Page 47 of Tessa and Nash

“Yes.”

“And my uncle is already convinced you’re up to something,” I continue. “Which means he’s going to dig.”

Nash’s mouth tightens. “I figured.”

“If he finds nothing,” I say calmly, “then fine. You’re just reckless. If he finds something…” I pause. “Then we have a problem.”

Jet reappears. She knows better than to walk away. “Y’all want pie?”

“Not now,” Nash says automatically.

“I’ll take some,” I say immediately.

Jet grins. “Of course you will.”

She sets it down and walks away, still glancing over her shoulder. She expects us to start throwing punches or rings.

When she’s gone, Nash leans forward. “You don’t actually think there’s something shady going on with the ranch.”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “But my uncle does. And that means I need to know exactly what you’re building, where, and why.”

His brows knit. “So this breakfast is an interrogation.”

“It’s a conversation,” I correct. “One where you don’t get to charm your way out of answers.”

He snorts quietly. “You always hated that.”

“I hate incompetence,” I reply. “Charm just makes it suspicious.”

He hesitates. “You don’t actually think the guest ranch idea is bad.”

I pause.

“I don’t,” I say carefully. “It’s smart. Sustainable. Annoyingly thoughtful.” I meet his gaze. “Which makes the lie worse.”

His shoulders sag. “I didn’t want them to dismiss it because of me.”

“And so you made yourself look worse,” I whisper.

He lets out a humorless breath. “When you put it like that…”

“I always do.”

I take a bite of pie, then set my fork down.

“There’s a solution,” I say.

Nash stiffens. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“You already lied about being engaged,” I continue. “The town believes it. The council hesitated because of it. If that illusion collapses now, you’re done.”

“I know,” he mutters.

“So don’t let it collapse.”

He looks up sharply. “What?”

I meet his gaze. “You need a fiancée.”