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Risa was going to cling to the other woman’s side and hope that Monty would cool down before she had to talk to him again.
    “ Are you okay? I tried calling, but didn’t get an answer,” Jane said as Risa walked up to her. The barn had been transformed into something ethereal and so romantic. Lights hung from the rafters on long chains and the tables were decked with lace cloths. Risa had done the flowers and had been out earlier to help with the set-up, but seeing it tonight was magical.
    “ Sorry. I had car problems and then I ran into my fiancé.”
    “ Fiancé? You hadn’t said anything, so I wasn’t sure you were engaged,” Jane said with a friendly curiosity. The other woman was about Risa’s height and a bundle of energy. Full of new ideas, she was shaking up some of the long-term residents of Marietta but Risa, being a newcomer herself, enjoyed them.
    “ Yes. I’ve been waiting for him to get back from Afghanistan and, of course, to move out here.”
    “ Who is he?”
    “ Um.” she scanned the room searching for Monty, but it took only a second for her to find him standing next to the bar talking with one of the Scott brothers, Lane, she thought his name was. Suddenly she felt really stupid. She remembered Monty’s email about his buddy stepping on the IED and almost dying. The buddy who was a double amputee. She hadn’t connected the dots until that moment. “He’s there next to Lane.”
    “ I’ve met him. Very nice man. I think he served with Lane in Helmond.”
    “ He did,” she said. She was distracted from Monty by the décor in the place. Everything had come together to create the perfect kick-off to the Great Wedding Giveaway. It was so romantic. How could she not have seen it before? “Everything looks really lovely here tonight. I’ve made some vouchers that I would like to put out. Is that okay?”
    “ Go ahead. I really don’t need you here. You can go and enjoy being with your fiancé.”
    Of course she could. She should ‘fess up and tell Jane that things weren’t exactly perfect between her and Monty, but pride kept her mouth shut. She wasn’t about to open that can of worms. Not tonight or ever. “Thanks.”
    She walked carefully across the room that was filling up with couples enjoying the chance to have a night out in the small town. She slipped up behind Monty, linking her arm through his and tilting her head to the side. “Want to dance?”
    He looked down at her, pointedly at her hand through his arm. “Let me introduce you to Lane first. Risa, this is Lane Scott. Lane, meet Risa, my reluctant bride.”
    She flushed and almost pulled her arm from his, but was acutely aware that Jane was probably watching her from across the room. Even if she wasn’t, the last thing that Risa wanted was for the whole of Marietta to get a clue that she and her fiancé were having problems.
    “ Not so reluctant now that my man is safely back by my side,” she said. “You don’t mind if I steal him for a dance, do you?”

    Monty followed Risa out onto the dance floor. The band was a local group who played a mix of modern country and old standards. But, to be honest, he couldn’t care less about that. He was still trying to figure out this latest move by Risa.
    He ’d heard her in her car. She was confused and scared. He could understand that. He’d shut down after Lane’s accident but he hadn’t expected her to pull so far back. And now that he had her in his arms, a part of him wanted…he wanted a kind of revenge. But when he’d kissed her he’d realized he wasn’t simply mad at her.
    He wanted her. But he wasn’t ready to give up on being angry.
    “ What’s the reason for this dance?” he asked.
    “ Do I really need a reason to dance with my soon-to-be-husband?” she asked.
    He raised both eyebrows at her, staring until he saw a blush spread over her creamy white skin. She tossed her head and gave him one of her primmest looks.
    “ I mentioned you were my fiancé