Her Cowboy Billionaire Best Friend's Brother

by Liz Isaacson

  “Good,” he said. Colton had stayed in Elise’s car, except for a brief minute to let Hutch out to take care of his business, and Gray had set his truck behind it, with her in the cab with him. They’d been driving back to Colorado for a few hours now, and Gray had suggested stopping for lunch. “If we time it right, we can pick Hunter up together.”

  Elise pressed her lips together and nodded. She’d been fighting tears for the entire drive, and every time he saw them, Gray felt a little guiltier. He hadn’t apologized after she’d told him to stop doing it. She didn’t blame him, and she didn’t need to keep hearing it. “I’m just emotional,” she said. “My best friend had a baby, and he’s beautiful, Gray. And Hunter wants me to be his mom….” She’d trailed off then, the tears fresh as she looked away.

  “I talked to Hunter,” Gray said, bringing her attention back to him. “I’ve been a little jealous of the relationship you two have.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I’m the disciplinarian, and you get all the good stories. You get to know what’s going on in his life, and you just tell him how wonderful it is.” He cut a look at her out of the corner of his eye. “I’m the one who has to remind him to be smart with girls, and not to dawdle during his homework, and to make sure he pays his lunch money.”

  “Gray,” Elise said. “I didn’t realize you were upset.”

  “Upset isn’t the right word,” he said, sighing. “I just…I guess I felt left out? And he’s my son, and yet, he wanted to tell you about the dance. And you about Molly. And you get to take him shopping and have his friends over to the house. Then, when he gets back to the farm, it’s me on his case all the time. Eat dinner. Do your chores. Get your homework done.”

  He shook his head. “So we talked about it, and he said he does see me as more of a taskmaster, and someone less safe to tell about personal things.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to do that.”

  “I know that.” Gray reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know that. It was a good talk.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I’m wondering…how do you think we should split the parenting of Hunter? Some couples in situations like this, only the biological parent disciplines.”

  Elise looked at him with wide eyes. “I have no idea.”

  “He sees you as his mother,” Gray said. “Or at least, he wants that relationship with you. I think I’d like to try co-parenting him. Where you can get after him if he’s not getting good grades just as easily as I can. You can make him eat dinner and do his chores before he texts.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Are you scared?”

  “Absolutely,” she said. “You’ve known him for twelve years, Gray. You got to watch him grow up and learn his personality. I’ve known him for twelve months, and really didn’t even start talking to him until six months ago.” She swallowed and tucked her cornsilk hair behind her ear. “I’m terrified. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “Heads up, Elise,” he said. “Neither do I.” He chuckled, and she just gaped at him.

  “No, seriously.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “Seriously.” He looked at her again and smiled. “We’ll figure it out.”

  She nodded. “Okay, I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s all anyone can ask,” he said. The miles rolled by under his tires, and as the great city of Denver spread before them, hours later, a sigh moved through Gray. He did love the Rocky Mountains, and his soul rejoiced to be going home.

  “I wanted to talk to you about something else,” he said.

  “Oh, all right.”

  He grinned at the light tone of her voice. “It’s about where we live.”

  “We’re going to live on the farm.” She turned fully toward him, but he didn’t dare look at her. “Right?”

  “I’ve been toying with the idea of split residences,” he said. “Buying a place in Coral Canyon—a mountain home. A cabin in the woods we can run away to in the summers. Or on holidays. Or for the weekend.” He finally glanced at her. “What do you think?”

  “I think as long as I don’t have to stay there by myself, I’m in.”

  Gray laughed, pleased when Elise joined in with him. “I know your best friends live there,” he said. “And I can hire someone to tend to the farm while I’m gone. In fact, I was thinking I’d hire someone anyway. Then Hunt and I can fish more often.”

  “Who took care of it over the summer?”

  “A guy named Matt Whettstein,” Gray said. “I think I’ll call him again. He can be the manager. Or the foreman. Hunter and I can feed horses and pigs.”

