Chapter 10

Rainey

Grandma Gertie looked justthe same as she did when I lived with her. We video called each other every year at Christmas, so I'd seen the way she'd changed over the years, but seeing her up close highlighted the lines in her face and the way her athletic body had tipped over the edge into thin.

I stepped over the mess of raw egg on the floor and threw my arms around her shoulders, careful not to hurt her. She squeezed me back fiercely, calming my nerves about her aging.

"Hey, free bird," she whispered in my ear, sending me back over fifteen years ago when she'd nicknamed me. The name had stuck because it described me perfectly. Moving around all these years had helped me feel like life was in my control. I wasn't stuck with an unloving parent, or sent to live with my grandma. I lived where I wanted to, when I wanted to.

My eyes flooded with tears, an unexpected reaction. I never planned to come back to Blueball, but I was already finding the visit cathartic. I gave Grandma another squeeze and then pulled back. Her own eyes were glassy as we smiled at each other like no time had passed.

"You are a sight for sore eyes. I never knew what that phrase meant until just now."

"Grandma," I muttered, not wanting to sob right there in the kitchen with an audience. My emotions were all over the place. The last twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, and being in the presence of a half-naked Zeke was not helping me get my head screwed on straight. Thank goodness he'd vacated the kitchen to get dressed.

"Don't hog her all to yourself, Gertie," Milly said, gently nudging Grandma aside and giving me a hug. The woman barely came to my chest, which was saying something because I was short too. She'd shrunk over the years, but clearly her friendship with my grandma hadn't.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Milly."

"Oh, we're all adults now. You can drop the miss." She pulled back and shot me a wide grin. "Speaking of adults…I hear you and Zeke tied the knot!"

A warm glow spread through my system at her words. I held out my hand, showing off my two rings. All three ladies clustered around me, along with Daisy, wanting to get an up-close look while they talked over each other. I knew I shouldn't be amping up their excitement when I knew the marriage wouldn't last, but it felt good to have these women surrounding me with what felt like a lot of love.

Zeke came back in the kitchen and our gazes locked. A slow smile spread across his handsome face as he took in the scene. It was only when his mother shouted a comment about the twisted wedding band that he looked away.

"This looks familiar!"

I turned my attention to Emily. "What do you mean it looks familiar?"

She popped her head up, darting a glance from me to her son and then back to me. "Well…"

Zeke interrupted, pushing his way into the tight circle to put his arm around my waist. The ladies backed off a bit—but not Daisy who sat on my feet—realizing a little breathing room was needed. I tried not to focus on how nice it felt to be in the circle of Zeke's arm. It highlighted how little touching Danny and I had done.

"I bought that band when we were seniors. Always meant to give it to you but never got around to it." Zeke let me go. "Now who wants an omelette?"

Milly and Grandma clamored about always being up for a second breakfast, but Emily continued to frown at the back of Zeke's head. I wasn't sure what that was all about, but I wasn't going to step in the middle of a family issue when I wasn't really family. In a week or so the rings would be back in Zeke's possession anyway. Instead, I got bread and butter out of the refrigerator and helped prepare breakfast. It was as we were sitting around the table that Grandma started asking the hard questions.

"I didn't realize that you and Zeke still communicated. When I told you about your inheritance, I didn't realize that this was going on between you two." She pointed her fork between Zeke and me.

"Inheritance?" Emily asked, clearly confused.

"Yeah, Rainey is getting an inheritance from her father, but we just saw each other again when Rainey came back to town and everything clicked into place. Sure, it's impulsive, but…" Zeke trailed off with a shrug.

Emily reached over to pat his hand. "But you've always loved Rainey."

"Exactly," Zeke agreed, not looking my way.

"So, when are you going on your honeymoon?" Grandma asked.

Zeke looked at me then, a bit lost on how to answer that.

I turned to look at the ladies with a soft smile. "This was all very sudden, so we don't have anything planned. We just want some alone time to get to know each other again."

Milly snorted. "Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

My cheeks heated while all three ladies giggled at her implication.

"Speaking of wanting alone time, I should head out. I just had to see for myself. I'm very happy for you both." Emily scraped her chair back and stood, locking gazes with me. "You always made my son smile, Rainey."

Guilt and something unfamiliar clogged my throat. Zeke reached over to sling his arm around me, saving me from responding with words. Grandma and Milly followed suit, the three of them taking their plates to the sink and then giving us hugs. Zeke helped me out of my chair and kept my hand enveloped in his as we walked them to the front door.

"I wouldn't mind a great-grandkid one of these days," Grandma said with a wink.

I laughed, but it came out like I was being strangled. Milly clapped her arthritic hands together, changing the subject.

"Oh! How about we throw you two a party? You didn't get a formal reception."

