Page 30 of One More Chance

“What can I say? Simone and I talked on the balcony and came to a mutual decision that would benefit both of us. Our marriage will help her with her subscription box business as much as it will help us secure the property.”

“Christ, with romantic sentiments like that, it’s a wonder you were still single until last night.”

“Hey, at least one of us is romantic,” I say, knowing damn well what he’s implying. “Otherwise, we’d have no chance in hell to buy that land.”

He turns his head a fraction to flash me a raised eyebrow. “That’s your idea of romantic?” He grunts a laugh and returns his attention to the highway. “You think it’ll make a difference? With the Wakefields?”

“I have no idea, but I don’t have a choice. Someone wanted to take me down for whatever reason, so it makes sense I’m the one who gets married and tries to fix the damage.”

“We’re not talking about fixing a stalled engine. We’re talking about marrying Simone.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Simone.”

“Never said there was. But you’ve never been interested in marrying, so are you sure this is the right thing to do? Doesn’t Simone deserve better than that?”

“Of course she does. But you’re forgetting, she gets something out of this, too.”

“Right, a husband for hire.” His tone is sharp enough to slice and dice. “Do you think this is what Aiden would’ve wanted?”

Guilt surges through me like a tidal wave, threatening to drown all in its path. Shit. Shit. Shitcrap. Shit. Why did he have to mention her brother? My best friend?

It was a low blow. And Troy knows it.

“No, but Aiden is dead.” My tone is harsh, wintery. “This is what Simone wants. For her business.”

The inside of the truck falls silent, with the exception of country music playing at a low volume. Crap. I’m not doing this. Not with Troy. He’s the one who always has my back. He’s not being the asshole.

That honor goes to me.

Dammit.

“Do you love her?” His question comes out of nowhere, his tone once again calm and even.

At the turnoff ahead of us, a car waits for the chance to steer onto the highway. Turn right and it heads toward Eugene. Left, the Three Sisters mountain range and Maple Ridge. Cross the highway and it heads south.

Or the car can turn around and head back to where it started.

The driver’s choices are simple.

“Does it matter if I love her?” I ask. “We’ve already agreed to get married. There’s no turning back now.”

“You can always turn back. If this is really what you and Simone want, then fine. I’ll support your decision. But Simone is like a sister to me. I don’t want to see her get hurt. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”

“I know. She’s like a…well, she’s not like a sister to me. But you’re overthinking this. You know how much she loved her brother. She’s doing this for him as much as she’s doing it for herself and for us.”

“What happens if the prosecutor proves without a doubt you’re guilty? You could be facing a lifetime in jail. Then what happens with you and Simone?”

“Simone and I have a plan in place in case that happens. She still wants to marry me, despite the risks,” I tell Troy, my own doubts lingering at the edge. What if this blows up in our faces? Simone will be the one hurting the most.

And what if it doesn’t?

A half smile jerks onto Troy’s face. “Then I guess she deserves the best engagement ring you can find for putting up with your dumb ass.”

“Do you have any idea what style you’re interested in?” A long glass counter filled with several rows of diamond rings stretches between the saleswoman and me.

At my clueless expression, she lists words like “princess” and “straight trillion” and “radiant.” They make as much sense to me as “balls to the wall” and “lifer” and “ditty bag” probably do to her.

“Something that looks good.” I scan the rings in the display case. The woman hovers like a magpie searching for something big and sparkly. And she’s homing in on my wallet.

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