Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(19)

She fixes the strap on the dress and pushes my hair out of the way. Then her voice gets quiet. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, and there’s a lot of potential for things to go wrong.”

I look her in the eye. “Tell me this. Will we save the ranch?”

She closes her eyes. Tilts her head. Hums. “Possibly, but… it’s not a done deal. I see a lot of murkiness. Like, there could be danger.”

Chills erupt on my skin, and I rub my arms. “What kind of danger? Rogue bobcats roaming the countryside kind of danger, or violent intruders?”

She lets out a frustrated groan. “That’s just it. I can’t tell. And that worries me. Maybe it’s a metaphorical danger, like a danger to your heart.”

“If we have a shot to save the Walker Ranch, I’m doing this. That property has been in the family for generations, Bay. I can’t bail on them.” Because this will affect Beau, Jace, and Mav, not just Rhett and his kids.

“You already told me the story, but I still can’t wrap my head around how you went from not talking to Rhett for years to marrying him.”

I shrug. “I saw him with his boys, and it hurt to watch how Amber dragged them around. It hurt to see her aim so much animosity at Rhett when she’s the cheater.” I run my hand over the soft material of my dress. “Look, I have no viable plans for my future if I don’t get rehab. Can I eventually get a job with a gymnastics or cheer camp? Yes, but I’ll make peanuts. If I’m at a hundred percent physically, maybe I’ll get another shot at one of these elite training facilities and actually make a living. So even though I know this whole thing sounds wackadoodle, I’m willing to take the risk.”

She hugs me. “Just guard your heart, okay? Don’t give in to that Walker charm.”

“Rhett barely looks at me, so I guarantee I’ll be fine.”

“What does that mean?”

I turn to the mirror. “Beau’s at the firehouse this week, so I’m staying in his trailer. And whenever I see Rhett, he’s kinda distant, which is weird because he said we’d use this time to become friends again.”

“He probably has a lot on his mind. If you marry him, you’re going to need to trust him on some level. Just don’t fall in love with him again if you have sex.”

“I was never in love with him. That was just too many fairytales and teenage lust.”

She side-eyes me. “If you say so.”

“I feel bad about your mom, though. She’s really excited for me.”

“Let her be happy.” She looks me over. “And let her buy that dress for you. It looks incredible.”

There’s a funny little pucker of fabric at the waist, but nothing I couldn’t fix with a needle and some thread. “Not too much for a court wedding?”

“It’s your day. You deserve to look like a princess. You’re going to let me do your hair, right?”

“I’d be honored.”

She lifts it off my neck, and we stare at our reflection. “Girl, you might as well have fun doing this.”

I smile at her. “You’re right. Let’s get the dress.”

After Baylee’s mom pays for my outfit, she drives us to the Cactus Bloom Diner. We sit at a booth and order lunch.

“Aunt Syl, you’re going to need to let me reimburse you for everything when I have some cash.”

“Nonsense. I don’t want your money. I want grandbabies! You and Rhett are going to have gorgeous babies. I can’t wait!”

My eyes widen at her loud declaration, and I glance around. Shit. Georgia Hightower is right there.

“Bay,” I whisper. “Does Mrs. Hightower still publish the gossip column in the Gazette?”

“Yup.”

I squint at my best friend. “Is she coming over here?”

She chuckles. “You know it.”

Damn. Mrs. Hightower does it under the guise of wanting to announce weddings and graduations and baby showers, but locals sometimes use it as a way to air each other’s dirty laundry.

Aunt Syl reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Honey, you are marrying the hottest man in town. He’s too young for me, of course, but I have eyeballs in my head. If I were your age and marrying him this week, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops. It’s okay to be proud.”

Rhett did say he wants me to sell this.

If this was a real marriage, I’d be proud as hell to be marrying him. He’s a great man. A hard worker and a good provider. Loyal as the day is long.

So when Georgia Hightower sashays over to say hi and asks what I’m doing in town, I tell her something close to the truth—I’m marrying my long-time crush and the man of my dreams.

And if a part of me enjoys playing pretend right now, well, that’ll just be my little secret.





9





RHETT




Staring at the words on the website makes them all run together. I scroll through the post and read it again.

“I’m over the moon to be marrying Rhett Walker! He was my brother’s best friend when I was growing up, and I’ve always looked up to him. We recently reconnected, and sparks flew! Who knew that we were written in the stars? I love him to pieces, and I can’t wait to be his wife. I just wish my brother could be here.”