The Rancher's Fake Fiancée. Amy Vastine

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       CHAPTER FOUR

      TYLER STRUGGLED TO ignore Hadley’s incessant fidgeting in the passenger seat of his rental car. He had warned her that she should be prepared to be in the middle of nowhere.

      “We’re almost there. Can you try being still for a minute?” he asked. When she wasn’t peppering him with her millions of questions, she was distracting him with her anxious silence. After two hours on the plane and two hours in the car, maybe they had both hit their limit of togetherness.

      “Any chance we can stop to use a bathroom?” she asked. That explained her wriggling.

      They were only a few miles away from Falcon Creek. Tyler was more than happy to delay their arrival at the ranch. Actually, he wished he could turn around and get back on a plane headed anywhere but here. Being this close to the place he used to call home made his stomach ache with something other than hunger.

      “Maybe we should grab some lunch in town. We’ll be eating at the ranch the rest of the trip.”

      Hadley seemingly had no issue with that idea given that her stomach growled loudly. Tyler spotted the sign for Falcon Creek and exited the highway. This place was still a one-stoplight town. It hadn’t changed since Tyler was a baby.

      The dive bar where Chance played his first real gig was still standing. Pops Brewster sat out front Brewster Ranch Supply playing chess just like he had for as long as Tyler could remember. Maple Bear Bakery was where Big E used to buy Ty and his brothers doughnuts when he was feeling generous, which wasn’t often, but that made the treat so much more delicious.

      Clearwater Café was probably the best place to stop for a hot meal. Tyler sat in an open booth while Hadley ran to the bathroom. He glanced over the menu and ordered a couple of sodas for the two of them.

      “That was the cleanest public bathroom I have ever used,” Hadley reported as she slid into the seat across from him. “I think I love this place.”

      “They also serve your favorite—macaroni and cheese.” Tyler could tell anyone who asked Hadley’s favorite everything. She had been more than thorough in preparing him today.

      She smiled and he noticed the way it lit up her entire face. “You remembered.”

      “Tyler Blackwell? Is that you? Oh, my goodness, it is.”

      Tyler had hoped they would go unrecognized, but that was impossible in this small town. He turned his head to find a pink monster headed his way.

      “Grandma, is that you? You look so much older than the last time I saw you.”

      Of all the people he didn’t want to run into, Zoe was at the top of the list. She scowled at him as she flipped her long, blond ponytail behind her shoulder.

      “You’re really going to kick me when I’m down, Ty? That horrible excuse for a human being you call your good-for-nothing grandfather already did quite enough to make me feel like a worthless piece of trash.”

      An unexpected guilt washed over him. Tyler didn’t realize he could feel sorry for Zoe given all she had put his family through, but he did.

      “Big E has a way of making everyone feel small. Don’t take it personally.”

      “I’ll try to remember that,” she replied, her face softening a bit. “What are you doing back here? I thought you were never coming back. And who is this?” Zoe turned all of her attention on Hadley.

      “Hadley, meet my ex-stepgrandma, Zoe. Zoe, this is Hadley.”

      “His fiancée,” Hadley clarified.

      Tyler internally chastised himself for not being prepared to begin this charade. Remembering to refer to her as his fiancée was important and he’d failed right out of the gate.

      “Fiancée?” Zoe’s eyes nearly bulged from her head. “I can’t believe Rachel didn’t tell me.”

      “We were pretty surprised to hear Ben and Rachel got married so quickly.” Hadley reached across the table and grabbed Tyler’s hand. “We thought we’d be first down the aisle. Right, honey?”

      She was good at this fake relationship stuff. Maybe her brother wasn’t the only actor in the family.

      “The Blackwell boys all caught the wedding bug at the same time, huh?”

      “Guess so.” Tyler prayed she wouldn’t ask too many more questions or want to see the ring. Zoe was one of those people who might be able to sniff out a fake diamond when she saw one. “Well, it was good to see you again. We’ll see you around,” he said, hoping she’d take the hint.

      “Oh, please don’t tell me Day Four is back,” a voice full of disdain said behind Zoe. That voice could belong to only one person.

      “Is this where all of Big E’s exes come for lunch?” Tyler pondered aloud as Myrna Edwards, with her hair as white as the snowcapped Smoky Mountains, approached the table.

      “I’m positive three Blackwells is all this town can handle. You should head СКАЧАТЬ