Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Duplicate Bride, by Ginny Baird
The Things We Leave Unfinished, by Rebecca Yarros
Accidentally Family, by Sasha Summers
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Victoria James. Preview of The Duplicate Bride copyright © 2020 by Ginny Baird. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC
10940 S Parker Road
Suite 327
Parker, CO 80134
Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.
Amara is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
Edited by Lydia Sharp and Liz Pelletier
Cover design by Hang Le
Cover art by
PeopleImages/iStock, WLDavies/iStock,
and Photosbyjam/iStock
Interior design by Toni Kerr
Print ISBN 978-1-68281-567-0
ebook ISBN 978-1-68281-589-2
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition March 2021
Also by Victoria James
Wishing River series
The Trouble with Cowboys
Cowboy For Hire
Wishing for a Cowboy
Red River series
A Risk Worth Taking
The Best Man’s Baby
The Doctor’s Fake Fiancée
The Rebel’s Return
Tall Pines Ranch series
Rescued By the Rancher
The Rancher’s Second Chance
Still Harbor series
Falling for the P.I.
Falling for Her Enemy
Shadow Creek, Montana series
Christmas with the Sheriff
The Baby Bombshell
The Doctor’s Redemption
Baby on the Bad Boy’s Doorstep
The Firefighter’s Pretend Fiancée
A Christmas Miracle for the Doctor
Snowed in With the Firefighter
A Billionaire for Christmas series
The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby
The Billionaire’s Christmas Proposal
To Jaclyn and Paulo…thank you for your friendship, your love, and your laughter. But most of all, thank you for being family. xo
Chapter One
“Hi. You don’t know me, but I need your help.”
Ugh. No, that was all wrong. That could mean anything. Her car could be on fire, or she could be on the run from the police. Janie Adams took a deep breath and rubbed her hands together, trying to warm up the best she could in her ancient Honda, and attempted her silent rehearsal again.
She blasted the heat and turned her windshield wipers on to clear the rapidly accumulating snow. Squinting, she tracked a pickup truck driving out of the parking lot, leaving only one other vehicle here besides hers. That had to be an employee’s—or, better yet, the owner’s. Everyone else was gone.
In the half hour she and her nephew, Will, had been sitting here, the snow had only gotten heavier, falling faster. That would be problematic, considering the nearest place to stay was miles back on the rural highway. She hadn’t intended to get here so late, but the snow had been intense and the roads dark, so she’d had to drive slowly. But maybe this was best; an empty bar without anyone gawking.
One problem at a time, Janie.
She needed to get this over with first, then she would worry about where they’d sleep tonight. She had no choice but to walk into River’s Saloon in Wishing River, Montana, and tell Aiden Rivers—whom she’d never met in her life but was already certain she didn’t like—that she needed financial help. She never asked for help. Especially from a man.
But time had run out; money had run out. She had student loans and debt and overdue rent and no solution. Aiden could help her, and judging by the packed parking lot they’d driven into half an hour ago, his business was doing just fine. It was time for him to step up.
When Janie had googled Aiden, there hadn’t been much she could find except one or two pictures, and she’d been shocked by the familiarity of his features. She’d gambled on that and on her sister’s side of the story about Aiden, and then had driven west for ten hours to find him. Now that she was here, though, she struggled to take that final step and walk in. Face him.
She raised her head, pushed her glasses back up her nose, and peered out her partially snow-covered windshield at River’s Saloon. The outside looked exactly like the pictures she’d seen online, precisely as she imagined an authentic, nineteenth-century saloon would look. It was rustic, wooden, with a covered porch and…
She was stalling again. She hadn’t even enjoyed the ride here, with all the breathtaking mountain views and pastures and ranches. But Will had, complete with statistics and interesting facts about every town they drove through. He was like that, bright and curious, and it was one of the many things she adored about her nephew.
A shiver stole through her that had nothing to do with the cold. Ever since she’d taken Will in when he was four years old, her entire life had been about giving him the best childhood she could. He’d never been a burden to her—he’d been a blessing—and while she hadn’t been able to give him all the extras that money could buy, she’d given him as happy a home as she could. They had a great relationship, and she loved him as though he were her son.
She’d delayed her own dreams for him, and she would do it again in a heartbeat. There had never been anyone she could rely on for money, for support, for safety. If this meeting with Aiden went well, their lives were about to change—hopefully for the better, though there was no guarantee. If it didn’t go well, nothing would change, and that was the worst path they could go down. She was at the end of her rope and losing her grip.
Janie finger-combed her messy hair and tried to psych herself up to walk into that saloon. Confrontation was not something she excelled at, and a confrontation like this was something she’d never even done before.
