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Solitary ManThe Smith Brothers #4
WIFE WANTED. Something compelled me to reply, and with every email we exchanged, I fell harder for Cash Smith. Only my new husband isn't what I expected. He watches me, silent and hungry, like he wants to own every part of me. And when he shares that he's never been with a woman, I'm determined to show him his raw hunger for me is exactly what we both need. But he's still guarding his heart--and when secrets are revealed, our fragile love is threatened. How can I build a future with my solitary man, when our beginning was built on lies? |
Chapter One
Riley
Today, I was marrying a man I’d never laid eyes on before, not in the flesh, anyway.
No, I hadn’t lost my mind, and no, this wasn’t some creepy internet scam. We’d met through a reputable site. Also, and most importantly, I knew deep in my bones, in my soul, that this was exactly where I was meant to be. Today, I would meet and marry the man I would spend the rest of my life with.
I was coming home—metaphorically speaking.
Fate had led me to Cash Smith. It was no accident that I’d found him when I’d needed him most, and no one could tell me otherwise. Life was just a series of events, some wonderful…some not so wonderful.
I’d had more than my fair share of the not so wonderful parts. Cash was the good I’d been waiting a long time for—the good that I’d started to think would never come.
I clutched the emails he’d sent me over the last few months. I’d printed them out and had probably read them a hundred times. As a romance writer, I more than appreciated his way with words. My husband-to-be was open, intelligent, interesting, and I couldn’t wait to meet him in person.
Tilting my head back, I let the sun warm my face and breathed in the clean Rocky Mountain air. I had an excellent imagination, but this place surpassed anything I’d dreamed up when I thought about a new life: landscapes that stole your breath, wide-open spaces, the sounds of nature moving at its own pace. The peace and quiet I’d been longing for. I’d have endless inspiration for my writing. But it was more than that. I’d have someone to share all this beauty with, someone who would be my partner in every sense of the word.
Cash and I had mainly communicated through email since he had such patchy internet out here, but I’d liked that. We’d gotten to know each other without any of the usual games that came with dating, without all the worry about outward appearances. Though, of course we’d exchanged pictures. And I had most definitely liked what I’d seen. My belly squirmed. He was tall with broad shoulders and rich chocolate brown hair. He also had the prettiest blue eyes I’d ever seen.
“Pretty” was an odd word to use for a man like Cash. But I couldn’t think of any other word to describe them. When I saw those gorgeous blue eyes, they’d literally stolen my breath.
He’d also called a couple of times. His satellite phone had been fuzzy and crackly, but we had managed to talk a little—or more, I’d talked his ear off from nerves and excitement and barely let him get a word in—but I’d liked his voice. It was deep. Soothing.
I stood and stretched, then smiled down at the sweet gold and diamond ring he’d sent me.
“Cash shouldn’t be much longer, honey,” Landon, the owner of the general store I was sitting outside, said from the door.
He’d introduced himself when I’d arrived, had told me Cash would be a little late and went back inside. He was holding two steaming mugs now, and he lifted one. “Hot chocolate?”
My smile widened, and I quickly tucked the emails back in my bag. I took the drink. “I love hot chocolate. I think I might be addicted to it.”
He chuckled. “You might want to try it first. It could be terrible.”
I took a sip and sighed. Heaven. “This is exactly how I like it. Exactly.”
“Glad to hear it.” He sat on the bench, and I sat back down beside him.
“So, you’re getting hitched today, huh?”
“Yes.” Nerves exploded through me, but they were the good kind.
My parents’ voices echoed through my head.
Oh, you’re getting married? That’s nice. Sorry, have to go. We have dinner reservations. You know how it is.
Click.
That was it. They didn’t even pretend to care anymore. Not that they ever did. They certainly wouldn’t dream of tearing themselves away from their latest adventure to be there for me when I got married.
It still managed to hurt, though, despite all the years of neglect. Despite knowing better. I’d spent a lot of my life alone. Lonely. An only child with parents who had ignored me, who continued to ignore me.
