The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy

by Robin Bielman

  Maverick searched the backs of everyone’s heads for Kennedy. Today had been difficult, and he couldn’t wait to see her. She soothed his nerves and got his blood pumping at the same time. They had one more night together. He didn’t want to waste a second.

  Someone in the wedding party chuckled, drawing his attention back to the main attraction. The bride looked stunning in a white off-the-shoulder gown with a train that trailed down the gazebo’s three steps. The groom and groomsmen wore dark suits with white shirts and blue ties that matched the tropical ocean blue of the bridesmaids’ dresses. The man of honor’s blue shirt and white tie set him apart from the others.

  The setting sun cast the special Owens Ranch glow over the ceremony. They’d done enough weddings over the years to know the exact time to schedule vows for optimum photo opportunities. Speaking of which, the photographer took Reed’s picture as he apologized for messing up his vows—earning more chuckles—before resuming his speech.

  “I vow to trust and value you today and always,” Reed said. “You’re everything to me, Elle, and I cherish you with my whole heart…”

  Maverick listened with half an ear, the love between Reed and Elle evident in the devotion on their faces and the way they leaned toward each other. He didn’t know the details of what had transpired between Kennedy and Reed, but Maverick’s gut told him her being here had influenced the couple in the best possible way. She’d made a difference in their lives. He smiled, thinking back to her crashing into his chest and her heels sinking into the grass and the look of determination on her face when he’d guessed she didn’t have a wedding invitation.

  Unable to find Kennedy among the guests now, Maverick closed his eyes for a quick nap on his feet and recounted the day: his last visit with Nicole. He’d never talked so much in his life and had a feeling Kennedy was the reason for that. She’d gotten him to open up more this past week than he had in a long time, and the floodgates had remained open while he sat beside Nicole’s gravestone.

  He shared the letters, what he could remember of them. He told Nicole he was sorry for pushing her away when they first met because she reminded him of Kennedy. He confessed to caring for Kennedy much more than he realized and never acting on those feelings. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, he’d changed his mind and let her in.

  In hindsight, he should have gone all-in with Kennedy sooner. His heart had called to hers, but he’d been too stubborn—and proud—to admit it back then. That fate had brought them back together now was a gift he wouldn’t take for granted. He’d been incredibly lucky to spend four years with Nicole, and he wasn’t about to blow this second chance at a possible future with Kennedy.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Maverick opened his eyes to witness the happy couple’s kiss and walk down the aisle to the traditional wedding music. He’d enjoyed being part of the ceremony more than he thought he would, a peaceful mood replacing any lingering doubts about attending with Kennedy. He’d expected a stab or two of regret over his past with Nicole and wishing he’d had the chance to call her his wife back then, but instead he felt only anticipation. He couldn’t wait to lay eyes on Kennedy.

  Guests stood and cheered, and he once again searched for her without any luck. The bridal party followed behind Reed and Elle, then the rows of attendees filed out.

  He waited off to the side to snag Kennedy’s arms, to pull her against his chest and tell her he’d missed her.

  But she never appeared.

  Neither did Andrew.

  Maybe they’d changed their mind about the ceremony. Maybe she was waiting for him back at his house so they could go to the reception together.

  He hurried to his truck and drove home. Was her long blond hair up or down? Was she wearing those ridiculously high-heeled shoes she loved so much? A new dress that hugged every beautiful inch of her?

  “Hello,” he called out, entering the house. A quick peek at Barley and the puppies told him they’d been well taken care of by Cole and Jenna and didn’t need anything from him. He headed to the kitchen next to check for Kennedy there. She had a nose for doughnuts, and he’d bought some to have tomorrow morning. She looked at her glazed doughnuts like they were a work of art, and she had a similar look in her eyes when she glanced at him after they kissed. So, a win-win, in his mind.

  “Hey,” Hunter said, when Maverick rounded the corner into the kitchen.

  Not the person Maverick wanted to see. “Hey. What are you doing here?” His brother sat at the kitchen island eating one of the glazed doughnuts, damn him.

  “Did a quick check on Barley and the pups.”

  “And then decided to eat my breakfast?”

  Hunter stopped mid-bite. “You want it back?”

  Maverick gave him a look. Hunt smiled and continued eating the pastry. Dressed in his Sunday best, his brother’s presence clearly had more to do with checking on him than the dogs.

  “How was your day?” Hunter asked.

  There it was.

  “The first half was good.” When he’d been alone to sit at the cemetery to talk to Nicole.

  “And the second half?” Hunt washed his hands at the sink, then ran a hand through his hair at the same time Mav ran fingers through his own. Sometimes, looking at his younger brother really was like looking in a mirror.

  “Nicole’s mom and dad arrived, and that was hard.” To see them. To talk to them. Nicole was their only child, and when Maverick had chosen to return to the ranch rather than stay in the city, they’d been hurt. They’d loved him like a son, but he couldn’t take the place of who they’d lost. It was too much pressure, no matter how much he cared for them in return.

  “Sorry,” Hunt quietly said.

  “I am, too. They’re still grieving. With the love I feel for Jenna, I can’t imagine losing a child. How do parents go on after that?”

