Page 16 of Sweet Obsession
Charity was not good, but marrying a stranger in it for money was? Some things, like why the sky is blue and bears sleep in the winter, were simply not meant for him to understand. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
The room went dead silent.
“You’ll what?” Jillian’s soft voice was almost inaudible.
Blake ran a hand through his hair. “Marry me. I’m on the road most of the time anyway. It’ll be a believable reason for a divorce in a year. I won’t take your money. I’m not a criminal, and other than what we’re about to do, I’m not insane. Besides,it will make it easier to check on Grams. Problems solved.” Until someone figured out what was going on and had him committed.
Jillian stared at Blake. Snapping her mouth shut, she did her best to process what was going on in the room.
“This is serious.” Rachel stared sternly at Blake. “Do you realize what you’re agreeing to? Marrying Jillian, convincing the entire town—and our mother—that this is real.”
“You’re a public figure,” Preston added. “Could this have ramifications for you?”
For him? Jillian’s mouth had gone dry. She couldn’t decide what was worse, being married to a stranger who could be a complete psycho as easily as the perfect match, or Blake Kirby, the famous country singer and the one guy she’d had a schoolgirl crush on since she was, well, a schoolgirl.
“Trust me. I think I understand how serious being taken advantage of for your money is more than any of you.” Blake crossed his arms. “Unless someone has a better idea than marrying a deadbeat.”
“In all fairness,” Carson leaned forward, “we don’t know if this Chet character is a deadbeat or a godsend, but if we’re taking votes, I’d trust Kirby with my sister any day of the week.”
Heads nodded and Jillian’s breath caught in her chest. A million things ran through her mind. All of which sent skitters up her spine and made her palms sweat.
Now lying at her side, his head resting on his paws, Brady’s ears suddenly snapped to attention, followed by a low muttered woof. Thankful for something to do with her hands until her mouth could form words, Jillian leaned over the side of her chair and scratched the scruff of his neck. A moment later, thedog lifted his head and stared at a distant point, focusing on something none of them could hear.
“Brady?” Preston glanced at the dog. “What is it, boy?”
“Probably just Mom coming back.” Carson shrugged, though he was carefully eyeing where Brady focused.
Another moment and the dog went from lying on the floor to sitting upright, and offering a low deep bark.
“That’s not his Alice is home bark.” Sarah Sue echoed Jillian’s thoughts.
Suddenly Brady was on his feet, spinning in circles like a puppy. He raced to the office doorway. Without looking back at his family, the animal bolted down the hallway toward the front hall. The sounds of him jumping up at the door, scratching, and barking filled the house.
“What the hell?” Preston pushed back from the desk.
Every person in the room was on their feet, no doubt fearing the worst, like the day that Brady had led them to their mother trapped on a barbed wire fence.
The sound of gravel crunching under tires drifted through the open windows, followed by a car door slamming. Brady’s barking intensified, mixed with whines and the dog swiping at the door with a fervor she’d never seen before.
“Brady, settle down!” Carson called, but the dog ignored him completely.
Heavy footsteps echoed on the front porch.
“Isn’t anyone going to open the door and see who it is?” Rachel stood behind her siblings all gathered by the door, staring at the dog.
Before anyone would react, the door swung open and Brady pounced forward, his massive paws landing on broad shoulders.
“Hey there, Brady boy,” Kade laughed, catching the dog and nearly stumbling backward. “Miss me?”
Every inch of the dog’s body was wiggling with sheer delight.
“Holy moly,” Carson whispered.
“Kade!” several voices shouted at once, each one dripping with surprise and delight.
Jillian felt tears spring to her eyes. Her big brother was home. Her big brother, who’d been gone for what felt like forever, who they worried about every single day, was standing in the front hall, grinning that same crooked grin he’d had for as long as she could remember.
The family converged on him in a mass of hugs and chaos. Jillian managed to get her arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?”
