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  What would it feel like to know she loved you? What would it feel like to know you were worthy of her?

  He’d never know the answer to that question. With Jake beside him, the wheels of his chair gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the window of the chapel, Clark knew this was as close as he’d ever get to being a family man. He’d never deserve that title.

  A few of Anna’s curls escaped the hair clasp and touched the white lace covering her shoulders. It was the sexiest and the sweetest thing he’d ever seen.

  Why hadn’t he listened to Taylor when she’d tried to set them up? Before the birthday party? Before the accident?

  He couldn’t think about that now. It was too late in the game. He was doing the right thing, and that was always more important than personal satisfaction or fulfillment. Principle over pleasure. Always.

  It’s a simple business deal. Remember that.

  The closer Anna got to the altar, the more stunning she was. She deserved to be walking down the aisle into the arms of a man who really loved her, really knew her. Clark never imagined doing the right thing could make him feel so lousy.

  The music stopped when Anna reached the altar. She placed her tiny hand in his.

  “Ready?” Clark whispered. She nodded and they both turned to face the pastor.

  Getting married didn’t take long at all. Clark was so focused on the feel of her small hand in his. So mesmerized by her smell, the closeness of her.

  The vows, the exchanging of the rings.

  Just as he was settling into the moment, the pastor said, “You may now kiss your bride.”

  Clark’s heart pounded in his chest.

  My bride.

  He hadn’t realized how big the moment was until it had passed. There was no such thing as just a marriage.

  He turned to face Anna, and she looked up at him as if he were the only man in the world. For the moment, it was too hard to convince himself this wasn’t entirely real. She deserved a kiss worthy of a bride.

  He bent and lightly touched his lips to hers. “You look absolutely beautiful, Anna.”

  “Then you should kiss me.”

  Anna tasted sweet, like champagne and strawberries. Even though he’d kissed her before, this felt totally different.

  Her lips were soft and firm, hot and cool, and the taste of her went straight to his head. He didn’t want to scare her. This kiss might be just a formality, but he didn’t want it to end. Anna seemed hesitant at first, but then she relaxed and kissed back. There was hunger just below the surface, and it was something he definitely wanted to explore.

  Anna was a passionate woman.

  And for the first time since he’d proposed this crazy scheme, Clark was a little scared.

  Chapter Nine

  Anna wasn’t sure how Louie was going to take the news.

  She and Clark had agreed that immediately following the ceremony, she’d head home, pick up Louie from next door, and tell him about the move. They’d head over to Clark’s in the morning as soon as they got their personal items packed.

  It might have been the only wedding in history where the bride would be going home alone on her wedding night.

  Even though she understood the marriage was only business, she wasn’t entirely relieved, and mostly because of the kiss.

  It wasn’t what she’d expected. There was plenty of chemistry between her and Clark. If the pastor hadn’t been less than five feet away, they might still be standing there lip-locked.

  The buzz of electricity she’d felt the first time he kissed her in the living room of her house on Florida Street had been a jolt of static compared to the surge of heat that pulsed through her body when he’d kissed her after she’d said I do. He knew how to kiss a woman.

  The thought of her husband kissing another woman made her more than a little jealous. Ridiculous. She had no right to feel anything but gratitude, but as long as she was Mrs. Wainwright, she didn’t want him kissing anyone else.

  He’d tasted like Altoids and man. She licked her lips and shivered just remembering the press of his mouth on hers. The way his palm on her elbow had made goose bumps pop out all over her body. In a good way. The best way.

  That kiss had revealed a lot about their attraction. While their marriage might be one of convenience, the magnetism between them was real. Judging by the bulge she’d felt in his pants, Clark felt the same way.

  The wedding made her bubbly, fizzy. Ready to move on to the next step. The warm May air pouring through the open driver’s side window tickled her face, and for the first time in ages, Anna felt alive.

  As soon as she pulled into her driveway, Louie ran out of Mrs. Rosemiller’s carport and met her in the driveway. Anna waved at her neighbor.

