The Reluctant Bride (Montana Born Brides) by Katherine Garbera Page B

engagement and our story was real? That’s how we get to normal.”
    “ By faking it?” he asked.
    She started to nod. But she saw skepticism in his eyes. “Listen, we aren’t all born with your confidence, Monty. Some of us—me—have had to work our way to it, pretending every step of the way that it’s real.”
    “ Why pretending? You’re one of the strongest women I know. It’s part of what turns me on about you.”
    “ Really? How am I strong?” She ignored the part about him being turned on by her because their relationship had to be about more than sex. The sex was great, but she hoped there was more between them.
    “ You moved from Vegas and set up a new florist shop in four months and have made it successful. You said you’re not sure you can stand on your own, but from what I’ve seen you definitely can. You forged a new life for yourself here in Marietta. All I’m asking is to let me in. Let me be a part of it.”
    She leaned over and touched his face. He was so dear to her and she wanted to throw open her arms and pull him to her. But those things he’d just said about her had been forged out of desperation; a need to keep herself so busy that she wouldn’t have time to think about her parents, or doubt her decision to leave Monty.
    “ Thank you for seeing me that way,” she said. “But all of that was faking it.”
    “ Damn, woman, you are good at it,” he said. “How do you see me?”
    “ I told you: a fixer. Someone who rides to the rescue, be it for a stranded woman or your country. You always go where called. I don’t want to be a duty to you.”
    “ You’re not.”
    She hoped he was right. Scooting back to her side of the truck she put her seatbelt on. “We just need time to figure it out.”
    He turned on the engine and didn ’t say another word. He drove along the Marietta River which was beautiful during and scenic in the evening light. She couldn’t fault Montana for the views. Tonight she almost stared gushing about it, just so they’d have something to talk about. Something to distract them so she wouldn’t feel the pressure of disappointing him again.
    She could just give in, ignore her doubts and say what the hell. But she couldn’t. The whirlwind romance that had fed her romantic fantasies and made it easy to accept his proposal had been dulled by reality.
    After he parked the truck, he came around to her side to help her out but held her with his hands on her waist so she couldn ’t move. “I’m trying to let you set the pace here. But my gut says that life is short and I need to take it all in while I can.”
    “ I’m trying.”
    “ That’s all I ask.”

    Monty wondered if he was crazy for chasing her. This girl, who seemed to always be dancing just out of his reach. She hadn’t been in Vegas, but he knew now that had simply been a chimera. A pretty illusion that they’d both taken for reality until it had intruded for real. Risa thought that meant the illusion wasn’t genuine, but to him it felt different. That they were the only thing each other could count on.
    The menu at the Long River Cookhouse was all locally sourced food and that appealed to him. Risa took a long time studying the menu. He looked around the restaurant. They were seated next to plate glass windows which afforded diners a view of the Marietta River. In the middle of the restaurant was a piano with an old guy, who took requests, playing.
    “ Hello, Risa. Who’s this handsome fella?”
    “ Maude, meet my fiancé, Monty Davison. Monty, this is Maude Cummings. She’s a realtor.”
    “ To be honest,” Maude said, putting her hand on Monty’s shoulder, “I thought she was making you up.”
    Monty looked over at Risa, who was turning a little pink. “I’m real. No making me up is there, love muffin?”
    “ Certainly not, honey bunny. He’s a Marine, Maude. And he was serving in Afghanistan, so I wasn’t sure when he’d be joining me. But I’m real happy he’s here