Finding Hayes: A Small Town, Marriage of Convenience Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 5)

I followed Hayes out to his truck, and my head was spinning. River gave us a boatload of things we’d need to do starting now.

First, we were not to tell anyone what was discussed in the office today. He wouldn’t even say it aloud.

Second, we needed to start being seen together. Take our romance public immediately. The first time would be tonight at Whiskey Falls.

Third, when we’re in public, we would need to pour on the PDA. Things were going to be moving quickly, and it would need to be believable.

When Hayes pulled open the passenger door, I climbed in, and he reached over to grab my seat belt. I slapped his hand away. “I can buckle myself. I only let you do that earlier because I was a mess.”

He raised a brow. “We’re in public. I thought it was a boyfriend thing to do.”

Damn this man. I tossed my hands in the air. “Fine. Spoil me.”

He pulled the seat belt across my body, and his hand grazed my thigh as he did it.

How was I going to pretend to date him?

Here I was, trying to avoid him, and now I’d agreed to marry him?

How did this even happen?

Once he was in the driver’s seat, he cranked the heat and started driving toward the farmhouse.

“Are we making a huge mistake?” I whispered.

“Probably,” he grumped before glancing over at me when he came to a stop sign. “But it will get your dad the treatment he needs. And it’ll give you a break in life. One I think you could use.”

I wanted to be offended, but it was sweet. And I had much more to gain from this arrangement than he did.

“Thank you for doing this. I promise I’ll pour it on thick in front of your boss,” I said.

“Don’t worry about that. I’m not sure I’m the right guy for the job anyway.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked, as he pulled down the long driveway toward the farmhouse.

“Because I have no desire to play the game. Maybe I’m not meant to lead if I can’t get on board with the politics side of things.”

“Don’t you dare say that about my future husband,” I said, as I waggled my brows. “We’re going to get you that promotion, Woody.”

“How about you just focus on figuring out how we’re going to pull this off.”

“Well, tonight’s our big debut, right? We’ll put on a show and have everyone talking. It’ll be easy.”

“All right. I’ll pick you up in a few hours.” He put the truck in park and jumped out in the snow to come open my door.

I’d yet to date a man who did this. I’d been fine with it because I wasn’t some damsel in distress. But I’d be lying if I didn’t think it was sweet that he did it every time. Always had.

“I can meet you there,” I said.

“You don’t have a car, remember?”

Shit. I forgot about that. “I’ll get it towed, and hopefully, they can fix it soon.”

“I’ll call Warner; don’t worry about it,” he said, placing his hand on my lower back as I walked up the icy steps.

“I can call Warner.” I pulled out my keys.

“He owes me a favor. And it might look good that I’m taking care of your car for the sake of appearances.”

“You’re proving to be a very impressive boyfriend, Woody.” I pushed the door open.

He walked backward down the steps and held up a hand. “See you in a few hours, Shortcake.”

I stepped inside, taking in the monstrosity before me. I’d gotten the kitchen cleaned up, and I’d washed the linens and remade the bed at least. But there was so much work to do here that I didn’t know where to start.

I didn’t know if I should even start.

Would we seriously pull this off? Would anyone believe that Hayes and I were actually in love?

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see my favorite picture of my dad and me fill the screen.

“Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing okay, sweetheart. Missing my girl, that’s for sure. How was the funeral?” he asked.

“It was sad, but I knew it would be.”

“You loved him. That’s to be expected, honey.”

I went to sit in the only chair that wasn’t falling apart in the kitchen. I didn’t know how to approach the conversation. “Abe left me his farmhouse and some money.”

“That’s amazing. He and Lily loved you like you were their own. I’m not surprised.”

“I think it would be enough money to get you into that trial that Nadia and I have been looking into,” I said.

My father had hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer that not many doctors were familiar with. That’s why it would be so valuable to be able to fly him to Texas where they were doing this particular trial, which was having huge success.

The last decade had been brutal for my father. His marriage to my mother had fallen apart in the worst way. He’d survived his first bout with liver cancer and celebrated remission, only to find out the cancer had come back with a vengeance.

He was too sick to work anymore, so he was living on disability. His self-esteem had taken a hit so many times that it had become difficult for him to stay positive. He’d always been this big force in life, but the illness and the heartache had taken a toll on him physically and mentally.

“Savvy, I don’t need you worrying about me. I’m just fine.”

He was anything but fine. He was rail thin and could barely keep food down. I was so grateful for his girlfriend, Nadia, who’d been the best support system for him. I was doing my best to help him, as I lived in the same apartment building as they did, just in a different unit. Now that she was living with him, it had taken a lot of pressure off of me, and it was the only reason I could be here. I knew he was in good hands.

“Did Nadia talk to you about the trial?”

