"Yes, dear. They are, thank goodness. I was scared he was never going to open his heart again. He changed after each failed engagement. That's why I'm so happy you're here, and he finally found the one. I can tell you're different from the others," Mom says.

Each failed engagement. I squeeze my eyes shut.

"Yeah, especially since you don't have a mile-long list of ridiculously expensive wedding must-haves that no one will ever care about," Evelyn comments.

I finally force myself to move, but it's not into the kitchen. I need air. I should have guessed my sisters and mother would gossip with Georgia the first minute they had her alone.

What do I care?

It's embarrassing that more than one woman used me.

It's not my issue. My ex-fiancées are the ones who are in the wrong.

But I chose to love them when they didn't deserve me. That's on me.

I make my way through the house and step out onto the back patio. The pool has a cover over it for the winter. The lounge chairs as well. I pace the concrete, making a circular pattern, with my thoughts going down a black hole I try to avoid whenever possible.

This is why I don't come home.

Gossips are everywhere. My sisters and mom are just products of this stupid little town.

Once January 2nd hits, I'll have more for them to add to their arsenal.

Darkness sets in, but it does nothing to disperse my demons. I keep walking, feeling like I might crawl out of my skin, when Georgia interrupts me.

"There you are," she practically sings.

I turn and stare at my beaming fake fiancée. I seethe, "What do you want?"

Her eyes widen. She jerks her head back, then swallows hard.

"Well?" I demand.

She crosses the patio and steps in front of me, tilting her head up to drill her doe-eyed glare into me. "We're going to eat dinner soon."

"Did you have fun?" I snarl.

Confusion fills her expression. She stares at me momentarily, then questions, "You're going to be nasty to me because I made you agree to look at the wedding details?"

I had forgotten about her little trick. While I thought it made her more interesting when it happened, it now makes me see through her innocent attitude.

She's no different than the others.

She negotiated a million dollars.

She wants money just like all the others did.

I don't answer her question. Crossing my arms, I ask, "Did you play your role? Or are you in breach of the contract?"

Hurt flits across her features. "Why are you being so mean right now?"

I circle my arm around her waist, pin her against me, then fist her hair. I tug it, and she gasps.

Her lips part and her breath hitches. Blue flames ignite in her eyes, searing hotter and hotter until she glances at my lips.