Page 16

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

AMBER

He bought me a truck. A truck. A brand new one. A shiny, red Ford F-150 that he says is very safe. Apparently, Ford purchased the truck via cash transfer two days ago, after our phone conversation about getting married. The title is in both of our names and everything.

The man doesn’t waste time, that’s for sure. We spent our wedding night packing up my meager belongings and crashed for the night in my lack-luster apartment. Definitely not the wedding or honeymoon Ford Remington deserves, but he never once complained.

And then he left to get breakfast and came back with my brand new, shiny red truck. The beast is loaded up with half the contents of my apartment, which is, of course, why he bought me a truck of all things. Only Ford would have the forethought to purchase a truck so I could bring as many of my belongings with me to D.C. as possible.

But how am I going to park this thing?

We’re now halfway into the six-ish hour drive to Ford’s place just outside D.C., in a luxurious Virginia neighborhood. Nella is fast asleep in her car seat behind me when I finally say, “I cannot believe you bought me a truck.”

His face doesn’t leave the road as he drives us home. Home…will it feel like home? Did my apartment in Ohio really feel like home? No, I suppose it didn’t. I think the only place that ever felt like home to me was when I was a child and I spent afternoons in the Remington house.

“It’s a wedding gift,” he says simply, his face giving no hint of humor.

“You can’t just buy me a vehicle, Ford.”

“Yes, I can.”

I cross my arms and look out my window, trying to ignore the large man sitting next to me, the man who takes up so much room I almost forget how big this truck is.

He sighs, and I can tell he’s looking at me. The skin on the back of my neck prickles, knowing his gaze is just there. “Ambs, your car was having too many issues for a road trip. The salesman gave me a decent trade-in value for it despite its transmission troubles, and your doctor said no more flying until you’re cleared after surgery. I want to take care of you. And Nella. And you need a safe and reliable vehicle. It’s just that simple.”

Slowly, I swivel to look at him. He’s looking at the road again now but glances at me for a second. His mouth in a thin, straight line. He’s worried. And I hate it when he worries.

“I’m not trying to be difficult. It’s just, I can never buy you gifts like this. It makes this feel uneven, you know? Like, I get all the benefits of this whole arrangement and you get nothing.”

I study his chiseled profile and relax when his mouth pulls up in a smirk.

“That’s ridiculous,” he says, removing one hand from the steering wheel and brushing it through his dark hair. He’s wearing his glasses, the dark rimmed ones that make him look even more handsome, somehow.

“Is it? What are you really getting out of this?”

He huffs a quiet laugh through his nose. “Everyone thinks I’m a loner, that I’m broken or something. You’re saving my reputation.” He looks at me again, his mouth still in a smirk. “You’re making me look like a cool husband and girl dad.”

I burst out laughing. “That’s the reputation you want? Sounds very…wholesome.”

He smiles. This is his rare but genuine smile, the one he gives when he’s totally relaxed and at ease with the person he’s talking to. A smile I always feel honored to be on the receiving end of. “That’s exactly the kind of reputation I want.”

I smile back because that’s so Ford. He’s never been a womanizer, or a rebel. He’s exactly the type to want a quiet life with a doting wife, sweet children, and probably a dog. And in two years, when our gig is up, I have no doubt he’ll find exactly that.

“Hey, why don’t you have a dog?” I ask out of the blue. His head tilts in my direction quickly before focusing on the highway again.

“Well, for a while it felt like no dog could ever compare to Moose. Seeing dogs makes me feel…sad?” His forehead scrunches as he thinks about what emotion he felt. Something he’s always done when big feelings were involved. “Yeah, sad,” he decides.

“And now?”

He sighs. “I’d like a dog. But I travel so much, it doesn’t seem fair to him… or her.”

I grin, and when he sees my expression, his eyebrows draw together. “No, Amber. You’re going to be taking care of a baby and healing from your surgery. This is not the time for a dog. ”

I stick out my bottom lip as far as I can. “Come on.”

“No.”

“But this is finally something I can do for you! After I’m cleared for normal activity, which should be two weeks since it’s a minor procedure, we can get a dog. I’ll be home to care for it, and when I find a job, I’ll come home for lunch to walk him or her. It’s perfect. Please let me do this. It makes this whole thing feel less one-sided.”

He groans and grips the steering wheel tighter. “We’ll talk about it after your surgery.”

I clap my hands together. “I’ll convince you. I can be very persuasive.” I waggle my eyebrows for effect, and it’s not until I notice the deep blush spreading across Ford’s face and ears that I realize how suggestive that sounded.

Clearing his throat, he changes the subject. “I have a question, and it seems kind of personal, so you don’t have to answer.”

I nod my head. I’m not concerned about the question being personal because I’m an open book, especially with Ford.

“Should we be worried about Theo? Like, does he have any parental rights or anything?”

Ford’s strong throat works as he swallows, and I wonder if it pains him to talk about Theo. He’s always hated him. I’m pretty sure Ford has harder feelings toward the man than I do. And I’m the one who Theo ended an engagement with…when I was pregnant with his child.

I turn my body so I’m facing him. “You don’t need to worry about that. Theo could establish paternity, but I haven’t heard from him in a year. He wasn’t interested, at all, in being a father when he had just finished his residency.” I believe his exact words were, I can finally enjoy life again, I can’t take care of a baby . But I’m not telling Ford that—he already hates Theo enough as it is .

Ford blows out a long breath. “Okay, that’s good.” His eyes widen. “I mean, not that he wasn’t there for you…but that he shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I knew what you meant.” I lay a hand on his arm, and he doesn’t flinch or act annoyed. Instead, his ears turn red again.

“Since we’re talking about the big stuff, we should probably come up with a story. I imagine your teammates, and your family, are going to wonder why we got married after never even dating… and so quickly.”

He relaxes, his hands easing on the steering wheel again. “You’re right. Any ideas?”