by Jaci Burton
“Me? I’m great.”
“Are you? You’re acting weird.”
“I am not. I’m fine.” Alice went over to the bed and lay next to her best friend.
Lainie rolled over to face her. “What’s going on, Alice? You were quiet all night, and that’s not like you.”
“Shouldn’t you be all about yourself right now? Isn’t that what brides are supposed to do?”
Lainie laughed. “Plenty of time for the hysterical bride-to-be to show herself tomorrow and Saturday. I’m more concerned about you right now. Talk to me.”
They’d known each other since college, and she trusted Lainie with all her secrets. Yet for some reason she couldn’t seem to open up about this one. Maybe she was afraid if she voiced her fears, they’d either seem stupid or they’d come true.
But if she didn’t talk about her feelings to someone, she felt like she might explode.
“I met this guy.”
“Ha. I knew it. Tell me everything.”
She told Lainie about Clay, about who he was and how they’d gotten snowed in together at Red Moss Vineyards.
“I tried to find a match for him.”
“Yeah? And how did that work out?”
“Not very well. He kissed me. I slept with him. I spent time with him. I might be falling in love with him.” She buried her face in the pillow, then lifted it again to face her friend. “I’m a hot mess right now, Lainie. And I’m never a hot mess.”
Lainie stroked her hair. “Aww, bebe, it happens to the best of us. As soon as we think we have all our shit together, we fall in love. Remember when I was dating Jeff? I was all confident that I was in total control.”
Alice’s lips curved. “And then you cried all the time because your emotions were a total mess over him.”
“Exactly.” Lainie rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. “I ran so hot and cold where he was concerned because I was so afraid of losing him that I did all the wrong things. I stopped seeing him to protect my heart instead of just running toward him and telling him I loved him, because I was convinced he was the one who should say it first. And then he didn’t chase after me when I broke up with him, and I was crushed.”
“When he was just giving you the space he thought you needed to figure out what you wanted.”
“Yes. I told you, I was a mess about that guy. Which is how I knew he was the one for me. No other man had done that to me before. He made me second-guess every decision I’d ever made. Any other guy? I’d have walked and never looked back. With Jeff? I was devastated at the thought of losing him. That’s how I knew he was the one. My forever one.”
“It’s only been a week, Lainie. Clay can’t be my forever.”
Lainie laughed. “Can’t he? Is there some written rule in your matchmaker guidelines that states that?”
“Well, no. But still . . . how would I even know? And then there’s the geography thing. You know how that went before.”
Lainie waved her hand in dismissal. “Geography shmeography. That’s nothing. First, you never loved the other guy. This one seems different.”
“He is.”
“And if you love someone, you make it work.”
“I don’t know. I’m just not sure.” She went silent for a minute, then turned to Lainie and said, “I invited him to be my date for the wedding. That’s okay, isn’t it?”
“You did?” Lainie grinned. “Outstanding. And of course it’s okay. You have a standing plus-one open and you know it. I can’t wait to meet him. I’ll bet he’s hot as hell.”
Alice raised a brow. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you deserve a hot-as-hell cowboy, honey.”
She laughed and reached for her best friend’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Ditto.”
Chapter Fourteen
Dressing up for weddings wasn’t Clay’s favorite thing, but he’d missed Alice like crazy the past two days, so for her, he’d wear a damn suit.
With his cowboy boots. And his good cowboy hat. A man had to be himself, after all.
It had been sunny all day, melting even more of the snow. It was still wet from all the snowmelt, but as Clay drove into Red Moss Vineyards, the vines were all visible now, and with the snow still on the ground, the vineyard should make for some really nice pictures for the bride and groom.
He noticed they’d decorated the arbor with red and white flowers, making the vineyard a nice backdrop. Though Alice had told him the ceremony was inside, so he assumed the arbor was just for photos of the bride and groom.
He headed toward the barn—or what he thought of as a barn, anyway. Torches were lit since it was just about sunset, and the barn was decorated nicely, with flowers and garland and red and white flowers everywhere. He saw Honor, so he waved as he walked in.
She came over and hugged him. “I’m so glad you came. I know Alice will be happy to see you.”
“Thanks. I’ll just take a seat in the back.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you after the ceremony.”
He found a place in the rear, watching people file in. He didn’t know anyone here other than Honor, but that was okay. He wasn’t here for any of them, anyway.
Music started, and he saw the groomsmen and the groom file in. The groom had planted on a nervous smile and looked like he might pass out.
Clay shook his head. How could a guy not be excited as hell about marrying the woman of his dreams?
The bridesmaids walked down the aisle looking pretty in black velvet dresses. Then Clay spotted Alice coming down the aisle in a red velvet off-the-shoulder floor-length dress that clung to every one of her curves. Her hair was pulled back, and she wore a cream headband, and whether she was mussed up from sleeping in his bed after a night of lovemaking or looking gorgeous as hell like she was now, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
She saw him, and her eyes brightened. Then she smiled.
