He shook his head. He wanted to help Hannah, but this wasn’t the way to do it.

  The swinging door to the kitchen opened, and Chad was shocked to see Hannah herself. She’d been quiet throughout most of Noelle’s pitch, and he couldn’t tell if it was because she’d been bullied into the idea or she was mortified by it.

  Or both.

  “Hey, sorry about all of that,” she said, pointing over her shoulder. “It was Noelle’s idea to spring it on you in front of everyone.”

  “So, she talked to you about it first?”

  At that, she looked a little embarrassed. “Well, yeah. Briefly. But I didn’t realize how much thought she had put into it. It’s almost like she’s done this before or something.” Hannah shook her head.

  Chad laughed. There actually was a story there, involving Noelle and Jett’s … unusual courtship. But now didn’t seem to be the time to get into it. “That’s Noelle for you.”

  Hannah’s demeanor shifted. “You know, she’s right about one thing. I really could use some help. Some protection. Tripp isn’t letting up, and no matter what I do, he keeps pushing. When I tell him I’m not interested, he just interprets it as ‘try harder,’ and the harassment gets worse. If I make up an excuse, like you did today, then that puts him off for a little while … but it doesn’t work for long. If you and I pretended to be together … well, I get the feeling he doesn’t like you, and that might be enough to get him to back off.”

  That much was true. Tripp didn’t like him, and it was mutual. But was that enough of a reason to try something so ridiculous?

  They stood facing each other in silence. Once again Chad couldn’t help but notice how breathtaking she was. Her sundress loose but not so much so that it hid his other favorite asset. Or, assets.

  “Are you staring at my chest?” Hannah asked incredulously.

  “What? No! I was just thinking …”

  She shook her head. “Wow, the rumors about you being a horndog are definitely true.”

  “Exactly! And that’s why this wouldn’t work out.”

  But instead of nodding in agreement, she stood her ground. “Noelle didn’t get a chance to explain another part of the, uh, arrangement. There’s something in it for you too.”

  Chad couldn’t imagine what they’d offer that would make this plan sound any less crazy, but he figured he at least owed it to Hannah to hear her out. “Go on.”

  “She told me that you want to win the regional Cattlemen’s chairman position, and I can help you do that. It’s sort of what I … I mean, it’s something I think I’m good at.”

  He was pretty sure that she’d been about to say that it was sort of what she did. Why had she cut herself off? “What do you mean? Were you in politics?”

  Her voice was a little strained when she answered. “I’ve been politics adjacent in my past, and I know how to run social media campaigns. I’m pretty good at it, actually.”

  Chad leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “How would that help me?”

  At that, she relaxed a little, as if she felt that she was now on solid ground. “You need to change your image before people can envision you in a leadership position. You need to look stable, dependable, and forward-thinking. With the right types of appearances around Kingsley and social media follow-up, you’ll seem like the perfect candidate. And I can help you make it happen.”

  “I am the perfect candidate.”

  She smiled. “I agree. But people need to see it in action.”

  “Okay, give me one example.”

  She pursed her lips for a moment in thought. “Okay! I’ve got one! What you said out on the porch, about the patchwork of ranches and community. We could make that part of your slogan.”

  He was admittedly relieved to hear that. For a minute, he’d been picturing lots of razzle-dazzle fakery that wouldn’t feel like him at all. Yeah, he wanted to win, but he wanted to win as himself—not by pretending to be someone else. “Oh, so you mean you wouldn’t be putting words in my mouth?”

  “Not at all! A solid campaign takes the personality of the person and polishes it up so you can put your best foot forward—that’s all. We’d be helping people get to know the real you, the one you’re convinced is the right man for the job.” She smiled shyly at him.

  “I like it, I like it,” he said, nodding. “But is it a fair trade, then? Sounds like I’d be getting more out of it than you.”

