Big Man's Bride (Big Men Small Towns 1)

I understand Ally’s dream of recapturing what she and her grandfather had in this house. She hasn’t told me all about her childhood yet, but looking around this house and its grounds, I can imagine what it was like living here. More importantly, I can relate to that desire to have what her grandfather built. That’s all I want, too. My grandfather was my everything when I was a kid. And when he died, it felt like the entire world went dark. That’s why I want what he left me. What’s rightfully mine. It’s not about the money, it’s about the fact that he wanted me to have it. He wanted me to have it and build something beautiful using that money, and I want to. That way it will feel like he’s still part of my life.

It’s the only remaining piece of him that I have.

Last night, after Ally left, I looked her up. Her grandfather is still alive, but he lives in a small house on the outskirts of Nashville. This house had been sitting on the market forever. Her grandfather sold is many years ago, and ahomever bought it from him lost interest quickly. There wasn’t a nibble until I bought it just a week ago. It’s such a magnificent house with a rich history, and I wondered why Ally’s grandfather would ever sell it in the first place. If it weren’t for this deal with Ally, I’m not sure I would have let the house go. A few minutes of poking around on the internet brought me to Ally’s mom’s obituary, and the entire sad story kind of fell in place. After reading that, I was even more convinced that this plan is the right path for both of us. The house is beautiful, and I could be happy here. But I don’t need it. I can find another beautiful house without shattering someone’s dreams.

“What’s she like?”

I laugh before I can stop myself. “She’s … something else.”

Trevor makes a face in the mirror. “How did you meet her?”

When I called my best friend last night and told him my plan to get married to secure my inheritance, I hadn’t told him everything. Not how Ally had crashed into my life like a train wreck and turned everything upside down in the matter of an hour. The welt on my leg went down a bit with a lot more ice and Tylenol, but it still hurts like a bitch, even wrapped securely in an ace bandage under my suit.

“You would literally kill me if I told you.”

“Try me.”

He’s going to think I’m crazy. And maybe I am. This is the most spontaneous thing that I’ve ever done, and despite the speed at which I forced the lawyer to get the paperwork prepared and arrange everything, it feels right. I know it is. For both of us

I sigh, and decide to give him the quick rundown of what happened with Ally yesterday. As I retell the story of our initial meeting, his eyes go wide. Listening to myself, I realize this sounds absolutely ridiculous, and I’m not surprised by his reaction. “Are you kidding? You could be marrying a crazy person, Caleb.”

“She’s not crazy.”

“She threw herself in front of a raised sledgehammer, I’d say the jury is still out on that one.”

I chuckle. “That’s fair, but you’ll see when you meet her. Besides, it’s only for a month.”

Trevor shakes his head. “You know I’ve got your back, but I thought this was some girl that you’d been dating. Not someone who just … showed up.”

I hand him the box with the rings inside. They’re just simple bands that I bought yesterday, but Ally’s is pretty. Silver with filigree designs on it. I knew when I saw it that it was the one for her. I had to guess on the size. I hope it fits.

Tires crunch on gravel outside, and I look out the window to see the justice of the peace arriving. “I promise you’ll feel differently when you meet her,” I say, turning away from the window to face him.

“We’ll see,” he says, but his face betrays any optimism he may have. He still looks skeptical. I don’t blame him.

“Look,” I tell him, “I know this sounds insane and it’s really quick, but trust me buddy, this is the best of my options. It’s my only option. See you at the altar?”

I leave to run downstairs before he can answer. It doesn’t matter what Trevor says at this point. I’m about to get married. The deal is practically sealed.

I show the justice of the peace inside, shake his hand and introduce myself. “So I thought we’d do the ceremony on the back porch,” I tell him, leading him through the house.

Even though this is an entirely fake marriage, I still have the impulse to make it as nice as I can. And us getting married on the back porch overlooking the river seems like the right way to do that.