“Kiss me,” he demanded, unable to reach up to her.
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “How was that?”
“Weak.”
She kissed his forehead, making a loud smacking sound. “That?”
“Pathetic.”
She moistened her lips. “Just remember, you asked for it.”
He growled in response. She slowly brought her lips to his, moving with deliberate control, tracing his lips with hers and pulling him apart. He moved to the side, pinning her against the wall.
“Oh my gosh, some of us have to use the bathroom,” Candace scolded.
Troy set Chloe down. “Not at all sorry.” He winked at Chloe, picked up his shaving kit, and shut the door on the two ladies. He chuckled at the last glance he had of them. One of them looked ready to spit nails; the other like she’d been hit by a runaway train. He rubbed the steam off the mirror and took a good, long look at himself and his stupid smile.
That smile. That was the same dumb smile Grady had worn for the last year.
His cheeks slowly melted and the smile disappeared. Was that where he was headed? Was he falling in love with Chloe? The idea was stupid and yet made perfect sense. Stupid because he wasn’t supposed to fall in love—he wasn’t ready to settle down. The company needed to be on cruise control before another partner could start a family. Once a wife and then kids came along, priorities shifted. He hadn’t planned on Grady falling for his sister—neither had Grady, for that matter—but it happened. They’d brought in Chloe to provide cash flow and another hand on the wheel. If he fell in love with her and actually married her, that would take out the final two partners.
He rubbed his face and then turned on the hot water and plugged the sink so he could shave.
Married to Chloe. That would be something. He couldn’t imagine working with his wife—all day long. When would they have time apart? His mom and dad had a steady marriage, but his mom insisted it was because they had breaks from one another while Dad was at work. She was too independent to want a man under her feet all day, trying to tell her what to do. And Dad was too much of a boss, a leader, to sit back and let Mom boss him around. Troy always figured he’d find someone who complemented him in such a way, not someone who would carpool with him into work each day.
But then … there were perks to working with his wife. Like there were perks to surprising Chloe when she came out of the bathroom. He could kiss her anytime, day or night. He could trace a pattern on her freckles. He could watch her move, knowing she was his and he was hers and that they’d spend cold winter nights keeping each other warm. Yes, the perks were definitely nice to contemplate.
Pound. Pound. Pound. “Come on, Troy. I need to shower,” Candace called through the door.
Troy shook off his deep thoughts and focused on shaving. “I’m hurrying. Go eat breakfast—you sound hangry.”
“I’m not hangry. I’m annoyed that you and Ronnie are on kissing terms with your significant others and I’ve got no one.”
He chuckled. “Hey, I’ve been there.”
“Yeah—but you’re not now.”
He swished his razor through the hot water. “Well, before Chloe, it was …” He thought back. When was the last time he went on a date? With a start, he realized it was a couple weeks before Chloe started at the company. “I didn’t date anyone after she showed up.”
“Yeah?” Candace leaned against the door and made the latch clank. “You knew she was the one even then?”
He pulled the razor down his cheek. “I don’t think I knew it outright, but a part of me must have, because once I met her, no other woman compared.”
Candace’s “aw” turned to a groan. “You’re the nicest jerk-face ever. Now get out of the bathroom before I decide to buzz your head in your sleep.”
He laughed. “I bat your threats away like harmless flies.”
“Troooooy!”
“Almost done.” He shaved his neck and then released the water from the sink. He opened the door and Candace was inside before he had a chance to get out. She gave him a leave-or-die look, and he shut the door behind him.
He hurried to his room, wanting to get dressed quickly so he could spend as much time as possible with Chloe before the wedding started.
Grady burst into his room, catching him with a dopey smile on his face. He yanked his cheeks back down to their normal position just as his lifelong best friend ran into the room and tackled him onto the bed. “I’m getting married today!” He punched Troy in the arm. “Get up. It’s my wedding day.”
Troy laughed, slugging him back. “Get off me, you turd.” They wrestled, each one trying to get the other in a headlock.
