Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Closing my eyes briefly, I decide to take the leap. “Well,” I say quietly, lowering my voice, “between you and me, marrying me gets his family off his back about finding someone. Apparently, they’ve been hounding him about settling down, and this way, it looks like he’s done just that. For now, at least.”
Millie is silent for a beat before she gasps. “So it’s a marriage of convenience for both of you,” she muses, and I can almost hear her gears turning. “You get to save your ranch, and he gets his family off his case. Smart.”
“Exactly,” I reply, exhaling the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “It’s nothing more than that. We’re both using each other, in a way. It’s purely business.”
Millie hums, but I can tell she’s not entirely convinced. “You say that now, but I don’t know… Two years is a long time to pretend. Feelings have a funny way of sneaking up on people.”
I smile, though I know she can’t see it. “This isn’t a romance novel, Millie. It’s real life. And in real life, people make practical choices. That’s all this is—a practical choice.”
“I know you don’t have any other options, and I know how stressed you’ve been,” Millie says, her voice softening with concern. She pauses for a moment, either carefully choosing her next words or just to drive me a little crazy with anticipation. “So... what time should I meet you and Callum at the courthouse?”
Relief floods through me, and a small smile tugs at my lips. Millie’s agreement feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. “We’re set to be there at three,” I tell her, glancing at the time and mentally ticking off everything that still needs to be done before then.
“Do I need to wear a dress or something?” she asks, half-joking, but I can hear the underlying humor in her voice.
I laugh, shaking my head as I step out of the barn. “Hell no. I’m probably going to rush to the courthouse covered in dirt and horse manure.”
Millie chuckles. “Oh, Violet, you’re too much.”
“Sometimes I am,” I admit with a grin. “But seriously, Millie, thank you. This means the world to me.”
“I know,” she replies softly. “I’ll see you at three.”
We hang up, and as I slip my phone into my back pocket, the sky suddenly darkens. Before I can even process it, a loud crack of thunder echoes through the fields, and the heavens open up, drenching me in sheets of cold rain. It comes down in torrents, soaking me within seconds, my clothes plastering to my skin as I stand there in disbelief.
I throw my head back and shout to the sky, half-laughing, half-frustrated. “Is this your way of telling me I should shower before I go to the courthouse, Dad?” I shout, shaking my head as rain pours down my face, dripping from my hair. I can’t help but feel like this is some cosmic joke from above. It’s my dad’s way of reminding me not to lose my sense of humor, even in the middle of this madness.
I take a deep breath, letting the rain cool me off and wash away some of the tension that’s been building for weeks. As much as I want to resist, I feel a strange sense of peace. Maybe this is a sign that things will work out after all. I wipe the water from my eyes and start toward the house, knowing that no matter what happens at the courthouse, I’m going to face it head-on. Clean and ready… or soaked and muddy.
My stomach is in knots. My hands are clammy, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. I try to steady my breathing, but nothing’s working. It’s surreal to be standing here in front of the judge, with Millie at my side, and Callum. I can’t believe this. Callum’s about to become my husband, even if it’s just on paper.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the judge’s voice cuts through the whirlwind of emotions in my head.
I glance up at Callum, my pulse quickening even more as he smiles down at me. I search his face, my eyes scanning for any hint of second thoughts or regret, wondering if he’s already rethinking this insane decision after being married for all of ten seconds. But all I see is a calm, steady gaze. The kind that could make anyone feel reassured.
“I think you’re supposed to kiss the bride,” Millie hisses from behind me, her voice loud enough for all of us to hear.
Callum’s eyes widen slightly in surprise, darting between me, the judge, and Millie. There’s a moment of hesitation, like we’re all caught in the awkwardness of what’s supposed to happen next.
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, not wanting to make this any more uncomfortable than it already is. My fingers toy nervously with the delicate gold band now sitting on my ring finger.