  “You just do. Sad things happen every day. To good people. It eventually gets easier, right?” Hunter looked meaningfully at him. You’ve been dealing with this, too.

  For the first time since Nicole’s death, Maverick felt confident saying, “Yeah, it does.”

  In the back of his mind, he’d always known today would be a major turning point, his upcoming trip the last promise. Suddenly his gaze caught on the letters he’d written to Nicole, stacked neatly on the corner of the counter. He reached over to pick up the top one, unfamiliar writing scrawled on a blank page.

  Dear Maverick,

  No worries. You never have to see me again.

  Respectfully,

  Kennedy

  He turned the paper over to see the last letter he’d written to Nicole, on the night of Kennedy’s arrival. Flipped it back to see the note from Kennedy. His throat tightened. She’d read the letter. She’d been here sometime today.

  “Dude, you look like you’re gonna hurl,” Hunter said.

  “Did you see this?” He waved the piece of paper in the air, a heated mix of anger and despair crawling up the back of his neck. He was upset she’d seen the letters, but it bothered him even more that she’d basically said goodbye in a terse note.

  “No. I know not to go through your stuff.”

  Hunter didn’t know about the letters—no one did. But he slid the paper over to his brother now.

  “Why would she write this?” Hunt asked after scanning it.

  “Read the other side.”

  Maverick fisted his hands while his brother read the letter. Why was she so upset about what he’d written? He’d admitted she’d played a part in his life even after college. Flattery like that usually pleased a person. The stuff about him not wanting her here? That had been at first sight. At the first uncomfortable stirring inside his chest. At her being on the ranch uninvited and crashing a wedding.

  “You’ve been writing to Nicole?” Hunter smoothed out the pie
ce of paper atop the counter. Maverick nodded. “It’s helped you?” Mav nodded again. “That’s good.” He looked over Maverick’s shoulder, out the kitchen window. “As far as Kennedy’s note goes…”

  Maverick turned, hoping he’d find her walking down the road toward him, eager to explain herself. A note wasn’t exactly her style. Not when she had such a powerful voice.

  There was no one there.

  “I think she was having a bad day,” Hunter said, drawing Maverick’s attention back to him.

  “That doesn’t explain her rude goodbye. ‘No worries’? Like we meant nothing to each other?” The more he thought about it, the more this felt like she was on her high horse again, having the last word and treating him like this past week hadn’t mattered. “After today, we weren’t sure we were going to see each other again anyway.”

  “It’s human nature to focus on the negative rather than the positive. You ended the note wanting her gone, and that’s what she took away.”

  “At the time, it was the truth.” He wasn’t going to feel bad for what he’d written. If anyone had asked Kennedy if she wanted Maverick gone that day, she would have shouted “yes,” too.

  “Women don’t always like the exact truth.”

  “Says the expert on women.”

  “Dude, I’ve been with more women than you, so yes, I believe that qualifies me as the more skillful between us.”

  “Quality over quantity, little brother.”

  Hunter smirked. “You’re looking at a man who’s experienced both.”

  There was no winning this discussion. “Whatever. She’s leaving tomorrow and I’m fine with it.”

  “You don’t want to know why she was having a bad day?”

  “Don’t care.” Not only had she left him a crappy note, she’d snooped in his kitchen first. You know she didn’t do it with malicious intent.

  “Would you care if I told you she already left the ranch?”

  He crossed his arms. “What are you talking about?” Okay, so he could pretend he didn’t care, but that would be a lie. “She’s not here?”

  “No.”

  His stomach clenched. “Is she okay?” Please let her be okay.

  “I don’t know. All I know is she flew home because a friend of hers was in the hospital. Andrew drove her to the airport, then came back to check out and drive to L.A. He told Cole and Bethany what had happened. Kennedy didn’t say goodbye to anyone.”

  Maverick squeezed the back of his neck. She had left in a hurry without a goodbye to anyone…but him. She’d come looking for him. His mind spun with what she’d wanted to tell him when she walked through his front door before finding him gone.

  He hadn’t said goodbye because he thought they had tonight.

  “I should call her,” he said. Bethany had given him her phone number the other morning.

  “You think? She was having a crappy day and then read your letter, so that probably explains her snappy attitude toward you.”

  He pulled his cell out of his pocket. Phone to his ear, his shoulders sagged when she didn’t answer. “Voicemail,” he said to Hunter.

  Hunt made a circling motion with his hand, indicating leave a message.

  The moment he heard the beep, he hung up.

  “What was that?” his brother asked.

  “I need to think about what to say.” He leaned his elbows on the countertop. “If anything.” Wanderlust and his promise to Nicole had him catching a plane to another country. Countries. For a significant length of time. Maybe it was best to let it be?

  “Bro, that’s cold.”

  “Thanks,” he said, unsmiling.

  “Okay, how about I coach you? Dial her again.” He straightened his back and shoulders.

  “I don’t need you to do that.”

  “Apparently you do.”

  “I’m thinking it’s best if we just leave it as is.”

  “With her thinking you’re a dick?”