“You know Nadia. She’s always researching that stuff. I don’t want either of you to worry about that. I’ve been feeling good lately. I finally painted those bookshelves she’s been after me about for six months. They look great.”

My chest squeezed at the sound of his voice.

He sounded good.

But cancer could be a wicked asshole most of the time. Every time I was hopeful, it seemed like something happened.

I knew he needed to try something different because nothing had been working thus far.

“I’m so happy you did that. I’m sure it felt good to get your creative juices back,” I said.

My father had been a successful journalist before his world got flipped on its ass. His wife had a very public affair right around the same time that he got diagnosed with liver cancer. We moved away, and he never quite found his footing after that. I resented my mother for the role she played in the deterioration of his life.

Yes, we still had a relationship.

She and Mr. Jones, the theater teacher at Magnolia Falls High School, moved to the city shortly after my father and I did. They had a son, my brother Harry, who I happened to adore.

They lived just a few miles from my apartment in the city, and my parents had actually repaired their relationship a bit over the last few years since his second diagnosis. My mother and her husband, Ben, checked in on my father often.

Dad had moved past the anger and the hurt somehow, so I’d tried to do the same.

But I still held a lot of resentment toward her for what she’d done to his life. To my life, and that was something I was trying to let go of.

My brother, Harry, played a huge role in me moving forward with my mother.

“Yes. I actually started writing a few months ago. I just hadn’t told you yet because I didn’t know if it would amount to anything. But it’s coming along. I’m writing a novel.”

“Dad,” I said, feeling the lump form in my throat. It was the first time I’d heard him truly excited about something that didn’t involve me or Nadia in a very long time. “That’s amazing. I can’t wait to read it.”

“It’ll be a while, but you’ll be the first. I promise.” He paused, and I could tell he was drinking something. He worked hard to stay hydrated most days, as this latest round of chemo depleted him so much. “Enough about me. Tell me about Magnolia Falls. Have you run into anyone?”

We both knew what he was asking. He and Hayes had always been close. My father had taken him under his wing, as Hayes’s father had left them and cut off all contact.

“Yes. I’ve seen Hayes several times. In fact, we’re going to have dinner tonight.” I had to start selling the idea of Hayes and me as a couple. My father would never support me fake marrying someone for money. Hell, I didn’t even support the idea, but it was for the greater good, so I’d get over it.

“It’s always bothered me that your friendship ended after we moved away. I truly thought that friendship was one that would last forever. You two were so close. Hayes was part of our family. I always blamed myself for moving away and coming between you two.”

I tried to push away the heaviness that was settling on my chest. I’d never shared with my father what had happened. He’d been dealing with a hell of a lot more than learning that your best friend didn’t want to be bothered with you anymore.

I was certainly not going to add to his burden.

So, I dealt with it alone.

I dealt with everything alone.

The brutal divorce my parents went through.

My mother having a torrid affair with one of my high school teachers and the whole town finding out.

My father’s cancer.

Completely uprooting our lives and moving away with no notice.

Leaving Abe and Lily and a part-time job that I’d loved.

And the loss of my best friend.

“It’s part of life, Dad. People move on. But it’s really nice seeing him again.” How was I going to explain that I’d married him in such a short time? “He looks really good. I think he’s actually flirting with me.”

I knew my dad would love this juicy tidbit.

“Oh. I always thought he liked you as more than a friend, if I’m being honest. And he never seemed happy with that girl he dated the last few months before we left.”

The devil.

The ice queen.

The bane of my teenage existence.

“Kate? Yeah, I think they broke up a long time ago. I never cared for her,” I admitted, as I had good reason besides her cheating on Hayes.

“Someone sounds a little jealous. I always thought you had a crush on him, as well,” Dad said with a laugh.

Normally, I would insist that he was crazy, but I just laughed. I needed to set this up like some sort of long-lost love affair. My father would be crushed when it all got blown to pieces, but hopefully, he’d be in better health and on his way to a full recovery.

It would all be worth it.

“Maybe I did, and I just didn’t realize it,” I said, rolling my eyes because this was far from a crush.

I’d survived without Hayes for a long time, and I sure as hell wasn’t some giddy schoolgirl with stars in my eyes now.

“Anyway, if we can afford to get you into this trial program, I just need to know that you won’t fight me on it.”

“Fine. I’ll agree to go if it’s not too outrageously expensive,” he said. My father was completely disconnected from reality with the financial side of his illness. His disability covered the minimum to keep him alive. Nadia and I handled everything else. We’d fought hard to get him into several different trials over the last eighteen months, and we’d been denied every time.

Every. Single. Time.

So, yeah, I’d marry my ex-best friend and live with him for a few months, if it meant I’d have the resources to help my father. And I’d even do what I could to help Hayes get his promotion because he was doing me a huge favor by agreeing to this.

Although, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. He could easily change his mind and bail on me.

It wouldn’t be the first time.