Page 37 of Sweet Beginnings

“Sorry. I may be younger than you are, but I can read that face like an open book.”

“Grown up or not, Mom would wash your mouth out with soap if she heard you.”

Garrett shrugged. “So what’s eating you? For real?”

Did he dare tell his brother that this charade had become so real for him? That every time Sarah walked into a room his heart rate picked up? How every morning when he woke up before her, he felt like he’d died and gone to heaven?

“Is there a problem between you and Sarah?” Garret stabbed at his food before looking up. “From the first minute I heard of this crazy hare-brained idea I could see trouble coming, but honestly, y’all make it look easy.”

“Thanks.” Rather than say anything more, he slurped a long sip of his still hot coffee.

Garrett swallowed his food. “And a good thing too. That first trust payment was enough to buy some time with the bank and sprinkle a little seed money to keep an income coming in.”

“That’s the plan.”

“But falling in love wasn’t?”

If Preston’s head had snapped up any faster, it would have rolled off his shoulders.

“It’s pretty obvious this is not a school play.”

He moved his mouth but nothing came out.

A small smile ticked at the corner of Garret’s mouth. “Thought so.” He sighed. “I debated if it was concern for who goes next and that there hasn’t been a plan as plausible as yours and Sarah’s, but this morning, when you kissed your wife and she smiled up at you, I saw it.”

“It?”

“The same look Dad had every time Mom came near him. It was subtle, but there. And you have it.”

On a sigh, he raked the fingers on both hands through his hair. “What am I going to do?”

Garrett shook his head. “This is just one reason why the whole pretend marriage idea is insane.”

“But it’s saved the ranch so far.”

“And if one of us doesn’t find a spouse willing to go along with this charade and get more money rolling in, it will all have been for nothing. We’ll lose the ranch anyhow.” Now Garret was the one who looked like he’d sucked on a lemon.

“Let me guess.” Carson slid into the empty seat at the old patio table. “Planning who’s next.”

“I’m trying.” Rachel kicked the kitchen door shut behind her. “It’s not that easy finding people willing to put their lives on hold for a year.”

“No kidding, Sherlock.” Garret rolled his eyes.

“Men are such dogs.”

“Excuse me?” Carson’s eyes bulged from their sockets.

“Not you. Men I’m not related to.”

“I don’t get it.” Garret shook his head. “What the heck are you talking about?”

Hands on her hips, she practically spit. “Sex.”

Sarah Sue stepped out onto the porch with the others just as Rachel practically ground out the word sex. Frozen in the doorway, she considered retreating into the house when her sort of sister-in-law waved at her.

“Come on out. There are no secrets in this family.” Rachel took a sip of coffee and kicking her head back, sighed before looking over at her siblings. “I was just explaining to my brothers why men are dogs. Apparently, there are a lot of men willing to hook up for a price—and sex—but none so far are willing to keep things platonic for an entire year.”

“Where are you finding these guys?” Garret nearly growled under a frown.

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