Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set

by Lucy McConnell

  “Hello.” He watched the group as Pastor John waited for Amy to give the procession the sign to start. “Oh, sorry. I’m Glen, Grady’s dad.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” They shook hands. His grip was firm. “You’re a rancher, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. My father started the ranch and I took over when he retired.” He looked down at his open palms covered in calluses. “It’s tough work, but I love it.”

  “Well, that must be where Grady gets his work ethic from.”

  “That’s right, you’re the new partner. I’m sorry I didn’t know who you were.” He waved his hands around in a circle. “Thanks for stepping in. Those boys were in over their heads, growing faster than they could manage.”

  “It was a good opportunity for me too.”

  “It’s funny that you and Troy ended up together.”

  “Funny how?”

  He coughed. “It’s just, we all thought he and Amy would come together again once they were settled.”

  Ronnie made her way down the aisle on her dad’s arm. She beamed at Grady. If she could do that tomorrow, the whole church would light up. Up front, Grady’s brothers were giving him a hard time. They kept pounding him on the back and he kept right on smiling. Teresa and Grady’s mom occupied the front pew, dabbing the corners of their eyes with tissues. They held on to one another like best friends. Candace and the cousins who were bridesmaids bounced with excitement like they were so happy to be a part of the wedding and be together.

  Chloe often felt like she’d missed out on things, being an only child raised by a father. Her mom’s parents lived in Florida and her dad’s in St. George, UT. He’d been an only child too. They had each other, and that always seemed like enough. But in the midst of all this, she was like a truck driver on the long haul overnight with a broken radio.

  “Oh?” She lifted her eyebrows despite the heaviness that was pulling on her whole body.

  “They went their separate ways, each chasing a dream. They were so mature about the whole thing, like it was as easy as hitting the pause button.” He glanced her way. “I guess you never can tell where life is going to take you.”

  “I guess not.” She stared down at her lap, second-guessing the decisions that had brought her here to this moment. Should she back out gracefully and let the lovebirds get things back on track, or did she dig in her heels and make a scene? No matter how hard she stared, the answer was not written in that stained-glass window.

  Chapter 11

  Troy

  Troy held his left hand with his right, just as Amy had instructed him. He was watching himself so that she didn’t have to.

  Amy Mayfair.

  He couldn’t deny that seeing her again after all these years hadn’t knocked him in the head. But he could honestly say that it hadn’t knocked his heart at all. He checked himself again. Heart rate normal. Body temperature normal. Brain functioning. Everything. There wasn’t a single part of him that yearned to be with Amy, to hear her laugh, or to relive the good times they’d had. She was his past.

  He just wished she’d figure that out, and soon. Her constant fluttering around him like some butterfly magnet was trying his nerves.

  He tried once again to get Chloe’s attention, but she was deep in conversation with Glen. Hopefully Grady’s dad was making her feel welcome and a part of things. This group enjoyed being together. Since they’d shared so many Sunday meals, football games, and everything in between, they were comfortable together. He didn’t want Chloe to be on the outside of all that. Even though she was. She wasn’t his. He needed to remember that because having her here felt… right.

  Lance, Grady’s younger brother, elbowed him for the third time. “She’s totally into you.”

  Troy looked out of the corner of his eye and found Amy staring at him, her hands clasped tightly around the clipboard. For the love. “I’m engaged,” he whispered back to Lance. “You can have her.”

  Lance sagged. “I’ve already tried several times tonight. She’s an ice queen to me, but she melted pretty quickly for you.”

  His words triggered the memory of Chloe telling him that she made him melt. Her compliment had done more for him than a hundred of Amy’s hugs or lustful glances. His ex may think they had unfinished business, but as far as he was concerned, it was over and done. Hopefully she’d get the hint and back off.

  “Okay, everyone.” Amy lifted her hands into the air to gather the attention. “That was wonderful. I think we can head into the dinner now.”

