But then again, the way he cared for her child wasn’t fake. Chad doted on Aria and the little girl ate it up. Aria needed a positive male influence in her life, especially after what they’d been through with her ex.

  “Hey,” Chad said, interrupting her before she slid deeper into troubling memories. “Did you hear me?”

  “What?”

  “I was asking what ice cream flavor we should start with. Chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla? Aria votes for chocolate, I vote for strawberry. You could be the tie-breaker.”

  They were at the ranch to use the vintage ice cream maker in preparation for the Cattlemen’s family festival the next day. Chad swore the secret to the famous Radford ice cream was in the hand crank mixer that had been in the family for ages, and in a move that was both strategic and sweet, had offered to bring three flavors to the fundraiser.

  “Ooh, tough one,” she said as she unpacked the grocery bag. “But I’m not going to be much help as a tiebreaker, because I want to start with vanilla.”

  “Mommy, no!” Aria pouted. “Chocolate.”

  The screen door swung open and Shane, Matilda and Drew walked in. “Y’all voting on ice cream flavors? Start with strawberry, no question. Those fresh berries put it over the top.”

  Hannah beamed as Matilda walked over and gave her a welcoming hug.

  “Nice to see you, friend,” Matilda said. She turned to her stepson. “Hey, Drew, are you going to help with the churning?”

  “Oh yeah!” He pulled up his sleeve and flexed his arm to make a muscle. “I’m the best at it!”

  Aria was standing beside the seven-year-old, looking up at him with an expression that was pure hero worship.

  “Let’s go, people,” Chad said, clapping his hands loudly. “Strawberry it is. Shane, you get the ice. Ladies, you’re on hulling duty. Kids, warm up those arms because you’re going to be churning for a while.”

  The kitchen buzzed as everyone fell into their assigned duties. By the time Jett, Noelle, and Lucy arrived home, the work was in full swing.

  “What’s this?” Jett asked, pulling off his hat and scratching his head as he took in the scene. “Why didn’t anyone tell me it’s ice cream night? I’d have skipped lunch if I’d known I had this to look forward to.”

  “Sorry, Jett, but most of this is going to the Cattlemen’s picnic tomorrow. If you want some, you’ll have to buy a ticket,” Hannah said as she washed strawberries and handed them to Matilda to hull.

  “Crafty move, Chad. Everyone knows our ice cream is the best in the county. You’re really working hard to win that seat, huh? I’m assuming this was your idea, Miss Social Media?” he asked, turning to Hannah.

  She shook her head. “This was all him. I’m just a worker bee.”

  “Buzzz!” Aria laughed from the ice cream churner.

  “Wait a sec, you folks didn’t think to include the queen of confections on this project?” Noelle asked, shifting Lucy on her hip. “I agree that your classic ice cream recipes are amazing, but I think we can make even more money if we include some of my bourbon caramel sauce. Let me put Lucy to bed and I’ll get to work.”

  “I’ll do it, babe,” Jett said as he took the sleepy toddler from Noelle’s arms. “You can start cooking.”

  “What’s the latest on the campaign?” Shane asked as he unloaded more ice into the machine.

  Chad sighed. “Getting tougher every day. Tripp entered the race.”

  A wave of groans rippled through the kitchen.

  “You can’t catch a break, kid,” Shane replied.

  “We’re going to be fine,” Hannah said in a confident voice as she washed another basin full of berries. “Tripp is all about big, flashy moves. That’ll get him attention, but the surefire way to win this thing is through consistent work. Showing up, giving it your all, and doing it with heart.”

  “Well, that’s definitely Chad,” Noelle said as she pulled ingredients from the cupboard. “How’s everyone reacting to the two of you?” She phrased the question carefully in case little ears were listening.

  Hannah shot Chad a look and he met her eyes briefly. She felt heat flood her cheeks and she looked back down at the berries. “So far so good.”

  “That’s it? That’s all the information you have for the brainchild of this whole thing?” Noelle asked incredulously.

  Hannah looked at Chad again and caught the little grin he tried to hide.

  “That’s all the news that’s fit to print. We’ll just leave it at that,” he answered.

  Another wave of laughs and groans echoed through the room.

  Hannah placed another colander of clean berries on the counter next to Matilda and noticed that the other woman was staring off into space.

  “Hey, you okay?” she asked softly.

  Matilda snapped out of her trance, and her mouth downturned. “I’m, uh, not feeling the greatest today.”

  It was impossible to miss her green-tinged pallor. “Do you want to take a break? Are you getting sick?”

  Matilda shook her head. “No, not sick. Just not myself these days. But I’m okay, thanks.” She resumed cutting the berries, albeit at a slower pace.

  They exchanged a knowing look. “Got it. Take your time, I’m happy to take over if you need to sit down.”

  Chad pulled the bucket from the vintage machine. “People, we have our first batch. And guess what?”

  “What?” Aria shouted, her eyes shining.

  He leaned down so that he was even with her. “I lied before. This one is all for us! Family tradition. Shane, grab the bowls and spoons please.”

  “None for me, thanks,” Matilda said, easing herself into a chair.

