Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

I glanced up at him.

“You look like a man with a lot on his mind.” Ryder then tilted his head. “Or woman troubles.”

I lifted my glass to let him know he nailed it and then downed the drink.

“Another?” He held the bottle up.

I figured I could probably go for one more. Actually, I’d like the bottle, but I wasn’t at home where I could safely get shitfaced.

Ryder poured a second shot. “Want to talk about it?”

I shrugged. “I want a woman I can’t have.”

“That’s fucked. Why not?”

I liked Ryder, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to share my woes with him. He was Sinclair’s brother. He had something weird going on with Trina, a bet, or something. I didn’t need either of them figuring out who the woman was.

“She’s just off-limits.”

“I never understood that,” Ryder said, putting the bottle back. “I mean, if you like her and she likes you, what more is there? Unless she’s married, I guess.”

“She’s not married—” Oh fuck, she was. Except she was married to me. “She’s related to a frien

d.”

“Ah, the bro code.” He nodded and picked up a towel to wipe the counter. “I don’t understand that, either.”

“What do you know about it?” I asked.

“Well, as it turns out, Wyatt felt like you. He didn’t think I’d be okay with his relationship with Sinclair. He still knocked her up, but…well, the truth was I wouldn’t have cared. I love my sister and want her to be happy. Same with Wyatt.”

It was simple for Ryder. He had an easy-going disposition. Nothing seemed to rile him up.

“I’ve got a thing for Sinclair’s friend. Trina. You know her. Same thing, though. Sinclair wants us to be happy, so she’s all for it. Now I just need to convince Trina,” he said with an affable smile.

It was one thing to lust after a friend’s sibling. It was a whole other thing to fuck your best friend’s daughter.

“The thing is, if your friend loves you and his sister or whoever, then he should be happy if you two are happy.”

I downed my drink. “That sounds good in theory, but I’m pretty sure some things aren’t okay in reality.”

Ryder’s brows knitted. “Another drink?”

I shook my head.

“Seltzer?”

I should’ve left, but I nodded. I wasn’t ready to head home to an empty house. Or maybe I was afraid it wouldn’t be empty. Maybe I was concerned Frank would be on my front porch with his shotgun.

“Listen, have you heard anything about Stark buying local businesses?” Ryder asked, setting the glass of seltzer in front of me and taking the shot glass away.

I looked up at him. “Businesses?” Had he said something about that recently? I couldn’t remember.

Ryder nodded. “He told me he wants to buy this place when Mr. Coffey retires.”

“I hadn’t heard that. I suppose I’m not surprised. He’s eager to get his talons into this community.”

“If I can help it, I won’t let it happen, but considering most people don’t like him, I thought you should know,” Ryder said. I wondered how he could stop Stark. Unless he had the money to buy the Salvation Station, he might not be able to keep the owner from selling to Stark. The town of Salvation had gotten lucky at stopping him so far, but I was certain our luck would eventually run out if Stark was bound and determined to own something here.