I deserved more than that. I always had. It just took me a little while to realize it, and finally go after it for myself.
“I assumed you were either brave or stupid,” Landon said, still grinning. “I’ve decided on the former. You look like you’re firing on all cylinders to me.”
I laughed. “I’m just going to go ahead and take that as a compliment.”
“You should. It was meant as one. I think you and Cash will get on just fine.”
I had no idea how or why he thought this, since we’d just met and had talked for all of three minutes. But I’d take it, because I wanted that, too. More than anything.
“Do you know him well?” I asked, hungry for anything more he could share about the man I was marrying.
“Known him all his life. He’s hard-working, honest, loyal.” He looked at me, right in the eyes. His stare was earnest, unwavering. “Cash Smith is a good man. One of the best.”
I drew in a shaky breath to steady my nerves. I knew these things. It had all been there in his emails. Not in a showy way. Just in the way he spoke about his day or his interactions with others.
I needed honest and loyal after the nightmare I’d been through with my ex-boyfriend, Keith. I swallowed as familiar fear sliced through me. He’d stalked and terrorized me when we broke up. Then things had escalated when he’d broken into my apartment in the middle of the night and threatened me with a knife.
To anyone who knew my history—and right now that was only the police investigating my case—moving here, doing this, would probably seem insane. But it felt the opposite to me. This was the clean break I so desperately needed. The new start. A way to build a beautiful new life on my own terms.
One night, I’d been sitting in the dark, too afraid to sleep, feeling lost, alone. Then I’d seen an advertisement in my Facebook feed asking if I’d love to live by the mountains. I’d clicked on it. I don’t know why. I guess the picture of insanely beautiful snow-covered peaks had spoken to me. The link had taken me to FindMeAHusband.com. I’d seen Cash’s Wife Wantedadvertisement almost immediately.
And I’d just…known.
I wrote about romance every day. And I wanted that for myself. So I went after it. I made it happen.
A distant low hum echoed through the valley.
I searched the fields and hills surrounding us. “What is that?”
Landon patted my hand. “That would be your fiancé.” He pointed up to the sky, to a speck in the distance.
“A plane?”
“Yep.”
I squinted, my heart thundering harder. “Cashis in that plane?”
“He’s flying it.”
Oh my God.
I stared up at the sky, stunned. “He never said he could fly.”
Landon chuckled. “Gotta keep some mystery in a relationship. Isn’t that what they say? Besides, it’s the only way to get to his property.”
I spun to face him. “What?”
“He lives in a pretty remote area. You didn’t know?”
I mean, kind of. I assumed he was an hour’s drive from town or something when he said his place was isolated. But this was something else.
Calm down. Nothing’s changed. He lives a little farther out, that’s all. This was not a big deal. Except for your total fear of flying, especially in small planes!
“Where will he land?” I said, looking around frantically.
Landon pointed to a field. “There.”
I shot to my feet as the small aircraft came in to land, bouncing and bumping along, with my heart in my throat the whole time. Oh no. No, no, no, no.That plane was small on a whole new freakinglevel.
It finally came to a stop. I stood there, wringing my hands as I took in the dark figure sitting inside.
Now my flying nerves morphed into something else. Cash was here. He was finally here.
I couldn’t see him properly, since he was in shadow behind the window. When the door opened, those relentless nerves spiked so high my head spun.
One long leg appeared, then another, his massive thighs bunching as he climbed out. A navy thermal clung to his thick waist and flat stomach, molding perfectly to the jaw-dropping expanse of his colossal chest. And those shoulders? Holy freaking hell.
Then he was out, standing by the plane.
I took a startled step back, then stopped myself and quickly stepped forward, limbs shaky, heart pounding. My fiancé was…huge. A veritable mountain of a man.
He didn’t look like his picture. Nope. Size aside—though I wasn’t sure that was possible—in the photo he was clean shaven. The man walking toward me had a full beard and hair that needed a trim.
Landon muttered a curse beside me.
“That’s…Cash?” I whispered, my throat suddenly closing up.
