The Bluff (Calamity Montana)

“DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENT?” I asked as I scooped another spoonful of ice cream.

“Not really.” Hux shrugged, eating his own pint of chocolate fudge swirl.

“Huh,” I muttered. “Me neither.”

The two of us were sitting at the kitchen island. Hux was wearing black slacks and a gray button-up shirt. He’d rolled the sleeves up his forearms after we’d gotten home with our celebratory meal of tacos and ice cream. I was still in my dress from the courthouse.

It was a long-sleeved burgundy chiffon dress that flowed to my nude heels—the shoes having been discarded by the garage door the moment we’d walked into the house because they’d pinched my toes like snapping turtles.

I’d ordered the dress from one of my favorite online stores and had it overnighted to Calamity. If a girl couldn’t blow her savings on a wedding dress, then what were they for? It had a simple design with a small seam at my hips. The front dipped low between my breasts and down my spine in matching Vs.

It wasn’t white. It wasn’t a gown. But it had done the job. All I’d wanted was to look pretty for a picture to hang on the wall—for the sake of keeping up this charade. Judging by the appreciation in Hux’s eyes when I’d come downstairs earlier, I’d hit the bullseye.

The wedding had felt more like renewing a driver’s license than the joining of two lives. We’d walked in with the license. We’d stood before a justice of the peace who’d pronounced us man and wife. The end.

I was married.

“Does your tattoo mean anything specific?” I asked, taking another bite.

The bright colors snaked across his skin. They were chunky, like the artwork at the studio, and the lines weren’t as clean. But there was no mistaking Hux’s style in the brilliant evening sky as it met the bold, jagged ridge of the mountains.

“It was one of my first paintings. The first one that wasn’t total shit anyway.”

“Good to know.” A wife should know the significance of her husband’s tattoo.

Husband.

It should seem strange. That word should give me a thrill or a shot of panic. Instead, I just felt . . . the same. Wasn’t that weird? I’d gotten married today. Married. I was a wife.

Wife. Wife. Wife.

Husband. Husband. Husband.

Nothing. No fear. No shock. No awkward. That, we’d chased away the day I’d moved in, thanks to some epic sex on the couch. Any time it threatened to return, one or both of us would get naked.

Problem solved.

“Where did you learn to paint?” I put the lid on my pint and slid off my stool.

Hux put the lid on his so I could put both in the freezer for a midnight snack. “Prison. They had some classes they offered inmates, like science and math and stuff. I’d had enough of that in high school, but they wanted us to sign up for something because it looked good for the parole board. I did a fine arts class and another one for mechanics.”

“You must have been a natural.”

“Guess so.”

“You guess so?” I grinned. “You have seen your own work, right?”

“Took some practice. When I got out, I went to work for a guy here in town. Didn’t pay much but I didn’t have a lot of options. No one wants to hire an ex-con around here, but this guy knew me from when I was a kid. I’d worked for him as a teenager putting up a fence on his ranch. So he hired me to do some work on his place. I lived cheap. Kept painting to keep my mind off things. Got better and then one day, Katie came home and saw my piece.”

“Katie. As in your assistant?” Okay, maybe I should have asked more questions before volunteering to marry Hux. “You lived together?”

“After I got out.”

“And were you a thing?” Were they still a thing? Because I didn’t share. Ice cream or men.

“With Katie?” He scrunched up his nose. “No. We’ve been friends for a long time but that’s it. She’s like a sister. When I got out, she was there. Helped me get back on my feet. Let me crash on her couch for a while.”

“But . . . she works for you.”

“Yeah. In a way, I owe her my career. She saw a painting and thought I should try to sell it. There wasn’t a gallery in town, not that anyone here would have bought it from me anyway. So she took it to Bozeman. Shopped it at a few places. A decent size gallery picked it up. After it sold in less than twenty-four hours, they bought five others. I sold exclusively to them for a year until I had some money saved up. I kept working until I had a good chunk set aside. I bought this place first, then the gallery.”

“Good for you.” A surge of pride swelled. He’d worked so hard. He’d built himself up all from a skill he’d learned in prison. “What do you sell your paintings for?”

“Depends.”

“Give me a ballpark.” There hadn’t been any price tags in the gallery and my curiosity was piqued.

“I commission some for the gallery in Bozeman. They still sell twenty or thirty for me a year. Those go for about five thousand.”

My jaw dropped. “Dollars?”

He nodded. “On average.”

“Um . . . wow.”