  She shook her head and looked down. “I don’t want to make a big deal about it but … Tripp scares me. I need to take a drastic step to get him to back off, because I’m getting worried about what he’ll do. I can’t put Aria in that sort of danger.”

  “Wait a minute, you’re feeling threatened?” Chad felt himself snap into protector mode. “Why, I’ll just go over to his ranch and teach him a thing or two about—”

  “No, no, don’t you see that’ll only make him more determined? That’s why a fake relationship is so much smarter. When he sees that I’m committed, and that there’s someone looking out for me every day, he’ll have no choice but to back down.”

  Chad was silent for a moment. There was no way a woman as sweet as Hannah should feel frightened for herself or for her child. If she really thought this was the best way to protect herself, who was he to tell her no?

  “Okay. Let’s do this thing.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. Time to tell the paparazzi. Come on, let’s make it look real.”

  Chad extended his hand to Hannah, and she gave him a smile then placed her soft hand in his. The moment their palms touched, he felt an inexplicable jolt, but he played it off as they pushed through the swinging door and into the cheers of his family.

  4

  The closet wasn’t that big.

  Once again Hannah kicked herself for keeping the relics from her old life that took up more than half of it, because it made finding the stuff she could wear next to impossible.

  She wasn’t that woman anymore—the one who worked as the communications director for a powerful environmental advocacy group. Her work ensembles no longer consisted of power suits, nor did she need the fancy gowns she used to wear to elite events. Her wardrobe was much more casual now. She barely had to think about it.

  Except for right now, of course, when she couldn’t stop staring into her closet and dealing with flashbacks from everything she saw.

  Back when she still working with her ex, John, she had to strike a delicate balance with her look for public events. No clothing with obvious branding (unless it had the Green Spaces logo), natural fibers only, flattering but not overtly sexy, easy to move in yet elegant. The types of outfits she could be photographed in and look good no matter the angle. She ran her hand over the fine fabrics in her closet.

  She didn’t miss it one bit.

  John had loved that they looked so good together, her dark hair and light eyes almost a match to his. It was yet another way that sold the idea that they were a united front—not just romantic partners, but the twin leaders of Green Spaces, the environmental foundation that John had started while he was still in college. It grew from a single table in his university’s quad to a worldwide movement to save the planet through education and acts of peaceful protest. Hannah had come on board when the foundation was still new, and John’s infectious enthusiasm stole her heart in more ways than one. But the bigger the foundation became, the more he changed. From idealistic nature lover to ruthless eco-warrior, to in the end, someone she barely recognized.

  She reached out to touch the hem of the gown she’d worn to the last official fundraising event she’d headed up, Green Spaces’ annual Gaia for Good ball. She’d probably never have a use for it again, but it was just too beautiful to part with. The layer upon layer of tissue-thin pale pink linen and deconstructed rosebud hem had made her look like a woodland ballerina. She’d woven pink tea roses and baby’s breath into her long braid, and the next day her photo was everywhere.

  On the surface John had seemed proud of the attention she got, but the freeze-out he subjected her to afterward made it clear that he was jealous. It was yet another sign she’d missed of how much he’d changed, and how little was left of the man she’d loved.

  Hannah sighed. The damn leggings had to be somewhere! She ran to her dresser and rifled through the drawers until she found a bright yellow pair that would work for the first event she was doing at Chad’s side, The Cattlemen’s 5k. As a launch for a political campaign, it was a far cry from the high profile work she was used to, but it was exactly right for the reconstruction of Chad’s image.

  She looked down at her white sports bra. Speaking of image, she certainly couldn’t make her inaugural appearance with Chad shirtless. Hannah envisioned what would look best from the back, since she wasn’t ready to post photos of her face quite yet. She had the perfect multi-strap white tank top that was nowhere to be found. Maybe in the laundry pile?

  “Mommy!” the little voice called out from around the corner. “Look!”

  Aria came running into Hannah’s bedroom wearing pink sunglasses, her rainbow bathing suit, mismatched flip flops and a sequin varsity jacket. “I’m pretty!” She posed with her hands up in the air.