Landon laughed unsteadily. “Told the boy to shave.”
Boy?
Nope. Man.
All man.
As Cash came closer his blue eyes hit me. They hit me hard, and I took another startled step back. His own step faltered, and he frowned, but he kept coming.
A hand was suddenly on my back, and I jumped.
“You keep backing up, honey, you’ll end up rolling down the bank.” Landon gave my shoulder a pat. “He’s big. I get it. But I promise there’s nothing but good in that boy.”
Okay, this was happening. This was Cash. My Cash. The man who’d sent me all those beautiful emails. He was bigger than I’d imagined--a lot bigger—and there was the beard. I mean, it was nice. I actually liked it. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.
I smiled, even as my hands shook from nerves and excitement. And okay, there might have been a little uncertainty as well.
Cash stopped in front of me, and I tipped my head back. All the way back. “Hi,” I breathed. Yes, breathed.
“Riley?” he said in a voice so deep and rough, I was surprised the ground didn’t shake beneath me. It was even deeper than I remembered.
My smile wobbled. “I’m…yes. Riley.” My gaze roamed over the sheer length and breadth of his body and back up. “You’re ah…bigger than I expected.”
He grunted.
Grunted.
An awkward silence fell between us. This is to be expected,I reminded myself. I’d done a lot of research on these kinds of marriages. I’d talked to people who had done similar to what we were now. The website Cash had used had a lot of useful information on what to expect as well, and there was a database of couples, the successful marriages and the failures. Most were happy to talk and share their experiences and I had taken advantage of the opportunity. Awkwardness was completely normal. He was more than likely as nervous as me.
I beamed up at him, letting the warmth in my heart show on my face. Yes, it was a shock finally seeing him in person, but I was happy to be here. “I’m so excited to finally meet you…to seeyou in the flesh.” Then I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his thick waist, hugging him.
Cash tensed.
I waited for him to hug me back.
Landon cursed behind me.
Cash’s arms stayed at his sides.
Was he disappointed? Was seeing me in person a letdown?
I pulled back, heat washing my face, and suddenly those massive arms came around me and tugged me closer. He patted my back awkwardly. Maybe it wasn’t me? He lived alone. His house was remote. Way more remote than I originally thought. Maybe he wasn’t used to physical contact? I guess having someone hug you when you weren’t used to it could be jarring?
Then he pulled back and surprised me further by taking my hand.
He paused and glanced down, his thumb gliding over the ring he’d sent me, and he made a rough sound.
I followed his gaze, taking in the way his fingers were curled around mine, and bit my lip. My hand disappeared in his. His fingers were long and thick, the skin rough from a life of working with his hands. I imagined him typing letters to me, those thick fingers stabbing at the keyboard, and my smile widened.
“Let’s go,” he rumbled and headed for the general store.
I followed, not that Cash gave me much choice, his hand was still wrapped tightly around my own.
“What are we doing?” I asked when we walked into the store.
“Getting married.”
“Now?” I mean, I knew it was happening today, but I assumed we’d talk for a while first, now that we were face to face.
“Won’t be back for a month,” he said, dropping my hand and pulling a piece of paper from the pocket of his jeans. He handed it to Landon. “Marriage license.”
Landon nodded and smiled at me. “Let’s get this done. You’ll want to head out before it gets dark.”
Cash grunted. Again.
“Um, this all seems…”
Cash looked down at me, his pretty blue eyes hitting mine with a force that made my knees almost buckle. He wanted this. He wanted me. It was all there in those expressive eyes. And just that look from him calmed me.
I glanced back at Landon. “You can perform weddings?”
“Yes, ma’am. Got ordained online. I’ll send the paperwork in once you two sign it.”
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I said, before I chickened out.
Cash tensed beside me, and I peered up at him again. He was staring at me with an intensity that stole my breath.
“Right, repeat after me. I, Cash Wyatt Smith, take you, Riley Emeline Lewis, to be my wife.”
Cash repeated the words, all deep and rumbly, then Landon told him the next bit. Cash shifted, his wide shoulders straightening. “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will honor you all the days of my life,”Cash repeated, eyes burning into me, face flushed.