“The pieces at the gallery range in price. I’ve got some at about two thousand. Some up to fifteen. Just depends on the piece.”

“I’m so impressed. How many pieces do you sell in a year?”

He shrugged again and stood from his stool. “About a hundred. Then I do about fifty commissioned pieces. But those cost more.”

“How much more?”

“Up to double. Just depends.”

The numbers began rolling through my mind. This man, this unassuming man whose clothes were always spotted with paint and who lived in this small—albeit nice—home, was raking in around one million dollars a year. Minimum.

“Do you sell prints?”

He shook his head. “Haven’t had to. People like the exclusive nature.”

“Postcards and small prints might do well with foot traffic.”

“Yeah. Maybe. Think I’m going to change,” he said, already unbuttoning his shirt. “Go work in the studio for a while.”

“Okay.” I hadn’t been in his studio yet, mostly because I’d invaded his home and was trying not to insert myself into every aspect of his life. At least during our first week as man and wife.

He took a step to leave, then stopped. “You look beautiful.”

I smiled. “Don’t say shit like that to me.”

He chuckled and took off for the stairs, untucking his shirt from his slacks as he walked.

I took my phone out of the clutch that I’d brought along today. No texts or missed calls from Lucy. Phew. Gossip hadn’t reached her yet. If she had heard, she would have been blowing up my phone.

Eventually, I’d have to tell my parents I’d gotten married. They’d probably be delighted my wedding hadn’t been an expensive and extravagant affair, costing them a fortune. But before I talked to them, I wanted to tell Lucy first.

Hux’s footsteps sounded above me as he moved around his bedroom. Our bedroom. I’d worried that sleeping here would be uncomfortable but again, thanks to the sex, we’d worn ourselves out each night before things could get awkward.

It didn’t take Hux long to rejoin me in the kitchen, dressed in a pair of faded jeans that molded to his strong thighs. His gray T-shirt was free of paint except for a small red dot on the ringed collar.

“Have you heard from Savannah?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I texted her. Asked her to call me tonight.”

After April’s visit, Hux had told Savannah we were getting married. She hadn’t answered his call so he’d had no choice but to text her. Hux hadn’t wanted her to find out from April. Savannah’s response had been K.

“Okay. Did you call Aiden?”

“Yeah. This morning while you were in the shower.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That we’d been seeing each other for a while. That when he came to visit, you were upstairs and since I hadn’t proposed yet, I didn’t want you to overhear.”

“Think he believed you?”

“No.”

I frowned. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“Doubt it. Whether Aiden believes we got married because of his suggestion or not doesn’t really make a difference. He’s going to get the ball rolling on the petition, hopefully filing it on Monday. Instead of me wanting custody of Savannah as a single guy, now I’m a married man. My new wife wants Savannah to be part of our family.”

“Yes, I do.” I gave him a small smile. “Fake marriage or not, I do want the best for Savannah.”

“I know.” Hux crossed the kitchen and framed my face with his hands. His eyes stayed glued to mine as he leaned in and brushed a kiss to my lips. It was as soft and gentle as the one he’d given me at the courthouse.

A kiss that meant nothing more than exactly what it was. A thank-you.

Hux let me go and strode toward the back door.

I glanced at the clock on the microwave. “We need to leave about five fifteen.”

“What?”

“We’re going to the basketball game at the high school. The game starts at six, but I want to get good seats.”

He shook his head. “Why would I want to go to the high school basketball game?”

“Because Lucy is singing the national anthem. And it’s a good time for me to tell her about us before she hears it from anyone else. And it’s the perfect opportunity to start working on your reputation.”

“How is a basketball game going to help my reputation?”

“It’s a public event.”

“So?”

“You’re a grouch.”

“No, I’m not,” he grumbled.

I rolled my eyes. “Do you hear yourself when you talk? That growl of yours can be mega sexy, babe, but it also kind of comes across sort of, well . . . grumpy.”

Hux crossed his arms over his chest. “I haven’t been to a basketball game at that school since I attended that school.”

“Good.” I clapped. “Then you’re overdue.”

The scowl he shot me would have made lesser people shake. But not me. We had a mission here and damn it, I was going to make sure it got accomplished. “There. That, right there.”

“What?”

“Your face.” I pointed to his nose. “It’s not a nice face. Handsome, yes. But not nice. We need to work on your nice face before you go stand in front of a judge and ask him pretty please, can I have my daughter.”

Hux sighed. “I don’t like basketball.”

“And I don’t like lingerie, but I bought something special for you tonight that I promise to wear. After the basketball game.”