  “Wow, Mama, you look really pretty. Is that a new dress?”

  She stepped out of the car and shut the door. “I got it at the thrift store. Snazzy, huh?” She twirled so the skirt spread out around her.

  His blue eyes were huge. “Very snazzy. Did you clean houses in that today?”

  Anna laughed. “No. I had some business to take care of. Let’s go inside. We need to talk.”

  Louie narrowed his eyes and looked up at her. “Is something wrong, Mama?”

  “Nope. Just an adventure we’re going on.” Anna took his tiny hand in hers and led him toward the front door.

  “I love adventures!” he yelled. He let go of her hand and skipped into the house ahead of her. “Where are we going?”

  “Want a snack before we talk?” She closed the front door and slipped out of her heels.

  Louie climbed onto the sofa and patted the seat beside him. “I can’t wait.”

  Fixing him a snack might have soothed her nerves. She needed to calm down, tamp down the crazy mixture of feelings coursing through her body. Until she’d said I do, she’d been dreading the wedding, but as soon as they exchanged rings, her feelings had shifted. It felt way too much like excitement. Then again, who wouldn’t be a little excited about a short-term marriage to a hot, stand-up guy who was doing his level best to ensure she could keep her son?

  “Mama,” Louie said, tugging on her sleeve. “Tell me about our adventure.”

  “Aunt Taylor has a brother.”

  Louie nodded. “I know. I met him when I spent the night at her house once. He’s super cool. He builds stuff. For his job.”

  Had she been the only person in Franklyn who hadn’t met Clark before the birthday party? Maybe. She’d been busy avoiding him since the first time Taylor had tried to set them up shortly after her divorce was final. Probably a mistake.

  “He lives in a cabin on the outskirts of town, and we’re going to stay with him for a while. The landlord can clean up the house and repaint the walls while we’re gone.” Anna braced herself for some tears and a possible meltdown. Like most kids, he didn’t like change. She was totally unprepared for his reaction.

  “A cabin? Like out in the country?”

  “It’s about six miles out of Franklyn. Near the county line.”

  His eyes widened. “I’ll bet it would be a great place to ride my bike! Can I take my bike?”

  “Sure, you can take whatever you want.”

  “Can we get a dog? Please?” Excitement glimmered in his eyes.

  “I’m not sure a dog is a good idea, especially because we won’t be there forever. Dogs need forever homes.”

  He shrugged. “It was worth a try.”

  “Maybe someday we can get a dog.” She’d been telling him that for at least two years, but the landlord didn’t allow pets, and she couldn’t afford any of the other rentals available in Franklyn.

  “I understand.” The disappointment was familiar to him, and it broke her heart. “This will still be our house?” He pointed an index finger at the floor.

  “Yep, only better.”

  “I’ll still go the same school?” He inched closer to her and she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

  “You only have two more weeks left in t
he school year. I’ll drive you to school and pick you up.”

  “What about your job?”

  “That’s the best part: I’m cutting back at work. You and I will get to spend lots of time together.”

  “Yay! When are we going?”

  “We’ll head out there tomorrow.”

  “Can we go now?”

  Anna didn’t know whether to be scared or relieved by Louie’s enthusiasm for the adventure.

  …

  The next morning, Clark showed up with his truck at half past nine. One look at him, and all she could think about was the way his mouth felt on hers, how she fit perfectly against him. He might be her pretend husband, but she wasn’t imagining the way her body reacted to him.

  After a sweep of the house, Anna handed the last box to Clark. “We’ll see you in a few minutes,” she said.

  “Meet you at the cabin,” he replied with a wink. Anna tried not to stare at the ropy muscles of his forearms. She couldn’t believe she was his wife.

  She watched him walk out the front door and admired the way his worn jeans hugged his ass. No doubt he worked out. She’d seen enough in the Redhawk costume to know seeing Clark naked wouldn’t be a disappointment.

