I do. Macey would never say those words exactly, but I do know that.
“But you better make sure you temper your feelings when you’re around her,” Gigi says firmly. “If my mom sees the way you look at Macey, she’s not going to believe our engagement is real for a second.”
Shit.
“I’ll be fine,” I promise. “Quit worrying.”
Gigi gazes up at me as we step inside the guestroom my mother set up for the two of us.
I spent last night in my childhood bedroom, and I plan to do the same for as long as Gigi’s in town.
I don’t want Gigi coming into my cottage, and the less she knows I’m there, the better.
I want to keep the cottage just for me and my painting.
Gigi’s blond hair and big blue eyes still shock the hell out of me when I look at her straight on. She holds up her left hand proudly.
“I do love this ring, Logan,” she says with a giggle.
Gigi isn’t any more interested in me than I am in her, but she loves the idea of marriage so much she could fool anyone.
And she fucking loves attention, so I fully expect her to act her part flawlessly in public.
I’m far more worried about myself; I can’t normally lie for shit, and to pretend to care about any woman other than Macey feels damn near impossible.
But I have to act my ass off in this role, or the whole plan is done.
“Are you going to sleep in your bedroom again tonight?” Gigi asks.
“Yep. Think of this room as yours, and make yourself at home.”
Gigi’s eyes get even bigger. “What about for appearances’ sake?”
“My parents are so preoccupied with the day-to-day that they probably won’t even notice we’re in separate rooms. And even if they do, they won’t say anything.”
“Shouldn’t we at least pretend we’re sleeping together when my family comes to town? My parents aren’t like yours; they notice everything, and they also ask a lot of questions.”
Crap. All I’m thinking is “no,” but I don’t know what comes after that.
Gigi’s watching me. “I have an idea. We’ll say I want to wait until marriage. That excuse will work with both of our families.”
I exhale. “To consummate relations or whatever?”
She giggles. “Sure.”
“Think your family will buy that?”
Gigi giggles some more. “Buy it? My parents will freaking love it. My two older sisters were very rebellious before they got married, so my parents have always been stricter with me. Nobody in my family thinks I’ve ever had sex before. I have, though.”
I hold up my hand. “No more details, please.”
Gigi yawns as she stretches out on the guest bed.
“My mom seemed to be won over by your southern charm and rugged cowboy thing. But oh, my gosh, I’m so nervous about our plan, Logan.
We’ll have to really ham our relationship up in front of people, you know.
I’m sure it’ll drive Macey and everybody crazy because you never know who’s watching. ”
I run my hand across my jaw. “You’re right on both counts. Macey’s gonna have a hard time loving the idea of you in my life, and in this town, somebody’s always watching. But don’t worry. It’ll all work out the way we both need it to.”
It better. Because having to keep Macey at a distance tonight just about wrecked me.
At the sound of my phone buzzing, I look down at the screen.
Blake. My cousin’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to sniffing out a mystery.
“Didn’t I just see you?” I say as I answer the call.
“I have some questions,” he says.
“Not a good time.”
“Tough shit. You and I are going night fishing. See you in fifteen.” He hangs up before I can tell him no.
I run a hand down my face. Yeah, I could blow Blake off. But then, he’d just show up here looking for me. Nosing around and trying to figure out what the hell’s going on. I’m going to do more to have to convince him my engagement is real.
“I’ve got to go out for a bit,” I tell Gigi. “Stay here and relax. I’ll be back soon.”
“Hey.” I drop my tackle box on the grass and sit down on the bank. The fishing hole stretches out before me.
Blake’s already got his pole in the water, and he turns his head toward me. “Hey, Mr. Darcy,” he says in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “That is your new name, right?”
“Fuck off.” I get the bait on my hook and cast my line into the water.
The fishing hole is blissfully empty of people this late at night, and I exhale in relief.
Finally, some peace and quiet. Except for Blake, who isn’t going to shut up easily. The lights from the street still cast a bright glow down by the water’s edge, and I can see his blond hair falling in his face as usual. Worse, I recognize the challenging look in his blue eyes.
“Logan. Dude, I’ve known you my whole life. We’re not just family—you’re my best friend. And while a lot has changed, you know what’s always stayed the same?”
I give him a hard look, but he keeps going. “You and Macey. It’s always been the two of you. Sure, you two refuse to settle down and so you date other people, but no one ever sticks around for long. So what does this Gigi chick have that Macey doesn’t?”
A way to save Macey’s future.
“None of your business,” I say.
“Fair enough.”
We stand in silence for a moment, and then Blake gets a bite on his line.
For the next few minutes, we’re distracted as he reels in his catch.
“Catch and release,” he says gently placing the small fish back into the water. “It’s all about the journey, dude.”
I chuckle. “Good thing for you since you never actually reach any of your goals.”
“Well, I’m no Mr. Darcy, right?” he says with a smirk.
“It’s your middle name, too. None of us can get away from this town’s Jane Austen obsession.”
“No, but most of us haven’t been anointed as one of the soul mates either. You know what I’d really like, though?”
“I’m still not talking about Gigi. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”
“Great. What I’d like,” he continues as if I never spoke, “is to go tubing in the river again. It’s been a while.”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s the hook?”
“No hook,” he says casually. “As long as you bring Gigi, I’ll bring the rest of the group. And I’ll set the date.”
“You mean you’ll bring Macey.”
“Among others.” He breaks form and abruptly grins at me. “You know I’m happy for you if you’re happy, right?” He slaps my back. “Your engagement feels…I don’t know how to put it…it feels off. But I’m ridiculously fucking single—what do I know?”
“Exactly.” I return my attention to the fishing. “So stop being so fucking nosy.”