The kind of things the perfect boyfriend would say.
By the time the final dessert was served, my head was spinning. I had to get out of there. I turned to Gina. “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?”
Her face flushed. “Ah—I think Travis and I were going to grab a drink. I would invite you, but I know you are, uh… abstaining?”
Awkward. More like, I saw you black-out drunk passed out more times than I would care to remember, and I want to be alone with this big, hot cowboy. I smiled my brightest, fakest smile. “That’s great! Have fun, you guys! I’m exhausted from the drive. I think I’ll call it a night.”
A deep voice rumbled in my ear, “You are not walking back to that hotel alone.”
Clenching my teeth, I hissed, “And just who do you think is going to stop me?”
Brody tensed beside me. “Me. And my hand if I need it.”
My head whipped around to face him. I hissed, “Don’t you dare threaten to spank me. I am not your girlfriend!”
He hissed back, his tone as venomous as mine. “I don’t care. I would never let someone I care about walk alone through the city at night.”
Someone he cared about.
My eyes lowered to the table. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
We sat in a stony silence.
“Let’s say bye to Ted and Kaley and then we will go,” I said after I’d had some time to cool off.
“Sounds good.” Brody’s neck craned around the room, his gaze falling on each guest as they filed out.
My brow furrowed as I followed his gaze. “Who are you looking for?”
He shrugged. “No one.” But he couldn’t meet my eye. Brody gave me a funny glance out of the corner of his eyes just as Ted and Kaley approached us for goodbyes.
Brody and I stood to say goodbye to the happy couple. Ted’s smile was so big, it made me smile just to look at it. “Thanks so much for coming all this way, cuz. And driving that stinky old bus of yours to tote the family all the way from the middle of nowhere to civilization.”
Kaley laughed, staring adoringly at Ted. My stomach twisted in a knot.
“It was my pleasure, Ted.” Brody wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Plus, I had Georgia to keep me company on the drive so that’s been fun.”
Ted gave me a curious look. I had not yet filled Ted in on my love affair and breakup with his cousin, and it didn’t appear that anyone else from the ranch had either. I shrugged out of Brody’s arm.
I hugged Kaley first. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride that ever walked down the aisle, Kaley,” I said. And I meant it too. Golden blonde hair, perfect features, she was stunning even in sweats.
“You are too sweet, G. I’m so glad you all could make it.” Kaley said, giving me a squeeze.
I hugged Ted next. Wrapping his arms around me, he said, “Thanks for making the trek, G.” Then, he grabbed me tight, whispering in my ear, “Is something going on between you and my cousin?”
Pulling away, I smiled, laughed, and said, “Which one?” loudly enough for everyone to hear. Ted gave me a strange look, and I scurried away, calling, “Can’t wait for tomorrow!” over my shoulder.
I could sense Brody following me as I made my exit from the dining room. Hooking his arm in mine, he escorted me down the spiral staircase. I could have tugged my arm out of his, but I was emotionally drained, and my heels were too high, so I let him guide me.
We walked quietly down the sidewalks—he could tell I wasn’t in the mood to talk. When we got to the door of my hotel room, I turned to bid him goodnight.
Before I could, he said something strange that got my attention. “You lied tonight.”
“Huh—what?” I was digging through my purse for the keycard to my hotel. I just wanted to crawl onto that queen-sized bed and go to sleep.
“When you said Kaley would be the most beautiful bride that ever walked down the aisle. It’s a lie.”
I stopped searching my bag. My eyes met his.
Tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, his gaze looked sad. “When the day comes that you make some man the happiest man in the world—you will be the most beautiful bride that ever walked down the aisle.”
I stood, my hand hanging in my purse, stunned.
He leaned in, pressing his lips against my forehead. My eyes closed as the familiar scent and feel of Brody brought tears to my eyes.
Then, he left.
Fumbling with the keycard, I got the door open. Throwing myself onto the bed, I tried to breathe again.
