Page 28 of Blue Jean Summer

Oh. My heart sank just a little. For a second, it felt like he and I were having a moment, but I needed the stark reminder of exactly what this was.

It was time to play the game.

Since all the doors were open and anyone could see us, I wrapped my arms around Hayes’s neck, arching into him. “How’s this?”

There was a hitch in his breathing as I gently combed my fingers through the short hairs at the nape of his neck. “Diabolical,” he whispered as he fought to keep his eyes from closing.

“Are you sure you know who you’re marrying, Wilder? Do you know what you’re getting into?”

His fingers tightened on my hips. “I thought I did.”

“What the hell is this?” Lewis snapped with a huff as he stomped into the bedroom.

Hayes and I broke apart. “What do you mean?” he asked innocently.

“This”—Lewis swept his hand to the stack of suitcases and bags Hayes had brought up—“mess. Whose are these?”

Hayes slid his fingers between mine and held my hand. “They belong to Catherine. She moved in today.”

“Who is—”

I laid my left hand on Hayes’s chest, letting the ring do the talking. “Hello, Lewis,” I said with a smile that hid the disdain I felt for the man. “I’ve seen you in passing, but I’m not sure if we’ve officially met. I’m Catherine Foster.”

Lewis blinked, then stammered, “You—you’re—”

“My fiancée,” Hayes said coolly. He never flinched. Never looked angry or inconvenienced.

I had a hunch that his passive attitude bothered Lewis most of all.

Little did he know that Hayes was anything but passive. He was just better at playing chess than Lewis was. And now he had someone on his side to strategize with.

“I’m going to unpack,” I said as I lifted onto my toes and kissed Hayes’s cheek, startling him.

“Ri-right…” Hayes stammered, stunned. “I’ll bring the rest of your bags up. I’m sure Lewis wouldn’t mind giving me a hand. We’re all going to be family, after all.”

“I mind,” Lewis snapped. “I’m not a fucking bellhop.”

Hayes bit back a laugh as Lewis marched out, then gave me a wink as he slipped out behind him.

I slumped against the balcony railing and lifted my hand, taking another look at the ring.

Hayes Wilder was so many things. He was intelligent, well-spoken, and well-mannered. He was the most attractive man I had ever laid eyes on. He was funny and easygoing when he let his guard down. When he had his guard up, all I wanted to do was tear it down, piece by piece. He had a gentle presence that soothed the storms still churning inside me. I wanted to believe it was because he and I had just gone through the same kind of loss, but something deep inside me knew that wasn’t the case.

Maybe I should have had cold feet over the idea of marrying someone in a quid pro quo deal, but I didn’t. The wedding didn’t scare me at all. I was prepared to get married.

I was not prepared to fall for my husband.

Chapter 9

Hayes

“How’s she settling in?”

I jumped at the sound of Mason’s rough timbre. He chuckled and slapped me on the back.

“Didn’t even hear you sneak up,” I said as I leaned against the outside wall of the stables. I wasn’t hiding in the shadows, per se. I had simply found a nice spot to enjoy the breeze. The fact that it allowed me to see Catherine standing on her balcony…Well, that was convenient.

I had brought the rest of her things up to her room, then left her to settle in. What I hadn’t expected was for Catherine’s presence to distract me from everything I needed to be doing.