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So now the cute, little redheaded pastry chef with the sparkling eyes and the heart-melting smile wasn’t his only excuse for hanging around Winding Creek.
“You think we have time to saddle a few horses and race out to the swimming hole like old times?” Tucker asked.
“I don’t see why not,” Pierce said. “I’m banned from seeing my bride until the wedding and it’s not going to take me long to shower and struggle into the monkey suit.”
“Now you’re talking,” Riley said.
The three Lawrence brothers racing on horseback once again. This was as good as it got.
Chapter Four (#ubff44259-7ca8-5502-955e-235c7d34c854)
Riley stood with Pierce and Tucker a couple of yards to the left of the flowered arbor, where the minister was patiently waiting.
Guests had been arriving for the past half hour or more, filling up the rows of folding chairs.
Riley recognized very few of them. “You must be giving away a new tractor to draw this many people.”
“And to think this started out as a small family wedding,” Pierce said.”
“You’ve only been back here on a permanent basis since Christmas. Do you even know half these people?” Tucker asked.
“Not many, but Esther knows them all. Once she got involved in the plans, the size of the wedding at least quadrupled. We didn’t have the heart to reel her in. The busier she is, the better she does with handling the grief over Charlie’s death.”
“This must have cost a fortune,” Riley said. “Did you win the lottery and forget to tell me?”
“Nope. But this is Texas. You have a shindig, everyone chips in to help. The only food we had to furnish were the briskets that I smoked myself. And the booze, of course, though not even all of that. Some old friend of Charlie’s I’ve never even seen before dropped off a few cases of beer today.”
“They’ve been bringing in food for a good hour,” Tucker said. “I guess we’ll find out who the best cooks in the area are.”
“None better than Esther,” Pierce assured them, “though I doubt you’ll find a bad dish in the bunch.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to try them all,” Tucker said. “You lucked out with the weather, but what were you going to do if it rained? If I remember correctly, this area turns into a giant mud puddle with every shower.”
“We had the option of moving the affair to the new community center next to the high school. The folding chairs and tables belong to the center anyway. The portable dance floor, too, though I had to rent it. Cost me a whopping twenty-five dollars.”
“And all the lights you’ve got strung through branches and around poles?”
“Those I bought and Esther’s part-time wrangler, Buck, and some of his buddies set them up.”
“I didn’t buy a wedding present,” Tucker said. “Figured if there was something you needed, you already had it. Why don’t I throw in some money to cover the cost of the reception tent?”
“Appreciated, but not necessary. One of Charlie’s good friends, Harvey Mullins, has a son in San Antonio who rents party supplies.”
Harvey had insisted on providing the tent with no charge for it, or for putting it up and taking it down. He said Charlie had helped him rebuild his barn last year when lightning had hit and he was glad to do something to repay the favor.
“Sounds like this is a community affair, so who do I see about filing a formal complaint?” Riley quipped.
“File thirteen is behind the woodshed. What are you complaining about?”
“This straitjacket I’m buttoned into. Shirt’s so stiff I can barely move.”
“I couldn’t get Grace to budge on that, but she did agree to our wearing our cowboy boots as long as we had then cleaned and shined.”
“What a woman,” Riley said. “All heart.”
“The real question is, does she have a friend for Riley?” Tucker said.
Thankfully they didn’t get to finish the conversation. The music started and they were motioned into place by the minister.
Riley watched as someone he didn’t recognize escorted Esther to her seat. He wasn’t sure if Esther was acting as mother of the bride or mother of the groom, but she was smiling and dabbing at her eyes at the same time.
He knew what having the Kavanaughs take them in for ten months after their parents died meant to him and his brothers. He guessed he never fully realized what it had meant to Esther and, no doubt, to Charlie. From now on, he’d see that he kept in closer touch.
He flashed Esther a smile and looked over to see if Pierce was starting to panic yet. Nope. The man had ice water in his veins. Must be all that SEAL training.