I shivered. His voice. Dear God. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.
“Put the ring on Riley’s finger,” Landon said.
Cash pulled a simple gold band from his pocket, took my hand in his, and slipped it on my finger.
“Now it’s your turn,” Landon said to me and rattled off what I had to say.
I glanced back up at Cash. His eyes bore into me so intensely that a shiver moved through my entire body. It wasn’t a bad shiver. But I was freaking out just a bit. This quiet, intense man was about to become my husband. The man I lived with…slept with.
The nerves skyrocketed.
He squeezed my hand gently. “Riley?”
The way he said my name, unsure, softer, but no less rough pulled me from my mini freak-out. This is what you want. This is why you’re here. You know this man, you’ve been talking to him for months.
You knowhim.
I’d known him the moment I’d stared into his eyes.
“I, Riley Emeline Lewis, take you, Cash Wyatt Smith, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will honor you all the days of my life.”
His fingers squeezed again, this time more like a spasm, like he’d been surprised I’d actually said the words.
“Riley, put the ring on Cash’s finger.”
I blushed and quickly grabbed my bag from the shop counter where I’d put it and pulled out the ring box. I flipped it open and pulled out the wide gold band I’d chosen for him. Honestly, I should have cottoned on to the size of the man I was marrying when he emailed me his ring size.
Taking his huge, hot hand in mine, I pushed it on his long, calloused finger and smiled up at him.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations. Cash, you may kiss your bride.”
Cash’s gaze shot to Landon, then back to me, and color darkened his cheeks—what I could see above his beard, anyway. I turned to face him fully, more nerves erupting in my belly. He didn’t make a move. He stood there frozen, looking down at me.
Landon chuckled. “Don’t blame you for looking at her like a deer in headlights, boy. But you’re gonna have to help her out.”
Cash frowned at Landon.
“You’ll need to bend down, son.”
He turned back to me, paused a moment, then bent down. I gripped his arms and rose to meet him, lifting to my tiptoes.
His lips finally touched mine, soft and warm, and a spark shot through me so hard and fast, I had to cling to him tighter, digging my fingers into his monster biceps so I didn’t fall to the floor in a heap.
His breath huffed out of his nose against my cheek, and without my say-so my tongue slid out to graze his upper lip. Cash jolted and lifted his head sharply, his eyes flashing.
Did he not like it? Was it too much, too soon?
Cash turned back to Landon. “License.”
Landon was grinning again, so wide all I could see were teeth. Cash signed it, then he took my hand and tugged me forward, putting the pen in my hand. Not handing me the pen, but literally putting it in my hand and wrapping my fingers around it, all but signing for me.
I signed my name and looked up at Landon. “Thank you for…”
Cash towed me from the general store. “This all of it?” he said, motioning to the three suitcases holding all my worldly possessions.
“Yes.”
He dipped his chin, picked up all three, and headed to the plane. Landon waved as I jogged after my new husband, trying not to trip over the uneven ground.
“See you in a month, Riley,” Landon called.
Cash loaded my bags into the plane, then opened the door closest to me, gripped my hips, and lifted me like I weighed nothing. I did not weigh nothing. I had curves. Some would say I was overweight. I didn’t care what anyone said. I had the same figure as my mother and her mother before that. There was no changing it, even if I wanted to. I didn’t.
Next to Cash, though, I felt petite in a way I never had in my life.
He shut my door, walked around, and climbed in beside me. Without a word, he reached over to help me buckle up and placed a headset on me. He put on his own, and soon the plane roared to life and we started moving.
My hands curled into tight fists, and I was finding it hard to breathe again. “I’m not the best flier,” I said into the headset. “I apologize in advance if I talk your ear off. I talk when I’m nervous.”
He said nothing.
“Oh God.” We bumped down the “runway,” picking up speed, and I shrieked and clung to the seat.
Then we were lifting off.
My hand flew out, gripping Cash’s forearm. He again said nothing as I clung to him like Velcro while he tried to fly the plane at the same time.