* * *
Regina and I decided to spend the wedding day splurging on a little retail therapy. It had been far too long since I had stepped foot into a store and bought something. And she was so pent up with energy from her date with Travis the previous night, logging some miles around the city would do her good.
Chatting away about Travis this, Travis that, Gina kept up the conversation for both of us. I could stay silent most of the day, which was ideal because the only thing on my mind was Brody’s final words to me at the door of my hotel.
The day ended too quickly, and it was three in the afternoon—time to start getting ready for the four-thirty wedding.
“I hope you don’t mind—Travis asked if he could walk with us to the wedding.”
“Of course not,” I said, secretly hoping with Travis would come his older brother.
We showered and sprayed and fluffed and brushed and did all the things girls do to get themselves looking their best for an event like a wedding. Gina was letting me borrow a short, navy, hourglass-shaped sleeveless dress that zipped all the way up the back. My favorite look—simple but sexy. I left my hair loose, tumbling down my shoulders, the curls from last night now loose waves. Regina looked amazingly elegant in a shimmering gold dress with her red hair knotted to the side.
Too soon, there was a knock at the door.
“Eeek! That’s him!” She eagerly teetered to the door on her golden heels. She opened the door, and there stood Travis.
No Brody.
I ignored the instant pang of disappointment in my chest. Travis was debonair in his dark suit. When Gina leaned up to greet him with a kiss on the cheek, I couldn’t help but think they made a great couple.
Which made me the awkward third wheel. Yippee.
We made our way downstairs to the street. The wedding was being held a few blocks down at The Regal—a hotel that Regina and I could not afford rooms in for two nights. It was mostly the younger crowd walking along the sidewalks to the wedding. My eyes scanned the passing people, but Brody was nowhere in sight.
Travis must have noticed my wandering gaze. Catching my eye, Travis casually mentioned to Regina, “Brody and I are staying at The Regal. We got rooms across the hall from my mother and grandmother.”
“I know—you told me last night,” Gina said.
I gave Travis a grateful smile.
We reached The Regal and were immediately ushered into a gorgeous hall. White padded folding chairs were set up in rows on two sides, an aisle running down the center. There was a small stage set up in the front, a white arbor covered with peach and pink paper tissue flowers Kaley and I had painstakingly made at their kitchen table one night before I left town.
I sat on the end of one of the rows on the groom’s side, leaving a seat beside me open for Brody. Why not? We were friends after all. Regina sat next to me, and Travis next to her. Brody was nowhere in sight.
I looked down at my program while Gina and Travis chatted quietly with one another. The music began.
Lost in the words on the creamy cardstock, I startled when a warm, familiar body filled the chair next to mine—a shoulder pressing against me. I would recognize that cologne anywhere.
Jake.
Mind focused on the emotional evening before with Brody, I had completely forgotten about Jake being at the wedding.
My heart palpitated as I turned to my left. I tried to mentally prepare myself for the first glimpse of his face, b
ut nothing could have readied me for the ice blue eyes that pierced mine from underneath that shock of black hair.
“Jake,” I whispered.
“Hey, Gigi.”
At the sound of his pet name for me, the world seemed to stop turning. I could not take my eyes away from his face, his familiar, sharp jawline, the dark brow perfectly arched at me, as if in amusement. And those eyes. I had spent hours of my life lost in those blue eyes.
Before words could form on my tongue, the music signaling the service was starting began.
Ted and his groomsmen filed in from a door behind the stage. Ted looked exuberant. The tan three-piece suit with white button-down had been the perfect choice for the wedding. He didn’t even seem nervous. His eyes were trained on where Kaley would first come out to walk down the aisle to meet him.
The bridesmaids made their way down the aisle in their peach dresses. I kept my attention focused on them, trying to ignore how closely the side of Jake’s body was pressed into mine.
Every now and then, I could feel his eyes on me, watching me.
Then the first notes of Handel’s Air, from Water Music began to play—the song Kaley had chosen to walk down the aisle to. I turned over my shoulder to see Kaley.
