Page 21 of Close to My Heart

“It was stupid to think that I could have a special connection with a man I’m marrying temporarily.”

Wes’s brow furrowed. “I’m a little concerned that you’re going to attract someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart. They’ll want more money, or they’ll hurt you in some way.”

“We’ll have a contract drawn up.”

“I’m not talking about him hurting you financially. What about emotionally or even physically?” Wes winced.

Wes didn’t want me to get hurt. The thought buoyed me. There were good guys out there. I just had to find one that wasn’t already my best friend.

I could have the best of both worlds: a friend and a man who was passionate about me.

“You were taunting him. You wanted to prove a point by getting his clothes dirty and forcing him to show his strength.” More like lack of.

Wes paused on the trail. “I shouldn’t have done that. I should be helping you. I have to be honest with you though. I don’t like that guy.”

“I need someone to sign the marriage license and say the vows. Until divorce do us part. It’s not about how compatible we are or if he’s able to cut down a tree.”

“Whoever you’re with should meet your needs, even if you’re planning on only being together temporarily. He’s getting something out of the deal.”

“I am too. The estate. That’s all I want. I don’t need a guy who could be the one. I have to get that out of my head.”

“You deserve everything, and I hate that your grandmother is forcing you to do this. But it doesn’t mean that you have to settle.”

“I don’t have a lot of time to figure this out, and Mom’s trying to help with her list of eligible bachelors. There’re still more guys on the list. I’m sure I’ll find one that could fit the bill.”

When we reached the bottom, I said, “What am I going to do with this tree?”

“I’ll bring it over later tonight. Does that work?”

I nodded. “I already have one in the living room.”

“Then we’ll put this one in your bedroom. You can look at it every night when you go to bed and when you wake up.”

Did I want a reminder of Wes in my bedroom? “I’ll find a tree stand for it. I’m sure I have an extra somewhere.”

“You’ll find what you’re looking for. You just have to be patient.”

“Time isn’t on my side.”

Wes pulled me in for a one-arm hug. “It will be okay.” When I gave him an incredulous look, he kissed my forehead. “It will. I promise. I’ll always be by your side.”

“I hope so, because I need you.” Now more than ever. I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing anymore. Maybe I should do what Wes had been pressuring me to do all along: go out on my own. But the thought of the estate being sold and the money divided hurt every part of my body.

Someone would demolish the estate and build a development. No one would preserve its history like I would.

I drove home, then cleared a space for the tree in my bedroom. I had to lower my expectations. I wanted a nice guy, but he didn’t need to cut down trees or fix my car. He just had to be my pretend husband for a few months. There was no need for him to fill my every desire.

When everything was done, the divorce finalized, and I was running my dream museum in the house I grew up in, I’d still have Wes. We’d always be friends.

I tried not to think about what would happen when he met the woman he could see himself with forever. If he thought a guy would have trouble with me still talking to him, I knew another woman wouldn’t want me around.

Our friendship had an end date: when one of us got married. Which would happen sooner than I’d ever imagined.

When Wes’s headlights flashed on the house later that night, I opened the door, my heart tripping at the sight of him easily pulling the tree out of the bed.

It smelled great as he dragged it past me and into the house. “Thanks for doing this.”

“No matter what’s going on in your life, I’m always going to be here for you.”

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