If I hadn’t been terrified, I would have been embarrassed or at least appreciated the pleasurable zaps firing up my arm from that little bit of contact between us.
Instead, I squeezed my eyes closed and hung on to him for dear life.
Today, I was marrying a man I’d never laid eyes on before, not in the flesh, anyway.
No, I hadn’t lost my mind, and no, this wasn’t some creepy internet scam. We’d met through a reputable site. Also, and most importantly, I knew deep in my bones, in my soul, that this was exactly where I was meant to be. Today, I would meet and marry the man I would spend the rest of my life with.
I was coming home—metaphorically speaking.
Fate had led me to Cash Smith. It was no accident that I’d found him when I’d needed him most, and no one could tell me otherwise. Life was just a series of events, some wonderful…some not so wonderful.
I’d had more than my fair share of the not so wonderful parts. Cash was the good I’d been waiting a long time for—the good that I’d started to think would never come.
I clutched the emails he’d sent me over the last few months. I’d printed them out and had probably read them a hundred times. As a romance writer, I more than appreciated his way with words. My husband-to-be was open, intelligent, interesting, and I couldn’t wait to meet him in person.
Tilting my head back, I let the sun warm my face and breathed in the clean Rocky Mountain air. I had an excellent imagination, but this place surpassed anything I’d dreamed up when I thought about a new life: landscapes that stole your breath, wide-open spaces, the sounds of nature moving at its own pace. The peace and quiet I’d been longing for. I’d have endless inspiration for my writing. But it was more than that. I’d have someone to share all this beauty with, someone who would be my partner in every sense of the word.
Cash and I had mainly communicated through email since he had such patchy internet out here, but I’d liked that. We’d gotten to know each other without any of the usual games that came with dating, without all the worry about outward appearances. Though, of course we’d exchanged pictures. And I had most definitely liked what I’d seen. My belly squirmed. He was tall with broad shoulders and rich chocolate brown hair. He also had the prettiest blue eyes I’d ever seen.
“Pretty” was an odd word to use for a man like Cash. But I couldn’t think of any other word to describe them. When I saw those gorgeous blue eyes, they’d literally stolen my breath.
He’d also called a couple of times. His satellite phone had been fuzzy and crackly, but we had managed to talk a little—or more, I’d talked his ear off from nerves and excitement and barely let him get a word in—but I’d liked his voice. It was deep. Soothing.
I stood and stretched, then smiled down at the sweet gold and diamond ring he’d sent me.
“Cash shouldn’t be much longer, honey,” Landon, the owner of the general store I was sitting outside, said from the door.
He’d introduced himself when I’d arrived, had told me Cash would be a little late and went back inside. He was holding two steaming mugs now, and he lifted one. “Hot chocolate?”
My smile widened, and I quickly tucked the emails back in my bag. I took the drink. “I love hot chocolate. I think I might be addicted to it.”
He chuckled. “You might want to try it first. It could be terrible.”
I took a sip and sighed. Heaven. “This is exactly how I like it. Exactly.”
“Glad to hear it.” He sat on the bench, and I sat back down beside him.
“So, you’re getting hitched today, huh?”
“Yes.” Nerves exploded through me, but they were the good kind.
My parents’ voices echoed through my head.
Oh, you’re getting married? That’s nice. Sorry, have to go. We have dinner reservations. You know how it is.
Click.
That was it. They didn’t even pretend to care anymore. Not that they ever did. They certainly wouldn’t dream of tearing themselves away from their latest adventure to be there for me when I got married.
It still managed to hurt, though, despite all the years of neglect. Despite knowing better. I’d spent a lot of my life alone. Lonely. An only child with parents who had ignored me, who continued to ignore me.
I deserved more than that. I always had. It just took me a little while to realize it, and finally go after it for myself.
“I assumed you were either brave or stupid,” Landon said, still grinning. “I’ve decided on the former. You look like you’re firing on all cylinders to me.”
I laughed. “I’m just going to go ahead and take that as a compliment.”