Their competitive sides kicked in, and soon they were wrestling for real, determined to beat the other. Troy got his elbow around Grady’s neck at the same time Grady threw himself to the side, and they both landed on the floor, scrambling.
“Knock it off,” Troy bit out through gritted teeth. “I don’t want to give you a black eye on your wedding day.”
“Like you could beat me.” Grady flipped him over and landed on his chest.
Troy hooked his leg around Grady’s and bumped his hip off the ground, rolling them to the side. “I mean it. You’re weak.”
“Ahem!”
They both froze at the sound they knew oh so well. Disentangling themselves, they hung their heads for his mom. “Sorry.” Troy managed to keep his laughter under control just long enough for her to harrumph and bustle out the door. Her headache must have abated during the night.
Troy shoved Grady. “I’m supposed to pick you up for the wedding.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t wait. You slept in.”
“Did not.” Troy checked the clock. He was thirty minutes behind. “Crap. Sorry. I took Chloe to the carnival last night.”
“Really?” Grady leaned against the bed while Troy ran around grabbing things he’d need to change at the church. His shiny black shoes. His clean undershirt. Where were his black socks? He threw everything on the bed and dug into his top dresser drawer. When he had everything in a pile, Grady stood up. “Let’s go.”
A sparkle caught his attention, and Troy spied the ring he’d taken off Chloe’s finger resting on his dresser. Troy stared at it for a moment, unable to just leave without seeing Chloe. “Just a sec.” He darted across the hall and knocked softly on her door. There was no answer. He thundered down the hallway. “Mom! Have you seen Chloe?”
Skidding into the kitchen, he stopped in front of Mom, Dad, Candace, and Chloe sitting around the table, eating as calm as you can be. He wasn’t usually one for public displays of affection, but he was still feeling sentimental from the stupid bachelor party. He scooted between the wall and the chairs and leaned over to kiss Chloe’s cheek. “I’m going to the church with Grady. I’ll see you there?”
Chloe’s cheeks dusted pink. “I’m getting a ride with Candace. Ronnie wants me to drive her car back here after the reception.”
He threw Candace a grateful look. Then, just because he could, he kissed Chloe’s cheek once more as he pressed the ring into her hand. “Bye,” he whispered lightly.
She wrapped her fingers around the ring. “Bye,” she said just as quietly.
It was strange, having this intimate moment with his family all watching. And yet, it wasn’t. It was as easy as putting on a shirt or brushing his teeth, like kissing her was a part of his routine, and yet none of it felt routine. His tingling lips could testify to that.
He ran back in his room, threw his stuff in a bag, and tossed it over his shoulder. “Okay, let’s get you married.”
Grady bounced out of the door. “I’m getting married!” he yelled as they pushed and shoved each other down the hall, through the living room, and out the door.
Troy laughed, but he held back his teasing, because he had a feeling he understood how Grady felt. And if he were really engaged to Chloe, he’d feel the same way.
“I think I’m going to throw up.”
/>
Troy shoved a garbage can under Grady’s chin. “Oh, now you get cold feet?”
Grady sank to his backside on a folding chair in Pastor John’s office. The room was about the size of a small bedroom, the desk was older than the pastor, and the filing cabinet had a faded “Go Army!” bumper sticker on the side.
“It’s not cold feet. I hate public speaking.” Grady’s face had gone white.
Public speaking? “You literally have to say two words. That’s it.” Troy paced in front of the desk. “You two didn’t write your own vows or something dumb like that, did you?”
“No.” He moaned.
There was a knock at the door, and then Pastor John entered. He took one look at Grady’s pale face and shut the door quickly. “Cold feet?” he whispered to Troy.
“Fear of speaking in public.”
Pastor John chuckled. He folded his arms and tipped his head back, considering the ceiling. After a moment, he said, “The only person you have to focus on is Ronnie.” He placed a comforting hand on Grady’s shoulder. “Look her in the eye and I promise you, you won’t know there’s another person in the room.”