He glowered at me, that blue gaze unwavering.

“It’s strappy. The lingerie. White. And it has a slit that runs from here”—I slowly dragged a finger from my collarbone, down my sternum and to my belly button—“to here.”

Hux swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “An hour. Max. And you wear that lingerie under your clothes to the game.”

My smile was victorious. “Deal.”

“WOOHOO, LUCY!” I put my fingers between my lips and blew a piercing whistle. It got swallowed up in the noise from the gymnasium’s crowd. The entire building rattled with applause as she finished the last note of the anthem and gave the crowd a wave.

The smile on her face was dazzling. So was the matching one on Duke’s.

“She’s the best there is,” I yelled above the noise.

He nodded. “She sure is.”

Pride radiated from Duke as he kept his eyes glued to his wife’s every step. Lucy left the microphone, navigating to the stairs, her gaze always finding Duke.

Watching them always put a dopey smile on my face. In a gymnasium full of people, those two might as well have been the only people in the world.

Lucy reached our row about halfway up in the stands and slid past Duke to take the empty seat between us.

“You got ’em pumped tonight.” He dropped a kiss to her cheek. “Sounded great.”

“Show-off,” I teased, nudging her elbow with mine.

Lucy laughed and elbowed me back as Duke handed her a bottle of water. She drank nearly the entire thing as the players took the court, filling the room with the sound of dribbling basketballs and squeaking tennis shoes.

As the kids warmed up for the game, Lucy’s shoulders slowly eased from her ears. She wouldn’t admit it, but I saw the nerves on her face. She wanted so badly to impress the people of Calamity, to fit in here as Duke’s wife and a member of the community. But she had nothing to worry about. If she looked around, she’d see what I saw.

These people adored her. Yeah, many had turned out tonight to support the team as they played. It was getting close to the championship and the Cowboys were a good team. But a lot of people here, like me, had come for Lucy.

It wasn’t every day a famous country music superstar moved to your town. Let alone the fact that she was willing to sing the national anthem and participate in local events.

Lucy Ross Evans was hard not to love.

“Do you want something from concessions?” Duke asked us both.

“Nachos and cheese pizza, please,” she said.

I leaned forward with a smirk. “I’ll take the hot dog she really wants but can’t eat.”

“Brat,” she muttered.

Lucy loved hot dogs, but since they were a no-go on the pregnancy diet, I was stepping up to make sure the high school made their quota of hot dogs sold at the concession stand. If there were a sushi place in town, I would have eaten her share too.

“Be back.” Duke gave her a kiss, then jogged down the stairs.

He returned waves and handshakes, getting stopped at nearly every row before disappearing beyond the bleachers to get our food. Though Lucy was gaining popularity, this town loved their sheriff.

The gym was packed tonight. As people came and went, I continually scanned the crowd, searching for Hux.

We’d decided to come separately tonight to give me a chance to talk to Lucy. So he’d dropped me off at the apartment a little after five. I’d sat in the quiet room until Lucy and Duke had arrived to give me a ride to the school.

I’d planned to tell them in the car, but she’d been so keyed up to sing, I hadn’t wanted to distract her. Except now we were surrounded by people.

Should I tell her while it was just us? Or tell her when Duke returned? The clock was ticking. Literally. Once the game started, it would be harder to sneak in a conversation that the spectators around us wouldn’t overhear.

Drop the bomb. That was probably the best. I’d tell her, pretend like it was no big deal, then get the hell out of here before she started freaking out or peppering me with questions.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Hux should be here any minute. Unless his meetup with Savannah hadn’t gone well. I pressed a hand to my stomach, willing the butterflies to settle. My knees threatened to bounce.

There was no sign of him. He’d told Savannah that instead of calling, he’d see her at the game. That he wanted to talk to her in person.

Their plan had been to meet in the parking lot twenty minutes ago. How long did it take to talk to your child about marriage?

Apparently more than twenty minutes because he wasn’t anywhere in sight.

“Ooh, there’s Kerrigan.” I pointed five rows down.

Kerrigan waved and held her hand to her ear, mouthing, “Call me.”

My stomach dropped.

Lucy probably thought it was nothing. A friend saying call me to get together. But there was a look in Kerrigan’s eyes. A knowing look. A look aimed directly at me.

Kerrigan was a lifelong Calamity resident. There was no doubt that she’d heard the gossip that Lucy had missed. I patted my jeans pocket, feeling for my ring tucked safely inside. I’d slip it back on after I told Lucy.

