*
Hayden’s going to marry me!
Eve’s day was taking a turn for the better.
She flew out of Oak Hill’s front doors into the sunshine one minute into her lunch hour. She ran two blocks to the location where she was to discuss marriage with Hayden, fueled by adrenaline, not even winded.
Hayden’s going to marry me!
But Eve couldn’t delay. She had to get to Central Park where the taco truck set up shop before Hayden changed his mind.
The park came into view. It was a pretty park, home to the Spring Festival. In winter, it was blanketed in snow. Now, green grass and large trees with shiny green leaves provided places to play and shade for relaxing. And in one of the parking slots was the fiery red taco truck—Saucy Tacos, a favorite of Oak Hill workers.
Irene sat on a nearby park bench, eating what looked like a quesadilla.
Hayden sat next to her, elbows on his knees, holding a bottle of water. He didn’t look like a happy groom. He looked…trapped. In need of an escape route.
She knew that look all too well. Knew he was going to retract his proposal. A stitch materialized in her side. Eve slowed her steps.
Gilbert of Saucy Tacos had set up a folding table and chairs near his food truck. Eve chose that spot for this talk.
Hayden ambled over to join her, leaving the water bottle next to Irene. His cowboy hat brim was pulled low. When he sat, he clasped his hands in front of him on the table. He wore a simple, gray-checkered button-down and a deep frown. “I don’t like this.”
Eve was tempted to call the whole thing off. She’d worshipped Hayden from afar for so long that she didn’t want to see him unhappy. But she needed a husband. So, she nodded slowly, turning his objections over in her mind and trying to form logical arguments to stay the course.
“Gran drove into the back pasture this morning before daybreak,” Hayden admitted unprompted before Eve uttered a single word. “Took me over an hour to find her. I worried the whole time.” His mouth worked. It was obvious the admission wasn’t easy for him. Or that marriage was his preferred solution to his grandmother’s situation. “Gran was safe. This time. Spent most of the morning getting her and the truck back to the ranch, grateful that she could return to Oak Hill where she’d be safe. Only to have that option be pulled out from under me.”
“It’ll all work out,” Eve said in a soothing voice.
Hayden rubbed his strong jaw. “I’ve been telling myself that since my grandfather passed.”
Eve gave him a soft smile. “But now we’re going to band together.”
He nodded slowly.
“Is this my water?” Irene called from her bench.
Hayden glanced at her over his shoulder. “Yes, Gran.” He waited for her to take a sip before facing Eve once more. “We need ground rules.”
Boundaries, she thought he meant. “Okay.”
“You’ll move to the ranch.”
Eve’s jaw dropped.
Hayden rolled his eyes. “Did you think you’d pull off a sham marriage by packing a bag and coming to stay only when Steven comes to town?”
“Well, I—”
“Folks in town will know. They’ll talk. Katie will talk. And Steven will listen.” Those dark eyes found hers, held hers. “This will only work if we buy in completely to the idea of marriage.”
Eve’s mouth went dry.
“Separate bedrooms,” Hayden continued, steamrolling ahead as if he’d already made up his mind. “No PDA without an audience.”
“PDA?” Eve asked in a hoarse voice.
“Public displays of affection.” Hayden bumped his black hat brim upward. “And we need a prenup.”