Colt grinned as he drove to pick up Brikelle the next morning. He was going to spend the entire weekend with the most beautiful woman he knew, and the best part was they got to pretend they were married. His momma had threatened him since he was a teenager that she would beat him if he ever pushed boundaries before marriage. He’d developed his own morals by now and recognized that staying clean before marriage would not only prevent a lot of heartache and disease, but ensure a stronger bond of trust with the woman he finally gave himself to.

He hurried down to Brikelle’s door, fingering the ring box in his pocket. She swung the door open seconds later.

She was dressed in the polka-dot dress she’d loved and some red sandals. The only problem he could see was she looked so good that all the men would be ogling her and he’d probably be in a fist fight by lunchtime.

He yanked the box out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was more important than ever that he claimed her as his.

Her delicate eyebrows arched up. “Colt?” she squeaked.

“Open it,” he murmured. He should get down on one knee or something, but he was frozen and awkward.

She popped the box open and her eyes widened. She glanced from the ring to his face several times before saying, “This isn’t a cubic zirconia.”

He chuckled. “No.”

“You can’t return these things.”

“I didn’t buy it,” he hastened to reassure her. “It was my grandmother’s. I explained the situation to Momma and she thought you should wear it this weekend.”

“Momma isn’t concerned about us faking a marriage or me wearing this huge rock that’s also a family heirloom?” Her voice pitched up and she was clutching the ring box tightly.

“Momma likes you.”

Brikelle stood there, staring at the ring for a few more seconds. When she glanced up at him, her eyes were bright. “It’s so beautiful.”

She wanted to wear the ring, he could see that. He wondered if she’d consider wearing it permanently. The truth was the two-and-a-half-karat round diamond set in a simple wide gold band had always been meant for his future wife. Grandpa had given it to Grandma on their fiftieth anniversary and she’d always muttered about it being too big. She’d given it to Colt after Grandpa’s funeral, just a few years before she passed. Momma had kept it in the safe until late last night, when Colt stopped by and spilled his guts and Momma had suggested he offer the ring to Brikelle. The mischievous look in Momma’s eyes said she wouldn’t mind Brikelle keeping it on her finger either.

“Brikelle Manwaring … would you do me the honor of wearing my ring?”

Brikelle arched an eyebrow at his wording. He couldn’t say fake wife and it couldn’t be real yet, but he had to say something. “Yes.”

Colt gently took the box from Brikelle’s hand, pulled the ring out, and slid it onto her finger. His gut tightened. It fit, and it looked really good there.

Brikelle simply stared at it. Finally, she whispered, “Thank you. I’ll be really careful with it.”

Colt nodded. “It looks good on you.” Then, because he was afraid he was going to beg her to be his wife for real, he rushed out, “You ready?”

“I have a problem.”

“What?” The problem better not be she wanted to end the marriage act.

“I don’t have a decent suitcase.”

He laughed, and his neck muscles relaxed. That was a problem he could solve. “Why didn’t you call me? What do you have the clothes in?”

“They’re all still in the shopping bags.”

“Okay. Grab them and we’ll stop by Momma’s on the way.”

Brikelle sprang into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re the best!”

“Don’t you know it.” He stole a quick kiss before she pulled away and ran back into her apartment. Colt followed her, taking the clothing bags she shoved into his hands and hauling them to his truck. She came after him with the purse he’d bought her jammed full of stuff. His chest swelled with pride. This was his wife and she was fiery, funny, and absolutely adorable. Okay, it was all a hoax right now, but did they have to keep it a hoax? He was old enough he knew what he wanted, and he wanted Brikelle. He wondered if she’d run the other way screaming if he told her, Let’s forget telling Emma the truth and just make it the truth. People eloped all the time. It was a great idea. Maybe after this weekend they’d be close enough he could ask.

He got her door and they drove to his mom’s house. “I’ll just run in and grab the suitcase.”

“I’d better come say hi to Momma.”

“She’d love that.”

They walked in without knocking, but Momma was nowhere to be seen and didn’t respond when he called for her a few times. His dad grunted from his chair.

“Hey, Dad.” Colt approached his chair and gave his dad a brief squeeze, then straightened and gripped his dad’s hand. There was no return pressure. “I’m going to steal one of Momma’s suitcases.”

He grunted again, his eyes alight with understanding.

“The suitcase is just upstairs,” Colt told Brikelle, wondering if she’d want to come with him or wait outside. He knew it was awkward for some people around his dad.

“You go. I’ll just sit by your dad.”

“Okay.” Sometimes his sisters or nieces and nephews would sit by his dad and talk to him, even though he didn’t really respond verbally. His dad would lean closer to them and his eyes would light up. Colt tried talking to his dad all the time, but it was hard and he’d lapse into awkward silences that Momma filled for him. It hurt so much that his dad didn’t seem to be there anymore.

Colt pumped up the stairs. He quickly found the nicest suitcase in the extra bedroom closet and carried it back down. He was only gone a minute or two. When he made it to the big room, his steps faltered. Brikelle had a hold of his dad’s hand and was massaging it.

