Page 29 of Wicked Cowboy
I took Chelsea’s hand as she was real and I was here for her. Until recently, marrying Carter and knowing his naked body had been fantasies that kept me running through hospital ER wards.
I was living in an alternate reality now, but I wasn’t comfortable with whatever I needed appearing for me. No one had popped my bubble of illusion, but I knew I needed to get my head back on straight.
We’d never agreed this was because we were knee-deep in love. We were getting married because it was practical.
So I headed into the funeral home on cemetery grounds, but I somehow snuck into this family unit, next to the most handsome man ever. Seriously, this wasn’t my life.
I held Chelsea’s hand, but she let me go and went to hug girls her age.
I scanned the room and saw Frank, my lawyer, and my eyes widened.
Carter hugged my side and must have seen me as he asked, “Who's that man?”
If Frank told my sister Indigo before I did, then she’d tell all my sisters and family. He worked full-time for her husband so he’d be obligated. I tugged my ear. “My lawyer… let me go speak to him.”
Carter went to the front of the room and grabbed seats with his father.
I stood in the back and asked, “Frank, what’s going on?”
Sally and her two children, a boy and girl Chelsea’s age, went to say hello to Carter and his family.
I folded my hands in front of me as Frank said, “Your sister was worried about you and asked me to check in. She assumed you’d be here for the funeral.”
Reality crashed. I wasn’t a peppy, happy woman who gets what she wants. I simply nodded. “Tell her I’ll call with news today.”
Frank didn’t react. “Once the ceremony is over, of course. Do you need any more legal help?”
I shook my head. “No, I think I got…” But I stopped and took out my phone from my new pocketbook that matched the dress and had been waiting for me like I was some princess, then met his gaze and asked, “Actually can you read over the prenup I signed and give me the highlights?”
His face went white. “You signed?”
Another mistake, but then I was used to making those. I found the file and AirDropped it to his number. “It’s what’s best for Chelsea.”
His phone beeped as he said, “Very well, send me the files.”
I pointed to his pocket. “Check your phone.”
He accepted my message and stepped back. “I’ll discreetly read on my phone during the ceremony.”
Right.
The minister went to the front and I rushed forward and scooted around Carter to sit on Chelsea’s other side.
Carter smelled of woodsy cologne and he asked, “What’s going on?”
Our legs brushed.
I kept my head down and my words low so few would hear us as the preacher spoke. “I’ve not called all my sisters and checked in. My family is worried about me.”
Chelsea teared up and I hugged her. She was why I was here, not Carter.
She wiped her eyes and I sat back, but then Carter asked me, “So they send lawyers after you?”
“Yeah.” I glanced up and saw his gaze narrowed. “He works for-"
“Jacob Donovan,” He supplied.
We stood up to sing. Chelsea stuck to our sides like glue, so for a few minutes, we just sang the hymn.
