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Betsy smiles, all calm and collected, as if she hasn’t just dropped a bomb on us. “The contingency being that if you marry each other, you can jointly purchase the Manor. If you don’t, the property will go to the state since no other offers were received or accepted before her passing.”

I stare at her. Then at Hayes. Then back at her.

“She accepted, both of our offers. Is that even legal?”

“Yes, with the contingency that you’d have to marry and then you’d both own it.”

“We… we have to marry each other?” My voice comes out thin, barely above a whisper. I look at Hayes again to see if he’s hearing this but he’s as still as a stone, hasn’t said a word, and I briefly wonder if he’s gone into shock.

Betsy nods, still smiling like this is normal, like this happens every day in the world of real estate. I feel like I can confidently say that it doesn’t.

“Yes, that’s the contingency she put in place right before she passed away.”

Freaking Laura Mayberry. Always finding a way to get her way, even beyond the grave.

Hayes finally shows some signs of life as he rubs a hand down his face. “So, if we don’t get married to each other, the land goes to auction?”

“That’s correct,” Betsy confirms. “She never accepted any other offers. I can show you the paperwork where she approved both of your bids and stipulated in her will that all proceeds from the sale would be recycled back to the owner.”

My brows pull together. “I don’t understand.”

She adjusts her glasses. “You’ll purchase the property, and the funds will be placed into a trust. After taxes, fees, and my commission, that trust will then transfer back to the new owners upon assuming ownership.”

I draw in a breath as realization dawns.

My head snaps to Hayes, whose eyes narrow in that way they do when he’s retreating into himself.

He’s already backing out. Thinking of reasons to say no.

But I want this. I want this home. And this is the only way it can happen.

Plus, she’s basically giving it to us for free.

She knew exactly what she was doing and that makes me even more emotional.

Colt and Molly can’t purchase it anymore so that isn’t an option—it’ll go to auction, and some out-of-town developer will swoop in and buy it for five times what Mrs. Mayberry was asking and then put up a strip mall or something worse.

Her dream, their dream, will die right along with the bang of the gavel.

I clear my throat and turn back to Betsy. “Can I have a moment to discuss with Mr. Walker, please?”

She nods. “Of course. Let me know by the end of the day, and we can proceed.”

I watch her disappear down the path before spinning on Hayes. “Hayes, just listen to me for a second…”

He exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Marriage?”

I throw my hands in the air. “Am I that unbearable? It’s a marriage of convenience.”

His gaze flickers with hesitation and fear.

“I swear, I won’t be a difficult wife,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

“You won’t even know I’m around. We can split the house in half if you want.

I’ll put a piece of red tape straight down the middle.

You can have the master bedroom. The barn and the backfield for your horses.

I’ll take the cottages for the wedding business and sleep in a spare room.

The smallest, even. I don’t care.” A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth, but Hayes just shakes his head, rubbing his jaw, still lost in his head.

“Hayes, look at me.” I step closer, searching his face.

“This doesn’t have to be a whole thing. Don’t overthink it.

I won’t even act like your wife. You can keep sleeping with whoever you want around town.

Date whoever you want. I won’t be jealous, I won’t even notice.

No rings, no real wedding, just a piece of paper that says we’re married to get a property that we both love.

” I’m begging now because I’m desperate.

Even if I’ve always dreamed of a real wedding, a real marriage, the kind with slow dances in the kitchen and secret smiles across the dinner table while our babies watch us and learn about love—I want this more.

I want this property. I want the business.

I want Mrs. Mayberry’s dream to live on.

And if that means signing my name on a legal document next to Hayes’ and nothing more, then fine. I’ll do it. A thousand times over.

And let’s be honest, he probably won’t last in this small town for long. By that point, I’ll buy him out and have the whole property to myself. So, I throw in the kicker that I’m confident will change his mind.

“We can do what we have to do to finalize things, and if you absolutely hate being married to me, we can divorce and just keep living together once the court appointed time period is over.”

He exhales sharply, rubbing his temple. “I’ll buy you out as soon as everything’s finalized.”

I cross my arms. “Absolutely not. I’ll buy you out.”

His head tilts back, eyes fixed on the sky above. “This is the only property like this in Whitewood Creek.”

“I know. That’s why I want it.”

“Fuck, I can’t believe I’m considering doing this.”

A grin stretches across my face, and I bounce on my heels, excitement buzzing in my chest. “Please, please! I promise you won’t even know I’m around—except for the weddings I’ll be planning and throwing.” My voice climbs higher as I practically squeal.

He sighs again, long and heavy, then grumbles, “It’s a fucking deal I can’t refuse, and she knew that.”

I smile. “It’s almost like she planned it.”

His hazel eyes cut to me, a reluctant smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “It’s definitely like she planned it.”

Then, in a move that catches me off guard, he steps closer, slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.

“Hey, we’re not enemies, remember?” I remind him, throwing his words from last weekend at the bar right back in his face.

He nods. “We’re not enemies. But we’re definitely not in love either.”

I wink. “I told you not to fall in love with me. You keep trying to avoid it, husband .”

Then, with a teasing pat to his chest, I laugh and skip off to catch up with Betsy before I can catch the absolute panicked look crossing Hayes’ face.