But instead of my eyes finding the bride as I had planned, they fell on someone else. The man three rows back, sitting directly behind me. Brody gave me a tightlipped smile as my gaze locked with his. I smiled back. His brows raised as he pointed next to me and mouthed the one-word question, “Jake?” I gave a tiny nod.
It wasn’t considered a love triangle if both the men had broken up with you. Right?
* * *
With Jake beside me and Brody behind me, there was no way I could focus on the wedding. When it ended, and our row was excused, I turned to Gina, poking her in the ribs. Finally tearing her eyes away from Travis, she looked over my shoulder, shocked to see who I had been sitting next to for the entire ceremony. “Hi, Jake,” she called casually, like she used to do when she would get home from work and find him lounging on our couch.
“Hey, Gina. Long time no see.”
I turned to face the end of the row, ready to get out of here, grab Gina’s hand and drag her to the bathroom, but as I filed out, there was a hand pressed into my lower back. Jake leaned down and whispered into my ear, “You look amazing, Gigi. I love that dress on you.”
Melt or freeze? My body had no idea what to do. I gave him a small smile and said, “Thanks, Jake.”
Brody’s aisle hadn’t yet been released. He must have had a clear view of Jake and me. Fighting the temptation to look over my shoulder, I allowed Jake to lead me to the reception cocktail hour.
“Can I get you a drink? You still like Prosecco?” Jake had introduced me to the delicious sparkling wine when we first met.
I hesitated. “No, thanks.”
His brow furrowed at me, that dashing smile crossed his face. “You sure?”
Regina grabbed my arm, whispering in my ear, “Have one drink, Georgia. You are going to need it to get through this night. Just promise me, no hard liquor.”
Maybe she was right. Travis, and Colton at the bar, even Alice was getting a glass of wine. It was okay to have a drink to celebrate a wedding, right? I had no desire whatsoever to ever touch liquor again. “Okay.” I gave her arm a squeeze, signaling I really was okay and she could go back to the bar beside Travis.
I turned my attention back to Jake. “On second thought, I’ll have a Prosecco.”
“Coming right up.” I watched him as he walked up to the bar, one hand tucked casually in the pocket of his black suit trousers, that sleek panther-like way that he had about him. He got two glasses of Prosecco and judging by the look on the bartender’s face, left a generous tip. He returned to me, handing me my glass.
“Cheers.” He held up his flute and we clinked glasses.
“So, how have you been?”
You mean since you dumped me at a date in my favorite restaurant and I drank my sorrows away for six months and almost destroyed every close relationship in my life?
I smiled brightly. “Fantastic. You?”
“Same old, same old. The bank biz is what it is.” He leaned in as if asking me a secret. “Ted tells me you are working at a… ranch?”
“I am. It’s breathtaking.”
“What’s the name stand for? Ted said it’s ‘class with one ‘s.’ Kind of a strange name for a ranch.”
“Clean living and sunshine.” Jake had asked Ted about me?
His brows furrowed together as he mulled over the words. “Clean living and sunshine. What does that mean?”
“Just—the owner doesn’t allow alcohol or substances on the property.”
“Sounds like a real fun place,” he said, taking a generous swig of his wine. “Is that why you didn’t want a drink? Has CLAS gotten to you?”
I laughed, brushing away his comment with my hand. “No, nothing like that. We can do whatever we want off the ranch.”
“I should hope so. You are a grown adult after all.”
I suddenly felt a bit sick. Jake knew nothing about the ranch and yet he wanted to trash it. But hadn’t I been through the exact same thought process when Ted first told me about CLAS?
I opted to change the subject. “What are you up to? Where are you living? Same apartment?”
Out of college, Jake had continued living with the same three guys he had through junior and senior year. The place was usually a wreck, which is why he was so often and Gina’s and my house.
“I found my own place actually after you and me—” he cleared his throat, “I got promoted to mortgages. The salary is a lot more competitive.”