He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until after she passed him. He exhaled.
The woman next to him smiled as well. “Is she your wife?” she whispered.
“No, she’s my . . .” He had no idea how to answer that, so he just finished with “ . . . girlfriend.”
“She’s stunning.”
“Yeah, she sure is.”
Everyone stood as the bride started down the aisle. Lainie was a pretty blonde, but in Clay’s eyes she couldn’t compare to Alice.
The ceremony was short, fortunately, and Clay could see the bride and groom loved each other very much. They teared up as they said their vows, and even Clay was touched by the way they spoke to each other from the heart.
When they kissed after they were pronounced husband and wife, everyone applauded. Then they all walked down the aisle and out into the greeting area. Honor came out and told the guests there would be a short cocktail break while the room was reset for the reception.
Clay was one of the last to file out. He went to the bar and got a beer, then settled back while everyone else visited with each other. He knew the bridal party would be in the barn as well as outside in the vineyard taking pictures, so it would be a while before he’d get to see Alice.
He wandered outside and toward the main house, figuring he could kill some time talking with Johnny. There’d be plenty of time later to see Alice.
* * *
* * *
“Okay, everyone . . . and smile.” The photographer took the shot, nodded and said, “I think we’re good for now.”
Alice figured she’d smiled for about two hundred photos. At least they’d gone out to the decorated arbor right away before it got dark and cold, and once they were finished with the ceremony shots at the front of the barn, they’d hustled out so Honor and her crew could set up the tables for the reception.
Sh
e went to the bar to grab a glass of wine and wandered through the crowd, saying hello to everyone she knew. At the same time, she scanned the crowd for Clay, frowning when she didn’t see him. She knew he was here, because she’d made eye contact with him when she’d walked down the aisle.
It wasn’t like she could miss him. He was taller than most people, and she’d seen him when he’d walked into the venue with his cowboy hat on. But she couldn’t find him.
She finally found Honor talking to Lainie. She went over and hugged the bride.
“It was perfect,” Lainie said. “Don’t you think?”
“Absolutely perfect. And you’re beautiful.”
Lainie grinned. “I feel like a princess.”
Lainie certainly looked like one in her long-sleeved cream satin gown decorated with seed pearls and the white crown headpiece that covered her beautiful hair. Alice had loved every moment of the wedding ceremony, especially the way Jeff had looked at Lainie as she came down the aisle. She could barely hold back the tears when her two friends had spoken their vows.
And now they were married and she knew they’d be happy forever.
“We should be opening the reception area as soon as the caterers have finished setting up,” Honor said.
“Sounds good,” Lainie said. “Everything looks lovely, Honor.”
Honor smiled. “I’m so glad you think so.”
Jeff came over. “Babe, the photographer wants to get a couple more shots of us.”
“Okay. I’ll see you all later.”
After Lainie walked off, Alice turned to Honor.
“Honor, have you seen Clay?” Alice asked.
“I think I saw him walking toward the main house right after the ceremony. Knowing him, he’s hanging out with my dad. I’m sure he’ll be back.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Sure. Please excuse me. I need to check on the caterers.”
“Of course.”
Alice ducked into the restroom to reapply her lip gloss and check her hair. The wind had picked up when they were outside, so she wanted to make sure her hair hadn’t gone wild on her. She looked in the mirror and decided her hair passed the test, so she applied lip gloss and went back out to the cocktail party.
And ran straight into Vin Black, a guy she’d dated for a few months last year. He was one of Jeff’s friends, and Lainie had thought they’d be perfect together.
They had not been perfect together.
“Oh, hi, Vin.”
“Alice Weatherford. It’s been a few minutes, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Vin was as good-looking as sin. Built on the lean side, but he worked out like crazy. He had coal-black hair and stunning brown eyes. He also dressed better than any man she’d ever known. And was as vain as any man she’d ever known. Which was one of the drawbacks to their relationship.
No woman would ever be good enough for Vin Black—according to Vin Black. Especially not Alice. He’d started picking apart everything about her after their first month of dating, from her job to her appearance, trying to change her. By the second month, she was over him. Painfully. Yet another guy who’d put himself first over her.
“So . . . how’s it going, Alice?”
“Very well, Vin. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. My business is growing. Signed five new clients this month alone, which, as everyone knows, is nearly impossible during the holidays.”
And so it begins. The All About Vin show. “I’m happy for you.”
“I also have a new girlfriend. She’s a model. On assignment in Paris at the moment. I’d be with her right now, but, you know, Jeff and I being friends and all, I couldn’t say no to his wedding. Otherwise I wouldn’t be caught dead in Oklahoma.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. “I actually like Oklahoma. I enjoyed the snowstorm very much.”
“Oh, you got caught up in it, huh? Too bad for you. It probably hurt your—what was it again? Matchmaking business?”
