“And?”
I hold out my hands. “I don’t fucking know, to tell you the truth. Jace said she should marry me so I could get that loan.” I give him the Cliff’s Notes version of our younger brother’s plan.
“You’re going to marry Paige?” The look of shock on his face tells me he thinks that’s a stupid idea too.
I’ve been wrestling with that all morning. “I decided to find someone else. Paige isn’t the right person.” There’s something fragile about her, and I don’t wanna be the person who messes with that. I’m not a soft man, and I get the sense she needs someone who’ll be tender and sweet. That’s not me.
The real shocker is how much chemistry she and I have, and that’s just wrong. I’m ten fucking years older than she is. Danny would kill me if I messed with his baby sister.
I’m not going there with her. I made a promise to Danny on his deathbed to look out for her, and I aim to do just that.
Beau helps me shovel some hay and finally breaks the silence. “I wouldn’t say it’s a stupid idea. Paige might’ve been avoiding you, but deep down we all know you’re special to her. I think she’d help you pull this off for Harlan’s sake. Only…”
“Only?”
“Only I’d be afraid of her getting hurt.”
“Which is exactly why I’ll find someone else.” I wipe the sweat from my eyes. Paige is too sweet. Too beautiful.
And too fucking tempting.
“I can appreciate you wanting to find the right person, but we’re running out of time, Rhett.”
Does he want me to do this or not? This conversation is starting to piss me off. “I know that, but I won’t marry Paige. She deserves someone better. Someone who’ll marry her for the right reasons. Someone who’ll put her on a pedestal.”
His eyebrows lift, and he whistles. “There’s a lot there to untangle.”
“I’ll call up Darlene tomorrow. See if she’s game.” I get this weird pang in my chest the moment those words leave my mouth.
He snorts. “Don’t get her pregnant. The last thing you need is to knock up someone you don’t even want to date.”
“This arrangement is for business. I’m not gonna fuck this person. It’ll blur too many lines, make her think this is more than just a transaction. In six months, as soon as I’m done paying back Harlan, I’m gonna file for divorce. Sex will just confuse everyone.”
“What are you gonna give Darlene to help you out?”
I shrug. “Probably expensive shoes and shit. Who the fuck knows?”
He smacks my back. “For once, I wish you didn’t have to worry about me and Jace and Mav and just do what makes you happy.”
“I have no clue what would make me happy, but it would probably involve sending Amber to Canada.”
Beau laughs. “Is that far enough?”
“Probably not.”
I don’t mention the shouting match I had with my ex-wife this morning or how I found Paige in tears afterward. It’s all too much. I just wanna work until I’m too tired to think, and then kick back on the porch with a beer and pretend my ex-wife isn’t going to crawl up my ass until our boys are eighteen.
Someone coughs from the other side of the barn, and Beau and I look up to find Paige, who’s back in her short shorts.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. I don’t have the strength to not admire her long, beautiful legs.
Beau pulls her into a bear hug that makes me clench my teeth. “So nice to have you back, Little Lewis.”
“It’s great to be back. I’ve always loved the ranch.” When our eyes meet, I see the hesitancy in them.
I hate that I fucking put it there. “We’re stoked to have you, Paige. You’ll always be welcome here.”
Beau looks between us and points behind him. “Gonna go make some lunch. Y’all want some sandwiches?”
