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I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE but to trust Knight.

After all, he knows his family better than I do, and maybe, just maybe, it’s the right thing to lie this time. Maybe our lie is exactly what his family needs to heal, or move past—not get over—the disappearance of their brother.

I can only imagine what they’re going through right now. The waiting and wondering. The lack of answers that give birth to both false hope and the worst fears imaginable.

Knight shared a little of what happened, so I wouldn’t be caught unaware if anyone talked about it. He warned me his brother Duke would be the one who’d be the most suspicious, ask the most questions, and generally be a doubting Thomas.

Only Duke hadn’t shown up to eat and it’s their brother Barron who won’t stop staring at me... and not in a ‘I think you’re hot’ kind of way either. Behind his silver eyes, I can see gears turning, suspicion building, and an unholy glee as he peppers me with questions about my relationship with his brother.

“How long did you know Knight before you started dating?” he asks.

We’re in yet another warm room, a wall of windows facing east for an amazing view of the ocean, as we are served platter after platter of breakfast dishes until the table all but groans under the weight of it all. Knight’s momma assured me this isn’t normal, but I’m not so sure.

“Not long,” I reply.

“Care to be more specific?”

Care to be more of an asshole? “Longer than one day and less than a year.”

“Leave her alone, Barron,” their mother chides. “Can’t you see the poor dear’s exhausted from all that traveling?”

I can’t hide my smirk, yet I know it won’t help endear myself to Barron. I’m not here to make enemies; I want to make friends. Honestly, I want to continue to sleep in a comfortable bed with my baby at my side, in a room that a has a working lock on the door.

He narrows his eyes. “What his middle name?”

Oh dear God. I have no idea. “A very sensible one, just like the rest of y’all.” I take a bite of eggs, and turn my attention to my daughter. She’s in one of those seats that enable babies as young as her to sit up. “Look at you, big girl, sitting up by yourself.”

It wasn’t easy to come downstairs and face everyone at breakfast, but just like in L.A., it’s a ‘fake it until I make it’ situation. For me, it means I have to pretend to be Knight’s loving wife until he comes back and tells everyone the truth.

A rush of warmth flows through me, just like it always does when I think of him. If I were actually his wife, it wouldn’t be hard at all to be loving. He makes it so easy, and I swear I’m jealous of a woman I don’t even know who will someday marry him.

Quinn grins at me from across the table. “Once you’re all rested up, we can go shopping for Hazel.”

“Um... that sounds nice, but you really don’t have to.” She really doesn’t, and I can’t shop as it is because I don’t have the extra money to do it. Crap. I forgot to ask Knight about getting a job. I’m surrounded by wealth, but none of it is mine and I only have five hundred bucks to my name. Four hundred more than what I started with thanks to my brother.

He left right before breakfast, claiming he had to get back before our mother changed her mind. I think he left in such a hurry so no one would question him about my relationship with Knight.

Lucky guy.

“I know I don’t, but I adore baby clothes and have no one to buy them for anymore.” She wriggles her brows. “Until now.”

“River doesn’t like to go shopping?”

Barron arches a brow, but before he can say anything, Quinn laughs, taking over the conversation again. “She’s a tween, so cloudy one day and sunshine the next. Usually, I wait until she approaches me.”

“Kinda like a cat.”

“Exactly like a cat,” she agrees. “Good thing I love them and her to pieces. It also helps I own a salon and River is all about her nails. That will lift her right out of a bad mood.”

“Can’t say I’m looking forward to that age.” I tickle Hazel’s foot, earning a toothless grin. My heart turns in my chest as love surges forward. “Maybe you’ll skip right over it.”

“Knight was the sweetest boy, no matter how old he was, so you do have that on your side,” their mother says.

“Sounds like I have nothing to worry about.”

She beams at me, and I feel as though I’m shoving needles under my fingernails every time I lie to her.

It’ll get easier, I tell myself.

Knight will be home in eight months.

That’s not that long... but it seems like an eternity.

“Did you lose your wedding ring?” Deacon asks.

Confused, I stare at him. “What?”

“Your wedding ring.”

Think, Campbell... My mind races... “I lost it.” As soon as breakfast is over, I’m emailing Knight. He says he can answer me no matter what, but that he might not always have access to take calls on his phone.

“You lost it,” Barron repeats, then lowers his voice. “That’s convenient.”

“Actually, it’s the opposite. I can’t tell you how nosy and mean some people can be when they assume things about you.”

Jane Ellen pats my hand. “You won’t have to worry about anyone treating you that way here, honey.” She gives Barron a meaningful look. “As for you, I expect better from the next mayor of Castle Beach.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re a politician?”

