“I’m sorry, Angie, but I can’t marry you.”
Her heart sank. He didn’t love her. The pain wasn’t a sharp lance like she thought it would be. It was more like a dull ache, like she’d been punched in the stomach. Still, maybe he didn’t understand. After all, she hadn’t yet confessed her love to him.
“You don’t have to love me, Rafe.” Though I wish you did. “I just need a husband within two months. This thing with my great-granddaddy’s will…it’s—” She sighed. “It doesn’t say I need to find a husband who loves me. We don’t have to stay married. I mean, we should for a while, I guess. For show.” And to give you enough time to fall head over heels in love with me. “I could help you. The ranch has money. I could help you get that place for your father in Arizona. He could leave here and be healthy again. And—”
He gently placed his fingers over her lips, silencing her.
“I understand, and I wish I could help. But I can’t marry you, baby.”
“I told you that you don’t have to love me. It’s a business arrangement.”
He shook his head. “Whether I love you isn’t the issue.” He looked down at the sheets again and then returned his gaze to her.
Were those tears misting in the corner of his eyes?
“Why then? Why can’t you marry me?”
His black eyes pierced her own. “Because I’m already married.”
Chapter Fourteen
Could her life get any more screwed up?
Angie rushed to downtown Bakersville and headed to Deb’s Boutique. She’d hurriedly put her riding clothes back on, run a brush through her snarled hair, and left, barreling through Rafe’s hold as he tried to stop her. Nope, she didn’t listen. Didn’t want to hear about his so-called wife. So she escaped his grasp and ran. She had no car, no way to get home. Her car was still at Chad and Catie’s where she’d left it to go riding yesterday afternoon.
Thankfully, Rafe lived right in town and she could make it to Deb’s. She needed shopping. If she’d had her car, she’d have headed straight for Denver where the big department stores were. Yep, she needed that kind of shopping. But she’d have to settle for Deb’s.
“Angie.” Deb eyed her up and down. “Uh…how are you?”
“Is that little redheaded bitch working today?”
“Lori’s off today, and I’ll thank you—”
“Oh, Deb, spare me the hurt bunny look when I insult your employee. I need a shopping spree.”
“Angie, I was so sorry to hear about your father.”
“Spare me the feigning sympathy look too, please.”
Deb threw her hands up. “Fine. You’re the customer. Though why you’re wandering around town in wrinkled riding clothes is beyond me. You never allow yourself to look less than perfect.”
“There’s a first time for everything. What do you have new?”
“Some gorgeous evening wear just came in.”
She hadn’t been to a good party in months. But why not stock up for her next invite? “Show me something in black. And red. And silver. Short please. I want to show my legs.”
“Be right back.”
Deb whooshed away while Angie situated herself in the dressing room. More party dresses. Just what she needed.
What was wrong with her? Not only was the man she loved married to someone else, here she was shopping…when she was broke. She wouldn’t get her inheritance. How did she expect to pay for these new clothes?
She launched the problem from her mind. She’d worry about that later.
“Here’s the first batch,” Deb said.
Angie opened the door to the dressing room and grabbed the dresses.