Page 127 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

He sets two mugs on the nightstand. “So just Hollis?”

“Just Donovan,” I confirm.

“No.”

“You can't tell me no. It's my last name!”

“And you're gonna be my wife, so you should have mine.”

“But my professional name is Donovan. That's how I'm known.”

“That's why the hyphen.”

“It's too long and wordy. By the time the emcee finishes announcing it, I'll have already crossed the finish line.”

He smirks, amusement forming across his adorably boyish face. “Alright…on one condition.”

“No…no more conditions!” I pout. “That's how we got here in the first place.”

He climbs on the bed, caging me in between his arms. “But you didn't even hear it yet.”

I shift my body, giving him room to position his legs between mine. “Fine…but it better be good or I'm voiding it.”

“You marry me in a month.”

My eyes twitch. “A month? We agreed on after I won the NFR. Plus, I can't find a dress and book everything that quickly!”

“That's fine. It doesn't have to be fancy.”

“Landen…you can't be serious.”

He dips down and slides his tongue between my lips, effortlessly shutting me up.

“Let's give the whole town…hell the state…something worthy of talkin' about. If they're gonna whisper and make judgments, might as well get something amazing outta it. They'll be too busy gossiping about our fast-paced wedding to discuss a possiblemurder scandal.”

A few days after the article published about Angela's release and connection to my name, the rumors spread rapidly through the town about me being linked to a convicted criminal. They dubbed it amurder scandalsince Landen was involved in testifying against her and now they've made assumptions about why I'm with him. Then the equine journalists got involved and questioned my legitimacy for no other reason than to get in on the attention.

But I've learned people will make assumptions about me no matter what I say or do and there's nothing I can do about it, so why bother fighting it? I'm not going to speak publicly about Angela's business, and I can't change who I'm related to. So they'll have to get over it.

Landen hasn't been as easygoing about it. He wants to track down every reporter who writes about me and send them a case of horse sperm to turkey bast up their asses.

After wiring Angela the hundred thousand dollars I saved for her, a huge weight lifted off my chest. I know I didn't have to give her anything and could've left her high and dry, but I'd rather give it to her knowing I'll never have to see her again.Sure, she could reappear and cause trouble, but there's no doubt I'd have Noah, Landen, and the rest of the Hollises to back me up. She'd be dumber than I thought if she returned.

Maybe she'll use the money to buy herself some integrity.

“Let ‘em talk…who cares.” I shrug.

“I care when it's bullshit lies about my woman.” Landen presses his lips below my ear and adds, “Plus, think how hot the sex will be when I can tell mywifeto crawl to me. I'm gettin' hard just imagining it.”

“Crawl?” I push him back. “Now I know you've done lost your mind.”

“Oh baby, I will get you on your hands and knees. I promise.”

His confident tone has me contemplating kneeing him in the balls.

“You remember I got my memory back, right? And that I can recall all the ways you tried to flirt with me or tease me to get my attention? You thinkthatEllie is crawlin' around for a man?”

“On my bed…you will crawl to me…if you want my cock inside you. You'll be begging for it, I guarantee it.”

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