Page 24 of The Revenge Bride

No. There’s no maybe to it.

The emotion is there. Tucked away since I was sixteen. Love that was covered under confusion and ignored by the bone-headed boy I used to be.

I love my fake fiancé. And I desperately want her to be my wife.

I can’t tell her any of that. I might push her away if she doesn’t want a real relationship with me.

She looked disappointed by our conversation in the shower. Did I hurt her by not answering her? I need to talk to her and apologize. Smooth things over.

Hopefully, she’s not having second thoughts about us.

When I get my phone, I realize I don’t have her number. I search the number for the radio station and call that instead.

Someone answers and tells me Lucy isn’t there yet. That she won’t be in for another few hours.

When footsteps sound on the porch, I yank open the door.

Key is on the stoop with his hand raised mid-knock. His other hand is holding a folder. “Here’s the tattoo she wants.”

I take the folder. I’d promised Key I’d help a friend of a friend of his.

She’s a single mom who escaped an abusive relationship and recently moved to the town. I suck in a breath at the damage on her skin. I hate men who hurt women. Fucking cowards.

“I can do it next week,” I tell him.

“Ah. Giving yourself the weekend off after the wedding?”

Lucy can’t take a vacation yet, so we talked about heading out of town for the weekend for appearance’s sake.

“Yeah.” Feeling like an idiot, I ask, “Do you have Echo’s number so I can call Lucy?”

“Her brother gave it to me when he’d asked me to keep an eye on her, but I pissed her off so she’s probably not even going to answer.” He presses her contact on his phone.

After a few seconds, he shakes his head. “Nothing.”

It’s better this way, I tell myself. Because if Lucy doesn’t know how I feel then there’s less probability for me to get hurt.

I want to find Lucy. I want to tell her…tell her what? That I have feelings for her?

As if he can read my mind, Key says, “If you love Lucy, you should tell her. Since you don’t know how to reach her, call Ms. Claudia to find her.”

Ms. Claudia is an elderly woman who runs the annual Lasso a Cowboy event. She knows everything about everyone in town.

“Nah. We’re not that kind of couple.”

“Suit yourself.” Key clasps a hand on my shoulder. “Down the road when you’re sobbing in your beer because Lucy’s not with you, remember that I told you so.”

“Thanks, man. You’re a big help.”

He grins, ignoring my sarcasm, and thumps his chest with his fist. “I know.”

After he leaves, I manage to get Lucy’s number from Ms. Claudia but when I call my bride-to-be, I get a voicemail.

I don’t like the sense of foreboding in my gut.

Chapter 8

Lucy

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