Page 25 of Sweet Deal
The word “wife” kept circling in his mind, attaching itself to her name despite his attempts to maintain some perspective. This was a business arrangement, he reminded himself. A mutual solution to a problem. Nothing more. Interrupting his thoughts, his cell phone vibrated against the table, Rachel’s name lighting up the screen.
We need to talk… in person. Can you come over?
The undertone of urgency in her text sent a jolt of concern through him.
Just getting coffee, can come right now.
Her reply came immediately:Perfect. Meet me at the house.
His hair still damp from a shower and his coffee left sitting on the kitchen table, Jim pulled into the ranch driveway. The truck had barely rolled to a stop when Rachel came scurrying down the porch steps. His gut did a somersault; nothing good could come from the look on her face.
Slamming the car door behind him, he met her halfway to the house. “What’s going on?”
Rachel heaved in a deep breath and blew it out softly. “Apparently, we’re married.”
“We’re… what?”
“Sorry. They think we’re married.” Looking over his shoulder, she reached for his hand and tugged. “Let’s do this inside.”
Seated in the front room with most of her siblings, Rachel rambled on so quickly, he was only able to process every other word. The gist being after playfully calling her Mrs. Henderson at last night’s game, the gossip mill went to work.
The front door burst open and Jillian, the only missing sibling, rushed in, slightly out of breath. “Got someone to cover the shop.” She dropped her purse on the side table. “You two no longer have time to think this through. The whole town is buzzing and once Mom checks her phone, the circus will begin in earnest. This is either a gift from heaven or hell, and damned if I know which.”
“Wait, where is your mother?” Jim asked.
“She and Clint stayed behind with Garret and Jackie to help unload furniture,” Carson explained. “The rest of us headed back here when Rachel got the first text from Jillian.”
Jim blinked. “Do I want to know what furniture and where?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Rachel squeezed his hand. “We have to come up with a plan of how to proceed.”
“Okay. Let me see if I understand correctly. Someone overheard me call Rachel Mrs. Henderson at the game last night, and now the whole town thinks we secretly got married?”
Jillian nodded vigorously. “If there’s one person in Honeysuckle who can spread news faster than wildfire, it’s Iris Hathaway.”
“But she didn’t start it,” Preston added. “According to what I’ve pieced together, Mrs. Miller was the one who overheard you at the game and mentioned it this morning to Dot Wilkins at the pharmacy when Mrs. Miller picked up her blood pressure medication.”
“Then over coffee, Dot told Agnes at the café,” Carson continued, “where Iris Hathaway was having breakfast with half the Garden Club.”
“And once Iris knew…” Rachel threw up her hands.
“Exactly,” Jillian confirmed. “Iris rushed straight to Corn Hole Heaven to tell our aunts, then to the Bluebonnet Inn where the Ladies’ Auxiliary was setting up for next week’s fundraiser, and by noon today, I guarantee there won’t be a soul in the county who doesn’t think you two are hitched.”
Jillian was absolutely right. Whether or not this unexpected rumor was a blessing or a curse, he didn’t have a clue.
Chapter Eleven
The controlled chaos in the study was almost comical if the stakes weren’t so damn high. Jim watched Rachel try to field Jillian’s rapid-fire suggestions while Preston and Carson looked ready to strategize a corporate takeover of the Honeysuckle rumor mill. They were panicking, and honestly, he couldn’t blame them. The gossip wasn’t just inconvenient; it forced their hand, demanding immediate action and a believable performance.
“Okay,” his voice cut through the noise with quiet authority. “Clearly, we can’t control the gossip right now. Freaking out won’t help.” He looked directly at Rachel, holding her gaze. “Rach, can we talk? Outside? Just for a minute?”
She nodded, seemingly grateful for the lifeline. Jim placed his hand gently at the small of her back, guiding her through the house onto the back porch. The crisp morning air was a welcome relief from the tension inside.
Once the door closed behind them, he guided her towards the old wooden swing, waiting until she sat before taking the spot beside her. The chains creaked softly as it swayed.
“This is crazy, Jim. The whole town thinks we’re already married.”
“I know.” He took her hand in his. The gesture felt both strange and completely natural. “But maybe this isn’t entirely bad.”
