“That was what I finally decided,” I said, nodding.
“Here’s the thing, the cost of that brace is a drop in the bucket of what insurance companies pay out in fraudulent claims every year.”
“That’s what Bishop said, too. The problem is, I feel like I’m committing fraud. It technically is.”
“Sure, okay, if you want to look at it that way. The thing is, Bishop is paying his premiums, and you know he’s paid them for years and never used much on the plan, right?” I nodded. “This isn’t like when a doctor’s office bills out for expensive tests for imaginary patients from multiple different insurance companies to rake in millions. You are a woman trying to keep her head above water while faced with outrageous medical bills that were no fault of her own. You have insurance, and you’ve paid for years on those premiums with no claims. You paid for all your braces out of pocket, since they wouldn’t pay a dime. You’ve paid your money into the pot. It’s time you get something back from it.”
I toyed with my hair and sighed. “I mean, you’re right, but I still feel bad about it. I’m also worried about dropping the insurance I have now. I have to since I can’t carry both plans, but what happens when we get divorced?” I asked, using finger quotes. “What if I can’t get insurance again?”
She waved her hand in the air. “It’s not a problem because the business employs you, so they have to allow you to pick it up again. If you get divorced, that is.”
“You know I’ll get divorced,” I exclaimed. “This isn’t forever, Hay-Hay.”
She shrugged while she twirled her finger around my face. “I don’t know, that kiss I just witnessed was too damn passionate to consider this nothing more than a business arrangement.”
My shoulders slumped at her words. She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want her to think this was anything more than it was. At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about his words last night.
“When we were at the campfire last night, he said if I gave him thirty days, he’d convince me that he wanted this to be more than a business arrangement. He said in thirty days that he’d convince me that I married him for one reason, but was staying married to him for a hundred others.”
She winked, her grin growing wider with every passing second. “And that is what I saw when I walked in on that kiss. You may have just met, but that man is fierce when it comes to you.”
“You’re right,” a voice said from the door. We both turned to see Bishop standing there. “I will protect her until my dying breath. Call it whatever you want, but I don’t think it needs a label right now.”
He strode to me and knelt, wiping another tear off my face. “You okay? Can I get you anything?”
I leaned my cheek into his hand. “I’m okay.”
He offered me a tender smile but never broke eye contact. “She knows, right?”
“And she doesn’t care,” Haylee said, surprising him enough he turned to look at her. “She will convince everyone that you married for love because, in her opinion, love can be shown in a multitude of ways. You’re doing for her sister what she can’t. She will forever be grateful. She will also be rooting that maybe, in the end, this arrangement lasts much longer than anyone could predict sitting here this afternoon.”
Bishop turned back to me and winked. “I know a guy who wouldn’t mind if she was right.”
Ten
I stood in the yard, holding Bishop’s hands like a lifeline. He was as handsome as ever in his suit and tie, a small rosebud pinned to the lapel. I wore a white, sleeveless summer sundress that had eyelet lace in the perfect places to make it look like it was made for the occasion. I could tell he appreciated the way it hugged what little bit of figure I did have. His eyes had drifted from my face to my chest several times before grabbing my gaze again with those beautiful sapphire green eyes.
Hay-Hay and Brady had shown up dressed in their Sunday best, ready to be witnesses for the surprise matrimony. Brady didn’t ask any questions, which meant his wife had filled him in on the reasons behind the nuptials. I was thankful. I didn’t want to explain it to yet another person, but Brady would have to know the truth. I wouldn’t ask my best friend to lie to the man she loved. As far as everyone else in this town was concerned, though, including my parents, we were marrying for love.
I eyed the man in front of me again and sighed outwardly. He was so dreamy, and I would so marry him for love. I couldn’t say I was there yet, was I? Lust? Absolutely. Like? That’s a solid yes. He’s kind, considerate, compassionate, and helpful. All of those things are what makes him sexy as hell in my eyes. But people don’t fall in love at first sight, right? I thought back to the first time we met and wondered why he was still hanging around my pathetic butt. He kept coming back,