"That's a great idea!" Emily brightened and neither of us had the heart to put a stop to their plans. I didn't know if I'd be gone already by the time they put a party together. This was exactly why marrying Zeke instead of Danny hadn't been a good idea. But what was done was done. We'd just have to face the consequences now.

"We'll discuss it and let you know," Zeke said diplomatically.

There was another round of hugs and then they all left. Blessed silence overwhelmed me as the door shut and it was just the two of us once again. Zeke looked at me sheepishly, reaching up to rub his neck like he'd developed a headache.

"That was…interesting."

I bit back a smile. There was nothing funny about deceiving both of our families, but seeing Zeke off-balance was a teeny-tiny bit funny. He projected such confidence all the time, it was nice to see he had some self-doubts on occasion like a normal person. Lord knew I had a whole suitcase full of self-doubts.

"The Auntie Brigade strikes again," I muttered.

The one side of his mouth tipped up and he dropped his hand. "Want to get dressed and I'll show you my next project out back?"

I had nothing better to do until I turned thirty in two days, and spending time with Zeke sounded like just the distraction I needed. "Sure. Mind if I take a shower first?"

"Rain. You don't have to ask permission. My house is your house now. Do whatever you'd like. Use whatever you'd like."

I shifted on my bare feet, feeling like I was going to break out into a sweat at any moment. Maybe the flannel pajamas weren't the best idea in the middle of summer. "Thank you. I guess it just feels weird to invade your space when it's…well. Short term."

Zeke inhaled sharply and changed the subject. "Go get ready. I'll clean up the kitchen."

I nodded, feeling guilty about our families, but also guilty for using Zeke's generosity for my own gain. Then again, I hadn't planned on doing that. Zeke had forced my hand when he got rid of Danny. With that last thought I rolled my shoulders back and vowed to take an extra-long shower just because it served him right to get a hefty water bill.

When I came back out of the bathroom an hour later, my wet hair was piled on top of my head and I felt like a new woman. It also helped my flagging ego to see how Zeke's gaze immediately dropped to my bare legs. The cutoff jean shorts fit like a glove, but my skin was paler than I'd like. Working two jobs hadn't left much time for sunbathing in Colorado. Zeke held out his hand and I took it, refusing to analyze if holding hands with my temporary husband was a good idea.

Daisy trotted beside us as we went out the back door and headed for the backyard. There were trees that lined the property line, some of them bearing fruit. The grass was wild and high in most places, which meant I had to follow Zeke's exact footprints to not get lost in the weeds.

"I didn't want a manicured backyard. In the spring, the grasses bloom these incredible flowers. Seems a shame to mow it." Zeke finally stopped in the back corner where the grass had been chopped back to reveal bare dirt. "And this is where I plan to build a pergola. Once the trees grow a bit more, it'll be the perfect shady spot to relax with a beer."

"Or a book," I offered, already picturing the beautiful space once the pergola was built.

Zeke turned, a wry smile on his face. "Yeah, what's up with that? You read now?"

I scoffed, pretending I was offended. "I'll have you know I've always been able to read." I paused. "I just never wanted to in high school. Then as an adult I found they were the perfect way to escape. I could travel anywhere I wanted to in a book."

I could feel him studying me, but I refused to explain further. Our temporary marriage didn't leave time for every detail of where I'd been over the last twelve years. Besides, there were more important things I wanted to know.

Looking around the property and seeing the back of the house, I couldn't help but compare his life with my abysmal one. "You've done really well for yourself, Zeke. I'm impressed."

"Thanks," he said dismissively.

I lifted my gaze, finding him staring at me intently. Like there was something he wanted to say but wouldn't. I knew the feeling. "Tell me about your dad?"

I could see the way the topic affected him. His shoulders drooped and his eyes took on a mourning that made my stomach ache. They'd been close in high school. Zeke had looked up to his dad, calling him his best friend. Besides me, he would always add, like he wanted to assure me of my place in his life.

Instead of answering, Zeke stripped his T-shirt over his head and my mouth popped open. My blood heated and it had nothing to do with the sun beating down from the summer sky. He draped the material over the dirt patch and offered me a seat. I dropped my butt down on the T-shirt, just so I'd quit ogling him. He didn't help matters by sitting next to me, his bulk pressing into my side. We didn't really fit on the T-shirt, but I wasn't going to complain. His touch soothed me in a way I hadn't felt since I'd left Blueball in my rearview mirror. God, I'd missed this man.

"You sure you want the whole story?" he finally said.

I bumped his shoulder. "Only if you want to tell it."

I would absolutely not demand he spill his guts if he didn't want to. I certainly wouldn't be sharing everything either. We both had our secrets to keep and even a marriage license wasn't going to loosen our tongues.