Page 27 of Finding Hayes
“But then you’d be working for Lenny, which we both know won’t work. So what you’re not saying, that we all know to be true, is that you’ll leave. You won’t stay here and work for a man that you despise. I know it, and you know it. So play the fucking game,” River hissed.
He was right. Working for Lenny would never be an optionfor me. One of us would be leaving that station, and that meant leaving Magnolia Falls.
I was at peace with it.
Saylor was with Kingston now, and she’d be fine if I left. I wouldn’t go far, and I could come home often to visit. Everyone would get over it.
“I remember Kimber from high school. She was nice enough, but the girl had zero style,” Savannah said, interrupting my thoughts.
“And that matters because?” I didn’t hide my irritation. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore. I’d come here to sit in on the meeting and make sure she’d be okay. I didn’t need anyone dissecting my life.
“Because I could put her to shame with my wifely skills. Hell, I could throw a party for my man that would be the talk of the town.”
River’s head fell back in laughter before he sat forward and rubbed his hands together. “I like the sound of that.”
“Throw a party for your man?” I quipped. “The same one you can’t stand most of the time?”
“It’s a short-term”—she glanced at River—“arrangement. I know my role. You know your role. It’s a couple of weeks, and we both get what we want before our marriage starts to crumble, and I need my space.”
“You’re serious right now?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.
“I want to help my dad, Woody.” Her voice was soft, another glimpse of my old best friend being exposed. “And honor Abe’s wishes for the house. I could restore it and sell it to a nice family. I could help you get your promotion, and I think you should get a settlement from the inheritance for agreeing to marry me.”
That had my blood boiling. “You think I want your money?”
“Why not? It would only be right that you should get something when this all falls apart,” she said, glancing at River and then looking at me mischievously. “I mean, if things don’t work out for us the way we hope they do, then you shouldn’t walk away empty-handed.”
“If I did this, which I’m far from convinced is a good idea, it would only be to help you. If it meant I got the promotion and didn’t have to see that kiss-ass piece of shit get promoted, that would sweeten the pot. But the only way I will consider this is if we have it in writing that I don’t leave this—arrangement or marriage or whatever the fuck this is, with any financial gain.”
I’d had a father who had a shit ton of money, and he never took care of me or my sister. I’d worked hard to provide for both of us. I did not want or need handouts from anyone.
It was a hard line for me.
“We could write up a prenup. That looks honorable,” River said.
“I don’t care how it looks. I’m not doing this for the money. That’s my point.”
“So you’re considering it,” Savannah said, her teeth sinking into her juicy bottom lip.
“I want you to be able to help your dad.”
“That’s very generous of you,” she said, but I could see she was struggling with this, too. She directed her question to River. “How would this work? Would we have to live together?”
“Yeah. If you two were to suddenly reconnect and fall in love, you’d get married within the next month and live together for three months.”
“We cannot live together for three months,” Savannah gasped.
This marriage is already off to a great start.
“You could live in different parts of the house. I don’t think anyone will be paying attention, so if you realize it was a mistakein a couple of weeks…” River smirked, as he tapped his pen against the desk. “You separate, but you’re still working on the marriage, right? And then in three months, you just call it quits. Everyone wins. Put on a united front starting now, and then things can fall apart a few weeks after you’re married.”
This had all the makings of a disaster.
“We can be a married couple living separate lives. No one will be the wiser.” She shrugged. “Where would we live?”
“My house. That farmhouse is a fucking disaster right now, and it needs to be renovated. You can work on that while we’re living at my place. My house is large, and I’m gone three nights a week at the firehouse anyway. You’ll barely have to see me.”
“I like the sound of that.” She smirked.
