Calm down. Nothing’s changed. He lives a little farther out, that’s all. This was not a big deal. Except for your total fear of flying, especially in small planes!
“Where will he land?” I said, looking around frantically.
Landon pointed to a field. “There.”
I shot to my feet as the small aircraft came in to land, bouncing and bumping along, with my heart in my throat the whole time. Oh no. No, no, no, no. That plane was small on a whole new freaking level.
It finally came to a stop. I stood there, wringing my hands as I took in the dark figure sitting inside.
Now my flying nerves morphed into something else. Cash was here. He was finally here.
I couldn’t see him properly, since he was in shadow behind the window. When the door opened, those relentless nerves spiked so high my head spun.
One long leg appeared, then another, his massive thighs bunching as he climbed out. A navy thermal clung to his thick waist and flat stomach, molding perfectly to the jaw-dropping expanse of his colossal chest. And those shoulders? Holy freaking hell.
Then he was out, standing by the plane.
I took a startled step back, then stopped myself and quickly stepped forward, limbs shaky, heart pounding. My fiancé was…huge. A veritable mountain of a man.
He didn’t look like his picture. Nope. Size aside—though I wasn’t sure that was possible—in the photo he was clean shaven. The man walking toward me had a full beard and hair that needed a trim.
Landon muttered a curse beside me.
“That’s…Cash?” I whispered, my throat suddenly closing up.
Landon laughed unsteadily. “Told the boy to shave.”
Boy?
Nope. Man.
All man.
As Cash came closer his blue eyes hit me. They hit me hard, and I took another startled step back. His own step faltered, and he frowned, but he kept coming.
A hand was suddenly on my back, and I jumped.
“You keep backing up, honey, you’ll end up rolling down the bank.” Landon gave my shoulder a pat. “He’s big. I get it. But I promise there’s nothing but good in that boy.”
Okay, this was happening. This was Cash. My Cash. The man who’d sent me all those beautiful emails. He was bigger than I’d imagined—a lot bigger—and there was the beard. I mean, it was nice. I actually liked it. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.
I smiled, even as my hands shook from nerves and excitement. And okay, there might have been a little uncertainty as well.
Cash stopped in front of me, and I tipped my head back. All the way back. “Hi,” I breathed. Yes, breathed.
“Riley?” he said in a voice so deep and rough, I was surprised the ground didn’t shake beneath me. It was even deeper than I remembered.
My smile wobbled. “I’m…yes. Riley.” My gaze roamed over the sheer length and breadth of his body and back up. “You’re ah…bigger than I expected.”
He grunted.
Grunted.
An awkward silence fell between us. This is to be expected, I reminded myself. I’d done a lot of research on these kinds of marriages. I’d talked to people who had done similar to what we were now. The website Cash had used had a lot of useful information on what to expect as well, and there was a database of couples, the successful marriages and the failures. Most were happy to talk and share their experiences and I had taken advantage of the opportunity. Awkwardness was completely normal. He was more than likely as nervous as me.
I beamed up at him, letting the warmth in my heart show on my face. Yes, it was a shock finally seeing him in person, but I was happy to be here. “I’m so excited to finally meet you…to see you in the flesh.” Then I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his thick waist, hugging him.
Cash tensed.
I waited for him to hug me back.
Landon cursed behind me.
Cash’s arms stayed at his sides.
Was he disappointed? Was seeing me in person a letdown?
I pulled back, heat washing my face, and suddenly those massive arms came around me and tugged me closer. He patted my back awkwardly. Maybe it wasn’t me? He lived alone. His house was remote. Way more remote than I originally thought. Maybe he wasn’t used to physical contact? I guess having someone hug you when you weren’t used to it could be jarring?
Then he pulled back and surprised me further by taking my hand.
He paused and glanced down, his thumb gliding over the ring he’d sent me, and he made a rough sound.
I followed his gaze, taking in the way his fingers were curled around mine, and bit my lip. My hand disappeared in his. His fingers were long and thick, the skin rough from a life of working with his hands. I imagined him typing letters to me, those thick fingers stabbing at the keyboard, and my smile widened.
“Let’s go,” he rumbled and headed for the general store.
I followed, not that Cash gave me much choice, his hand was still wrapped tightly around my own.
“What are we doing?” I asked when we walked into the store.
“Getting married.”
“Now?” I mean, I knew it was happening today, but I assumed we’d talk for a while first, now that we were face to face.
“Won’t be back for a month,” he said, dropping my hand and pulling a piece of paper from the pocket of his jeans. He handed it to Landon. “Marriage license.”
Landon nodded and smiled at me. “Let’s get this done. You’ll want to head out before it gets dark.”
Cash grunted. Again.
“Um, this all seems…”
Cash looked down at me, his pretty blue eyes hitting mine with a force that made my knees almost buckle. He wanted this. He wanted me. It was all there in those expressive eyes. And just that look from him calmed me.
I glanced back at Landon. “You can perform weddings?”
“Yes, ma’am. Got ordained online. I’ll send the paperwork in once you two sign it.”
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I said, before I chickened out.
Cash tensed beside me, and I peered up at him again. He was staring at me with an intensity that stole my breath.
“Right, repeat after me. I, Cash Wyatt Smith, take you, Riley Emeline Lewis, to be my wife.”
Cash repeated the words, all deep and rumbly, then Landon told him the next bit. Cash shifted, his wide shoulders straightening. “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will honor you all the days of my life,” Cash repeated, eyes burning into me, face flushed.
I shivered. His voice. Dear God. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.
“Put the ring on Riley’s finger,” Landon said.
Cash pulled a simple gold band from his pocket, took my hand in his, and slipped it on my finger.
“Now it’s your turn,” Landon said to me and rattled off what I had to say.
I glanced back up at Cash. His eyes bore into me so intensely that a shiver moved through my entire body. It wasn’t a bad shiver. But I was freaking out just a bit. This quiet, intense man was about to become my husband. The man I lived with…slept with.
The nerves skyrocketed.
He squeezed my hand gently. “Riley?”
The way he said my name, unsure, softer, but no less rough pulled me from my mini freak-out. This is what you want. This is why you’re here. You know this man, you’ve been talking to him for months.