His dad was completely focused on her beautiful face. Brikelle took his hand and held it up to her cheek and said, “Bri. I’m Bri.”

“Bri,” he muttered, and his weathered old face broke into a smile.

Colt stopped in his tracks. His dad. Pronouncing a new word and … smiling?

He didn’t want to interrupt the moment, but his dad turned to him and smiled, pointed at him, then looked back to Bri. “Colt. Son.”

Colt’s eyes welled up. What in the world? The therapists had made some progress with Dad after the stroke, but not a lot. His brothers claimed that Momma talked too much and never gave him a chance, but he hadn’t been verbose before the irreversible damage to his brain. How had Bri gotten him to warm up so quickly?

Colt walked to his dad’s side, bent down, and gave him a hug. “Love you, Dad. We’ve got to go, but we’ll come by Sunday night and see you again.” He looked to Bri for approval, worried that she wouldn’t want to be committed to visiting his father. She simply nodded, her eyes shining.

Her dad squeezed Bri’s hand, then lifted it up and placed it in Colt’s hand. It felt warm and small and perfect in his grip. “Bri. Colt. Love,” his dad forced out with difficulty.

Colt’s heart slammed against his chest. “Thank you, Dad,” he managed, feeling like his dad had just pronounced a blessing on their union. It was the advice and love he’d needed so badly.

He focused on Brikelle. She bit at her lip and then gave him the sweetest smile. He was pretty sure his eyes were shining brighter than Brikelle’s. A tear spilled out and ran down his cheek. He brushed it away, grinning like a sentimental fool, but he didn’t care.

Brikelle gave his dad a hug and a kiss on the cheek; then they said their goodbyes and made their way outside with the suitcase.

Colt stopped her on the porch. “That was amazing. How did you—? Why did you—?”

“My grandpa had a stroke when I was a teenager. I remember sitting by him and massaging his hands, and he would absolutely love it because it’s hard for them to get the mobility back in their fingers. That’s all I was doing, but then he was looking at me with those eyes that are so much like yours, so I wanted him to know my name.”

“You are amazing. Have I told you that lately?”

She ducked her head. “Once or twice.”

“Well, you are. Amazing and beautiful and talented. Let’s go rock this party, sweet wife, and then we need to get serious about some things.” He lifted the suitcase into the back seat and started transferring clothes from the bags into the suitcase. The nicer dresses were tucked away in dress bags, so he just left them hanging.

“Get serious about what things?” Brikelle said by his side.

Colt just smiled. He didn’t want to scare her away, but hopefully by the end of this weekend she would realize that his proposal was genuine and that she was the one for him.

* * *

Brikelle’s nerves had completely disappeared when she sat with Colt’s dad. He was the gentlest man, simply being there with his calm aura and a warmth in his blue eyes she hadn’t seen when she’d met him before. She found herself falling in love with him, and when he’d said so clearly, “Bri. Colt. Love,” it was like a prophecy or something. Like his dad loved both of them and they should love each other. If only it could be that simple.

She had to concentrate just like Colt had said on getting through this party. From the moment they pulled into Emma’s circular drive, she felt like she was in an alternate reality. A valet was waiting to take Colt’s truck and a bellhop took their bags up to their suite. Emma greeted them at the door, all smiles and hugs. “You’re here! Come in, come in.”

They followed her into the foyer. She gestured around. “Brikelle, you are a genius. I love everything!” She looked at Colt. “Can you believe how talented your wife is?”

Brikelle could feel her face growing warm. “Thank you,” she tried to say graciously. Her eyes were drawn to the huge diamond on her left hand, then up to Colt’s handsome face. She could really get used to this wife gig.

Colt’s arm wrapped around her waist in that move that he’d perfected with her. She snuggled into his side, seeping his strength in. “I feel blessed to have her,” he said to Emma.

Emma beamed. “I see good things with you two. I hope you enjoy all the people you meet who will want to hire you both, but please plan on fitting me in your schedule first.” She winked at Brikelle and linked her arm through hers. “You look gorgeous in that dress. Doesn’t she look fabulous, Colt?”

Colt nodded. “She takes my breath away.”

Brikelle sighed and smiled up at him. Was he for real? She glanced at the breathtaking diamond on her finger, then back at Colt. She was growing much too attached to him and the entire marriage situation. How was she going to walk away from him after this weekend? Maybe she didn’t have to.

Emma led them into the great room. Brikelle was proud of all of her hard work. The house was perfect: not overdone, but tasteful and lavish. She loved it. Emma introduced them to friend after friend. Some were close to Colt’s age, some middle-aged, some older. A lot of them were down to earth and fun to talk to. Some of them seemed to look down their noses at Brikelle or dismiss her immediately after they met her. A lot of the women were eyeing Colt like the eye candy he was. Brikelle fully appreciated how good he looked. Except for their date to the Timbermine, she’d usually seen him in jeans and a T-shirt, which he wore well, but it was great see him in a classy V-neck shirt, the material just perfect to showcase his lean chest, shoulders, and arms, and really nicely fitted chinos that she’d picked out on their shopping trip.

