Page 3 of Trussed In Hope
“Same thing, isn’t it?” His grin spread wide. “You can’t just sit in that brace and rot. This’ll keep you moving. Keep your head straight. I’ve got a few men ready to get to work with you. They know a little bit, but they’re not you.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Were you always this good at conning your men, or am I just special?”
“Both,” he said without missing a beat.
“Gimme a few days to get settled?”
“The guys are handling the everyday maintenance stuff, so after you're settled, go on over and make yourself known.”
“Will do.” I nodded.
And damn it, I couldn’t help but laugh again—even as the weight of the responsibility settled in. Animals. Land. A ranch that wasn’t mine. Maybe this was what I needed. Or maybe it was the dumbest thing I’d ever agreed to.
Elijah leaned back, studying me with that squint he always got when he was digging for something. “So, what’s this I hear about a blind date?”
I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. “Raya’s got a big mouth.”
“Hell yeah, she does.” His grin was unrepentant. “But don’t dodge it. A guy doesn’t limp onto my ranch after getting half blown up and then tell me he’s hosting some mystery woman without giving me details. Spill it.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “It’s not just a date. It’s…a two-week thing.”
Elijah’s brows shot up. “Two weeks? That’s not a date, Hardison, that’s practically an arranged marriage.”
“Exactly,” I muttered. “That’s the point.”
He blinked, surprised by my honesty.
I set my beer down and leaned back. “The agency—Love Catered—matches people based on what they call ‘marriage potential.’ Not hookups. Not weekend flings. The whole deal is about finding someone to build a life with.”
“Marriage potential.” Elijah’s voice dripped with skepticism. “And you’re telling me they found yours?”
“That’s what they say.” I forced a laugh. “Her name’s Emberlynn. She’s supposed to be my perfect match. Two weeks gives us time to actually test that—get past the surface crap. We’ll spend Christmas together, see if she fits here, maybe even with you and Raya.”
Something softened in Elijah’s expression, though he tried to cover it by finishing his beer. “You’re really serious about this.”
I met his gaze. “I’m done wasting time. I want the real thing, Eli. A woman who sees past the scars and the brace. A partner. A future.”
The words hung heavy between us, more honest than I’d meant them to be.
Elijah nodded once, slowly and steadily. “Then here’s hoping they got it right, brother.”
“Yeah,” I said, letting myself breathe out. “Here’s hoping.”
EMBERLYNN
Sitting in the parking lot of my apartment complex, the severity of the day weighs heavily on my chest. As a psychologist, I had to keep certain paperwork on my clients. I’d forgotten to insert notes for two sessions on one of my favorites, and my supervisor wasn’t happy. Has it happened before? Yes. Did I know better? Also, yes. But taking notes killed the energy we had during our sessions. I remembered each of them and the important details. After they let me go, I made the notes they needed for his treatment plan with the new psychologist. I didn’t hold a grudge against them. It just sucked ass since I loved my job!
Sigh.
My phone pinged, alerting me to an email landing in my inbox.
Love Catered.Great timing.
Wrong. It reminded me I was supposed to be on a flight in two days to meet the man who could be my Mr. Forever. At least, that was what they promised on this matchmaking site.
When they matched us, he’d surprised me by asking if we could get to know each other for two weeks in a place called Cadell’s Fields in Yettsworth, Florida. He was going to be the new cattleman on the ranch and needed to be there soon. He’d just been honorably discharged from the military, and the job came at a fantastic time for him. Apparently, his friend owned the ranch. After a long conversation with Dr. Cushions–owner of Love Catered–and my account manager, they assured me that the stay was safe. It was a three-bedroom place, and there was plenty of space. They’d also arranged for someone to come and check on me to ensure everything was okay. He’d even paid for everything, including my flight, and he was sending a car to meet me. I insisted on paying for something, and he’d told me to use my money on preparing for the trip.
The crazy part was that we’d never spoken on the phone before. I’d seen his picture online when they’d sent over his profile, and we’d exchanged some messages, but that was the extent of our interactions. Mostly because he was on active duty, and he’d explained to me he was working on something important and wouldn’t have access to a phone. Because I knew he was truly in the military, thanks to Love Catered, I wasn’t upset. He emailed or sent messages when he could, and I appreciated the consistency.
