Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,51

Nat would understand that everything Adam did was for all three of the Anderson brothers. It would be okay.

Adam sighed. “Come in then.”

“Darn right.” Nathaniel fell into step beside Adam and followed him into the cabin, where they both shucked their winter coats and snow-covered boots.

Adam gave a thought to the warmth in Texas he’d experienced only this morning as he tossed a couple of logs into the wood stove. He turned, hoping his brother would have disappeared. No such luck.

Nathaniel stood in front of the door, feet planted and arms crossed in front of him. “I knew there was something fishy about you and Riley. What’s in it for her?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Darn right I don’t. Educate me.” Nat held up a hand. “Wait. Don’t. This is all about Running Creek, isn’t it?”

“It should belong to us. To you and Noah and me.”

Nathaniel removed his hat long enough to shove his hand through his hair as he shook his head. “Ever heard of just being up front? If Declan finds out what you’ve done, our chance will be gone.” His hand chopped through the air.

“He won’t find out.” Adam stared his brother in the eye. “Unless you tell him.”

“Look. Here’s what I don’t get. You’re lying to everyone, including me. But, at the same time, you’re pretending to be this good little Christian boy, like you had some kind of experience that makes you better than the rest of us.”

Adam winced as his brother’s words sliced through him. How had he managed to justify all this in his own head? Because Nathaniel was right.

He’d blown it.

Chapter Nineteen

This would be the Sunday Riley wished she could feign illness and stay locked up in her little cabin, or, better yet, be somewhere far away from western Montana. Definitely not New Mexico, though.

Ugh. How had she made such a big mess of her life? Raul was in her rearview mirror. Adam soon would be, and the thought she could live in nearby Jewel Lake after their breakup was so laughably ridiculous, she should be collapsed in giggles.

Definitely not how she felt as she strolled into church on Sunday morning, hand-in-hand with Adam. If only she could halfway match his nonchalance and his smiles for everyone around them as though nothing was wrong.

Everything was wrong. She’d gone and fallen for Adam even with all her best defenses in place. Feeling his warm palm against hers with their fingers entwined made her want so much more, but it was all about the ranch for him.

For Raul, it had only been about getting close to her dad. About his own political aspirations. She’d been nothing but a tool, and she’d been totally clueless.

This time she’d walked in with her eyes wide open, or so she’d thought. Falling in love with this conniving cowboy had not been part of the plan. He’d kept to his part, but it needed to end.

Where would she go after New Year’s? She’d meant the ultimatum she’d given Adam. One more week and she was out of here, regardless of whether he’d secured Running Creek or not. If she had to do without the ten grand, so be it. She was done. She had her wages tucked in the bank in Jewel Lake, so she was in better shape than in October.

One more week to survive. Now she endured the Christmas Eve morning service with the carols and the sermon of hope and joy that did nothing to penetrate the dullness in her soul.

She loved Christmas. She did. Or at least, she used to, but recent years had soured her. This was one for the history books.

Your own fault, Riley. Instead of confronting Dad and Raul, you ran. You hitchhiked with jerks like Scotty Erickson. You threw yourself at a total stranger in the diner lobby. You agreed to his preposterous terms. You deserve every bit of unhappiness you’ve achieved.

As the interminable service came to an end, Mrs. McDiarmid turned from in front of them, her gaze flitting between Riley and Adam. “Oh, it’s good to see you together. I thought...”

Adam’s fingers found Riley’s as he smiled at the church secretary. “You thought what?”

“Well, Riley and Sco... never mind.” Her face reddened as she grabbed her purse and edged out of the aisle.

Riley felt Adam’s gaze but didn’t look up at him. “Oh, look. There’s Lyssa Quinn. Do you know her? She teaches third grade at Creekside Academy.”

“How do you know her?”

“Um, she lives next door to Dakota. We met on the