Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(36)

Shit. Paige. “What happened?”

“Well, after she chewed me out, she made me drop her off at Baylee’s.”

Christ. I’m never gonna hear the end of this from Sylvia. “Did you tell Paige that Austin was puking his guts out all night? That our fences got cut? That we had to chase down a dozen cattle?”

He winces. “Not in those words exactly.”

“So let me guess, she’s pissed I ditched her.”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

This is why I never wanted to get married again. No one understands how much responsibility I have here. Our entire livelihood is wrapped up in those cattle. The boys and this ranch have to come first if we want any hope of surviving. Maybe things will be different in a few years, but I don’t have anything left to give a woman right now.

I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll go get her tomorrow after my appointment with Harlan.”

He clicks his tongue. “See, that might be a problem.”

“Why’s that?”

“She kinda said she didn’t think she could do this, but that you could call her if you need her to meet up for appearances.”

“When you say this, do you mean our marriage?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t think you should wait to go talk to her.”

I blow out a breath. “On a scale of one to ten, how pissed is she?”

He tilts his head. “That’s just it. I wouldn’t say she’s pissed exactly, though she wasn’t thrilled you left her at a cabin with no cell signal, TV, or car. But I think you hurt her feelings. I mean, you left her to go talk to Amber.”

“When you frame it like that, I sound like an asshole.”

Beau lifts his brows. “Not to be a dick, but it was your honeymoon.”

I feel a vein throb in my neck. “It’s a fake fucking marriage. We both agreed it wouldn’t mean anything. Paige and I have mutually agreed upon goals and a deadline. It’s not like I left my real wife behind after one night to talk to my ex.”

He scratches the back of his head. “Can I ask you a question? You said you’d keep things platonic. Did you cross any lines this weekend? Because I don’t really understand why she’d cry if you guys kept this strictly business.”

I freeze, the guilt I’ve held at bay all day hitting me like a sledgehammer. “She cried?” Goddamn it. I knew this was a bad idea. I stalk over to the drawer where I keep my keys. “Text me if the boys have any problems. I’ll be back.”

“Gonna go get your wife?” He smirks.

“Fuck off.” Of course I’m gonna go get my wife.





17





RHETT




Mid-knock, I stop to stare at my hands, which are still dirty. My boots are muddy, my shirt is torn, and I’m pretty sure there’s blood—my blood—on my jeans. Damn, I never cleaned up. I just heard Paige was upset and raced over here like a jackass.

The door swings open, and Sylvia crosses her arms. “You gonna stand out here all night, or are you coming in?”

I take off my grimy baseball cap. “Thank you, but I’m pretty filthy. Maybe I should wait out here. Can I speak with Paige?” I don’t know why I’m nervous, but with the way Sylvia’s glaring at me right now, I should probably make sure she’s not carrying any weapons.

She points behind her to the couch. “Sit.” I do as she asks, expecting she’ll get Paige. Instead, she perches on the coffee table across from me. “We need to get one thing straight. Paige might not be my daughter, but I love her like one. As her surrogate mother, I’m wondering why she was sleeping in my house two nights after she married you.”

I knew Sylvia was gonna grill me.

“It’s a long story.” Her no-nonsense expression tells me she’ll wait until I tell her everything, so I do. Minus the fact that I left Paige naked in the hot tub after one of the most explosive sexual encounters of my life.

“I see.” She crosses her legs. “I’m going to be honest, Rhett. I know you and Paige are up to something. It’s not every day the town’s biggest bachelor up and marries someone no one has ever seen him date.”

Shit. “Sylvia, I—”

“Stop talking.” I clamp my mouth shut, and she points at me. “I went along with your shenanigans because I love Paige, and I didn’t want her to be embarrassed by some half-assed wedding.”

That explains a lot. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I just wanted my girl to have one day where she felt like a princess. Because she is a great young woman with a huge heart, and she deserves all the good things this world has to offer. Irma treats her like shit and has for years, and if you add one ounce of pain to the burdens that girl carries, so help me God, you will regret it.”

Shamed, I stare at my dirty boots. “I didn’t mean to hurt her, I swear. I care about her, and I promised Danny I’d look after her.”

“Maybe start by not ditching her at an isolated cabin.”

I nod, hating that I disappointed Sylvia, but more disappointed in myself for hurting Paige. “I’d like to make it up to her if she’ll let me.”

“If you were wondering, the correct way to handle that situation was to bring your wife with you and let her face your ex with you. And, for the record, she didn’t tell me those details. Like a good mother, I eavesdropped on her and Baylee.” She studies me a moment. “You know I get feelings, right? That I can sense things?”