  Ronnie and Grady kissed a couple more times before leaving the archway, whispering things between them that were sweet and private. Troy pushed against the throng of people moving to the gathering room and hurried to Chloe’s side. “I’m glad that’s over.” He tugged on his tie, ready to put the thing in the garbage.

  “You’ll only have to do it once more for the actual wedding.” She turned and headed towards the other end of the pew and the now clear walkway. He followed closely behind but couldn’t quite reach out and touch her like he wanted, because she was always just out of his reach. There was something in the contact, something that continued to draw him back and fill him up.

  They were the last ones to walk through the doors and were stopped immediately by the photographer. “Say mistletoe,” he said before the flash went off.

  Troy blinked, blinded. “What?”

  “You’re standing under the mistletoe. Come on—you have to kiss for the picture.”

  Many of his extended family had arrived while he’d been standing next to Grady. They gathered around, grinning like a bunch of mischievous children who’d found the Christmas stash.

  Chloe’s hand gripped his arm. “No, it’s okay …”

  “Everyone’s doing it.” The photographer pushed them together, his over-cheerfulness and firm grip brokering no arguments.

  “Come on, Troy—show us that ol’ Martin charm,” called Uncle Brad. At his insistence, several more people stopped what they were doing to watch.

  Grady stopped staring at Ronnie long enough to chant, “Kiss. Kiss. Kiss,” with a challenge in his eye. What the heck was that about? Others joined in, and soon the room was whistling and catcalling.

  “You guys are going to scare Chloe away.” Troy glared at all of them. “Who’d want to marry into this circus?”

  Grady looked around and raised his hand. So did several of the in-laws. Something moved in the corner of his eye, and he turned to see Chloe’s hand in the air too. His mouth fell open, and the crowd laughed.

  Chloe shrugged. “What? They’re a fun bunch of people.”

  “Darn right we are!” called Aunt Luna, making everyone laugh again.

  Troy shook his head, but he couldn’t stop the smile from climbing across his face. He reached for Chloe’s hand, and when their fingers gripped, he tugged her against his body. “You asked for this, you know,” he said quietly.

  She rolled her eyes. “I think I can take it.”

  He put one arm behind her upper back and one behind her lower back and dipped her low in one swift movement, using his leg to support her . She gasped in surprise and her hands gripped his shirt.

  The crowd oohed. Troy locked gazes with Chloe, expecting to find laughter in her eye; instead he found a slow burning, smoldering fire of attraction. The room fell away and all he could hear was the beating of his heart. All he could feel was her in his arms. All he could see was the beauty she was and brought into his day. He nudged her nose with his, much like she’d done to him back at the house, and she sighed, her eyes dropping shut and her mouth lifting in invitation.

  Troy wasn’t dumb enough to pass up this moment. He closed the distance between them, brushing his lips against hers, once, twice, three times before settling into a rhythm that was slow and steady—stoking that fire. Although he wasn’t sure if the fire was inside of him or Chloe. Ripples of pleasure cascaded over his skin and through his stomach and chest as he thrilled at the feel of her fingers on the back
of his neck.

  Chloe moaned happily, and Troy moved to deepen the kiss. This is what life was for, what he should be focusing on.

  Something hit his shoulder. He ignored it, too intent on the woman in his arms and the sense of perfection she created.

  Something hit his shoulder again, harder this time. He broke the kiss and turned to see his grandma with her hands on her hips. “Young man, this is a family gathering.”

  Chloe buried her face in his neck, her skin burning with embarrassment. He looked around to find that the family had dispersed; a few of them threw dirty looks his way. Whatever. It wasn’t like the two of them had groped one another. They’d kissed—really well. Like the best kiss ever in the history of kissing.

  In one swift movement, Troy had them both upright once again. Chloe sank against him as if her knees were weak. He gave himself a mental fist bump for making that happen. “Sorry, Grams.”

  Grandma leaned in, her rosy perfume stinging his eyes. “Save those kisses for the supply closet. Okay?”