She drew in a deep breath, then glanced over at the fifteen-year-old in the passenger seat and tapped his shoulder. “Will, honey, we’re here. It’s time to wake up. I’m going in.”
His eyes fluttered open, a slightly wild look in them as he blinked and peered out the window. “This is the place?” he said, his voice still thick with sleep.
“Yup. And it has all that authentic Montana charm you were talking about. The car is nice and warm, but that won’t last long
, so when you get cold, come in. Don’t sit here and freeze.”
His lips twitched. “I’m fifteen, not five. I won’t let myself freeze to death.”
She nodded, finding humor in what he said but unable to actually smile. “Okay. Don’t forget to lock the doors.”
He rolled his eyes. “Aunt Janie, I’m six-two—way too big to be kidnapped. You’re more at risk than I am.”
She had no idea how he could find it in him to be sarcastic at a time like this, but she was grateful for it. “Right. Sometimes I forget how old you are,” she said, patting him on the shoulder.
His grin fell as he stared straight ahead at the bar, his expression changing faster than the winds were blowing around them. His profile was hard, the angles of his jaw reminding her of a man, not a boy anymore. She still wasn’t used to it.
“Remember,” she said, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “if he doesn’t turn out to be…what we’re hoping for, it’s okay. We have each other, and we’ll be okay.”
Will kept staring straight ahead. “We already know he’s a jerk. I just don’t want him to yell at you or something. I think I should go in with you now.”
Her nephew had a maturity that surpassed his fifteen years, and she worried that he’d had to grow up too fast. She was going out on a limb, on a wish, on a prayer, that someone could finally come through for them, for him. He deserved that. She’d given up on wishes long ago, but for Will, she’d put her heart out there again, make one more wish, and at least take the financial worry off their plates. As much as she tried to fake that they were okay and that she had everything under control, he was too old and too smart to buy that anymore.
“Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I can take care of myself. Besides, you’ll be my backup in a few minutes anyway. And hey, if he kicks us out, well then, we get a room for the night and order pizza and talk about our plan B. Nothing changes for us.”
He ran his hands through his hair and let out a rough sigh. “I want things to change, Aunt Janie. For you. I want you to finish Veterinary College. I want you to have an easier life. It’s not fair you got stuck with me.”
He turned to her, his stormy blue eyes glistening, and emotion tightened her throat. “I’m not stuck with you,” she said firmly. “I love you. I don’t know where I’d be without you, Will. I don’t regret a thing.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Okay.”
A loud meow from the back of the car reminded her to hurry up. “Morris, you have to be good,” she said, turning to face the lion-sized feline in the backseat. Morris was twenty pounds of giant cat and had taken on the role of co-parent ever since she’d brought the stray home. He stared at them with his green eyes and let out an even louder meow. More like a yowl.
“Are you taking him in with you?” Will said in a strangled voice.
“Of course. He can be my bodyguard.” She quickly slipped Morris’s harness and leash on. As far as cats went, Morris operated more like a dog.
A few moments later, she and Morris walked up the snow-covered steps of the saloon, already shivering from the bitter wind and frigid temperature. The old porch was rustic, and the wood creaked slightly as they walked across, trying to avoid the snow drifts. She paused, realizing this was her last chance to reconsider, and then glanced back at her parked car, but the heavy snowfall made eye contact impossible . Will was counting on her. She had to do this.
Janie pushed the door open, and warmth flooded her cold face, her glasses fogging as she entered the empty saloon. Once they cleared, she took in the room. Round wooden tables filled most of the large space with two levels of seating. There were pool tables dotted around and televisions mounted to the walls, along with black-and-white photos of Wishing River through the years. A massive, old-looking but polished mahogany bar spanned almost the entire length of one side of the saloon, and round wooden stools butted up against a brass footrail.
“Sorry, we’re closed for the night!” a man shouted. “I’m just about to lock up.”
Janie stood straighter, her heart racing at the sound of the deep voice coming from somewhere in the bar, trying to find him. A door swung open, followed by the appearance of the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Cobalt blue eyes met hers from across the room before flickering over her, and Janie already knew she was staring at Aiden Rivers. His jet-black hair was disheveled and thick, his face all hard lines of perfection, except for the faint scar that ran down one side. The only flaw—except on him, it didn’t quite seem like a flaw. He was tall, even taller than Will, with broad shoulders that tapered to a lean waist and hips. He was…he was definitely her sister Maxi’s type.
He had a dish towel thrown over one shoulder, and his expression was friendly as he walked toward her. “Do you need help?” he said. “Are you lost?”