  Technically, the two of them hadn’t made “hands off” part of the deal. Anna wasn’t opposed to a little fun with like Clark.

  What could it hurt? We’ve already agreed it’s no strings attached. Why not test the waters?

  Attraction and fear duked it out in the pit of her stomach like two prize fighters.

  Focus. Focus on the move.

  She wished she’d gone to see the cabin before the wedding, but she’d been afraid if she saw it, she might chicken out.

  What if it’s filled with deer heads and hunting rifles?

  In a town like Franklyn, that was a legitimate concern.

  Clark didn’t strike her as a man who would chose those things for his home, but then again, they hadn’t spent a lot of time getting to know each other.

  What if it’s messy? All sweaty socks and dirty dishes?

  She looked around the living room of the small house she and Louie had lived in for five years. It wasn’t exactly a palace. It didn’t have a decorating theme, unless thrift store chic was the new thing. Nothing about the place would ever be on Pinterest. But it was home. And it was clean. From the Goodwill sofa to the dining room table with mismatched chairs, it was theirs, and she was going to miss it.

  Louie ran past her and did a loop through the kitchen. “Can we go, Mama? Can we go now?”

  Never in a million years would have she predicted Louie would be this jacked up about the move. She’d have bet he’d be sad, insecure. He’d never been a child that did well with change. But he was more excited about the cabin than he’d ever been about anything else. Anna was conflicted. While she was glad Louie was looking forward to the adventure, she didn’t want him to get attached. This was only temporary.

  “Let’s jet,” she said.

  “All right!” Louie shouted. He followed her to the car and hopped into his booster seat while she placed a tote bag filled with everything they might need immediately in the front passenger seat.

  Her son chattered all the way to Clark’s. He asked questions about everything. How many bedrooms? Did Clark have a dog? A cat? Could he play outside? Did the bathroom have a tub and a shower?

  Anna was exhausted by the time she pulled into the driveway.

  The cabin was charming, constructed of logs the color of perfectly steeped Earl Grey tea. The flowers surprised her. They were everywhere. Lush beds of vibrant color. Pansies, snapdragons, fuchsias in hanging baskets. It was cozy and restful, like something off one of the jigsaw puzzles her grandmother used to put together on one corner of the kitchen table.

  Louie climbed from his seat and ran straight for the front door.

  “Wait,” she called, but it was too late. He was already opening the screen door.

  “Hey, Mr. Clark,” Louie said as passed by him on his way into the house.

  Clark came out to help her with the stuff in her car. She caught a whiff of his cologne as he brushed past her.

  “Sorry he didn’t knock. He’s pretty excited.”

  Clark smiled, revealing his dimples. “No need to knock. He lives here now.”

  Anna handed him a tote bag. “I know it’s going to be hard to get used to a little kid being around all the time, especially when you’re used to having the place all to yourself.”

  “This place needs some excitement. Let’s get you two unpacked.” When they got inside, he asked, “Want the nickel tour?”

  “I’m going to explore the yard.” Louie ran down the stairs and back through the screened door.

  “He’ll be fine. There’s nothing out here but us,” Clark said, patting her on the shoulder. “I have four acres and I keep the grass mowed. Fewer snakes that way. There is a small creek, but it’s only a couple of inches deep.”

  “This place is little-boy heaven.”

  She followed Clark into the kitchen. It was galley style with gleaming stainless-steel appliances and granite counters. An island in the middle had an extra sink. “This is beautiful,” she said. “I expected rustic, but this is quaint and charming.” The design told her so much about Clark. It was open, warm, and clutter free.

  Clark laughed. “It’s a small place, but I have a few creature comforts, even internet. Let me show you the rest of it.”

  The pine floors gleamed. Not a speck of dust to be seen anywhere.

  There was a comfortable den with overstuffed plaid sofas and a large flat-screen television. All the pillows were fluffed and placed perfectly.