  Troy snickered. Word got around fast. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Grandma bustled off to tell the little kids to move away from the desserts.

  He glanced at Chloe to see her frowning. She pushed away from him and headed to the buffet line. Her absence didn’t sit well. The frown was a bad sign. He’d messed this up—maybe pushed too far. He followed behind, feeling numb. “Sorry about that back there.”

  She lifted a shoulder and picked up a plate. “Nothing to be sorry about.” She let the server place a chicken breast on her plate and then scooted down the line. “You put on a good show.”

  He stopped for a moment, holding his plate just out of reach from the server. Something in the way she said show didn’t sit right and hinted that she was mad. But it was only a hint and he wasn’t a hinting kind guy. He liked things laid out in front of him.

  “Sir?” The server motioned for him to bring his plate closer. He did and then hurriedly stepped down the line.

  “What do you mean, show?”

  She leaned back a little but avoided touching him even with her shoulder. “You’re quite convincing as a fake fiancé. I think everyone bought the kiss.”

  “You were pretending?” He set his plate down on the table, the weight of it suddenly too much.

  She turned to face him fully. Her green eyes were guarded, her shoulders stiff. “Weren’t you?”

  He wasn’t. He hadn’t. Yeah, he’d gone into it feeling like a showboat, but once he had her close, all he’d thought about was her. But what if he was the only one who had that reaction? He’d make a fool of himself and he’d never live it down—especially since they worked together.

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He tugged at his tie. “It was all for show.”

  She moistened her lips. “Great.” She turned on her heel and headed to the round table in the middle, where his parents were already seated. Mom patted the chair next to her, inviting Chloe to join them. There was an empty seat between her and Ronnie with his name on it.

  Troy turned his back on the room, needing a moment to gather himself. That kiss had rocked his world. He’d felt like he’d found his place, his person, his match.

  And Chloe had been faking it the whole time.

  Which kind of ticked him off.

  He snatched up his plate and had the server load him up with steamed veggies. At the end of the line he took two of the small dessert plates in one hand, ready to pound some calories.

  When he got to the family table, he dropped his plates, the food bouncing because of the impact. Everyone stared at him briefly before going back to their conversations. He was happy to keep his mouth full so no one would talk to him. Chloe chatted with his parents, her slightly swollen lips bending into a smile more often than not. Man, she was really laying on the charm tonight. She hardly spoke to him at work, but take her to a wedding and she’s Miss Social.

  Ronnie leaned across him to get Chloe’s attention. “I hear you’re a pretty good mechanic.”

  Chloe quickly used her napkin. “I can find my way around an engine. I hear you’re opening a lube shop.”

  Grady put a hand on Ronnie’s back, his face glowing with pride.

  Ronnie leaned into him. The sight of them so happily in love also ticked Troy off. “I am. The building should be done in a month.”

  “Where’s it located?” Chloe asked.

  They continued to talk as if he wasn’t sitting in the middle of them. Mom even jumped into the conversation. Troy tossed back a huge bite of chicken and chewed ferociously so that all he could hear was the sound of him eating.

  Grady reached behind Ronnie and shoved his arm. “What’s got you?” he asked.

  Troy hunkered lower. “Nothing.”

  Ronnie leaned back, looking between the two men. “Well, I for one am so happy Troy has found someone.” She grinned at Chloe. “You two are perfect for each other.”

  Mom nodded in agreement. “I was a little worried when they got here and were in a snit, but they made up so fast. And that kiss—” She fanned her face. “You two about burned the church down.”

  Grady laughed and smacked the table. “It’s a good thing Pastor John didn’t see that. He’d have you working with the youth group for the whole summer.”

  Troy grabbed his glass and drained it in a long swig. “I need another drink.” He left the table without so much as a goodbye glance to Chloe.

  Ronnie joined him in the short line. “What’s eating you?”

  Troy shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “All right.” She lifted her palms up in surrender. “Just so you know, you’re being a jerk to your fiancée.”