  Hannah stifled a laugh. “You do look pretty, honey! Very fancy. But I think shorts and a shirt are better choices for today. It’s going to be hot outside.”

  “No, Mommy. Sparkles!”

  Aria ran out of the room laughing, so Hannah grabbed a black tank top from the laundry pile and chased after her daughter, ready to battle over the four-year-old’s already entrenched fashion aesthetic.

  She didn’t even glance back at her closet and all its fancy, useless outfits. That wasn’t her life anymore, thank God. She’d left it all behind.

  “Wow, look at that little athlete!” Chad exclaimed as Hannah rolled through the crowd of runners and spectators with Aria in a jogging stroller. “You look like you’re ready to win the race, Aria.”

  The little girl turned shy, smiling at Chad but not saying anything.

  “Good morning,” Hannah said to Chad with an overwide smile. She looked over her shoulder and noticed a few people watching them. She lowered her voice. “Since this is our first public outing, we need to start the couple charade now. Give me a hug.”

  “Really?” Chad raised his eyebrows. “Well, okay, if you insist. I never say no to a hug.”

  Hannah smirked and kept one hand on the jogging stroller as Chad stepped closer to her. They both paused and looked at each other shyly, then Chad wrapped his arms around her.

  Even though it was a typically sweltering Texas morning, stepping into Chad’s arms was as refreshing as a cool breeze. She felt his arms lock around her shoulders, then pull her in a little closer. She caught a hint of an earthy scent, like he’d already done a few warm-up laps. He released her just as she leaned into the hug, and she hoped no one could see her blushing.

  “Mommy!” Aria called from the stroller.

  “What, honey?”

  “Who’s that?” She pointed at Chad.

  He smiled and knelt in front of the stroller. “Good morning, Miss Aria! I’m Chad. Remember you came to my family’s house and had dinner?”

  She nodded.

  “Wow, you’ve got five necklaces on and let me see …” he pretended to count, “three rings. And a sparkly headband and glitter sunglasses. That’s a lot of shine, young lady.”

  “She takes after her mom,” Hannah answered, a touch defensive. “We express ourselves through our clothing.”

  Chad stood up and trailed his eyes lazily up Hannah’s body. “Today it looks like you’re going for ‘honeybee.’”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re wearing black and yellow.” He turned back to Aria. “Your momma is a honeybee! Bzz bzz!” He fluttered his hand in front of Aria like he was going to sting her, and she giggled. He reached down and pretended to sting her foot and she roared with laughter.

  He was good with Aria. Playful. It warmed Hannah’s heart to see a grown man not afraid to look silly in order to make a child laugh.

  “What are you three up to?” Noelle asked as she joined them. She was holding Lucy in her arms and grinning at Hannah and Chad like a victorious matchmaker.

  “Good morning, Noelle,” Hannah said. She lowered her voice. “We’re just doing what all happy couples do. Are we convincing?”

  “Definitely!” Noelle laughed as she shifted Lucy to her other hip. She pointed at Aria. “Are you really going to race with the stroller?”

  Hannah shrugged. “No babysitter. We’ve been running together for years, so we’ll be fine.”

  “No big deal—I don’t mind waiting for you at the finish line,” Chad said as he stretched out his quads.

  “That’s what you think,” Hannah snapped back at him. “Do you even run? Did you train for this?”

  “Uh oh,” Noelle said under her breath.

  “Considering I just found out I had to do it two days ago as a part of my ‘campaign,’ no. But real ranchers stay in shape. The work we do trains us to face anything every day. Just watch, little lady.” He winked at her.

  “That’s not fair, Chad,” Noelle said. “She’s running with an extra fifty pounds. Hannah, let me watch Aria during the race so you can have a fair chance against this show-off.”

  Hannah didn’t even stop to think. “Yes, please,” she answered, staring at Chad as he flexed and preened.

