Page 15 of Sweet Surprise

“Enough to stay?” The way he casually stared ahead at the road, anyone would think he’d merely mentioned the weather.

Part of her wanted to say, of course I can stay,wantto stay, but another part of her wanted to scream that he’d lost his mind. She was a city girl. And just to make herself a little more crazy than she already was, a third part of her whispered in her ear that she shouldn’t have to do it all alone. Unfortunately, her tongue felt stuck in a vat of peanut butter.

“I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but if I have to get married to save the ranch, the idea of marrying someone I actually like, even if only for appearances sake, is way more appealing than striking a bargain with a stranger.”

Somehow that made a modicum of sense even though none of what was going on with his siblings did. Who married to save a house? Never mind six people all agreeing to do just that. Although, after less than a day on the Sweet Ranch, it made more sense than it should. What she didn’t understand at all, was why wasn’t she more upset or offended at an off handed proposition of marriage? Even when she’d told him she’d considered slugging him for suggesting a marriage of convenience, she really hadn’t. Maybe all the confusion churning inside of her since learning that Todd was not Mason’s father had numbed all her senses, especially common sense. “You’re really going to marry anyone?”

One shoulder lifted in a lazy shrug that reminded her so much of the young man she once thought she could so easily fall in love with. “Not anyone, or I’d be married already.”

“Preston and Sarah look very happy.”

“They are very happy.” Carson blinked slowly, then sighed. “I think that’s what makes it harder for the rest of us. We all know that whatever arrangements we make will be strictly a business deal.”

“Is it worth it?”

His head turned to momentarily face her. “The ranch, probably. My mom, absolutely. It would kill her to know she’s the one who let the family legacy slip away.”

“But it’s not her fault. Anyone can be taken in by someone they trust.”

“I know that. My siblings know that. And maybe you know that. But she’ll never believe if she’d asked more questions, stayed more hands on—something, anything—then Ray wouldn’t have been able to rob us all blind.”

In a very odd way, she understood how Alice Sweet felt. What if instead of assuming Todd was the father, she’d said something to Carson? What if she’d not married the wrong man simply because she was pregnant and scared, and just raised her son on her own? What if she’d given Carson and herself a little more time to see where things could have gone? “Do you ever think about us?”

Silence never sounded so loud. What possessed her to ask such a thing?

Slowly, he nodded. “Not as much in recent years. But when you left, I missed you—a lot. Your laugh. The way you always poked me when I’d frown at the professor. It was hard losing my friend.”

“We were good friends.” The memories made her smile. Until she’d started poking him, he didn’t even realize that he would frown at the professors when he either didn’t like what they said, or didn’t agree, or had simply been distracted and struggled to catch up. Gently, she’d jab him with a pencil or her finger, depending on where he was sitting. “I missed you too.”

Once again, he turned to face her. His gaze darted from the road ahead, back to her. “Tell me the truth. If you and Mason pack up and return to where you came from, will you be all right?”

Wasn’t that a loaded question.

“That’s what I thought.” He sighed again and stared quietly at the road ahead. “Look. I want to be a father in Mason’s life, but it’s going to be hard as hell if I’m in Honeysuckle and you’re in Dallas. You don’t have to take me up on my crazy offer for a temporary marriage, but at least consider moving here. We can find you work and a place to live, and we’ll find a way to make it all work.”

How long had it been since she’d had a partner and not a problem?

Carson pulled into a parking space by the outdoor market cluttered with colorful umbrellas, small tables and booths, and all sorts of fresh foods and, was that homemade mozzarella hanging from a stand?

It was clear to any idiot that Mason liked the ranch, he’d already learned that the kids in town were friendly, and so far, Alice Sweet was the perfect grandmother. How awful could it be to move to small town USA? “Carson?”

His hand on the door handle, he paused with the door ajar. “Yes.”

“What would happen after the year?”

Chapter Seven

Was Jess asking what Carson thought she was? Could it be that she was actually considering marrying him for the trust? Either way, in the middle of town was no place to have this conversation. Pulling the door closed, he turned to her, trying desperately to form the correct words before opening his mouth. “Are we talking about what I think we’re talking about?”

“That depends on what you think I think we’re talking about.”

Whatever tension had been building inside him completely washed away and in a matter of only a few words, he was chuckling to himself, transported back to college, back to an easier time, and back to just him and the only woman he’s never been able to forget. “Jessica Pratt, you are amazing.”

“I know.” Her smile widened as the sparkle in her eyes brightened. “Seriously, if we were to marry to save the ranch, what happens after the first anniversary and the big payout? I realize we get a divorce, but by then, Mason will be used to living on the ranch and being part of the Sweet family.”

How to sober a man quickly. He knew this was the bigger problem, but he hadn’t quite thought it through, not to mention, he had zero parenting skills, at least for now. “Other than, Mason is a part of the Sweet family and will always be a part of the family, I haven’t quite gotten that far.”

“Mason is my number one priority. I would like to help you and your family save the ranch, but not if Mason is the one to pay the price.”

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