  “The farm would still be in the family.”

  “And I think Hunter will take it over eventually,” Gray said. “He has hay in his blood, even if he thinks it’s too much work.”

  “That he does,” Elise said. “So…when were you thinking of getting married?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I have a crazy idea,” she said.

  “I’m not usually crazy about crazy ideas,” he said.

  “Well, you might have to let your hair down,” she teased. “Unbutton that very top button, Gray.”

  “Okay,” he said, rolling his eyes. “What’s the idea?”

  “Annie’s been planning a wedding for her daughter at Whiskey Mountain Lodge for months. I bet if I called her, I could make it a double ceremony…maybe we could just pay for half of what she’s already planned.”

  “You don’t want your own wedding?” Surprise moved through him and came right out with the words.

  “The only thing I want at my wedding,” she said. “Well, there’s three things. You. Hunter. And the dress I designed.”

  Another dose of shock flowed through his veins. “You design dresses?”

  “You’re the only person over the age of twelve I’ve ever told,” she said. “Well, and Hutch knows. But yes. And I’ve been working on my wedding dress for a decade.”

  Gray looked at her. “Over the age of twelve?”

  “I may have told Hunter, but I’ve never shown him any of the designs.” She smiled at him, a bit of anxiety in her eyes. “Remember how you said we were talking about more that one day when I said we were talking about crossword puzzles? I’d mentioned it to him then.”

  Gray nodded, several emotions zinging through him. “I’m glad you told him,” he said. “Can you get it made in time? When is the wedding at the lodge?”

  “Christmas,” she said.

  “This Christmas?” Gray’s first reaction was to say no. No way. Hammonds had long engagements, with plenty of fanfare. Didn’t they?

  Wes literally got married on the beach, he reminded himself. You watched online.

  “This Christmas,” Elise said. “It’s more than two months away, Gray. What do you need to do?”

  “Well, I need a new cowboy hat, for one. A tuxedo. One for Hunter.”

  “We can do those things this weekend,” she said.

  “What about your dress?”

  “I’ll sew it myself,” she said. “I can get it done on time.”

  “You’ll sew it yourself.” He didn’t even know she sewed.

  “Gray, every dress you’ve ever seen me wear, I’ve sewed myself.”

  “You have?”

  “Designed it too,” she said. “It’s kind of a little…secret I have. Something I really like doing that soothes me.”

  He looked at her again, trying to see more about her he didn’t know. This was sewing, and he had seen a sewing machine in her cabin before.

  “Can you make a special tie for Hunter and I?”

  “I’m sure I can. One for Hutch too.” She grinned at him, so much hope in her eyes.

  “Then I think we can get married at Christmas.”

  Elise squealed and reached for her phone. “I’m going to call Annie right now.”

  Gray shook his head and listened to her end of the conversation, marvelin
g at how this day had gone. He’d left this morning heartbroken, with a promise to Hunter that he’d make things right.

  Now, he was engaged and going to be married before the end of the year. Wild, he thought. But amazing.

  Forgiveness was such an amazing thing, and he sure hoped he could be worthy of it in all aspects of his life.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Elise stood outside the truck and tried to find Hunter through the streams of students coming down the sidewalk toward the pickup circle drive. Colton had Hutch, and he was taking the dog to the farm they both loved.

  Her heartbeat thrashed in her chest, and she wasn’t even sure why. Only that she wanted Hunter to know she loved him too, and she wanted to be his mother more than anything.

  She told herself she would not cry in front of the junior high. She’d lose major points with Hunter if she did that, and she didn’t want to be the uncool step-mom from the beginning.

  She finally spotted Hunter’s full head of dark hair, his bright brown eyes laughing as he walked with a couple of other boys. Molly was with him too, and the kids right in front of Elise moved so that she could see the two of them holding hands.