“You should. It was meant as one. I think you and Cash will get on just fine.”
I had no idea how or why he thought this, since we’d just met and had talked for all of three minutes. But I’d take it, because I wanted that, too. More than anything.
“Do you know him well?” I asked, hungry for anything more he could share about the man I was marrying.
“Known him all his life. He’s hard-working, honest, loyal.” He looked at me, right in the eyes. His stare was earnest, unwavering. “Cash Smith is a good man. One of the best.”
I drew in a shaky breath to steady my nerves. I knew these things. It had all been there in his emails. Not in a showy way. Just in the way he spoke about his day or his interactions with others.
I needed honest and loyal after the nightmare I’d been through with my ex-boyfriend, Keith. I swallowed as familiar fear sliced through me. He’d stalked and terrorized me when we broke up. Then things had escalated when he’d broken into my apartment in the middle of the night and threatened me with a knife.
To anyone who knew my history—and right now that was only the police investigating my case—moving here, doing this, would probably seem insane. But it felt the opposite to me. This was the clean break I so desperately needed. The new start. A way to build a beautiful new life on my own terms.
One night, I’d been sitting in the dark, too afraid to sleep, feeling lost, alone. Then I’d seen an advertisement in my Facebook feed asking if I’d love to live by the mountains. I’d clicked on it. I don’t know why. I guess the picture of insanely beautiful snow-covered peaks had spoken to me. The link had taken me to FindMeAHusband.com. I’d seen Cash’s Wife Wantedadvertisement almost immediately.
And I’d just…known.
I wrote about romance every day. And I wanted that for myself. So I went after it. I made it happen.
A distant low hum echoed through the valley.
I searched the fields and hills surrounding us. “What is that?”
Landon patted my hand. “That would be your fiancé.” He pointed up to the sky, to a speck in the distance.
“A plane?”
“Yep.”
I squinted, my heart thundering harder. “Cashis in that plane?”
“He’s flying it.”
Oh my God.
I stared up at the sky, stunned. “He never said he could fly.”
Landon chuckled. “Gotta keep some mystery in a relationship. Isn’t that what they say? Besides, it’s the only way to get to his property.”
I spun to face him. “What?”
“He lives in a pretty remote area. You didn’t know?”
I mean, kind of. I assumed he was an hour’s drive from town or something when he said his place was isolated. But this was something else.
Calm down. Nothing’s changed. He lives a little farther out, that’s all. This was not a big deal. Except for your total fear of flying, especially in small planes!
“Where will he land?” I said, looking around frantically.
Landon pointed to a field. “There.”
I shot to my feet as the small aircraft came in to land, bouncing and bumping along, with my heart in my throat the whole time. Oh no. No, no, no, no.That plane was small on a whole new freakinglevel.
It finally came to a stop. I stood there, wringing my hands as I took in the dark figure sitting inside.
Now my flying nerves morphed into something else. Cash was here. He was finally here.
I couldn’t see him properly, since he was in shadow behind the window. When the door opened, those relentless nerves spiked so high my head spun.
One long leg appeared, then another, his massive thighs bunching as he climbed out. A navy thermal clung to his thick waist and flat stomach, molding perfectly to the jaw-dropping expanse of his colossal chest. And those shoulders? Holy freaking hell.
Then he was out, standing by the plane.
I took a startled step back, then stopped myself and quickly stepped forward, limbs shaky, heart pounding. My fiancé was…huge. A veritable mountain of a man.
He didn’t look like his picture. Nope. Size aside—though I wasn’t sure that was possible—in the photo he was clean shaven. The man walking toward me had a full beard and hair that needed a trim.
Landon muttered a curse beside me.
“That’s…Cash?” I whispered, my throat suddenly closing up.
Landon laughed unsteadily. “Told the boy to shave.”
Boy?
Nope. Man.
All man.
As Cash came closer his blue eyes hit me. They hit me hard, and I took another startled step back. His own step faltered, and he frowned, but he kept coming.
A hand was suddenly on my back, and I jumped.