  The race organizer’s voice came over the loudspeaker, calling the runners to line up at the starting point. Hannah scanned the crowd as she and Chad took their places and spotted Jett, and then Shane with Drew on his shoulders. They waved at her and gave her a thumbs-up.

  Her heart filled with a sense of belonging. Even though nothing that was going to happen with Chad was real, the support of his family seemed sincere and made her hopeful that even when the fake relationship was over, new friendships would remain. She smiled and looked out at the crowd again, hoping to spot Matilda among them, but stopped when her eyes landed on the figure looming a foot above most of the crowd.

  Tripp.

  He wasn’t focused on her, but he was looking through the crowd like he was trying to find someone.

  “Hey,” Hannah said softly, bumping into Chad’s shoulder like they were just sharing a private moment. “He’s here.”

  He frowned. “Well, I’m here too.” He gazed into Hannah’s eyes and nodded. It was a look that said he had her back, and she instantly felt a sense of calm spread through her body.

  A few seconds later the starter pistol went off. The crowd in front of them started to drift away.

  “You ready?” Chad asked her with a gleam in his eyes. “Because the real race starts now.”

  Hannah didn’t answer, but instead took off in the space that had opened up in front of her. Chad seemed caught off guard by jackrabbit start and bounded after her.

  Three miles later they were ahead of the rest of the pack and running in step beside each other. The endorphins had kicked in early, and Hannah felt like she could run another three miles. She looked over at Chad and noticed that his face was tomato-red, and his breathing was uneven, but he looked determined to keep going. She assessed him out of the corner of her eye. It wasn’t that he was out of shape because the rippling leg muscles were hard to miss. It was that he didn’t know how to pace himself, and his gait was too long. But his desire to beat her seemed to give him the drive he needed to push through his discomfort.

  The finish line came into view too soon for Hannah’s liking.

  “You ready for the last sprint?” she asked Chad.

  He nodded, breathing heavy.

  “Let’s go,” she replied, picking up her pace.

  Chad rose to the challenge and met her speed no matter how many times she tried to leave him in the dust. He looked like he was miserable, but he clearly wasn’t about to let her win. They pushed each other to run faster as the finish line got closer. Hannah pulled ahead for a split second, but Chad caught up to her with a woosh, and they crossed the finish line at the exact same time.

  The crowd exploded when it was confirmed that they had tied, and Hannah reflexively reached out to Chad to give him a quick, sweaty hug. He panted as they briefly connected, and the second she let go, he leaned over and placed his hands on his knees, breathing hard.

  The clapping around them continued and Hannah scanned the crowd for Noelle and Aria. Her eyes landed first on Tripp, looming a few feet away like a storm cloud, clapping along with the crowd but frowning at the race result. Hannah took advantage of his attention and walked back over to Chad.

  She placed her hand on his back. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He finally straightened up and nodded. “Yeah. I haven’t run like that since high school. Might be time to start training again.”

  “I thought real ranchers trained every day?” She laughed.

  He mimed taking a blow to the chest, stumbling a few steps and they laughed.

  The race organizers called them both to the podium by name, and Hannah relished the fact that everyone who had gathered heard their names spoken in the same breath. It was a perfect subliminal hint to their new coupled status. The first of many more not-so-subliminal moments to come.

  Chad took Hannah’s hand and escorted her up the steps. The race captain placed a medal around each of their necks. In a surprise move, Chad asked to take the mic. Hannah crossed her fingers when she realized that Chad was about to go rogue.

  “Hey, folks,” Chad said, waving to the crowd as the hooting and whistling died down. “So glad to see all of y’all out there supporting the Cattlemen’s Association.” The crowd whooped again. “It’s a great organization that benefits so many of us in Kingsley. I’ve been a proud member since I was old enough to saddle a horse, and that’s why today I’m officially announcing my candidacy for chairman of the Kingsley Chapter of the National Cattlemen’s Association!”