“I’ve been told that if we can unite, convince the town to support farmers, that we can get the mayor and supervisors on our side. We need to band together,” I explained.
“How do we do that?” Sam gave me a hard stare. “Farming is a twenty-four-seven job. When am I going to have time to make picket signs and do sit-ins?”
“Now, Sam, the boy means well. But he’s right, Wyatt. Farmers are struggling as it is to stay afloat.”
I realized that Trina’s fake marriage plan had more merit than I’d considered. Of course, I was all for it because I wanted Sinclair in my life again. But with Sinclair married to me, someone involved in farming would now be in the mayor’s office, which could give people like Sam and Jasper hope. She’d also be in a better position to help us because her bias toward our side would make sense.
It could be good for her as well. If she succeeded in keeping Stark out, she’d have the farmers on her side, which would help her when she ran for Mayor.
She’d been adamant that the idea was dumb, and yet the other night, we’d made gains in terms of our relationship. Granted, having sex didn’t mean we were an item. In fact, the way she left was a pretty clear indication that our interlude was a one-off. Still, she recognized that the crazy idea could work. Of that I was certain.
“Well, I’m not going down without a fight,” I said.
Jasper patted me on the shoulder. “Ah, to be young and strong. I support you, and if there’s something I can do, let me know.”
I paid for my items and tossed them in the back of the truck. I sat for a moment as I worked out my next step. I needed to convince Sinclair that this idea wasn’t as crazy as it seemed.
I drove home and put everything away. Then I showered, dressed in jeans and a button shirt, and hunted down my mother.
“Remember when you said I could have Grandma’s ring?”
My mother’s eyes widened. “Yes. Why?”
“I need it.”
She studied me as she led me to her room, where she pulled out the white gold ring with the half-carat diamond. It was simple and understated, just like Sinclair.
“What are you going to do with it?” she asked as she handed it to me.
“Save the farm.” I tucked the ring in my shirt and headed back out to my truck. On my way to Sinclair’s, I stopped by the road to pick some wildflowers that were growing there, hoping she’d appreciate the gesture. As much as I wanted this to be real, I had to keep in mind that for her, this would be an arrangement. I had to hope that if I convinced her to go along with marrying me, that I’d have time to prove to her I could give her everything I’d once promised.
As I pulled up her drive to the front of her home, I had a moment of nerves. What if she was eating dinner? What if her parents were there? What the hell was I going to say to convince her to marry me?
You’ve been to war, Jones, I said to myself. I’d faced death, I could face this.
I walked up the front steps and rapped on the screen door. “Here goes nothing.” Jesus, I was a fucking idiot.
The door opened a crack. I had to look down to see who opened it. She was a young girl. A kid really.
“Is Sinclair here?” I asked. This was the right house, wasn’t it?
“Hold on.” She left the door ajar as she turned and moved back into the house. “Mama!”
My heart stopped. Mama? The porch spun a little as I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. Sinclair was a mom?
Holy fuck. I stepped back, wondering what the hell I should do. If she was a mom, that meant there was a dad. Except she and I had sex a few days ago. I couldn’t imagine Sinclair cheating, although having a husband would explain how she ran off with that guilty expression when the orgasms were done.
But she didn’t wear a ring. I knew many men didn’t. Had women decided they didn’t need one either?
Then my thoughts turned to what fucker had slept with my woman. Okay, I knew she wasn’t mine. I’d left, and yet in my heart, she’d always been mine. Would always be mine.
The kid was pretty big. At least eight or nine, so it hadn’t been that long after I left that she’d been with someone else. In that moment I realized that while Sinclair had always been first and foremost in my heart, that I wasn’t first in hers. Not since I left. I couldn’t hold that against her, but it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
It also changed everything. Could I really ask her to go along with this idea with a kid in tow? Not that I cared. I’d be happy to have her child be with us. But I knew kids needed stability. Would Sinclair take on this arrangement and include her daughter knowing it was short term?
I blew out a breath as my world spun around me like a tornado. I finally decided the first thing I needed to do was wait until Sinclair came to the door and I could find out about the child.
As I waited, I wondered if it was time to let my infatuation with Sinclair go. If she did agree to this crazy proposal, could I abandon my effort to win her back?