“You keep backing up, honey, you’ll end up rolling down the bank.” Landon gave my shoulder a pat. “He’s big. I get it. But I promise there’s nothing but good in that boy.”
Okay, this was happening. This was Cash. My Cash. The man who’d sent me all those beautiful emails. He was bigger than I’d imagined--a lot bigger—and there was the beard. I mean, it was nice. I actually liked it. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.
I smiled, even as my hands shook from nerves and excitement. And okay, there might have been a little uncertainty as well.
Cash stopped in front of me, and I tipped my head back. All the way back. “Hi,” I breathed. Yes, breathed.
“Riley?” he said in a voice so deep and rough, I was surprised the ground didn’t shake beneath me. It was even deeper than I remembered.
My smile wobbled. “I’m…yes. Riley.” My gaze roamed over the sheer length and breadth of his body and back up. “You’re ah…bigger than I expected.”
He grunted.
Grunted.
An awkward silence fell between us. This is to be expected,I reminded myself. I’d done a lot of research on these kinds of marriages. I’d talked to people who had done similar to what we were now. The website Cash had used had a lot of useful information on what to expect as well, and there was a database of couples, the successful marriages and the failures. Most were happy to talk and share their experiences and I had taken advantage of the opportunity. Awkwardness was completely normal. He was more than likely as nervous as me.
I beamed up at him, letting the warmth in my heart show on my face. Yes, it was a shock finally seeing him in person, but I was happy to be here. “I’m so excited to finally meet you…to seeyou in the flesh.” Then I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his thick waist, hugging him.
Cash tensed.
I waited for him to hug me back.
Landon cursed behind me.
Cash’s arms stayed at his sides.
Was he disappointed? Was seeing me in person a letdown?
I pulled back, heat washing my face, and suddenly those massive arms came around me and tugged me closer. He patted my back awkwardly. Maybe it wasn’t me? He lived alone. His house was remote. Way more remote than I originally thought. Maybe he wasn’t used to physical contact? I guess having someone hug you when you weren’t used to it could be jarring?
Then he pulled back and surprised me further by taking my hand.
He paused and glanced down, his thumb gliding over the ring he’d sent me, and he made a rough sound.
I followed his gaze, taking in the way his fingers were curled around mine, and bit my lip. My hand disappeared in his. His fingers were long and thick, the skin rough from a life of working with his hands. I imagined him typing letters to me, those thick fingers stabbing at the keyboard, and my smile widened.
“Let’s go,” he rumbled and headed for the general store.
I followed, not that Cash gave me much choice, his hand was still wrapped tightly around my own.
“What are we doing?” I asked when we walked into the store.
“Getting married.”
“Now?” I mean, I knew it was happening today, but I assumed we’d talk for a while first, now that we were face to face.
“Won’t be back for a month,” he said, dropping my hand and pulling a piece of paper from the pocket of his jeans. He handed it to Landon. “Marriage license.”
Landon nodded and smiled at me. “Let’s get this done. You’ll want to head out before it gets dark.”
Cash grunted. Again.
“Um, this all seems…”
Cash looked down at me, his pretty blue eyes hitting mine with a force that made my knees almost buckle. He wanted this. He wanted me. It was all there in those expressive eyes. And just that look from him calmed me.
I glanced back at Landon. “You can perform weddings?”
“Yes, ma’am. Got ordained online. I’ll send the paperwork in once you two sign it.”
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I said, before I chickened out.
Cash tensed beside me, and I peered up at him again. He was staring at me with an intensity that stole my breath.
“Right, repeat after me. I, Cash Wyatt Smith, take you, Riley Emeline Lewis, to be my wife.”
Cash repeated the words, all deep and rumbly, then Landon told him the next bit. Cash shifted, his wide shoulders straightening. “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will honor you all the days of my life,”Cash repeated, eyes burning into me, face flushed.
I shivered. His voice. Dear God. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.
“Put the ring on Riley’s finger,” Landon said.
Cash pulled a simple gold band from his pocket, took my hand in his, and slipped it on my finger.
