Wealthy and Wanted - Alexa Riley Page 0,22

house.

I spend an hour or so keeping myself busy, but each minute feels longer than the last. When I’m washing dishes I hear the front door and I spin around to see a woman standing there. She’s in jean shorts and cowboy boots with a white shirt tied in the front showing off her midriff. I’ve never seen her before. I haven't seen another woman around here besides myself.

“Who the hell are you?” she asks, walking toward me, her boots clicking loudly with each step. When she makes it over to the other side of the counter, I see how beautiful she is. She’s tall, too, and has legs for days.

“I think I should be asking you that,” I say to her.

“Did he bring home a one-night stand?” She slaps her hand down on the counter.

“I'm not a one-night stand.”

She rolls her eyes and starts laughing. “I got a call that Clay needed me. He always needs me.” She smirks. “Why don’t you go get your stuff together so this isn't more awkward later when Clay brings me back tonight?”

I swallow the knot forming in my throat, unsure of what to say to her. What if Clay has someone he hasn’t told me about? To be fair, I haven’t exactly explained my fiancé. Could he be hiding his own arrangement?

She lifts her hands. “I mean, really.” She motions to me and then herself. “Don’t embarrass yourself more.”

I ignore her jab. I don’t know if she’s hurting and lashing out or if she’s really just a bitch. “Why aren’t you mad?” I blurt out, and she shrugs.

“He’s playing dirty. He’s still mad I went home with the cowboy from the rodeo show in town a couple months ago. He was ignoring me, but that got his attention. I think you're his payback, and I’m not mad because now he can’t throw it in my face. We can finally move on to marriage and babies and all that. Get it?”

No, I’m not sure I get it at all, but I nod because I want her to leave.

“Good. Now, I'll go check on Clay.” She strolls out the door and slams it behind her.

I walk over to one of the chairs and sit down, feeling numb. I don’t know what to believe. I decide to wait and not let myself get worked up. Clay should be here in an hour or so.

He’s not.

It’s almost four o’clock when he walks in and pulls his Stetson off. He sets it by the front door and takes off his boots.

“Everyone okay?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yeah.” He walks over to me, pulling me into his arms. He holds me tight, and I rest my head on his chest. My stomach drops when the familiar smell of the woman's perfume from earlier hits my nose.

Clay kisses the top of my head. “I’m beat, I’m going to go shower.”

“Want me to join you?”

“No, I’m going to be quick. Why don’t you get dinner going for us?”

I nod, watching him go. When I hear the bathroom door close, I leave out the front, having no idea what I’m doing, but I need air. The house is massive, but I need a deep breath of the cool fall air to clear my head because right now, I’m at a loss.

When I step onto the wraparound porch, to my utter surprise I see my sister getting out of some fancy car I’ve never seen in my life.

She runs straight at me and flings herself in my arms. “You haven’t called me in days!” she squeals as I close my eyes and try not to cry.

Has it been days? God, I’ve lost track of time out here. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’ve got something I’ve gotta tell you.” She wrings her hands together. “I guess Judge called because he wants to get married this weekend.”

My heart falls to the floor, and I drop my head.

“Can we get out of here?” I need to leave this house for a second and get some space. My sister cringes as she points to the car.

“I think I broke it.”

“It looks fine.”

“It's one of those stick things.”

I shake my head. “Where did you get the car?” She looks anywhere but at me. “Kat.”

“I stole it from Judge.”

My mouth falls open as she shrugs sheepishly.

“What? He has tons of cars over there. He’ll probably never know it’s gone.”

“Babe.”

Kat jerks around faster than me.

I hear Clay’s footsteps in the distance, and I take a steadying breath.

“Why is he calling you