Page 92 of The Rancher's Wedding Deception

Someone else.

Someone who looked like he was watching his whole world walk away.

All she could do was shake her head, the words trapped somewhere between her heart and her throat.

I’m sorry.

I’m so, so sorry.

“Is it because you realized you can’t pretend?”

He took a step toward her, and she took a step back. Her heel caught on the hem of her dress—his dress, the beautiful dress he’d given her—and she stumbled, catching herself against the wall.

“Is that it?” Another step. His voice cracked on the words. “You realized you can’t pretend you’re in love with me?”

No. Oh no. God, no.

The pain in his eyes was too much.

It cracked something open inside her, something she’d been trying so hard to keep contained, and suddenly the words were spilling out before she could stop them.

“It’s the other way around.”

Paul froze.

“It’s...” Andie’s words caught in a sob.

“I don’t understand—”

“I just realized m-marriage for me is f-forever—”

“And you think it’s not for me?”

“M-Marriage is s-sacred—”

“What the hell are you really saying?”

He stared at her, his beautiful face completely unguarded for perhaps the first time since she’d met him.

“If I m-marry you—”

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t think.

Could only feel the truth rising up inside her like a tide she’d been holding back for days.

“I d-don’t want to pretend.”

The words hung between them, fragile and terrifying.

“I w-want to really t-try f-falling—”

“Then do it.”

Her head jerked up.

Paul had moved closer while she was spiraling, and now he stood directly in front of her, close enough that she could see the rapid pulse beating at the base of his throat. Close enough that she could count the individual lashes framing those devastating gray eyes.