His comment about her work couldn’t have been more condescending. But he’d always been like that. She hadn’t acknowledged it at first because he was a good-looking guy, and said all the right things, and took her to upscale restaurants, and she’d been shallow enough to shove aside the niggling doubts—like the fact that he was an utter ass. But after spending time with Clay, who was a gentleman, and kind, she could tell the difference between men who mattered and the ones who didn’t. Vin was one who didn’t.
“Yes, I’m a matchmaker. A very good one. In fact, I did work while I was here. Very successfully, as a matter of fact.”
“Huh. Whatever. And did you bring someone with you? Or are you alone—again?” He looked around her as if she were invisible.
Too bad Clay wasn’t around. Not that she needed him to prove her worth. She didn’t.
“I have a date. Really nice guy this time.”
“I don’t see him around.”
“Oh, he’ll be here.”
Vin scoffed. “Sure he will.”
She’d really like to punch this guy. With the heel of her shoe to his forehead.
“Actually, she does have someone with her.”
Clay had come up behind her and put his arm around her. Vin had to look up to meet Clay’s extremely irritated gaze. And for someone with Vin’s ego, that had to be exceptionally demeaning.
“Oh, so you found yourself a cowboy, huh?” Vin asked.
“Rancher,” Clay said. “Over a thousand acres. Multimillionaire rancher, actually. Who the fuck are you again?”
For the first time since Alice had known him, Vin was at a loss for words. Alice bit down on her lip to keep from laughing at him.
“Nice seeing you again, Alice.”
He turned and hurried away.
Alice looked over at Clay. “I was handling it.”
“Yeah, I overheard. You were handling him just fine. But I wanted to punch that asshole. He needed to be taken down to the size of his tiny dick.”
Alice laughed as he led her into the reception room. He grabbed a beer, and she picked up another glass of wine. After that unpleasant fracas with Vin, she needed it. She took a sip and immediately began to feel calmer. Maybe that was due to Clay rather than the wine.
“Thank you for backing me up.”
“I’ll always have your back, Alice. Even if you don’t need me to help you, I’ll always be there for you.”
Before she had a chance to process what he’d just said, Lainie came bouncing over, dragging Jeff with her.
“This is Clay, I presume? Hi, Clay, I’m Lainie. This is my husband, Jeff. Alice has told me so much about you, and I’m so glad to have you here at our wedding.”
Clay graced Lainie with a genuine smile and shook her hand as well as Jeff’s. “It’s nice to meet both of you. Congratulations on your marriage. It was a really nice ceremony.”
“Thanks, Clay,” Jeff said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you,” Lainie said. “I thought the ceremony was stellar, too. And wow, are you ever good-looking. I can see why Alice thinks you’re so hot.”
“Lainie,” Alice warned.
“What? Like that’s supposed to be a secret? I mean, look at him.”
“Hey,” Jeff said, looking at his bride with a teasing smile.
Lainie laughed. “Oh, come on, babe. I married you. You’re the hottest guy here.”
Clay quirked a smile and looked over at Alice. “I like her. She’s brutally honest. The kind of friend you need in your life.”
“Sometimes too brutally honest,” Jeff said, shaking his head but breaking out in a laugh.
“Never too honest. Can you ever be too honest with your bestie? That’s what I always tell Alice. And she’s the same with me, too, aren’t you, honey?”
Alice shrugg
ed. “I try.”
“You don’t try. You do. You’re the best.” Lainie looked over at Clay. “She’s the best, Clay.”
Clay glanced at Alice. “That she is.”
An older woman came over. “Lainie, honey, your grandmother wants both you and Jeff to come meet some of her friends.”
“Oh, okay, be right there, Mom.” After Lainie’s mom walked away, Lainie said, “Busy night. I have to go. But I had to meet you, Clay. Have a wonderful time tonight.”
“Thanks, Lainie. Nice to meet both of you.”
After Lainie and Jeff walked away, Alice turned to Clay. “She’s kind of a force.”
Clay took a long swallow of his beer, then said, “I like her. She suits you as a best friend.”
They made their way to their table, and Clay held the chair for her to sit. Clay settled next to her.
“How does Lainie suit me?”
“It’s obvious she cares a great deal about your heart, looks out for you. Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“You’re right. It is. So who does that for you?”
“I have a lot of friends. The Bellini sisters are like family; I trust them with all my secrets. I have two guys that have been my ride-or-die friends since we were kids. We’ve done everything together, and we trust one another no matter what.”
“I’m glad. It’s good to have friends like that.”
“Everyone needs them.”
They got up and helped themselves to the buffet, which was amazing. Alice introduced him to the wedding party and to some of the other people she knew, which she hoped would make Clay feel more comfortable. There was nothing worse than being alone in a room full of people, so she wanted to make him feel welcomed.
She shouldn’t have worried. It appeared as if Clay made friends wherever he went. She had to leave him to take pictures on the dance floor with the wedding party, and when she found Clay again he was standing in a crowd of about ten guys. They were all talking fishing, hunting, cattle and God only knows what else. All it had taken was one or two introductions, and people were flocking to him as if he was the most popular guy in the room.
