Page 21 of Sweet Deal
“For a year?” Jillian’s tone suggested she didn’t believe him.
Jim sucked in a shallow breath and slowly nodded. “If that’s what it takes.”
Rachel’s pulse pounded in her ears. She couldn’t process this. Jim—her childhood friend, the boy who’d skipped rocks with her, the teenager who’d taught her to drive a stick shift, the man who’d just walked back into her life days ago, who they’d once made a pseudo-marriage pact for real—was offering to marry her for pretend. How the hell was she supposed to deal with that?
“For the trust payment to kick in,” Garret set his glass on the end table, “you’d have to stay married the full year. We’d still get a boost up front, but we’d need you to put up with our sister for a whole year to get the final payoff.”
“Hey,” Rachel burst out, “what do you mean put up with me? I’d have to put up with him!” For some reason she couldn’t possibly understand, her words made Jim smile, her brothers quickly following suit.
Calmly, still smiling, Jim nodded. “I understand the terms.”
“No benefits,” Jillian added pointedly.
“Jill.” Rachel felt her cheeks flame.
“What?” Her twin raised an eyebrow. “Everyone’s thinking it. If Jim’s going to agree to this, he needs to understand all the rules.”
“I do,” Jim confirmed, his expression unchanged.
Preston leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “Why would you do this?”
Jim’s eyes found hers again. “Because Rachel would do the same for me if our situations were reversed.”
The simple truth of it struck her silent. He was right. If his family had been in trouble, if there had been anything she could do to help, she would have. Without hesitation. So why was this so hard? It should be a no-brainer. They needed money. She’d been looking for someone to do just what Jim was offering. Willing to make an arrangement with a total stranger. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to say yes to Jim.
Clearly, this decision was ultimately hers. And everyone in the room knew it, as all eyes were on her, waiting for her response.
“I…” Rachel swallowed hard. “I need to think.”
As if that was a perfectly reasonable response to a marriage proposal, even a fake one, Jim nodded. “Of course.”
“Since we’re not settling anything tonight,” Preston pushed to his feet, “my wife is expecting me to take her to the football game.”
“Right.” Carson stood as well. “If we win tonight, we’re in the playoffs.”
“Shall we go?” Jim’s gaze settled on hers. “Might be fun?”
Anything she did with Jim was always fun. She supposed that might be part of the problem. Adjusting to not having Jim around after college had been tough. At first, really tough. How would she handle losing him again after a year of house play? Maybe he was right. A night away from the ranch and the financial problems and rooting for their high school team was exactly what she needed.
“Okay.” She nodded. “Let me grab a jacket. It’s getting chillier most nights.”
Jim chuckled. “Don’t sound so excited. I promise you won’t have to put up with too much tonight.”
“Ha ha,” she teased back. Surprised to discover, despite all her concerns, she was actually looking forward to watching the game with him. Lord, talk about a woman’s prerogative to change her mind. She’d better find hers and soon.
Outside, holding open the passenger door, as Rachel climbed into Jim’s truck, their eyes met briefly. The intensity in her gaze—the fear in her eyes—clutched at his heart. Was it fear of the situation, the consequences or heaven forbid, him?
Once he’d settled behind the wheel, he started the engine and glanced in her direction. “You don’t have to say yes. I’ll help with payments as much as I can until you guys get out of this.”
“I know.” She fastened her seatbelt.
Lord help him, the next part was hard to say, “Or until you find someone more suitable.”
Her eyes flew open, and her head snapped around. “More suitable?”
“Someone you feel comfortable saying yes to.” Turning onto the road, he eased his grip on the steering wheel.
“There isn’t anyone I would ever feel more comfortable with.” Her gaze drifted away from him and out the windshield. “That’s the problem.”
