Page 26 of Sterling Fight

“Which brother?” I ask, trying to keep track of who is who.

“My eldest one, Stone. He’s the town sheriff. But the call was from Clay. Next in line. He runs the Sylver Seed & Soil.”

Sylver Seed & Soil had been a major sponsor of the Buttercup Society Garden Party.

“Is that why you were at the garden party?”

Judd shakes his head. “I do work for the Seed & Soil. They call me the chief financial officer, but I’m really just the accountant. But that’s not why I was at the party.”

“Then why were you there?”

Judd continues to stare at me and the answer feels like a slow breeze. A tickle against my skin. A sudden chill that’s equal parts refreshing and a bit frightening.

Judd was there for me.

I clear my throat. “So, you need to go to your brother’s house for lunch.”

“We need to go to my brother’s.”

“We?” I choke.

He licks his lips and slides his hands closer together on the surface of the island while continuing to watch me.

“They want to meet my fiancée.”

10

[Judd]

After apologizing profusely to Genie for the demand—er, request—to attend the weekly family meal, we eat the French toast and fresh fruit I’ve prepared for her.

I’ve rarely made an appearance at the meal every Sunday that my eldest brother established as a weekly check-in on the siblings he was raising. By the time Stone took over the family, I was in college and not involved in this system of checks and balances. Balancing schedules and finances. Checking homework and work calendars. My oldest brother gave up a lot and I hate to disappoint him, especially when Clay tossed in that Stone would really like to see me.

My family. I swear they are worse than a bunch of old ladies sometimes. And the rumor mill is circulating fast with this new news.

I can picture the headline. Judd Sylver is engaged, but who’s the girl?

She’s still a mystery to me, as well, but I want to learn all I can, and I’m a little disgruntled I’m giving up precious time with Genie to be with my family. Then again, Genie is going with me, and I’ve never taken anyone else home. Ever.

“To be fair, my family might have already heard our news.” I have a fiancée. “Because rumors and small towns.”

“Such a nasty combination,” Genie chides, tucking her chin onto her fist as she sits along the side of the island while I sit at the end, so we are perpendicular to one another. I like this position because I can see her when she talks and hear the little hums she makes with every bite she takes of what I made for her.

“So, we can just set them straight,” she adds.

“Or . . .” I clear my throat. “We could continue the ruse. Ten days, remember?”

“Yes but dating and being engaged are not the same thing,” Genie counters.

“No,” I draw out, then think quick on my feet. “And you’re against marriage, but what if you give me these ten days to prove it might not be so bad? Engagement is the middle ground between dating and marriage anyway.”

“Like purgatory is between heaven and hell?” she quips.

“Assuming marriage is heaven.” Dating can be hell. “Ten days of engagement to prove you are worth more.” And ten days to show her who I am now.

Genie blinks, staring at me like I’ve said something that isn’t possibly true. And that look is exactly what I want to wipe from her face.

“How would we play this with your family, then?”