“Now it’s your turn,” Landon said to me and rattled off what I had to say.
I glanced back up at Cash. His eyes bore into me so intensely that a shiver moved through my entire body. It wasn’t a bad shiver. But I was freaking out just a bit. This quiet, intense man was about to become my husband. The man I lived with…slept with.
The nerves skyrocketed.
He squeezed my hand gently. “Riley?”
The way he said my name, unsure, softer, but no less rough pulled me from my mini freak-out. This is what you want. This is why you’re here. You know this man, you’ve been talking to him for months.
You knowhim.
I’d known him the moment I’d stared into his eyes.
“I, Riley Emeline Lewis, take you, Cash Wyatt Smith, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will honor you all the days of my life.”
His fingers squeezed again, this time more like a spasm, like he’d been surprised I’d actually said the words.
“Riley, put the ring on Cash’s finger.”
I blushed and quickly grabbed my bag from the shop counter where I’d put it and pulled out the ring box. I flipped it open and pulled out the wide gold band I’d chosen for him. Honestly, I should have cottoned on to the size of the man I was marrying when he emailed me his ring size.
Taking his huge, hot hand in mine, I pushed it on his long, calloused finger and smiled up at him.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations. Cash, you may kiss your bride.”
Cash’s gaze shot to Landon, then back to me, and color darkened his cheeks—what I could see above his beard, anyway. I turned to face him fully, more nerves erupting in my belly. He didn’t make a move. He stood there frozen, looking down at me.
Landon chuckled. “Don’t blame you for looking at her like a deer in headlights, boy. But you’re gonna have to help her out.”
Cash frowned at Landon.
“You’ll need to bend down, son.”
He turned back to me, paused a moment, then bent down. I gripped his arms and rose to meet him, lifting to my tiptoes.
His lips finally touched mine, soft and warm, and a spark shot through me so hard and fast, I had to cling to him tighter, digging my fingers into his monster biceps so I didn’t fall to the floor in a heap.
His breath huffed out of his nose against my cheek, and without my say-so my tongue slid out to graze his upper lip. Cash jolted and lifted his head sharply, his eyes flashing.
Did he not like it? Was it too much, too soon?
Cash turned back to Landon. “License.”
Landon was grinning again, so wide all I could see were teeth. Cash signed it, then he took my hand and tugged me forward, putting the pen in my hand. Not handing me the pen, but literally putting it in my hand and wrapping my fingers around it, all but signing for me.
I signed my name and looked up at Landon. “Thank you for…”
Cash towed me from the general store. “This all of it?” he said, motioning to the three suitcases holding all my worldly possessions.
“Yes.”
He dipped his chin, picked up all three, and headed to the plane. Landon waved as I jogged after my new husband, trying not to trip over the uneven ground.
“See you in a month, Riley,” Landon called.
Cash loaded my bags into the plane, then opened the door closest to me, gripped my hips, and lifted me like I weighed nothing. I did not weigh nothing. I had curves. Some would say I was overweight. I didn’t care what anyone said. I had the same figure as my mother and her mother before that. There was no changing it, even if I wanted to. I didn’t.
Next to Cash, though, I felt petite in a way I never had in my life.
He shut my door, walked around, and climbed in beside me. Without a word, he reached over to help me buckle up and placed a headset on me. He put on his own, and soon the plane roared to life and we started moving.
My hands curled into tight fists, and I was finding it hard to breathe again. “I’m not the best flier,” I said into the headset. “I apologize in advance if I talk your ear off. I talk when I’m nervous.”
He said nothing.
“Oh God.” We bumped down the “runway,” picking up speed, and I shrieked and clung to the seat.
Then we were lifting off.
My hand flew out, gripping Cash’s forearm. He again said nothing as I clung to him like Velcro while he tried to fly the plane at the same time.
If I hadn’t been terrified, I would have been embarrassed or at least appreciated the pleasurable zaps firing up my arm from that little bit of contact between us.
Instead, I squeezed my eyes closed and hung on to him for dear life.