Hitched(36)

The words just slip out—warm and easy.

“Congrats on your marriage, by the way,” the officer says. “The O’Dell brothers always make the water cooler gossip. Heard the wedding was memorable. Glad to see Blake so happy. He’s a solid guy. Good friends with my oldest brother when they were in school. One of the only guys who didn’t want to kick the little brother out of the pool when he came over to swim.”

“He is a solid guy,” I agree, cheeks flushing. “And thank you. I’m Hope, by the way.”

He extends his hand. “Wesley Vance.”

I wiggle my fingers and apologize. “I’m sorry. I would shake, but my hands are filthy.” I’m feeling calmer, but Wesley has a lot of electronic stuff hooked onto his belt and there’s no point risking further destruction.

“No worries.” He smiles as he nods toward where Blake and Chewy have collected another wayward baby, proving my sweet alpaca truly is the Pied Piper of little goats, and my husband—husband!—is brilliant. “Are you sure you don’t need help? It’s slow at the station. I could call a few guys in for goat wrangling.”

I blink. “You’re not here to give me a ticket?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. We know it wasn’t your fault. Ruthie May filled us in on the details when she called to report the goat in the bakery.”

My eyes go wide. “There’s a goat in the bakery?”

“Yep. Hiding under a booth apparently. Not in any rush to come out.”

I sigh. “Okay, I’ll go get that one personally. Thank you, Deputy. I really appreciate it.”

“Thank your brother-in-law,” he says with a wink. “Ryan’s promised to buy the entire department drinks after work if we hold off on citing his raccoon. Again. He really should keep that rascal on a leash.”

I nod as I back away. “George is so good with his hands, he’d probably slip right out of it. Thank you again.”

He points to the shattered streetlight. “And I’ll report this. Let me know if you need the paperwork for your insurance. I hope you aren’t hurt too badly.”

“I’ll be fine,” I promise, waving as I turn and trot toward the bakery. When I pass close enough to Blake and Chewy to be in hearing range, I shout, “Going to fetch a baby from the bakery. Get everyone else loaded into the trailer?”

“Will do.” Blake flashes a thumbs-up.

“Thank you so much. You’re my knight in shining armor.”

My heart swells as he smiles.

“Me or Chewy?” he asks.

“Both, but mostly you.” I blow an impulsive kiss, tummy flipping as he smiles even wider.

God, it would be so easy to get addicted to that smile.

To come to crave that combo of tummy flip and warmth spreading through my chest that only Blake has ever made me feel.

It would be so easy to fall madly in love with him and forget who I really am. Forget where I came from and all the lessons I learned growing up one of the casualties of a toxic marriage.

I could do it.

I could forget, but the amnesia would only be temporary.

Sooner or later, I would remember why marriage isn’t for me. Maybe not in a year or two years, but eventually I’d start to feel trapped and it would make me crazy. I’d make Blake miserable, break his heart, and we’d end up hating each other even more than we did before we gave marriage another shot.

And I can’t bear to have him hate me again.

Or even dislike me.

It’s too perfect to be on his good side, basking in the glow of that sexy-sweet smile, knowing he’s got my back and I’ve got his. I like being his friend. Love it, in fact.

It’s almost as good as being the woman he loves.

Almost…

I fetch Honey from Maud and Gerald’s bakery, apologizing profusely for the puddle my scared little kiddo left behind on their tile.

“It’s fine,” Maud says, already headed in with a wad of paper towels. “We all make messes when we’re scared, and she’s a sweet little girl. I’m sure she just wants her mama.”

“I’ve got her uncle outside,” I say, tipping my head toward the square. “I’ll get her over to Chewy and she’ll calm right down.”

“He’s a lover, that one.” Ruthie May’s grin doesn’t quite reach her narrowed eyes. “But don’t rush off so fast, honey. You’ve got to tell us all about your wedding day! What on earth happened? I’ve heard bits and pieces of the story, but nothing I can put together to make good sense.”

I freeze, sweat breaking out along the valley of my spine as I remember how important it is that Blake and I make sense to Ruthie May.

If Kyle and Dean can’t prove conclusively that my marriage is a sham, they’re coming to her for any hint of marital discord. I have to keep her gossiping on the side of Blake and Hope are so in love, so Chewy can stay home with me and his BFF and goat babies where he belongs. I don’t know if gossip is admissible in court, but in Happy Cat, Ruthie May’s word is gospel.

I’ve got to say something, and I’ve got to make it good.

But my head has suddenly gone blank.

I genuinely cannot come up with a series of words to string together to save my life. I’m on the verge of stammering out a lame excuse and bolting for the door, when the bell tinkles behind me, and I catch Blake’s smell drifting through the sugar-scented air.