Grady closed his eyes for a moment and then nodded. “I can do this.”
Troy put his hand between Grady’s shoulder blades just in case the guy thought about running. He was supposed to be the best man and have Grady’s back, but Ronnie was his little sister and some brotherly instincts ran deep. “I don’t care if you puke in front of everyone. If you run out on my sister, I’ll beat the crap out of you.”
Grady pushed out an uncomfortable laugh as he walked on unsteady feet to take his place at the archway. He layered one hand over the other and stood there, trembling slightly. He leaned towards Troy. “Just wait until it’s your turn—jerk. I’m going to make you pay.”
Troy slapped him on the back. “That’s it. Think about what a jerk I am. That’ll get you through your vows.”
Grady glared.
Troy coughed to hide his laugh.
The church brimmed with family and friends. Because they’d grown up together, Troy knew most of Grady’s extended family. His Aunt Gertie smiled kindly at Troy and dabbed her eyes. She was the designated family wedding crier. Happened every time a couple tied the knot. She also wore the same pastel blue dress to every wedding since the dawn of time. It still looked brand new, too.
He searched his family’s side of the chapel for Chloe and found her in the middle of the pack. She was holding his cousin Trish’s one-month-old and cooing into the bundle of blankets. The little guy knew a pretty face when he saw one and he smiled right back. Even from this far away, Troy could see the way his face lit up. One tiny hand reached out and grabbed a fistful of curls. Chloe laughed with Trish as they worked to free her hair before the baby stuck it in his mouth. Instead of handing the baby back, Chloe pushed her hair behind her back and continued to make silly faces.
A sense that all was right in the world filled Troy up. It started in his heart and it spread, like warm water, through his chest and his belly; it filled his head and made his fingers and toes tingle. He knew, without having to think hard or search his soul, that he was in love with Chloe. She was his person, his match, his better half. With that understanding came a calm he’d never experienced before.
In that moment, she lifted her eyes and their gazes met. For the heartbeat before the music began to play and the wedding started, he and Chloe were the only two people in the church. Had she joined him before Pastor John and pledged her love, he would have taken it and given his without hesitation. His vision blurred as warm liquid filled his eyes.
He’d have to find the right moment to tell her, to put a real ring on her finger and claim her as his, and he’d do it before they went home. Something this big couldn’t wait.
Chapter 21
Chloe
The wedding was simply beautiful. Ronnie was the blushing bride, stunning in her white dress. Chloe took in the folds across the bodice that accented her tiny curves, the floor-length hem and the layered train made from satin that puffed delightfully and gently swayed as she walked. Waiting in the bride’s room was a faux fur wrap that was refined and completed the Christmas wedding look.
Grady looked quite nice in his long gray wool jacket and silver tie. But it was the man standing next to him who took her breath away. Troy’s jacket was slightly darker than Grady’s, his white shirt pressed and his black tie giving him a dangerously attractive edge. When their eyes had met just before the ceremony started, she could have sworn she’d seen love, and her heart had jumped as if it had been lying in wait for Troy’s heart to figure out they were meant to be together. She’d felt a love for him grow inside. The more time they spent together, the more she allowed him into her life, and the deeper she fell into his, the stronger the love grew.
She sighed, just happy to stare at the back of him as the pastor talked about marriage, commitment, and the holiness of the wedding vows. Was it even smart to hope that he could feel a fraction of what she did? Her heart was in a fragile state, heavy layered with her love for him and his family. These people had brought her into their tribe, their inner family circle, where they became sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles. With Troy, all her hopes had come to life. He was the man she’d want to be with, work with, love with for the rest of her life. And on top of that, he came with this wonderful package.
“Always be honest with one another.” Pastor John’s aged blue eyes seemed to look past the couple and bore holes into Chloe’s head. She shifted in her seat so she was out of his line of sight. The one thing she and Troy hadn’t been was honest. She spun the fake ring around her finger. Troy had given it back to her this morning, had made quite the spectacle about slipping it to her unseen. Maybe he kissed her to draw attention away from the exchange.