  “I’ll eat her share!” Drew piped up.

  Everyone filled their bowls with the perfectly pink ice cream and the room went quiet except for clinking spoons and the occasional “yumm!” Chad made his way to where Hannah was eating, leaning up against the counter.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hi.” She held up her bowl. “It’s amazing. But we’re eating all the profits.”

  “Like I said, it’s a tradition that the first batch is for the family. And I think you can tell how we Radfords are about tradition.”

  Hannah nodded. “It’s nice. I’m not used to it.”

  She noticed that Chad’s hip was resting against hers, and that he was watching her lick her spoon. She flicked her tongue off the end of it with a wicked smile, hoping no one else in the room caught the move. He groaned softly and bumped his hip against hers.

  “Don’t do that,” he whispered.

  “What?” she whispered back with an innocent expression. “You don’t want me to enjoy my ice cream?” She took the spoon in her mouth then drew it out slowly, her eyes locked on his.

  “Stop,” Chad pleaded, his brow furrowed in an expression that made him look like he was in pain. “That tongue of yours gets me crazy.”

  She grinned at him. “Is that a fact?”

  He nodded and shifted uncomfortably. “You keep that up and I might get into trouble.”

  Hannah looked around the room to make sure no one was watching them then leaned in and whispered into Chad’s ear. “I love trouble.”

  Chad carried a sleeping Aria into one of the ranch’s guest bedrooms.

  “Thanks for suggesting this,” Hannah said softly as she gazed at her sleeping daughter. “She’s going to love waking up here.”

  “No problem. We’ve got all of these rooms that never get used. I’m sure the old ranch is happy to have some extra guests for the night.”

  Hannah smoothed Aria’s hair. “She’s exhausted. She worked hard!”

  “I noticed that.” Chad laughed softly. “She took her job really seriously. Just like her momma.”

  Hannah met his eyes in the darkness and saw tenderness as well as the hunger that always seemed to be there any time he looked at her. It was a potent mix that made it way too easy to forget everything but him and how he made her feel. The way he kissed her, touched her, made love to her. It was hard to keep her feelings in check.

  Chad took her hand and led her out of the small bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

  “You’ll be down the hall a ways. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Hannah tried to suppress the ripples cascading up and down her arm. Chad’s hand alone was enough to make her think of all of the incredibly naughty things she wanted to do to him. She followed behind him like she was in a trance.

  “Right here,” he said, opening the door.

  The room’s rustic roots had undoubtedly been touched up by Noelle’s feminine hand. The wood paneling was painted a soft cream, and the massive bed had a mix of light tan and white floral bedding. It was a surprisingly romantic space in a house mostly filled with testosterone.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  She glanced at Chad and saw that he was staring at her with the hunger again. Lit only by the moon, he looked even more like a god than usual, his hair almost white and his skin tinged with a blueish glow.

  Before she could say anything, Chad was on her, his body pressed against hers and his arms pulling her close. He walked her backwards towards the bed, almost like they were dancing, while his lips plundered hers.

  “You have no idea how much I want you,” he breathed against her mouth.

  She didn’t answer, instead grabbing at the hem of his T-shirt and tugging at it impatiently. She needed to feel his skin, to let her fingertips glide over the firm planes of his back and ripples of his chest and stomach. She fought for her breath as Chad owned her mouth, nipping, kissing, and licking her lips until she felt like she couldn’t stand.

  “Take this off,” she pleaded, fisting his shirt.

  “You first,” he whispered as he let his fingers tease at the top button on her blouse.

  He opened it and planted a kiss on the skin revealed, just below where her heart-shaped locket rested.

  “You are so soft.” Chad sighed.

  He opened the next button down and kissed her again, near where her bra dipped between her breasts. She couldn’t control the little noises she made as he scorched her skin with kisses, working his way down the front of her blouse. A sigh. A moan. A growl. After he reached the bottom button and gave her a tiny kiss right on the belly button, he pushed the blouse off her shoulders and let it flutter to the ground, leaving her in just her pink bra above the waist.

  Before he could make another move, she grabbed his T-shirt and pulled it up, returning his volley of kisses with her own. She worked her way up from his waist as she slowly slid the shirt up his body, letting her palms drag along his skin. A lingering kiss right above his belt buckle, then another one a few inches up on his taut stomach, a trail of kisses and licks up the center of his chest and up his throat. She pulled the shirt over his head then stopped just shy of kissing his mouth. They stood toe to toe in the dark, devouring each other with their eyes.

  “You drive me insane, do you know that?” he whispered, his mouth teasingly close to hers.

  “Same.” She sighed, her eyes half-closed and expecting to feel his lips on hers at any moment.

  “Every time I see you all I can think about is what I want to do to you.”

  She felt drunk from the feeling of wanting him.

  “And what might that be?” she asked, inching closer to his lips.

  He answered by smashing his mouth against hers, as if the few minutes of waiting had driven him half crazy. Hannah arched into him as his arms closed around her, pulling her tightly against his body. His fingertips deftly unsnapped her bra and pulled it off without missing a beat. They kissed desperately while they tried to finish undressing themselves and each other without pulling their lips apart.