She shook her head, everything Maxi had ever told her about him flooding her mind. Aiden Rivers is a playboy. One woman to the next. Drinks too much, parties too hard. Trouble. Janie took a deep breath, holding on tight to Morris’s leash like it was her lifeline. “No…no, I’m not lost. I’m here on purpose, actually. We’re looking for Aiden Rivers.”
His gaze went from her to Morris, and she regretted her choice of words. Clearly, he thought by “we” she meant herself and the cat.
“I don’t think I’ve met either of you before,” he said, then gave Morris a pointed look. “Sorry, buddy, but even if we weren’t closed—no shirt, no shoes, no service.” He brought his gaze back up to Janie with a grin that produced a dimple. An unexpected dimple on the left side of his cheek. An unexpected bit of boyishness on a hard, masculine face. A dimple in the exact same spot as—
Sweat beaded and trickled down between her shoulder blades as she searched for the right words. “No, we haven’t met before. But you might remember my sister. Maxi Adams?”
The warmth she’d detected in his eyes was gone and shuttered up so quickly she wondered if she’d imagined it. “I haven’t seen or spoken to Maxi in over fifteen years.”
Before Janie could answer, the door burst open, a gust of wind and snow swirling into the bar. Janie didn’t need to turn around to know who was standing there. Aiden’s expression—his tanned skin suddenly ashen, his mouth dropping open as he stared at the doorway—told her exactly who had joined them.
“Mr. Rivers, this is my nephew, Will Adams. I’ve raised him on my own since he was four. He’s fifteen now…and I think he might be yours.”
Chapter Two
Blood roared through Aiden’s ears, his gaze darting back and forth between the woman with gorgeous green eyes and the boy—teenager—staring at him like he’d judged and sentenced him.
It took him a pulsing, throbbing, full second before he forced himself to make solid eye contact with the kid, and the moment he looked deep into his blue eyes, something inside, something he’d never experienced in his lifetime stirred, awakened.
He knew him; on some level, he just knew him. He took in the color of his eyes, and it was like he was staring into his own. The stubborn tilt of the kid’s chin was so much like his, one that had gotten him into trouble many times growing up. But it was something else, too. Something he couldn’t put his finger on. His chest squeezed when he realized the kid was waiting for him to say something. The insecurity in his eyes gutted him.
Nothing in his thirty-three years had ever prepared him for this moment. How could it? Having a stranger show up and tell him he might be a father wasn’t exactly the type of scenario he ever thought he’d be in. He’d never planned to settle down and have a family, because he knew he wasn’t father material. His problems were more of the practical variety—breaking up bar fights, making sure no one who was toasted got behind the wheel of their truck, making sure he was well-staffed for the weekend crowd. This, though… I think he might be yours? And the woman and boy were both looking at him as if they didn’t like him at all. What had Maxi t
old them about him?
He cleared his throat. “How do you know— I mean…uh, Maxi never said anything to me about having a kid.”
The boy made a scoffing sound, folded his arms over his chest, and stared at the wall behind Aiden. The woman gave her nephew a concerned look, pursing her lips, then said, “We’re not really interested in getting into all that.”
His heart stopped for a moment before panic rolled in. “What are you talking about? You just walked into my bar without warning and told me I’m probably a dad, and you’re not interested in getting into all that?”
Anger glittered in her eyes, and she took a step toward him, the massive cat following her. “Maybe this is a conversation that should be had in private?”
He clenched his jaw, his gaze going from hers to the boy and back again. “Fine. We can go to my office.”
“Sure. Uh, we’ve been driving a long time. Is there anything Will can have to eat?”
“Aunt Janie,” the kid said, his voice strangled as though she’d embarrassed him.
Aiden had so many damn questions, and none of them had to do with food. But at least this he knew how to handle. “I just made myself a burger and fries and was about to plate it when you walked in. Does that sound okay?” he said, talking directly to Will.
Will…the kid that could be his.
He nodded. “Sure.”
“I’ll be right back.” Aiden went to the kitchen to grab the food, setting the towel from his shoulder onto the counter as he walked in. He was nearly numb from shock, not believing any of this was real but knowing in his gut he couldn’t just dismiss their claim. The similarities were too uncanny. But what bothered him more than anything was the realization that they thought he was a liar. They thought he hadn’t wanted his own kid—abandoned him and his mother.
A stranger had just walked into his bar, with a cat and a boy who looked exactly like him, and now he was serving him dinner? What. The. Hell.
He walked back into the bar to see the two of them deep in conversation, Janie’s arm on Will’s. “Hope you like it,” Aiden said. “Ketchup and all that’s on the table.” He placed the plate down as though this sort of thing happened all the time.
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