Page 57 of Faking I Do
LACEY
I gulped for air.My lungs seemed to be collapsing in on themselves, making it impossible to catch a breath. I’d called Bodie only to confirm our dinner plans. If he’d been telling the truth when he dropped me off yesterday, then I was ready to take the next step. I’d even made his favorite—brisket—that had been simmering all day along with cowboy baked beans and apple crumble for dessert.
But now… I rubbed my ears, trying to erase what I’d just overheard. Had Bodie been plotting against me all along? Had he been in cahoots with his dad, his pops, and even Mayor Little to try to run me out of office?
No, I didn’t want to believe it. But all signs pointed otherwise.
I stomped through the kitchen. He must have known I was on the phone. I had to get out of there before he showed up on my doorstep making flimsy excuses.
“Dad, I’m heading out for a bit. Dinner’s in the oven.” Let Dad enjoy Bodie’s home-cooked meal. Zina would help me figure out what to do.
“Smells delicious, sweetheart.” My dad caught up to me in the foyer as I shoved my feet into my boots. “What’s the occasion?”
“Just wanted to make something special tonight.” I wouldn’t tell him I’d opened myself up to Bodie, heart and soul, like a damn fool. “I’ll be back later, okay? Everything will be ready in a couple of hours—just keep it on warm in the oven.”
Dad kissed me on the temple. “You take such good care of me.”
He wouldn’t think so if he knew I’d fallen prey to Bodie’s plans. Or that I’d spent Friday night in a jail cell in Dallas or Saturday night in Bodie’s bed. I swallowed back the emotion clogging my throat.
“I’ll be back.” Then I grabbed my jacket and my keys and made my way to my truck as fast as I could.
Ten minutes later I’d pulled into Zina’s empty drive. I should have called first. Clearly, Zina wasn’t home. Probably putting in extra time at the shelter this afternoon. I didn’t want to go there. The last time I’d been at the shelter it had been with Bodie while we were dropping off Shotgun. I thought of the darling dog he’d taken into his home. Was that part of his ploy, too? While I sat in Zina’s drive, the truck running, I ran through Bodie’s actions of the last month. Was everything a lie?
I needed some time for myself. Time to clear my head. Turning my truck toward the one place I knew I’d be able to breathe, I let out a sigh. Spending a couple of hours on the back of a horse would make me feel better.
My phone rang just as I pulled into the stable where I boarded my palomino. A number I didn’t recognize flashed across my phone. Grateful it wasn’t Bodie, I answered.
“Mayor Lacey Cherish?” a woman asked.
“Yes, this is she.”
“Hi, it’s Samantha Cross. We spoke about the story inTexas Timesmagazine?”
“Right.” The story that wouldn’t be happening now. My stomach whipped into a knotted frenzy. “What can I help you with?”
“I had a phone call from Ms. Monroe. She said she’s no longer having her ceremony and reception at your new event venue and invited us to cover her wedding over at a venue in Swynton instead. I really enjoyed learning the history of the building last time I was there. But without a bride, I just don’t see how we can put a story together.”
“I understand.” I rested my forehead on the steering wheel. It physically pained me to let an opportunity like this slip through my fingers. There had to be some way to salvage the story. Think, think, think.
“Unless you fill that date with another wedding, I’m sorry, but we’ll have to move our coverage to Ms. Monroe’s wedding in Swynton.”
Another bride. Who could I throw into the frying pan? Someone who would be easy to manipulate, someone who would go with the flow just until the story came out in the magazine. That ruled out Zina—she’d never go along with this kind of plan. Jojo came to mind. But she was overwhelmed at the diner. And she wasn’t even seeing anyone. Where would I come up with a groom?
“Mayor Cherish?” Samantha asked. “Are you still there?”
A vision of Bodie sealing the deal with Buck Little played through my head. I ought to out him to the town, lump him together with the rest of his no-good family members. Could Jojo pretend to be engaged to Bodie?
“Mayor Cherish?”
“Yes, I’m here.” A plan began to take shape. I shook off the alarms ringing in my head. I didn’t have a choice. Something hadto work out. “I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to steal the limelight from Adeline…”
“Do you have another couple willing to be featured?”
“I do.”
“Fantastic. Can you give me their names so I can follow up? We’ll need to make contact right away to make sure we don’t miss out on any of the planning. We’ve got the story scheduled for the June issue, which means the wedding needs to happen by the middle of May in order to make our deadline.”
Crap. I couldn’t expect Jojo to cram a few months’ worth of wedding planning into her already busy schedule. That left me with no choice. As much as it chafed me to tie myself to Bodie in any capacity, he was my last hope. “The groom is actually Deputy Phillips. I believe you met him the day you visited the house?”