  Chad backed Hannah up the final few steps to the bed, still kissing her as he lowered her down on it. Everything around them dissolved, and nothing mattered but the feeling of him on top of her.

  He finally pulled away and searched her face, lightly drawing his thumb across her cheek. “I hope you’re not tired, because I’m not letting you go to sleep for hours.”

  Hannah didn’t answer, but instead threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled his mouth back to hers.

  She woke with a start and realized that Chad wasn’t beside her in bed. Hannah pulled her phone from the nightstand and squinted at it. Midnight. Where was he?

  She tiptoed out of the bedroom and down the hall, to where Aria was sleeping. Her little body was backlit by a nightlight and the sound of her soft, even breathing filled the room, so Hannah headed for the stairs. She wanted a glass of water, and if the opportunity presented itself, was hoping for a spoonful of their chocolate ice cream to go with it.

  When she hit the bottom step, she realized that she wasn’t alone. The sound of male voices trailed down the hallway to her, and she crept closer when she heard someone say her name.

  Hannah stood just outside the kitchen and realized that Chad was talking to Jett. She could see their reflections in the glass by the front door, so she moved just outside the entrance to the kitchen to hear better.

  “I’m just saying it doesn’t look fake,” Jett said in the concerned big brother tone he always seemed to adopt around Chad. “Trust me, I know firsthand what can happen when these types of scenarios spiral out of control.”

  “It’s not out of control.” Chad shrugged as he dug into his bowl of ice cream.

  “What the hell is this little sleepover, then?” Jett asked.

  “Aside from fun?” Chad joked.

  “Stop.”

  “I swear to you, none of this is real and we’re both on board with that fact. We know what we’re doing. It’s all to get me elected and to make Tripp back off and leave Hannah alone. Everything is planned out, from the photos we post to … well.” Chad paused and seemed to be thinking about their evening together. “Okay, almost everything is planned. But it’s nothing more than that, I swear. No feelings.”

  Hannah’s body went numb at what Chad was saying—and at the realization it triggered. She’d let herself forget that it was all fake—that none of it was meant to last. She’d let herself get comfortable counting on him in her daily life. And she’d given way more of herself than she’d ever intended to. Not only was she posting more photos of herself than she felt comfortable doing in, well, since forever, she was also sleeping with him—with a man who only saw her as a means to an end. Just like John. What the hell had she been thinking?

  She padded back upstairs and wished she could grab Aria and leave. But she’d committed to seeing their arrangement through, so she’d fake it and smile her way through it all until election day.

  But it wasn’t going to be easy.

  13

  Anyone looking at Chad and Hannah would assume they were the happiest couple in Kingsley. It was a brilliant sunny day, and she was making good on her promise to accompany Chad to the Cattlemen’s fundraising picnic with Aria at their side. It felt like everyone in the community was there, eating corn dogs and playing carnival games. She’d worn her prettiest dress, and showed off her biggest smile at anyone who even glanced her way. When Chad reached for her hand or draped his arm around her shoulder, she gritted her teeth and leaned into it, though her desire for physical closeness was mainly due to Tripp staring at them from across the field.

  She was playing the part—but only in public. Chad wasn’t entitled to anything more. She’d hustled Aria out early that morning, blaming their busy day ahead for skipping breakfast with the Radford clan.

  “Mommy, Drew is doing the water balloon toss! Can I go watch with Miss Matilda?” Aria asked. Hannah scanned the crowd and spotted Matilda waving at her with Drew by her side, clutching a fat green balloon.

  “Oof, he’s going to get soaked.” Chad laughed. “That balloon is way overfilled!”

  She ignored him. “Yes, you can, just stay close to her, okay?”

  “Yes, Mommy!” she shouted over her shoulder as she ran towards them.

  Hannah couldn’t help but smile as she watched Matilda take Aria’s hand. She wondered if it would be possible to maintain relationships with the Radford women after she and Chad officially ended things.

  “Hey, Hannah, come sit with us,” Nina Blackstone called to her from a nearby picnic table packed with wives. “We want to gossip!”

  Chad tipped his hat to the women and gave them a winning smile. Damn, he was good.

  She lowered her voice as she pulled away from Chad. “I need to go over and talk you up to them.”

  “Aw, thanks, baby,” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Go easy on me!”

  A comment like that usually would’ve at least gotten a smile from her, but now it felt insincere. She tried to keep from frowning.

  “Hi ladies,” Hannah said as she found her way into the pack.

  “We all want to know what’s the latest between you two,” Nina said as she held up her phone. “It’s looking super serious in all of your pics. Is he gonna put a ring on it or what? When’s the wedding?”

  The other women murmured and looked at Hannah expectantly.

  Her heart sank when she considered how wrong Nina was, but she pasted on a happy face. “Oh, we haven’t talked about that,” she answered honestly.

  “Well, I’m sure it’s on the horizon,” a pretty blonde she hadn’t even met yet answered. Clearly, all of Kingsley was tracking their relationship, which was great for Chad’s campaign but awful for Hannah’s sanity.