“Sounds exciting,” I said.
“It pays the bills, right, Gigi?” His hand went to my lower back and he leaned his mouth by my ear. His lips were so close, I could smell the sweet scent of wine on his breath. Holding his flute up to point across the room, he asked, “Hey, is that your boyfriend?”
A wave of heat rushed over me, the combination of the wine, Jake’s nearness, and the stony stare of the man he was pointing at. Brody.
My eyes locked on Brody’s. “No. That’s my boss.”
“Why does he keep staring at you like that?”
“No idea.”
“Whew. That’s a serious-looking boss. Does he ever smile?”
“He used to,” I whispered to myself.
Brody looked away.
* * *
One glass of Prosecco always leads to a second glass. Or at least that’s what Jake said when he handed me another one. As he escorted me into the dining hall with his hand pressed into my lower back, I felt faint.
We looked on the linen-covered round tables—each seating eight—for our name cards.
Kaley and Ted had finished the table seating arrangement just last week, so I had no idea where anyone was seated. Jake’s name card was on a table near the back of the room, next to a few of Ted and Jake’s baseball friends. We did not see my name.
“Want to see if someone will switch so we can sit together?” Jake asked.
Honestly, I need a break from it all—Brody, Jake, the wedding. But mostly, Jake. “Kaley would get upset. She was very particular about everything.”
“I don’t think she’ll mind.”
“Still…”
He shrugged, “Suite yourself, Gigi,” and made his way over to his table.
Incredibly aware of the glass of alcohol I held, I breathed a sigh of relief to see the wait staff pouring red or white wine into glasses on the tables. I wouldn’t stick out with my half-finished flute. Regina was right—the edge of tension was slightly better after a glass of wine, now, a glass and a half.
I found my place at the table with the others from the ranch. I quickly scanned the other names written in calligraphy: Memaw, Alice, Colton, Hayes, Travis, Regina, Georgia-G, and Brody. Regina would be thrilled.
A familiar voice came from behind me. “Hello, Georgia.”
Brody
. Looking over my shoulder, I couldn’t help but to smile at him as he raised an eyebrow to the glass in my hand. “What happens off the ranch, stays off the ranch,” he said generously. I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t going to make a big deal over the wine. He held my chair out for me.
“Thank you.” After the tension I felt around Jake, being with Brody felt warm, familiar.
He took a seat next to me, his hand hovering over the top of his wineglass as the waiter offered to pour red or white. “None for me, thanks,” he said.
I was next in line for wine. Why not? “I’ll have white, please.”
Brody eyed my full glass of white and half-full glass of Prosecco sitting next to one another. I shrugged. “What happens off the ranch, stays off the ranch,” I said, grabbing the Prosecco and downing it.
Brody was attending to me like I was his girlfriend. And so was Jake. It was making my head—and my heart—spin. The two glasses of Prosecco helped to calm me, and so I took a sip of the white.
The rest of the group began to file to the table and we exchanged pleasantries about how beautiful the ceremony had been. All the while, I sipped at my wine. As they were passing out a strawberry poppy-seed arugula salad, from behind me came the offer of “Refill?”
“Sure,” I said, holding out my glass with a wide smile. For the first time since arriving at this wedding, I was finally able to relax. Brody eyed the glass but kept quiet as the waiter filled it almost to the top.
The salad was delicious, then plates were brought out with the choice of chicken or beef that you would have earlier selected on your RSVP card. I had opted for chicken, hence the white wine over red. Plus, I hated red wine.
More pleasant chatting as we all enjoyed the dinner. I was thrilled to see Travis and Regina falling further and further into attraction. When I had originally told Brody about Regina and my plan to hook her up with Travis, he’d said, “Two type-A personalities? That will never work.” I nudged Brody in the ribs, pointing at them with my fork. “See, I was right,” I whispered, louder than I had meant to. Regina shot me a look. I giggled.
His Ranch, His Rules Page 16
