Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,22

kind of woman the brothers had talked about. Her request had been fair in the light of giving up several months to help him, though she’d signed the papers that enrolled her as an employee of Rockstead Ranch, so she’d also be drawing a paycheck. The salary was payment for mucking out stalls. The ten grand was payment for her acting abilities, which she needed to brush up on if Nathaniel was already suspicious.

“Eavesdropping?” Blake’s arms rested on the top of the gate to Zorro’s stall.

Heat suffused Riley’s face. “I was going to leave the stable until I realized it was a bad time to walk past them.”

Blake raised his eyebrows and adjusted his cowboy hat. “Oh, yeah?”

She was terrible at lying, and now her whole life was a lie. This was ridiculous. But Blake was the last person she’d confide in. Second last. Travis would take top spot. And then Dakota. Never mind the order.

Riley smiled at Blake. Maybe it would look natural. “Every relationship has its ups and downs, right?” How old was Blake? Had to be at least mid-twenties. “I’m sure you’ve experienced a few of those yourself.”

He grinned and winked. “In the words of my bro, none of your beeswax.”

“Um, probably right.” She glanced down the alleyway to see Adam leading Jupiter toward her.

“Hi, honey.” He bent and kissed her. “Hi, Blake.”

All a show. Always. She’d do well to remember she was only acting a part. “Hi, babe. How was your ride?” Babe? Seriously? Where had that come from? Drama 101, apparently.

He tugged her close to his side as he led Jupiter the rest of the way to the stall she’d just finished cleaning. “Good. Missed you all day, though.” He nuzzled her temple.

Heat flushed her face and tingled through her body. Not real. Remember it’s not real. But Blake might still be watching. “Missed you, too.” She ran her fingers over his scruffy jaw.

Adam’s eyes darkened as he looked into her own. “Not as much as I missed you.” He cupped her chin in his free hand and kissed her again, much more thoroughly.

Her knees wobbled and she grabbed at his arm to keep upright.

“Get a room,” yelled Blake.

Maybe the acting was a little too convincing. Ugh. Where was the balance?

This gig was going to spoil her for another man.

Chapter Nine

“Your dad goes to church?”

The sound of disbelief in Riley’s voice pulled a chuckle out of Adam as he edged his truck into the lineup leaving Rockstead on Sunday morning. “Not so much.”

“But...” Riley’s brow furrowed as she glanced over her shoulder at Declan’s truck behind them.

“I know, but it’s not what it looks like. He’ll drop Mom and the twins off at the church then go for coffee at the Golden Grill with his buddies. They’ll discuss world politics, the price of cattle and hay, the weather, and the crutch religion offers to those who can’t think for themselves. Those who are weak, you know.”

“I don’t understand. At breakfast, it sounded totally assumed that everyone would attend.”

“That’s how it’s always been.” Adam followed Travis’s truck, leaving a gap so dust didn’t billow into the cab. “I remember Declan dropping off his boys at church back when we were all little kids. His wife had left him, and I guess he needed a break from three rowdy boys, so he let the Sunday school teachers handle them for an hour or two while he went for coffee.”

Riley tilted her head as she studied him. “I didn’t realize you’d known their family before — well, I guess that’s dumb. Of course, your mom knew Declan, and you kids knew each other. That would have been before online dating,”

“Oh, I’m sure that was already a thing but, no, they met at church. She thought all he needed was a godly wife, since he obviously prioritized church attendance. For the boys, not for himself.”

“It’s hard to imagine them in love.” Riley’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her hand.

The sparkle of his diamond on her finger caught his attention. She didn’t wear it all the time, citing how she didn’t want to snag the gem on anything and lose it. Sue him if he didn’t get a thrill from seeing it, though. But a ring didn’t mean anything. Mom wore Declan’s rings, too. “I’m not sure they were ever in love.”

“Then why? I mean, I get that Declan needed help with his sons, but why your mom?”

“She was a teacher. She’d gone back to Creekside Academy