AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
I’m getting married in three weeks.
To a man I’ve never met.
In a state I’ve never been to.
Yeah, my life is absolutely crazy.
It’s not that I’ve never wanted to get married. I’ve been dreaming about my wedding and honeymoon since I was thirteen—though in my dreams, my wedding was always set in Hawaii, not Montana. But that’s where I’m headed. I’m flying into Billings, and then I’m renting a car and driving west to a place called Horseshoe Ranch, which is where I’m going to meet my new husband. I’m hoping he’s hot, hunky, and hung. And that he thinks I’m hot and funny as well.
Hopefully, he’ll ignore the fact that I wear heels and not boots, Gucci and not Wranglers, and love to put on a full face of makeup every single morning.
So maybe I’m not the best bride for a cowboy, but I’m going to have to do. I hope. This isn’t my best idea ever, but it’s the only solution I have to my problems right now. Going from heels, short dresses, and designer handbags to overalls and cowboy hats is a big step, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Where did my life go so wrong, you ask? How about a year ago? I met an Italian guy called Mikey in Queens. And let me tell you, if you meet an Italian guy named Mikey in Queens with sparkling blue eyes, run as fast as you can. Not only is he bad news, but he’s related to the mafia, so once he’s got his hooks into you, he’s never letting go.
“Olivia, I just got to Billings, Montana, and you are not going to believe what happened.” I was already wondering if I should stay on the plane and fly right back to New York City.
“Actually, I don’t believe anything that I’m hearing right now.” Even over the phone, I could practically see my best friend rolling her eyes. “When you told me that you were going to move to Montana, I thought you were joking.”
“Olivia, you know I had to get out of New York City. Mikey and his goons were after me, and I’ve got no money and—”
“I could have taken care of Mikey for you.”
“No, you couldn’t,” I snorted. “You don’t want to get involved with Mikey and his family.”
“Lucy, what’s he going to do?”
“Olivia, I told you they’re in the Mafia, right?”
“Does the Mafia even really exist?”
“Yes, they do. But enough about them. What am I going to do? This is not what I was expecting. I feel like I’m on another planet.”
“So, what’s the problem, exactly?”
“Girl, I’m looking out the window, and I’m in the middle of nowhere. I’m not seeing any buildings. I’m not seeing anything.” I lowered my voice as I stared at the two men walking next to me. “I feel like these people are all country bumpkins.”
Olivia burst out laughing. “You do know you just flew to Montana, right, and not Tokyo? Of course they’re all country bumpkins—but word to the wise, don’t actually say that to any of them.”
“Of course, I’m not going to say that,” I whispered. “I’m dumb, but I’m not that dumb. I just didn’t expect it to be this country. I feel so out of place.” I looked down at my heels and short skirt. I was dressed completely wrong for my surroundings and I always prided myself on my fashion sense. “I don’t even think anyone here would recognize my Hermes scarf and how much it cost even if they saw it up close.”
“Which is good because you didn’t even have the money to buy it.”
“Don’t remind me of my poor life choices, Oliva.”
“I kinda don’t have to … The fact that you’re there says it all.” She giggled. “But I bet it’s going to be a lot better than you thought. I thought you told me you loved nature.”
“Yeah, that one time I went to the Hamptons and was hanging out on the beach and saw a dolphin.”
“You saw a dolphin when you were in the Hamptons?”
“Well, maybe it was inflatable … but it looked real.”
“Girl, you’re a hot mess.” Olivia sighed. “And I say that with a lot of love and respect.”
“Ugh, I am a hot mess. Guess what?”
