Tough Luck Hero Read Free Page B

“Especially here.”
    She looked stricken. “You can’t get an annulment if you... consummated , can you?”
    â€œWe don’t have to tell them that we consummated,” he said. “Hell, you don’t even remember. Maybe we didn’t.”
    â€œThere is a condom wrapper ,” she said, her cheeks getting even redder. “And you are...you are naked .”
    He looked down at the blanket that was covering his lap. He was suddenly very aware of how little was between them. No one was here. He wasn’t wearing clothes. And Natalie had run off, so he didn’t even have a fiancée as a buffer.
    No, you have a wife now. Good job.
    â€œTurn around,” he bit out.
    She obeyed with no argument. He stood, holding the sheet up in front of himself and surveying the room, in search of his clothes.
    â€œIf it helps,” she said, “I found my dress on top of the bar.”
    He rubbed his hand over his forehead. He didn’t do this. He didn’t drink to excess, and he didn’t have casual sex. When his brother had abandoned the family it had been up to Colton to hold it all together. To hold the people he loved most together.
    Then, a few weeks before his wedding he’d found out that his father had had an affair that had resulted in a child who was now Colton’s age.
    Now he was holding everyone together from that latest blow, too. His mother was so fragile one more thing would break her completely.
    And this morning was evidence of why he had to live life the way he did. With control. With a code. Without it, he wasn’t much better than the other men in his family.
    â€œWe can’t get an annulment,” Lydia continued.
    â€œWe sure as hell can.” He spotted his pants and dropped the sheet, striding across the room and taking hold of them, tugging them on as quickly as possible.
    â€œWe sure as hell can’t ,” Lydia said, turning around, her eyes going to his chest, then determinedly to his face. “I don’t know about you, but I texted quite a few people last night to let them know about our happy news.”
    â€œWell, that isn’t my problem, princess.”
    Seriously, he must still be a little bit drunk. He had no idea where the endearment had come from. Not that he was using it as an endearment.
    â€œSo, your plan is to return to town and let everybody know that we got married by accident? Tell them that we got drunk and made a mistake? People are going to assume we hooked up. Correctly, if the evidence is any indication.”
    â€œWhat’s your plan?” he asked. “Staying married?”
    â€œYes. That’s exactly my plan.”
    â€œMaybe you hit your head last night.”
    She treated him to a withering glare, her brown eyes full of scorn. “Obviously I sustained some kind of head injury, Colton, if I slept with you ,” she said.
    He offered her a tight smile. “Maybe we both hit our heads.”
    â€œWhatever. I don’t know if it’s escaped your notice but I’m currently running for mayor.”
    He laughed. “Oh, I know. There’s no possible way I could have missed that, since that little stunt almost ruined the wedding.”
    It was her turn to laugh. Hysterically. “First of all, it’s hardly a stunt. Second, I only almost ruined your wedding. Natalie actually ruined your wedding by not showing up.”
    â€œYou are her bridesmaid—her friend —and you started a campaign against her father.”
    â€œCan you honestly tell me you think an...institution like Richard Bailey is the best thing for Copper Ridge? He’s entrenched in old-school ideas. He doesn’t know the new, vibrant economy the way that I do—”
    â€œAre you actually stumping for votes right now?”
    â€œNo,” she said, her tone fierce. “I’m trying to explain to you why this annulment can’t happen. We have to find a way to spin the