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“Um. No, I didn’t say a word. You told me not to, and that you’d be telling everyone together at Thanksgiving,” I reminded him.

“Shit. You’re right. But you know, we’re all going to be together for the first time since you moved away. I don’t want my news to ruin Mom’s Thanksgiving.”

I snorted, shaking my head, because this was so typical of him. On the other hand, he was right. This news could break her heart and have her crying all weekend. “Colt, do you need me to break the news to Mom gently for you?”

“No, not at all. I’ll tell her, just not this weekend. She’s been so excited to have all three of us under one roof for dinner.”

“Three? Uh, Maisy? Did you forget to tell Mom that Sophie was coming home with us?” I tossed her a stern glance. She shrunk in her seat.

“Oh. Yeah, sorry. I’ve just been so busy writing papers for school and then with Brooks?—”

“Okay, wait. Who the hell is Brooks, and is Sophie in the car with you?” Colt asked.

“Hi. I’m here.” Sophie waved at the phone and laughed.

“Dang. Nice voice. What do you look like?”

“Colt!” I clicked off the call. In my rearview mirror, Sophie chuckled, but I warned. “He’s too young for you.”

Maisy guffawed. “Come on. There’s only a two-year difference between them.”

“Relax, sisters. I won’t defile your little brother. I swear.” Sophie winked at me. Oh, brother.

All warnings aside, my heart surged entering Holly Creek. Passing down Main Street, the family stores and eateries called forth so many memories. Of course, there was Flora’s Diner, in its own brick building, standing so sturdily against time, never changing, and always welcoming with windows decorated for each holiday; right now, it featured fall leaves of all colors and shapes outlining the window frames.

Pulling into the driveway of our old farmhouse, just outside of town, there was Mom, waiting for us. When we hugged, I finally felt home again.

24

HIS THANKSGIVING

REX

Stephen openedthe car door for Marlena and she seated herself too close to me. I scoured the news on my phone and put more space between us, practically hugging my door.

“Hm. Not even a hello?” She asked.

“I’m marrying you so you can get your trust fund, not to become your best friend.” I snapped. “By the way, there will be an ironclad prenup. You’ll get your family money, butnoneof mine.”

“Suits me fine. Since you’re in a negotiating mood…what else should we hash out on thispleasantdrive to your mother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner?”

“No sex, obviously.” There was only one woman I desired, and I blew that relationship out of the water. If I couldn’t have Chelsea, then no sex for me for a while.

“What? You know there’ll be all kinds of pressure on both sides for children,” she countered, scowling at me with a snarled, red-stained lip.

“They won’t be coming from me. You said marriage was all that was required to gain access to your trust fund. I see no need to perform beyond the minimum requirement. We divorce by July.”

She shook her head and stared out the window. “Agreed, but it’syourcheating ways and your very public display of an angry tirade at the country club that will cause me to run to a divorce lawyer.”

I snorted at her requirement formyreputation to be the one soiled in all of this. Then again, what did I care? I’d be married, getting mother and the board of directors off my back, and remodeling Dad’s building by then. I had nothing else to live for.

“Sure. I’ll be the bad guy.” A part I played very well, according to the hurtful look in Chelsea’s eyes and her tears that night on the roof. “Anything else?”

“Public displays of affection?—”

“Hell no.” I drew the line there.

“But my father will expect us to be loving toward each other, even if it is an act. I already devised a plan that we’ve been secretly seeing each other and didn’t want to announce our relationship until we knew for sure.”