"I know enough." She moves to stand beside me, apparently unafraid of the heat. "You're a successful business owner. You teach welding to at-risk kids. You haven't been in trouble since you got out of prison despite my father's constant harassment."
"You've been asking about me."
"Research is important before making business propositions." A smile plays at the corners of her full lips. "You can research me, too, if you want. Though there's not much to find."
"Twenty-two-year-old culinary school graduate. Daughter of the sheriff. Works at a coffee shop. Wants to open a restaurant." I list the facts I know. "Willing to marry a stranger to inherit a house."
"See? We're practically old friends." Her smile widens into something genuine that makes my chest tighten.
The smart move would be to say no. To tell her this plan is insane. To send her back to her safe little life and continue fighting my battles alone. But something about her pulls at me. It took courage to stand up to her father. And the way she looks at my work with genuine appreciation instead of suspicion warms something in me.
"I'll think about it." I turn back to the forge, needing space from her intoxicating presence. "That's not a yes."
"But it's not a no either." She sounds triumphant. "How long will you think about it?"
"Give me until tomorrow." I pick up my tongs, selecting a new piece of metal to heat. "This isn't a decision I can make lightly."
"Fair enough." She moves toward the door, pausing with her hand on the frame. "For what it's worth, I think we could be good for each other, Mr. Reeves."
"Colt." I correct her without thinking. "If we're discussing marriage, you should probably use my nickname."
"Colt." She tests it out, the word sounding different in her voice. Softer. "I'm Savannah. But you can call me Sav."
"I know who you are." Everyone in town knows the sheriff's daughter.
"No." She shakes her head. "You know who my father is. Tomorrow you'll start learning who I am."
She leaves in a swirl of citrus perfume and quiet confidence, the workshop suddenly emptier without her presence. I stare into the forge flames, watching metal slowly turn from solid to malleable.
Could I handle six months of marriage to Savannah Parker?
The idea doesn’t terrify me. Instead, it sparks something I haven't felt in years. Something that feels dangerously close to hope.
I hammer the glowing metal, each strike punctuating the thoughts I can't escape.
This plan is insane.Strike.She deserves better.Strike.Her father will make my life hell.Strike.I want to say yes anyway.Strike.
By the time the sun sets, I've made my decision. God help us both.
CHAPTER THREE
SAVANNAH
"You want to marry who?"
My best friend Sylvie stares at me across the coffee shop counter, her expression stuck somewhere between horror and fascination. I glance around nervously, but the morning rush at The Grind has dwindled to a couple of regulars typing on laptops in the corner.
"Keep your voice down," I hiss, wiping nonexistent spills from the counter. "I don't need the whole town knowing my business before he even gives me an answer."
"Oh honey, this is Whisper Vale." Sylvie leans closer, her voice dropping to a stage whisper. "The whole town probably knew you visited his workshop before you even made it back to your car."
She's not wrong. News travels at light speed in a town this size. Especially when it involves the sheriff's daughter and the local bad boy.
"Well, they don't know why I was there." I check my phone for the fifteenth time this morning. Still no text from Colt. "And I'd like to keep it that way until things are settled."
"If by 'things' you mean a legally binding marriage to a man you barely know, then yes, let's keep that quiet." Sylvie rolls her eyes. "What happened to Brett anyway? Last I heard, you two were picking out matching sweaters or whatever boring couples do."
"We broke up." I start restocking napkins just to keep my hands busy. "He called my culinary dreams impractical. Said I should focus on a real career."