  Her anxiety about the sweaty socks and dirty dishes were diminishing room by room.

  A screened porch ran the length of the back of the house. The dark rattan furniture was perfect for curling up with a good book, not that she’d had the time to do that lately, but maybe with a lighter schedule, she could catch up on some of her favorite series.

  “The hot tub is nice after a long day.” Clark pointed to the covered tub in the back corner of the porch.

  Hot tub. She’d often wished for one, especially when her arms and legs were sore from spring cleaning someone’s house. “It’s almost big enough to swim in,” she said.

  She imagined how great the water would feel after a day scrubbing floors and wiping down counters.

  “The best part is that way out here, no one cares if you wear a bathing suit.”

  “Oh, yeah? Skinny-dipping in the hot tub?” Her face heated. She’d love to see Redhawk in the buff.

  “If you’re really sweet, I might let you put bubbles in it.” Since the wedding, they’d both relaxed, and it was easy to be with Clark. “To hide the good parts.”

  “I thought that ruined the tub.”

  “Not if you have air jets like this one.”

  “Superheroes sure know how to live.”

  He winked at her. “You’ve got that right. Let’s go back inside. I’ll show you the rest.”

  Up a narrow flight of stairs, there was a small loft furnished with a leather office chair, a computer, and a drawing board. “I like to work up here sometimes. The vibe is more peaceful than my downtown office.”

  Framed baseball memorabilia covered the walls. In the corner, Anna noticed a collection of baseball bats. “You’re a fan?”

  He nodded. “All those bats are signed. I’ve collected them for more than twenty years. I keep meaning to find a way to display them properly.”

  Anna smiled. “Louie loves baseball, too.”

  “Does he play?”

  She shook her head. “Just in the backyard. His dad feels like he should concentrate on football. And I don’t really know enough about sports to teach him very much.”

  “I’d love to show him a few things.”

  “He’d like that. He’s a huge Braves fan.”

  Clark winced. “I can’t get away from them.”

  “Who?”

&n
bsp; “The Braves. Everyone is a damn Braves fan.”

  “You’re not?”

  “I hate the Braves. Abhor them. Detest them.”

  There was a lot of passion in his voice, so much that she wondered if there was more to the story. “Who do you like?”

  He pointed to the red C on his baseball cap. “The Cubs.” He looked off into the distance. “Let me show you the bathroom and the bedrooms.”

  Anna followed Clark down the stairs from the attic and through a short hallway.

  “Here’s the bathroom,” he said, flipping on the light.

  It was tiny. A small pedestal sink, a toilet, and a shower stall. No cabinets, no linen closet. Like an RV bathroom, it was fine for one person, but crowded for two.

  “I cleaned out half the medicine cabinet. Feel free to put your stuff in there.”

  “Thanks.” She’d need to buy some plastic bins. Just her scented lotions would fill that space.

  “And here are the bedrooms.” He stood in the hallway and pointed to the two doors opposite each other. “That one’s mine, and Louie can have the one of the left.”

  Anna stepped into the room. With a twin bed on one wall and a small desk on the other, it was perfect for her son. A large window looked out onto the backyard, and she saw Louie running, a large stick in one hand. “He’ll love it here.”

  “He can change it around if he wants. Put posters on the walls.”

  Louie had been begging to tape his new Redhawk poster on the wall. Putting it up here might make the room feel more like home. “He’ll be thrilled.”

  “And your room,” Clark said, leading her out of the room and to the end of the hall, “is right here.”

  When he opened the door, she gasped. It was the bedroom she’d always dreamed of. Painted a soft yellow and everything in it—from the chaise lounge in the corner to the throw pillows on the window seat—looked soft and comfortable. In the center of the room was a brass bed covered with an intricate patchwork quilt. “The quilt is gorgeous.”

  “My grandmother made it. My mother was going to send it to the Goodwill. I couldn’t bear to see it go, so I grabbed it, along with most of the other stuff in here.”