“Did Knight forget to tell you that?”

“He told me the most important things about his family—how loving they are. How they go out of their way to make strangers feel welcome, and that they would do anything to help one another.” I cross my arms, tipping up my chin. “In fact, he said you were his favorite second oldest brother.”

Everyone at the table stops eating and looks at me, then Quinn starts to laugh, followed by Jane Ellen... A beat later, Barron joins in. His laugh is nice and when he smiles, I can see the resemblance to Knight. He’s not as handsome as my pretend husband, but he’s still attractive enough to turn heads.

“I like you, Campbell. I can see why my brother married you so quickly.”

“What do you mean?”

“He texted everyone to let us know you two were newlyweds and to go easy on you.”

“Oh no...” I groan, smacking my forehead with my hand. Telling anyone to go easy on the new person is a sure-fire way to guarantee they’ll get hazed. “You mean the inquisition is Knight’s fault?”

“Afraid so, little sister.” He gives me an apologetic grin. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I would have done the same thing if my brother turned up married without telling anyone,” I admit. “What other helpful information did he share?”

Quinn nibbles on her bottom lip. “That you’d want to find a job right away, but to not let you until you were really ready and not dead tired from taking care of Hazel.”

“He said that?” On one hand, swoon city, but on the other... how am I supposed to pay for anything?

“Don’t worry, Campbell. I’ll take care of opening a bank account at the credit union for y’all.” He gets up from the table, kisses his mother and sister, then squeezes my shoulder. “I’ll text you when they’re ready for your signature.”

“Bank account? Signature?” It’s going to look bad when I have hardly anything to deposit.

“Yes, honey. You didn’t think Knight would leave you penniless, did you?”

My cheeks grow even hotter under his mother’s gaze. “No.”

Quinn leans forward, grabbing my hand and squeezing it lightly before letting go. “He said you had to quit your old job due to the difficult pregnancy, and you would be a little sensitive about money.”

“But not too sensitive to discuss it over breakfast?”

Jane Ellen waves a hand in the air. “Oh please, we’re family.”

“I like that you’re sensitive over money and want to work. It means you didn’t marry Knight for his fortune.” Quinn is so plain speaking that no one on the planet ever has to wonder what’s on her mind.

“His fortune?” I echo, giving them a blank look. “I didn’t realize the Army paid that much.”

“It doesn’t.” Quinn flips her light brown hair over her shoulder, then tilts her head to one side and smiles conspiratorially. “Do you want to see your house today? I can give you the grand tour. It’s not that far from here, either, so we’ll be nearby to help you whenever you need it.”

“Maybe after lunch and Hazel’s nap,” I say noncommittally. What have I gotten myself into? While I felt safe with Knight and by extension his family, they are so determined to make me feel at home that I want to run in the opposite direction because I feel so damn guilty.

“Perfect. I have a color and cut at eleven, so I’ll be done by two-ish.”

“May I take Hazel?” Jane Ellen asks, wiping her hands with a cloth napkin. “I’d love to spend more time with her. That is if you have no objections.”

I can’t think of any and with the way Jane Ellen looks so hopeful, I don’t want to think of any. “I know Hazel would love to spend time with her... with her...”

“Grandmamma.”

“Yes, that.”

Knight’s mother takes Hazel from her chair and my daughter shoves a fist into her mouth, perfectly content to go with someone, who only twelve hours ago—if that—was a complete stranger.

Then again, she trusted Knight to hold her, too.

Maybe I should trust Hazel’s judgment.

Isn’t there a saying about kids and dogs being the only true judges of character? I mean, my past is riddled with mistakes when it comes to judging people for who they really are.

“Can I be super honest with you?” Quinn asks, although I don’t know why she bothers. For her, a filter is only to be used when it comes to Snapchat or Instagram.

Not that I mind. I’d rather she tell me she hates me to my face than whisper it behind my back.

“Go for it.”

“I have a job opening at my salon coming up next month. It’s for a receptionist. You can bring Hazel with you... although, I’m pretty sure Momma will watch her for you. Either way, I don’t think it’s up to Knight to decide when you can work.”

“That’s not what he means.” Knight doesn’t strike me as the type to be that kind of man. I should know, Baylor was and still is that kind of man.

“Does that mean you’re not interested?”

Heck yes, I’m interested, but once again, I’d be indebted to the Kings. “You don’t even know me,” I point out. “I could be the worst receptionist ever.”

“I’ll train you myself, so there’s no chance of that happening.”

“You’re really tenacious.”

She tips up her chin. “It’s one of my best qualities.”

“I’ll think about it.”

She pouts a little. “You’re really stubborn.”

I smile. “It’s one of my best qualities.”