Page 12 of Bride ’N Boots

She said he wanted to have his crepe and eat it too.

And I was the crepe.

I knew what he was doing. He was keeping things open ended until he was good and ready to fully commit. But when would that be? A year? Three? Five? It was just as likely that he’d find someone else and dump me after making me wait for months or even years for him.

It was a waste of my time, a waste of my life. He was married to his job, and that didn’t leave a lot of room for me and a life together.

I was tired of being second string, and I wasn’t willing to accept it anymore.

And until today, I hadn’t realized that.

I looked in the mirror and turned my head sideways, appreciating my brown hair and its messy hairstyle. My makeup was on point, but there was a noticeable flush to my skin that had something to do with Stratton . . .

The intimacy that swelled between us while we pretended to be bride and groom was undeniable, and it was something I’d never had with Ethan. Ever.

My hands were clammy and I washed them to warm them up before opening the door to the bathroom.

Jo was setting the loaf into a banneton to let it rise.

“Your home is beautiful,” I said. “Thank you so much for letting us have the photoshoot here.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “How’s Stratton working out as a stand-in groom?”

“Oh, I think he’s better than the original.”

“Is he now?” she murmured. “He’s a good man. He’s worked for us for three years already and shows no signs of leaving. I think that’s important, don’t you?”

“What’s important?” I asked.

“Commitment.”

“Oh, right.” I looked over my shoulder toward the door, wondering what Arden and Stratton were talking about. “All right, well, I better get back out there before Arden kills me.”

“When you finish the shoot, come in for some tea.”

“Thank you,” I said. “We will.”

I headed back outside and a spark of jealousy blasted through my veins when I saw my attractive best friend laughing with Stratton.

They made a cute couple. She was blonde and willowy. He was dark haired and muscular.

“Oh good, you’re back,” Arden said when she saw me, her smile faltering. “You okay?”

“Dandy,” I said my tone flat. “Do I have to get up on the horse again?”

“No. I’d like to take some photos of you both on the ground, with the horse near you.” She frowned. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes,” I lied.

I attempted to shake off my darkening mood, but it was rapidly taking hold. Turning away from her, I placed my hand on Honeysuckle’s nose and stared into her brown eyes.

“Uh oh. Gremlin mode activated,” Stratton teased.

My lips flickered for just a moment as if they wanted to tug themselves up into a smile, but they stayed steadfastly down.

“Now that we’re getting married,” Stratton began, “we should talk about the hard things.”

“Oh?” I asked, hating that I was being pulled into flirtatious banter that had my insides humming. “What hard things?”