Last night … last night was amazing and wonderful. If it wasn’t for this silly ring and their big lie to his family, it would have been the best first date of her life. She had to remember that they weren’t engaged—or even that far along in their relationship. They were barely dating.
The pastor’s voice broke through her jumbled thoughts. “Honesty is the foundation for a trust, and trust is a foundation that will see you through the hard times.”
This whole fake fiancée thing was a mistake. Ronnie and Candace would hate her for lying to them. She’d never have the closeness they’d offered so easily after they knew she’d deceived them. And Teresa? Grady’s mom would freak out. She’d get a migraine for a month, and it would be all Chloe’s fault. And then, because Teresa was sick about it, Brian would be angry too. Actually, out of all the Martins, Brian was the one who would probably forgive her fastest.
She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hold back the panic. Today was not the day to blow this all open. It was Ronnie’s wedding and the spotlight was hers. Which made Chloe feel even worse. She wouldn’t tell anyone, but she couldn’t keep this up. She and Troy had to come clean.
Her heart ached. Troy was the one who had the idea in the first place. He had a plan. Bring a fake fiancée to the wedding, break up, and move on. She’d forgotten about the breaking up part. Somewhere along the way, the engagement had started to feel real, but it wasn’t. She wasn’t. And what she and Troy shared was built on a lie. It wouldn’t last.
She managed to muscle down a sob. So long as they lay low, she’d be able to make it through the rest of the wedding, and then she could go back to her quiet little life.
It wasn’t until the reception dinner that Chloe had to really swallow her emotions and face Troy. The wedding party ran long taking pictures. Ronnie wanted to ride to the reception with Grady, so she’d given her keys to Chloe and asked her to take care of transporting the car. Ronnie had done an excellent job with the restoration process, and the engine purred with excitement the moment Chloe turned the key.
Maybe she’d take on a project like that when she got home. It would fill the time that having a boyfriend would have taken up, and sh
e would feel like she was accomplishing something.
The wedding party arrived and everyone stood and clapped for the bride and groom. The sound was a mixture of celebration and congratulations. Grady grabbed Ronnie and kissed her, earning them a cheer. They smiled so big they could have lit the room with their joy.
The room had been turned into a winter wonder land. She couldn’t count the number of Christmas trees decorated in silver—or chrome as Grady had said. The fairy lights overhead were positively elegant and the hanging snowflakes spun slowly as if dancing to the soft music from a string quartet. A band would take the stage later but the classical music was perfect for dinner. Old fashioned street lamps were placed here and there and lanterns, clustered in threes and fives, added to the sense of wonder. If Chloe hadn’t been privy to all the work that went into tonight, she wouldn’t believe that this started out as a mess.
Everyone settled in for dinner and the servers passed out the first course. Chloe had a place at the head table, right next to Troy. He slid into his seat and loosened his tie. “I’m ready to throw this thing into the snow.” He smiled and winked.
Chloe’s stomach flipped. “I think you look good in a tie.”
He lifted an eyebrow and cinched his tie back in place. “In that case, it stays.” He winked again, and her heart lurched to the left.
Troy
“And now we’ll hear from the best man, Troy Martin.”
Troy grinned as he got to his feet, buttoning the front of his tux. He accepted the mic from his dad, who had just made Ronnie cry and her new husband nervous. He felt for the groom; he really did. Dad had some pretty big tools in his shop and wasn’t opposed to threatening his son-in-law with a giant wrench should he hurt one of his daughters.
Troy breathed out in an effort to calm his own nerves. Speaking in front of people was not his favorite thing to do. Chloe’s hand clasped his for a brief moment, calming his anxiety and stirring up a whole new batch of butterflies in his stomach. He squinted against the spotlight and started the speech as he’d practiced. “It’s not every day your sister marries your best friend and makes him your brother.”
Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set Page 65