When Riley looked up again, Dani was walking down the makeshift aisle between the rows of folding chairs. The wow factor sent his head spinning. She’d been cute and witty in the bakery. She was absolutely stunning in a brilliant green dress that set off her gorgeous eyes.
Damn, he even liked the way she walked. She didn’t glide or prance like some haughty mare. She just walked, like a gal who knew who she was and what she was about.
Would be right interesting to check her out a little further, find out if she was as authentic as she seemed. If he hung around awhile, they could have some good times before he hit the road again.
Horseback riding up to the gorge at Lonesome Branch. Do some fishing for bream or catfish. Maybe even take a dip in the swimming hole if the weather cooperated.
Desire revved inside him at the thought of her in—or out of—a bikini.
When she reached the arbor, her gaze met his. She smiled and suddenly all he could think about was getting the wedding over with and getting his arms around her on the dance floor.
The rest of the wedding procession barely registered with him until it was time for him to hand Pierce the ring. He watched as Pierce slid it onto Grace’s finger. He saw the way they looked at each other and he had to admit it did look like love.
But then this was the easy part of a marriage—when everything about the relationship was new and exciting. Before the ties didn’t bind. Before hard times and resentments started pulling a couple apart.
Riley didn’t see himself ever vowing to love anyone or anything for forever. Yet, when the happy couple were pronounced man and wife and Pierce kissed his bride, Riley hoped with all his heart that marriage worked this time for Pierce and Grace. And mostly for his five-year-old niece, Jaci.
Riley had dreaded coming to this wedding, but now that it was nearly over, he had to admit he’d never seen his brother happier. Even more of a shocker, Riley was looking forward to the rest of the evening. He was downright excited about getting to know Dani better.
For all the roving around from ranch to ranch and from state to state that he did, could it be that he was the one in a rut?
No. He was a born wanderer and he liked it that way.
But if he was ready to settle down, he’d be looking for a woman who had it all together. He’d be looking for a woman like Dani.
“THAT’S GOOD. LET’S get one more shot before we lose that sunset. Just the women this time. Esther, Grace, Dani and our little flower girl.”
Not the words Dani had hoped to hear. The air was cooling off as the sun made its final descent, but the Texas humidity had not let up. She could feel herself starting to wilt like a rosebush in a heat wave.
The wedding had been beautiful and touching and perfect in every way, but the photographer was getting a bit carried away with his after-ceremony wedding-party shots. Dani was not the only one growing restless. Jaci kept sneaking away from the group only to be tugged back by one of the adults.
“If we move a few yards to the left, we can—”
“Whoa there,” Pierce interrupted. “Feels like Miller time to me. I’m sure that’s enough pictures of this group.”
“Are you sure?” Tucker queried. “I thought we were going for Prince William and Kate’s record.”
“Okay, okay,” the photographer said, relenting. “Just trying to give you your money’s worth.”
Jaci tugged on Pierce’s hand. “Can I go play now, Daddy?”
“I think we’re all ready to go and play,” Grace said. “But before you all scatter, I want to say thank you one more time for being part of our wedding. You’ve made the happiest day of my life even more special by sharing it with us.”
Pierce put an arm around her. “That goes for me, too. And, bros, I’ll be sure and be there when you tie the knot.”
“Find me a winner like Grace and I’m in,” Tucker said.
* * *
DANI REACHED FOR a glass of bubbly from the tray of full flutes someone had been nice enough to bring them. Scanning the area, she quickly spotted Constance with her good friend Sally and a couple of other school friends. They were ceremoniously sliding across the portable dance floor in their socks while the band set up their instruments.
Happy. Surrounded by friends. Watched over by Sally’s mother, Crystal. Safe.
But for how long? Dani shuddered. She’d done a good job of keeping James Haggard out of her mind during the ceremony, but now he was back and tormenting her thoughts.
She’d found several labs in San Antonio that promised quick results with paternity testing.
She ordered a DNA collection kit online from Corinthian Court Labs and paid extra for overnight delivery. With luck, she’d have it in her hands by Monday morning.
