holding—it came out as a harsh bark of laughter. When both men turned to eyeball her, she lifted her mouth in a nervous smile so wide it almost hurt. “ So , Brady, how’s the residency going?”
Why she was attempting small talk was anyone’s guess. It’d be best, for everyone involved, if either he or they made a quick getaway. Baby steps into the world of discomfort that awaited them this week would be a good thing. But apparently, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the ingrained country manners out of the girl. Mama hadn’t raised her to be impolite. Not even out of self-preservation.
Brady rocked back on the heels of his cowboy boots. “It’s good. The new hospital in Lafayette is state-of-the-art; you should come by and check it out.” He glanced at Cane. “You know, if the two of you have time.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that.” Angelle felt Cane watching her, but she didn’t look up. She couldn’t. “It must be nice working so close to home. I’m sure your mama’s happy about that.”
Really, Angelle? That’s what you come up with? You suck at small talk.
“Sure.” With a tight-lipped smile, Brady lifted his beer bottle as if to take another sip, then stopped to stare at the red and white label. “Things sure aren’t how I’d planned, but it’s nice being back all the same.”
Pressing the bottle to his lips, he took a long pull as Angelle winced. This was the most awkward conversation in the history of the universe. Nine months ago, she hadn’t thought it could get worse than telling this man she didn’t want to marry him. Particularly since she did so with an entire auditorium of friends and family there as witnesses. But wearing another man’s ring and faking a comfortable conversation while many of those same people looked on broke Angelle’s heart. She could only imagine what it was doing to Brady.
This was why she’d been so terrified to come home. It was never about her ex causing a scene or making trouble; Brady was too much of a gentleman to do that. No, what worried her was this —seeing him again, noting the pain in his eyes and the hope in her family’s, and having the pressure to make everyone else happy cause her will to dissolve. There was no doubt Brady was the safe route. The expected and easy course. It was what the town wanted for her, what her parents wanted.
It just wasn’t what she wanted.
Cane squeezed her side, perhaps sensing her torment, and she leaned into his strength. She needed it.
“So how did you two kids meet?” Brady winced as he asked, clearly as uncomfortable with prolonging this torture as she was, yet trying just as hard to be polite. If one of them didn’t call an end to this madness soon, she could very well go insane.
Wanting to get it over with as soon as possible, Angelle opened her mouth and answered, “At his restaurant,” at the same time Cane replied, “At a club.”
Brady’s eyes grew as wide as hay bales—or, more accurately, as wide as the two gaping holes in their story.
First, it was obvious they’d forgotten to discuss a few vital details for their ruse. Namely, details about them as a couple. Where they met, how and when he proposed, when they planned to get married. None of those things had even entered her mind before…but they were flashing in neon now.
Second, anyone who knew Angelle would know the club scene wasn’t for her. Too loud, too crowded, too full of opportunities to bust her ass in a klutzy fit on the dance floor. One would assume her fiancé would know that. Oops.
Cane’s amused brown eyes met hers, and Angelle wanted to slap him. This wasn’t funny . She forced a smile even as she felt her cheeks warm—no doubt they were glowing hot pink about now; lying was so not her forte—and turned to Brady. “Actually—”
“Actually it’s both.” Cane tugged her close and pressed his lips against her hair. Grateful for the save, and curious to hear how on earth he
Unknown
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