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Throwing back the last of her drink for fortification, Cassie looked her friend dead in the eye and spoke loud and clear. “I have to be married. Within six months of the will’s reading in order to get the deed. Gran knew taxes could get dicey with probate and didn’t want a long timeline adding more issues to the transfer of assets, I suppose. If I don’t find a husband in the next six months the house goes to my cousin, Mandy.”
“Mandy? But she lives in Nevada.”
Yup. Which was why her cousin had been included in the will reading via video call. Ugh, Cassie could still see the greedy sneer on her cousin’s face when the lawyer read the marriage stipulation.
“Yes, but she has a husband and therefore a chance at the pitter-patter of little feet ‘in need of a nice family home.’ I’m quoting directly from the will on that one.”
“Oh God, I hope she and Trent never reproduce.” Charlie winced. “Can you imagine?”
Cruel, but she had to agree. Mandy and Trent were in their late thirties and still living in his parents’ basement. They were both low-functioning alcoholics with minimum wage jobs they could barely hold onto. She had no idea why Gran would even think they could love and take care of the house the way she would.
Charlie’s full lips, painted a deep wine-red, frowned. “Your grandmother left it to you, but only if you get married and pop out a few kids?”
Cassie swirled her toothpick in her drink. Staring into the liquid, she wished it could give her a solution to her problem. “I don’t have to pop any kids out. I just need a husband. Like I mentioned when I came in.”
“Hmmm, that’s a tall order. I could get you a guy for the night. This is an establishment with copious amounts of alcohol after all.” Charlie motioned to the wall of Jack’s liquor behind the bar.
“Wow, thanks.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Charlie placed a hand over hers and squeezed. “I just meant that people tend to hook up in bars a lot. It’s kind of a thing according to…everyone. But a husband?”
True. A hookup she could find, no problem. Kismet was small, but it was also a tourist town, right on the I-70 corridor between Denver and the popular ski areas. If she wanted a quick lay she’d have no problem finding a willing guy passing through. Unfortunately, she needed something with more substance, something lasting.A stupid fricking husband that you knew I didn’t want, Gran!
Cassie never wanted to get married. Not after seeing how devastated her father had been after her mother’s death. In truth, her parents had always been so absorbed in their work and each other, she’d always felt a bit left out, like an afterthought they’d only had because society deemed it necessary.
She knew her parents had loved her, but she’d never felt wanted, appreciated. Not until Gran and Kismet. This was the first place she’d ever truly felt at home. A place to come to every night and know it would still be there the next day. That kind of stability meant something to her given her nomadic upbringing.
“So what’s Mandy think of all this?” Charlie asked, swiveling back and forth on the barstool.
“Ha,” Cassie snorted into her drink. “Mandy had dollar signs in her eyes the moment the will was read.” Her cousin knew she didn’t date much, so why wouldn’t the nasty woman think she’d just won the housing lottery? “But, um, I might have panicked and mentioned I’ve been seeing someone for a while and that it’s looking serious…”
Oh, the look of anger and suspicion on her cousin’s face when Cassie blurted that out. Priceless.
Charlie stopped her lackadaisical swiveling. “What? But you’re not seeing anyone.”
Avoiding her best friend’s gaze, Cassie shrugged. “How do you know? I could have a secret boyfriend.”
Now it was Charlie’s turn to snort. “Oh please, like you could keep a boyfriend a secret from me. Why would you?”
“I could have my reasons. Maybe I do have a secret boyfriend.”
Charlie narrowed her eyes, dark brows furrowing as her best friend searched her face for the truth. “The only reason you’d keep a secret like that from me is if I didn’t approve of the guy, and since I know you to have fairly good taste in men, though none are worthy of my awesome bestie, I’m gonna go with a no on the secret boyfriend.”
Yeah, her cousin hadn’t fully bought that story either. Ugh, this was a nightmare.
“I can’t lose the house, Charlie.” Tears welled in Cassie’s eyes, emotions clogging her throat. The past few months had taken their toll, and though she’d cried for Gran, she was happy her grandmother was no longer in any pain. She was at peace. Cassie, however, had just been tossed into a tornado of suckage.
“You won’t lose it.” Charlie grabbed her hands, squeezing them, a reassuring smile on her face. “We just need to—”
“Find me a husband. Yeah, no problem. Men just love commitment in a hurry. It’s their favorite thing.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t helping.”
“It’s either sarcasm or break down and cry. And since I didn’t wear my waterproof mascara today, my choice is clear.” Pulling her hands back into her lap, Cassie glanced into her empty glass and let out a soft groan. “My drink is empty. That’s not helping either.”
Charlie grabbed their empty glasses and pushed them forward on the bar. “Normally I’d cut you off when you’re in full-on mopey mode, but in this case, I’d say more alcohol is called for.”
“I am not moping.”
