Page 14 of A Montana Fake Marriage

He shrugged. “I don’t know. My cousin Bo didn’t tell me he wanted me to do anything at the ranch, but we’re not taking an official honeymoon, so I just figured I’d go to work.”

“Can I come with you?”

He went still at her request. She’d been here for three weeks, and up until this point, she’d shown no interest in his work. She hadn’t ventured to that side of the property except when she was hanging out with Katrina or Hallie. He’d figured she’d want to spend time with them like she’d done since her arrival.

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck then tilted his head. “Are you sure? You might be bored.”

She tossed aside her blanket, revealing her bare legs as she climbed out of bed. “We’re newlyweds. I thought the point of this whole thing was to make everyone believe we can’t get enough of each other.”

He dragged his focus from her body to her face, berating himself for even looking. “You’re right,” he coughed out, turning from her. “Absolutely right. We need to keep up appearances. Howabout you tag along until lunch, and then we can go to town for some fun?” He peeked at her over his shoulder, even though she wasn’t getting ready. Her belongings were still in her room.

She moved toward him, and his pulse ticked up a little faster. Her gentle touch landed on his shoulder as she made her way to the door. It was the barest brushing of her fingertips against his neck that sent his resolve spiraling. “Sounds good,” she chirped, opening the door. “I’m going to get ready. I’ll be down for breakfast in ten.”

“Yeah, see you down there,” he rasped.

The second the door was shut, he shoved his hands into his hair. What was wrong with him? Was his mind so simple that it couldn’t tell the difference between friendship and attraction after a ring had been put on her finger? His face heated. It was a fluke. It had to be. Just his body’s way of telling him that he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. He’d toyed with the universe, and now he was dealing with the aftermath.

It would die down. At least that’s what he kept telling himself. He’d see to that.

The only onemissing from breakfast was Noah. He’d already gone out to start his chores for the day. Caleb surveyed the kitchen when he stepped into the doorway, and several pairs of eyes turned to him with varying emotions.

His mother was pleased to see him as she stood beside Sammie. They’d been chatting quietly. His father glanced up from his phone and nodded curtly. His grandfather smiled warmly,knowingly, and it took everything in Caleb not to roll his eyes. His brother only looked concerned—but what did he care? Caleb could do what he wanted with his life. If he was willing to put it on hold to help a friend, then so be it.

Just to prove that point, he swept through the kitchen toward Sammie. He slipped an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple. “What are we having for breakfast?” he murmured, enjoying the way Mack looked in his direction with surprise.

Sammie stiffened in his hold initially, then relaxed. She smiled, reaching for a bowl of grapes on the counter before she pried one off and popped it in his mouth. “You mother is fixing omelets. Would you like one?”

He turned to his mother and her expectant smile. She hadn’t missed the way Caleb had laid claim to his wife. And something told him that she didn’t miss the way Sammie was currently affecting him. He couldn’t roll his eyes toherobservations. She didn’t miss anything, and that fact terrified him.

“Caleb?” Sammie asked.

He nodded, dropping his arm from Sammie’s waist. “Eggs sound good.” He headed for the table and sat beside his brother, doing his best not to give the appearance of brooding. Mack didn’t need any more ammunition to prove he’d been reckless in marrying Sammie. He’d never met Mr. Michaels. He didn’t know what Sammie had to go home to.

On the bright side, Caleb didn’t have to worry about the way Sammie was blending in with his family. She’d developed something with his mother early on. His brothers usually kept their distance. But she’d gotten close enough to his cousins tolessen the concern he’d had for her mental well-being. Sammie had a support system here in Rocky Ridge. She wasn’t alone.

A plate of eggs was put in front of him, and Sammie leaned down to kiss his cheek. His heart thundered, no longer restrained by his head keeping it in check. Shoot! The whole thing was a snowball. It was rolling, rolling—getting bigger and bigger until eventually, it’d collide with something and explode.

He couldn’t let that happen. The kiss to his cheek had been innocent enough. Much like the one he’d pressed to her brow. Caleb’s eyes followed her back to the stove, where she retrieved another plate to bring to the seat beside him. She settled on the chair and started eating.

Not a care in the world.

She caught him staring and ducked her head with a smile. “What? Do I have something…” She wiped at her mouth.

He shook his head, “No, you’re perfect.”

Sammie only flashed him a smile and continued eating.

Mack let out a huff beside him, earning a dark look in return.

Focus. Caleb needed to focus. He had important work to do. There was more to life than marriage and a family—and right now, work was his priority.

They finished their breakfast and headed out into the warm morning. The temperatures were going to be in the high seventies today, but they’d be reaching into the eighties by the middle of next week.

The scent of freshly cut straw clung to the air, and the sound of a tractor could be heard in the distance. With Sammie at hisside, they strode toward the large house and to the barn on its other side. Sammie looped her arm through his. “What are you working on? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you what you do here.”

Their steps were muffled on the damp grass that grew in front of the main house. He could hear the cattle in a nearby pasture that he’d requested be pulled aside for inspection. Cowboys readied some horses for training or other chores they needed to complete before the end of the day.

Caleb glanced over to her, ignoring the things her touch was doing to him. It was a chemical reaction. That was all. He was stronger than that. He smiled and motioned to the cattle in the pasture up ahead. “I’m testing those cows—trying to figure out the proper balance for their diet so they can produce better milk and meat, as well as birth healthy calves.”

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