Our Now and Forever (Ardent Springs #2) by Terri Osburn Read Free Book Online

not sure how to respond to that.”
    Caleb had hoped she’d refute the idea that he wasn’t enough, but he should have known better. “No need,” he said. “We have a month to get to know each other. We’ll start with me watching you work.” The words came out harsher than he’d intended.
    “You make it sound like I’m applying for a job.”
    “I’m the one who’s having to fight to stay on here.”
    “A marriage isn’t a business exchange,” she snapped.
    “It isn’t something that you quit without notice either.” This was not how he’d wanted the morning to go. Caleb set his plate on the coffee table and leaned his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know what you want from me, Snow, but I’m doing my best. Tell me how this is supposed to go and I’ll make it happen.”
    Dabbing the corner of her mouth with a napkin, Snow kept her eyes on her plate. “I don’t know what to tell you. That’s the problem.”
    Taking a deep breath, he leaned back on the couch and took a different approach. “Then let’s decide what we’re going to tell people.”
    “What do you mean?” she asked, meeting his eye.
    Caleb scratched the stubble on his chin. “How long have you been in this town?”
    “Since June of last year.”
    So she’d been here almost the entire time. Amazing.
    “And in all that time, did you tell anyone that you were married?”
    Snow dropped her gaze. “Lorelei figured it out yesterday, and you confirmed it when you referred to me as your wife. But no one else knows.”
    “Today, you’re going to walk into an auction with your husband. We both know people will have questions.”
    “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” Snow gathered their plates and carried them to the sink. “Do we have to tell anyone anything?”
    How had he not noticed how anti-conflict she was? “That’s up to you, but I don’t think we can avoid telling them something. And before you suggest it, I’m not going to lie.”
    “I wouldn’t ask you to lie,” she said, her tone defensive. “I’m suggesting we don’t need to share all the facts . . . exactly.”
    Telling total strangers that his wife had run from their marriage wasn’t an appealing choice to Caleb, but short of saying he’d dropped out of the sky, he couldn’t think of any other answer.
    “Why don’t we tell them we were dating before I moved here,” she said, “and that we’ve recently gotten back in touch.”
    “And now I’m living with you?”
    “We dated for a long time. We can even say we were engaged. Oh,” she said, growing excited about the story she was concocting. “We reconnected online and have been carrying on a long-distance relationship. And now you’re here.” Looking proud of herself, she added, “That should work.”
    Caleb didn’t like having to pretend he wasn’t yet married to his wife, but this could play into his favor. The town would see them as lovebirds planning a wedding. And maybe that’s what they needed. Once Snow admitted they were good together, he could give her the real wedding she deserved.
    “I’ll go with that,” he agreed, stepping into the bedroom for his boots.
    When he returned with his keys, Snow was waiting by the door. “I’ll drive.”
    “But I always drive,” he said. Caleb couldn’t remember the last time he’d occupied a passenger seat.
    “I like driving,” she said. “You don’t always have to be the one behind the wheel. And besides, I know where we’re going.”
    His sense of chivalry prickled. “You can give me directions.”
    Snow stared at him with her hand on the doorknob. “Caleb McGraw, you can ride in my car with me driving, or you can stay here. Or,” she added, “you can go home. Those are your choices.”
    He didn’t like any of those choices. “I can let you drive,” he grudgingly agreed. “It’s not a big deal.”
    As she opened the door and waved him through, she said, “You’re not letting me do anything. Let’s be clear about