Page 110 of Make-Believe Match

“Dinner is served, wife.” Devlin pulled out my chair for me, and I sat down, trying hard to smile. He’d done something sweet for me, and I didn’t want to ruin it.

After tasting the chili, I praised his efforts sincerely. “This is delicious, Devlin.”

“Thanks. I thought I might have over-browned the beef, but I guess all the other stuff hides that mistake.”

“It’s perfect.” I ate another spoonful. “Thank you for making dinner tonight.”

“You’re welcome.” We ate in silence for a few minutes. Or rather, Devlin ate, and I moved my spoon around in my bowl. “Everything okay? You’re so quiet.”

“It’s been a long day, I guess.”

Devlin lifted his beer. “Did you get ahold of Tabitha?”

I nodded. My throat was tight.

“And?”

“It’s not good.”

He paused with the bottle halfway to the table, and then set it down slowly. “What do you mean?”

I set my spoon aside and lowered my face into my hands.

“Lexi, what’s wrong?”

“There’s a clause in the will,” I said, my voice muffled inside my palms.

“What’s it say?”

Taking a deep breath, I dropped my hands and looked him in those blue eyes. “It says if we don’t stay married for five years, the deed transferring ownership to us is null and void. Ownership reverts to Gran, and she’ll sell. If she’s gone at that point and there are no other qualified heirs, the property will be sold, debts paid, and profits split between Roddy, Tabitha, and me.”

Devlin’s eyes closed. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “She never mentioned that.”

“No, she didn’t. Why would she?” I echoed Tabitha’s words. “We were so convincing. Gran fully believes our story—or at least she wanted to believe it so badly, she allowed herself tosayshe did.”

“Fuck.” Devlin rubbed his temples with the thumb and fingers of his left hand. His wedding band gleamed in the kitchen light. “How did Tabitha even figure this out?”

“Apparently her father helped her. He hired someone—at Bob Oliver’s suggestion—to look more closely at the will and trust.”

“Fucking Oliver,” Devlin muttered. “He never quits being sleazy.”

“Tabitha also let me know that the offer from Black Diamond will be good until the end of the year.”

Devlin’s head came up sharply. “Fuck that.”

“I can’t,” I said, tears filling my eyes. “I can’t just say ‘fuck that.’”

Fury contorted Devlin’s handsome features, and he jumped from his chair and went over to the kitchen sink, leaning on the edge, his head hanging low. “I’m sorry, Lex. He’s doing this to get back at me.”

“It’s not your fault, Devlin. Bob Oliver or no Bob Oliver, the clause was there. It was going to be an issue no matter what. Maybe it’s better we know about it now.”

He didn’t move for what felt like hours but was probably only a minute or so. When he spoke, his voice was strained. “What do you want to do?”

“What can we do?”

“Maybe it’s bullshit. Maybe they’re making it up.”

“They’re not. I went to see Gran after Tabitha told me about the clause. It’s real.”