Duke appeared at the base of the stands, his arms loaded with drinks and trays and foil-wrapped hot dogs. Lucy swooned, sending imaginary little pink and purple hearts in the air with that soft sigh.

She was going to be pissed that she’d missed the wedding. Well, if she thought it was real. I’d stood as her maid of honor when she and Duke had gotten married by the same justice of the peace who’d hitched Hux and me.

Lucy had put more effort into her nuptials. She’d gone for a simple gown, like mine, though hers had been white. She’d had a bouquet and paid for a professional hairdo. No flowers for me, though I’d used my curling wand in the bathroom mirror.

Duke arrived, handing Lucy her nachos and me my hot dogs. “Here you go, Ev.”

Lucy dove into her chips and cheese. “Thanks, babe.”

I did the same with one of my hot dogs, moaning to rub it in just a bit. “So good.”

Lucy chomped another chip, then asked, “What did you do today?”

Oh, boy. I might puke this hot dog up on the lady sitting in front of my knees.

Do it. The sooner I dropped this bomb, the better. If I could play it off like my heart wasn’t racing and my palms weren’t sweating, even better.

“Not much.” I shrugged. One. Two. Three. Go. “Cleaned. Did a load of laundry. Got married.”

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Yeah, I was going to vomit.

“That’s ni—” Lucy blinked, registering my words.

Duke looked past her, his mouth gaping open with some pizza showing. “What did you say?”

“I got married.” I wadded up the foil wrapper from the hot dog and stood. “I’ll tell you all about it later. Thanks for the hot dog.”

Run! Run! Run!

“But—” Lucy tried to protest.

“Bye.” I patted her on the shoulder, doing the same to Duke, then made my escape. Breathe.

I could feel their eyes on my back as I descended the stairs. They were talking about me. Probably wondering who I’d married.

From the corner of the gym, Hux emerged, striding across the glossy yellow floor. He’d put on a black jacket over his T-shirt. He was in the same jeans he’d worn in the studio. They clung to his strong thighs and narrow hips, draping over his scuffed boots. The man’s swagger was impossible to miss. It was pure confidence and a lot of I don’t give a fuck. Intimidating and sexy as hell.

The moment he spotted me, my heart jumped.

Here goes. Time to make us public. Why did this feel like a test I hadn’t studied for?

I slowed on a step to dig out my ring and carefully slid it on like it had been there the entire night. Then I sucked in some oxygen and lifted my left hand to wave at Hux.

I’d already caught his attention, but the two familiar faces behind his broad shoulders hadn’t noticed me yet. Until the wave.

Travis smiled.

Savannah gave me an impassive stare and jutted chin. Uh-oh. The parking lot meeting must not have gone well. She certainly wasn’t doing cartwheels with the cheerleaders that I was her new stepmother.

When he reached the student section, he stopped to drop a kiss on Savannah’s cheek. The kids went to join the other teens while he met me at the base of the stairs, taking my hand to lead me toward the exit.

My breath was shaky as I whispered, “Is the entire room staring at us?”

“Yep.”

“Awesome,” I deadpanned. “How’d it go with Savannah?”

He grunted.

Double awesome. But not necessarily surprising.

Savannah was too stubborn to be excited about much. It would show too much weakness. But eventually, she’d accept I was a part of her father’s life—temporarily, but we wouldn’t be sharing that little detail.

The heat of five hundred stares didn’t lessen until we’d rounded the corner and taken the steps that led to the concession area and bathrooms. And most importantly, the exit.

“How’d it go with Lucy?” Hux asked.

“Not great. I chickened out, told them I got married, then bolted before they could ask any questions.”

Hux hummed. “So we aren’t going to sit with them?”

“No.” I shook my head and tugged him toward the doors. “Let’s get out of here. You made your appearance. You said hello to Savannah and told her the news. I told Lucy. That’s good enough for one night.”

“I thought we had to stay an hour.”

“Do you want to stay for an hour?”

“No.”

“Then why aren’t you walking faster?” I squirmed as he picked up the pace, wishing the panties I was wearing would stop chafing. The straps were sexy, but they were so thin that they’d carved lines into my ass cheeks.

“Why are you walking funny? What’s wrong?”

“Well, if you must know, this thong I’m wearing isn’t exactly comfortable under jeans.”

Hux stopped, his clasp on my hand forcing me to a halt too. Then he bent low, his breath tickling my cheek as his teeth found my earlobe. “Then let’s get you out of those jeans.”

“You’ll get no arguments from me.”