Page 232 of The Reason I Married Him
How on earth did it come to this?
Where I’m sighing just from the sight of him?
Where I’m so beyond comfortable that I’d walk around with a bite mark from him?
Where I want nothing more than to stop work on the farm and just spend day in and day out hanging with him, joking with him? Where I know that moving into Cassidy’s home would be like our own fresh and wonderful start.
It wasn’t like that a few weeks ago, but he’s instilled so much trust and comfort within me that it’s changed my entire perspective on life.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks.
“What makes you think I’m thinking about anything?”
“You have this far-off look in your eyes like you’re contemplating something. What is it?”
We head toward The Cliffs for some lunch and bear claws since Wyatt has been craving them. “Nothing,” I answer.
“Really? You’re going to hide from me after everything we’ve done to each other? Babe, it’s okay to be exposed.”
“Being naked in front of you is way different than showing you my raw emotions. One is easy, the other isn’t.”
“Feeling emotional over me?” he asks, but not in his normal teasing tone.
“Not emotional,” I say. “Just . . .” I shrug as we reach The Cliffs, and he opens the door for me. “I don’t know?—”
“Wyatt, there you are.”
Wyatt stops right in the doorway behind me as I look up to find a beautiful blonde standing in front of us. Curvy figure, stunning eyes, she’s the complete opposite of me with her sleek hair and slender legs. Next to her is a short man with red hair and a snarly lip, a sneer that says he’s ready to make someone’s life hell.
“Cadance,” Wyatt says, stunned. “What, uh . . . what are you and Wallace doing here?”
Wallace?
That’s Wallace?
Wyatt’s cousin?
They look nothing alike. Not even close. Somehow, Wyatt got the better genes.
I glance back at the woman, and that’s when her name clicks.
Wait, Cadance, that’s the girl Fallon was talking about?
Wallace steps up and says, “Oh, just in town, heard you got married, which is so interesting since your engagement to Cadance just broke up.”
Umm . . . what?
That can’t be right. That’s something Wyatt would have told me.
I’m about to ask him what’s going on when Wyatt straightens up and says, “Not here.” Then he steps out of the restaurant, and Wallace and Cadance follow. Confused and unsure of what to do, I follow as well until we reach the parking lot of The Cliffs, where Wyatt turns to face both Cadance and Wallace.
“Wyatt,” I ask, feeling my voice shake. “What’s going on?”
“You must be his new bride,” Wallace says while holding out his hand. “I’m Wallace.”
I look at his hand, then back up at Wallace. “Wyatt . . . what are they doing here?”
Wallace shoves his unshaken hand back in his pocket and says, “We’re here to call bullshit on this marriage. Although, it seems like everyone we talk to happens to have a grand opinion of the thriller author, saying how much he’s been in love with the town sweetheart.” Wallace looks me up and down. “I don’t fucking buy it, and from the stunned look on your face, I’m going to guess you had no idea what was happening.”