The next time Haggard dropped by, she’d insist he cooperate. She seriously doubted she’d have to wait until Friday to see him again.
Having a plan helped but didn’t alleviate her apprehension.
“Are you okay, dear? You look like you’ve checked out of this hoopla.”
Esther’s words of concern jolted Dani back to the present. “I’m fine, but I’d best get back to the reception area and help control Constance.”
“I’ll walk with you. Jaci, why don’t you come with us and we’ll check out the party?”
Jaci clapped her hands and skipped over to join them.
As the photographer folded his tripod, several guests rushed up to congratulate the groom and hug the beaming bride. Riley and Tucker were quickly accosted, as well, by two very attractive young women. Dani had seen both of them in the bakery a few times, but didn’t actually know them. In their early twenties, she’d guess. Both thin as a blade of grass.
Not that Dani cared. She’d never expected any more from Riley than a dance and she wasn’t putting much faith in that. He certainly didn’t owe her anything.
Dani picked up her pace, determined not to be annoyed by the sound of Riley’s laughter, probably at something one of the flaunting flirts had whispered in his ear.
By the time she reached Constance, the little manipulator and Sally were swiping maraschino cherries from a tray on the portable bar in back of the tent.
“That’s enough,” Crystal said. “You’ll get a stomachache and no one else will get any cherries in their drinks.”
Dani tiptoed up and surprised Constance with a quick hug. “How about a glass of orange juice instead?”
“Or a couple of Shirley Temples,” the cute young cowboy behind the bar suggested.
Constance’s mouth flew open and she covered it with her hand, her eyes wide as she looked up at Dani and then back to the bartender. “My aunt would kill me if I drank that.”
Dani laughed. “You can have a Shirley Temple if you like.”
“I can?”
“Sure. It’s not alcohol.”
“What is it?”
“It’s sort of like a Sprite with a cherry.”
“Oh. Then I’ll just have a Sprite with a cherry in it.”
“Me, too,” Sally said.
Crystal stepped around the girls. “And I’ll have a white wine.”
“Coming right up.” The bartender took his time with them with little concern for a couple of guys waiting on service.
“My feet are killing me,” Crystal said, reaching down to make an adjustment on the strap. “And these shoes felt so good when I tried them on in the shop.”
“Have you guys eaten yet?” Dani asked.
“We have,” Crystal said. “Food is great, especially the brisket sliders and Esther’s fabulous creamed-corn casserole, but I controlled myself. Have to save room for wedding cake.”
“Your cake is beautiful,” Sally said. “When I get married, I want you to bake my cake and make it as tall as me.”
“Why don’t I just practice on a few birthday cakes shorter than you first?” Dani responded.
“I second that,” Crystal said. “We’re a long way from talking weddings.”
The bartender handed them their drinks.
“I’ll carry your drink,” Crystal said, reaching for Dani’s flute of champagne. “You can grab a plate of food while the girls and I snag seats—away from the band, so we can talk about how beautiful the wedding was and how smashing you look.”
“Thanks. I like smashing.” She had felt rather smashing until she’d compared herself to the two model-thin ladies hitting on Riley and Tucker. That had put things back into perspective pretty quickly.
Dani wasn’t hungry, but champagne on an empty stomach would make her giddy.
Several guests stopped to say hello and talk for a minute as she made her way to the food line. The band broke into their first number. Pierce and Grace stepped onto the dance floor that had been sprinkled with sawdust.
They looked incredibly happy. So perfect together that Dani’s eyes grew moist.
She blinked and then spotted Riley and Tucker standing near the dance floor surrounded by a different cluster of fawning women. No surprise there. It would be difficult to find three more hunky cowboys than the Lawrence brothers.
When she’d first spotted Riley in his tux, he literally took her breath away. Her pulse had gone into orbit as she walked the aisle. He looked even better now that he’d shed the stiff bow tie and donned his black Stetson.
