Page 18 of Rival Heart
“She was worried that you’d make a rash decision and then pay for it.”
I huff out a laugh under my breath. “Hasty? Rebel?” I shrug my shoulder and laugh when she glares at me, her dark eyesspitting fire. “I can’t think of any regrets that either one of us has. This is just what we both want and need.”
“Right. Well, sign the papers and I’ll get them filed right away.” He turns around and puts the papers in a file with Rebel’s mother’s name on it. “I hope y’all know what you’re doing.”
I groan and sit back, pushing my hands through my thick hair. I hope I do too. It seems like it’s some strange kind of dance. One step forward and two steps back.
Nothing like a two-step where I could hold her soft curves to me and let my fingers trace all those ripe hills and valleys to my heart’s content.
“Sign the papers, angel. And then let’s head home. I can’t wait to get you alone.”
Her pale cheeks flush and she glares at me like I just told a dirty joke in the middle of Sunday service.
“Stop saying things like that,” she mutters her booted foot catching the side of my ankle when she whips it back. Grunting, I pull my foot back in and glare at her too.
“I’ll say the truth and nothing but the truth for the rest of our lives, Reb. Forever and always.”
The lawyer huffs out a breath and then ignores the looks between us and the parameters of the paperwork we’ve signed.
I have to admit that she pisses me off when she opens up her mouth and says, “Hey, we should put a time limit on this.”
“I’m not doing anything of the kind,” I snap. “So don’t try and use this guy…” I nod at the attorney “to fight your battles for you.”
She flushes and shoots me a wary look. Like a cornered animal. “I’m not doing anything of the sort,” she mutters, but her eyes dart away and we both know she’s lying.
The attorney shoots her a look and she picks up the pen again, tapping it on the desk nervously. I eye her and she stops, flushing bright as a new copper penny.
“Alright. Our work here is done. Y’all are free to go home and…”
Nobody finishes the sentence for him and he sighs. “Okay. Well, where can I contact you when everything’s taken care of.”
“It’s all taken care of. It’s filed. It’s real and permanent.” I stand up and hold my hand out to Rebel who stares at it like it’s a viper about to strike. “We’re going to be out at my father’s ranch where I’ve been staying.”
“Is that where you’re planning on living or are you selling?”
“It doesn’t really matter but for your information, I’m staying.” I turn my eyes down to my wife and smile gently. “Let’s go home, love.”
Her shaking fingers settle in mine but just as she’s about to stand and follow me out the door, it slams backwards into the wall and she squeaks and jumps.
My brow lifts. Her father’s a sweaty mess, his clothes rumpled, and a streak of dirt is on his cheek and his sleeve.
“What the hell are you doing here, Jace Henry?”
My lips curve and I swear if the devil had a smile, I think it’s the one plastered on my face right now. “Why, I’m taking my bride home with me, Dad,” I say gently, tugging her limp hand up so that she’s standing by me.
“I’m not your dad, kid. And get your hands off my daughter. I think her fiancé might have something to say about that.” As if on cue, that self-important prick steps out from behind him, his oily dad right on his tail.
“What did he call her?” I have to hand it to him. At least Jefferson’s dad actually caught it. The other two are apparently dumber than a box of rocks.
“I called her my bride. We’re married.” I hold up our joined hands where a ring is clearly visible on her finger. I bought the biggest damn pear-shaped diamond that I could find. I wantedto make sure that they could see that son of a bitch from space if need be.
Jefferson flushes and his thick lips pull tight in an ugly pout. “She’s my fiancé.”
Rebel snaps, “I never said I was going to marry you. That was my father. And if he wants to marry you, that’s his prerogative. But I’m not. I’ve said it over and over again. Now I’m saying it with my husband. On our way to our ranch.” She turns to her father who’s so damn purple I’m actually a little worried. He looks like he’s about to have a heart attack.
But my wife doesn’t even cringe as she walks right up to him. “You thought you could plan my life, father. I’m not that easy to push around.”
And with those words, she turns and lifts a red brow to me. With a grin I follow her out the door leaving utter silence behind us. I pause in the doorway and look back at him.