Colt stayed close to her side as they met everyone and then went outside to join in some of the activities. Brikelle didn’t know what she’d expected with a fancy party, but they played croquet, cornhole, bocce, badminton, outdoor ping-pong, and even spike ball, and most of the women were in dresses and heels like her.

They took a break for lunch, and then some of the couples went out wave running or water-skiing while a few of the older people headed to their rooms to rest.

“What would you like to do?” Colt asked.

“Swim and ride the wave runners,” she said quickly. “If that’s okay with you?”

“As long as I’m with you.” He winked.

They walked hand in hand to their room. Of course, it was Brikelle’s favorite suite that Emma put them in, the one decorated around the teal vase and the lake. The view was unreal. Colt shut the door behind them, grabbed her hand, and tugged her into his arms. “I’ve been dying to do this all day.” He proceeded to kiss her until her head was spinning. Their attachment grew stronger with each kiss, look, and conversation. She could hardly catch a breath when he finally released her mouth.

“Why have you been dying to do that?” she whispered, hoping she didn’t seem needy and insecure.

“Because you sparkle. You’re happy, talented, and fun to be around and so beautiful in that dress I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. Neither could any of the other men at this odd party,” he growled. “Perverted old men.”

Brikelle giggled and tapped her hands on his firm chest. “James and Ezra are close to your age.”

“Are you kidding me? They’ve got to be in their forties and …” A horrified look crossed his face. “You don’t find them attractive, do you?”

“No, dear.” She tickled her fingertips along the nicely formed muscles of his shoulders.

“Don’t do that.” He moaned and pulled her close again. “How in the world are we going to sleep in this room together tonight?” His mouth captured hers again, and it was a kiss that had her going onto tiptoes and pulling his head tighter to hers.

Brikelle forced herself to break away. “I’m going to put my suit on.”

“Honestly, Bri.” Colt ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know that I can do this. We need to either run to Vegas quick and make this official, or I might need to tell Emma the truth. The only other option I can see is to tell her we’re fighting and we need some space. Anything but be alone in here.” His eyes studied her hungrily.

Brikelle let out a nervous giggle. She’d never had a man affect her like Colt did. The thought of running to Vegas and making this official gave her butterflies in her stomach. Was he serious? She tried a different approach, even though she was tempted to agree to the quick marriage. “I didn’t see you as a man that had self-control issues.”

He gestured to her. “If you could see yourself …” He shook his head. “And now you’re going to put on a swimsuit? It’s torture for me to only kiss you.”

Brikelle kind of loved that she had this kind of influence on him. “I got the impression you were a good Christian man.”

“Unfortunately,” he muttered.

That made her laugh. “The other night at your house, you said we could stop at kissing. Can I trust you to do that?”

Colt’s eyes were filled with indecision. He looked her up and down and swallowed hard, then bowed his head and murmured, “You know you can.”

“You are a good man.” Brikelle gave him a quick kiss, then pulled away. He grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back into his embrace. She smiled at him. “Tonight’s hours away, big boy. Maybe by then you won’t even like me anymore.”

He rested his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. “Not possible.”

She blinked up at him and trailed her fingers over his stubble. “I’m kinda falling for you, Colton Jepson.”

“Good, because I’m way past falling. I’m lying on the ground, begging you to have mercy on my heart.”

Brikelle wanted to remember those words forever. She stilled in his arms and really focused on him. He was a passionate, caring guy, and someone else hadn’t had mercy on his heart. She wondered sometimes if he still struggled from the aftereffects of that Cally person. “You’re more than good enough, Colt. You’re successful, smart, fun, kind—you’re everything any woman in the world would want and more. Cally, or whatever her name was, is an idiot.”

Colt licked his lips. “I don’t care if every woman in the world wants me. I care if you want me.”

“I do, Colt, even if you do have a beastly dog.”

Colt grinned at that, but sobered quickly. “Thank you, Bri.”

She kissed him then, because she couldn’t handle the seriousness of the moment much longer.

The door pounded behind them. Colt released her from the kiss and opened it up.

“Hello, my sweethearts,” Emma said. “Are you two taking a nap, or going to the beach or the pool?”

“Beach and pool,” Colt said, his voice breathless, husky, and perfect.

“Oh, good. Ezra can’t figure out how to run that wave runner thing, and I told him you were so smart and handy that you could get it running.”

“Sure. We’ll change and be right there.”

Emma’s eyes twinkled as she waved and sauntered away.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think Emma was matchmaking me with my wife.”

Brikelle grinned. “I’ll always love her for getting us together.”

“Me too.” Colt drew her close again.

Brikelle held up her hands. “You’re supposed to go help Ezra.”

“Ezra can wait. I’m going to kiss my wife.”

She laughed, but it was smothered by his lips lighting up her world.