  “She’s not—” He cut off before he said she’s not my fiancée.

  Ronnie blinked at him.

  He let out a gusty breath. “Sorry. I don’t mean to rain on your wedding parade.”

  The line cleared and they moved up to take their drinks. Ronnie sipped hers before waving her glass around. “I wanted to elope.”

  Troy choked on his drink, spilling it down his chin. Ronnie handed him a napkin off the stack on the end of a nearby table.

  “You did not,” he choked out.

  She nodded seriously. “I really did.” She sighed. “But Grady’s mom and Mom were thrilled with the idea of me and Grady getting married. They’ve been friends for so long and, well, I just couldn’t take that away from them.”

  “You should have—you could have saved me a lot of trouble.” Like bringing Chloe along and kissing her until I lost my stinking mind.

  Ronnie laughed, her nose wrinkling. “You’ll survive wearing a tux for a day.”

  That wasn’t the trouble he’d been talking about, but he wasn’t about to tell her he’d brought a fake fiancée to her wedding to stop his mom from worrying that he was a confirmed bachelor.

  They both turned and faced the room. Ronnie lifted her glass towards the center table. “Chloe’s great.”

  Troy pretended to sop up more of his drink off his shirt. “Yep.”

  Ronnie considered him. “Grady and I have a bet going about you two.”

  That brought his head up. “You do?”

  “He bet that you weren’t really engaged.” She twisted her lips. “He said he’d seen you at work together and you hardly speak. He thinks you made this all up.”

  That explained why Grady started the kiss chant. He was daring Troy to come out and admit that he and Chloe weren’t really together. “The jerk,” he muttered.

  Ronnie giggled. “Such strong words.” She shoved his arm. “But I think I’m going to win. You two were made for each other, and the way she looks at you … It’s telling.”

  “How does she look at me?” he asked too quickly. Chloe had him vulnerable, and that wasn’t a place he went often enough to be okay with it.

  “Like you’re the guy she’d let rebuild her engine.”

  Troy pressed the bridge of his nose. Women! “Is that a good thing?”

>   Ronnie shoved him. “It’s the best thing. A woman doesn’t let just anyone work on her heart, you know.”

  “So a heart is an engine?” he teased. Her metaphor, strange as it may be, changed things inside of him like some crazy chemical experiment. He felt lighter than he had a few minutes before.

  “You’re a dork.” She shoved him again, spilling his drink on his hand.

  “Hey!”

  “Then don’t mock me.” She handed him another napkin, this one for his hand. “Listen, I don’t know why you’re all moody, but you’re missing an opportunity to romance your woman. And this is my wedding, so stop pouting and go win me that bet.” She tossed one last napkin at his hands and walked off.

  Troy gathered up the garbage and threw it away. His little sister was wiser than he gave her credit for. This was a wedding and a great place to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman. Not to mention the fact that everyone who met Chloe loved her. And she could kiss! Maybe he’d work them back under that mistletoe. A little quality time was good for a couple.

  Before he had gone two steps, Amy hooked her arm through his and pulled him over to the dessert display. “I need your help.”

  Troy went, wanting to do all he could to help his sister out tonight. She may have been a pain in his backside, but she was his sister—there was a bond there that couldn’t be erased. Not even by a stupid bet she made with his best friend. “Of course. What can I do?”

  “Well …” She used a fork from a basket set on the dessert table to section off a piece of peppermint cheesecake, Ronnie’s favorite. Holding it up, she pushed it towards his mouth. “Tell me if this is dry.”

  Troy opened his mouth out of self-defense—he had no desire to be poked with prongs. “It tastes great.” He glanced over his shoulder at the center table. Chloe was staring at him, her eyes narrowed and her jaw set. “I should really get back …”

  Amy’s grip tightened. “Just a few more samples. It’s important that we have only the best tonight. Your mom has worked tirelessly on this night, and I don’t want her memories of her daughter’s wedding to be full of subpar food.”