“Yeah. I hope that’s the end of the problems we were having with our fences getting cut. The sheriff never figured out who was behind it, but Frank was so pissed about the rent increase that I have to wonder if it was him all along. They trashed the cabin on the way out.”
“That sucks. What dicks.”
“At least he’s gone. We’ll fix it up and either Beau can live there or we’ll rent it. The extra income wouldn’t hurt.”
Now that I’m helping Rhett with the books and I see how much overhead we have, I understand why he’s always stressed out about the ranch. The payroll, vet bills, mortgage, maintaining our vehicles and tractors—it all costs a small fortune.
“Oh, shit,” Baylee mumbles.
“What?”
She folds her lips and blinks slowly, like she’s searching for the right thing to say. “Did Rhett ever talk to his friend with benefits?”
“That Darlene girl? I don’t know. He said he’d let her know he couldn’t meet up anymore, but we’ve been so busy, I forgot to ask about her. Why?”
“Because she’s here.”
My head jerks. “Where?”
Baylee makes a face. “Headed straight for your husband. That brunette.”
I follow where she’s looking, and my heart sinks because Darlene is drop-dead gorgeous. Like, this woman should be a model. She’s tall and elegant with long brown hair and perfect skin. I know I’m no troll, but I’m also self-aware enough to know I’m no model.
Based on Darlene’s expression, she’s pissed. “You got married?” she shouts at Rhett. “We were together for a year anda half, and you didn’t have the decency to tell me you had a side chick?”
Oh, God. She thinks he cheated on her?
The minute those words are out of her mouth, the whole town turns to look at me.
I’ve never wanted a hole to open up beneath me and swallow me this badly before. At least I don’t see Harlan in the crowd. I’d be mortified if he saw this.
Rhett squints at her and lowers his voice, but I’m still close enough to hear. “You and I were never together. And Paige isn’t a side chick. Look, it’s complicated.” He helps Mrs. Campbell back to her wheelchair.
Darlene follows him. “Complicated? Would it have killed you to give me a heads-up that you were getting married? Or to answer my calls?”
Baylee tugs on my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”
“No.” I need to hear Rhett’s response.
But he doesn’t say anything, just takes Darlene’s elbow and ushers her to a dark corner of the park under a great oak where he talks to her in hushed tones.
I stalk closer until I can hear him. “Darlene, I called you at least three times to let you know what was going on.”
“You never left any messages.” The hurt in her voice kills me a little. That’s so Rhett. I roll my eyes.
He glances around, probably wondering where I am, but I’m standing behind him, so he doesn’t see me. His voice gets quiet, but the band is taking a break, so I can hear every word. “We agreed from the very beginning that we were friends with benefits. You had to know we weren’t serious. We fucked in my truck in bar parking lots, for Pete’s sake. What part of that says committed relationship?”
They had sex in his truck.
Regularly.
My stomach drops. Here I was thinking that when we did it in his truck after he bought me this outfit, it was special. ThatIwas special. That he was so into me, he couldn’t wait until we got home to have me. In reality, that’s just a typical Friday night for him.
He was treating me like his hookup.
My eyes sting, and I blink furiously.
That’s when Cash and Trig McAllister walk up, and Trig yells, “Damn, Walker. Were you keeping your friend with bennies on standby in case your marriage didn’t work out?”