  “Whose side are you on?” Was it a dick move to not call her? If she was worried about a friend’s health, he didn’t want to add any stress or impose on her to have a conversation with him. He could wait a few days, let their annoyance with each other die down.

  “I’m on love’s side,” Hunt said matter-of-factly.

  “Come again?”

  “You two are wild about each other. I mean, have you seen your face when you look at her?” Hunter made what Maverick assumed was an exaggerated lovesick face, his eyes crossing and his mouth twisting.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Look me straight in the eye and tell me you haven’t fallen for her.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I have or not. We’ve been over this. She’s going to Boston; I’m going on my trip and coming back here.”

  “Here’s my take on the situation.” Hunter looked him right in the eyes. “If you’re lucky enough to meet someone extraordinary not once, but twice, then it’s worth figuring out a way to make it work. You were planning to leave the ranch for Nicole. You can leave it for Kennedy. Do your pesticide thing in Boston.”

  “You know about that?”

  “When I said I know not to go through your stuff, I meant some of the time.” A grin that had gotten him out of more trouble than was reasonable spread across his little brother’s face.

  Maverick shook his head. Not angry, but relieved. He hadn’t intentionally kept his family out of the loop with his business plan; it had just seemed easier.

  Safer.

  Ever since Nicole had passed away, he’d played it safe.

  He took a seat on the barstool next to Hunter’s to collect himself. He’d stopped playing it safe with Kennedy less than a day after seeing her again…and he’d never felt better.

  “Look,” Hunter said, “we don’t need to get into your Lone Ranger attitude right now, but we should figure out the Kennedy sitch.” At Maverick’s frown, Hunter said, “Situation. Jeez, you’re only two years older than me, dude. Get with it.”

  “Okay, dude.” Maverick moved his gaze to his hands atop the counter. “Here’s the thing. I don’t want to leave the ranch. On the drive back today, I decided this is where I need to be, with my family. If things work out with the pesticide, we’ll do it from here. And if they don’t, we’ve got enough to keep us hard at work.”

  “We can’t get rid of you?”

  “No.”

  “That complicates things.”

  “Exactly.” He reached for his phone. He wasn’t a chicken, but more than that, he couldn’t leave Kennedy to wonder about how he felt. “Hey, Kennedy, it’s Maverick,” he started after he got her voicemail again. “I’m sorry you had to leave the ranch like you did, and I hope your friend is okay. If you want to keep in touch, give me a call back. Or a text. Whatever you want. And good luck with your interview, not that you need it. I’m sure the job is yours already. Take care.”

  He hung up, placed his cell facedown on the counter.

  “Not bad,” Hunter said.

  “I’m good with it.” Mostly. He should have said, Please keep in touch. He should have said, I wish I had a chance to say goodbye in person. He wished they’d had one more kiss.

  “And if she doesn’t get back to you?”

  Then his heart would privately break. “Then she doesn’t. Nothing I can do about it.”

  “Man, I wish I had your composure when it came to love.”

  Maverick wished his brother would stop using the L-word. Because every time he said it, Maverick’s pulse sped up. “Did something happen?” he asked, more than ready to switch the conversation to his brother.

  “Just me running into Callie in town this morning and making moon eyes at her and her asking me if there was something wrong with me.”

  Damn. He hated the creases of anguish etched on Hunter’s
forehead.

  “So then I went and made an ass of myself with one of the bridesmaids before the wedding.” Hunt slapped his hand on the counter. “That’s it. I’m officially off women until further notice. Do not pass ‘hello.’ Do not look at them for longer than absolutely necessary. ”

  “With me leaving town in a week, you’ll be plenty busy here.”

  “True. You have a return date yet?”

  “No, but anytime you start to slip, call or text me and I’ll straighten you out.”

  Hunter slid off his stool, and they gave each other a one-armed embrace. “Thanks. Mind if I crash on your couch? I think it’s best I hide here and skip the reception.”

  “Go for it.”

  Maverick’s phone pinged with a text. He quickly lifted it up, hoping to see Kennedy’s name. Instead, disappointment swamped him at seeing a message from Cole. Checking in to make sure you’re okay.

  He debated what to text back. He wasn’t okay, but normally he’d keep that to himself. Text an, I’m okay and forget about it. Things were different now, though.

  He was different.

  Thanks. I’m not, really. Come by for a beer later?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  One day after the wedding

  “Have you seen my phone?” Kennedy asked, padding into the living room Sunday morning and dropping down on the couch next to her sister. “I can’t find it.”

  Ava looked up from her magazine. “Where was the last place you remember having it?”

  “Outside the hospital before Andrew picked me up. I slid it into the outside pocket of my bag.”

  “Maybe it fell out in Andrew’s car?”

  “Will you text him and ask?”

  While Ava did that, Kennedy walked into the kitchen to make coffee. Sitting on the counter was a box of doughnuts from the grocery store, and her thoughts immediately slid to Windsong. To Baked on Main. To Maverick.

  She didn’t think it possible to miss someone after only a day, but she missed him. And she didn’t like it. She wanted to be mad at him. She was mad at him, despite Ava’s thoughtful and logical interpretation of his note. She hadn’t known she could miss someone and be hurt by them at the same time.