  Her heart warmed, though she had a sudden flash of worry over him. In that moment, she knew exactly how Gray felt about his son. Elise needed to talk to Hunter, stat, and make sure he knew not to do anything stupid with that girl. From texting, to kissing behind the building, to anything—her mind whirred with the possibilities—he needed to know she expected him to be nothing but a gentleman.

  He said goodbye to his buddies, and he swept the pickup area, looking for Ames, probably. His eyes landed on Elise, and he instantly dropped Molly’s hand. He didn’t even say anything to her before he started jogging toward Elise, and a wide smile filled her face.

  She opened her arms, and Hunter ran right into them. “Elise,” he said, hugging her tight.

  She laughed with him, glad that was the reaction over shedding tears. He lifted her right off the ground, but set her down quickly. “You’re here.”

  “Yes,” she said, stepping back and running one hand down the side of his face. “I’m back.”

  “For good?” He looked toward the truck, but the tinted windows wouldn’t allow him to see much. “You and Dad are good?”

  She held out her left hand, which bore the sparkly diamond. “We’re great.”

  “He did it.” Hunter’s face split into a grin, and he whooped as he reached for the door handle. He pulled open the door, and said, “You did it, Dad.”

  Gray said something Elise couldn’t catch, because of all the teens chattering on the sidewalk nearby. Hunter turned back to her, his face glowing.

  “You didn’t say goodbye to Molly,” she said. “She looks a little lost.”

  Hunter stepped to her side, and they looked at Molly. “Be right back.”

  “Hunter,” she said, her voice firm enough to get him to pause. “You be nice to that girl.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, smiling as he stepped back over to her. He kept his back to the truck, and Elise climbed in, her eyes barely leaving the pair.

  “I worry about him,” she murmured.

  “Join the club,” Gray said.

  “He’s a good-looking boy,” she said. “He’s going to break a lot of hearts.” He hugged Molly, and then came trotting toward the truck. He climbed in the back and slammed the door so hard it made Gray flinch.

  He said nothing though, except, “How was school, bud?”

  “Good,” he said from the back seat. Gray and Elise looked at each other, a silent conversation happening between them. Elise knew exactly what Gray was thinking, because it was the same thing she was.

  One word? I show him we’re engaged, and we see him hug Molly, and we get one word for how his day was?

  She stifled her giggle and shook her head.

  “Who wants pizza for dinner?” Gray asked.

  “I do,” Hunter said.

  Elise was still quite full from lunch, but she muttered, “Well, at least we got two words that time,” under her breath.

  Gray burst out laughing, and Hunter asked, “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing,” Elise said, though she was giggling too. “I’m just so glad to be back with you two.”

  “Where’s Hutch?” Hunter asked, and Elise assured him the dog would be waiting for him at the farm.

  “Oh, Elise.” Bree sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. “It’s gorgeous.” She came forward to run her fingers over Elise’s shoulders, her eyes dipping to the bodice and then the waist. “I can’t believe it. Where did you get this?”

  Elise felt like a fairy princess in her wedding dress, and she turned to look into the mirror. With Bree beside her, wonder still shining in her face, Elise felt ready to get married. “I made it,” she said.

  “You did not.” Bree ran her hand along Elise’s hip. “No wonder if fits like a glove. It’s flawless, Elise.” She hugged her. “You’ve always been flawless.”

  “That’s not true,” Elise said with a smile. “Have you forgotten about those caramel swirl brownies?”

  Bree laughed, and Elise turned into her to hug her. “Thank you for coming to help me get ready.”

  Her best friend held her tight and whispered, “You don’t need it.”

  “Oh, but I do,” Elise said. “I have no makeup on, and you’re a master at that. My mother will be here in a minute to do my hair.”

  “What’s she going to do with it?”

  “She swears she has a way to give it a curl that will last longer than ten minutes,” Elise said. “But I have my doubts.” She looked at herself in the mirror again. Her wedding dress simply was stunning, and she loved the sleeveless design, and how the top half was covered in lace, with carefully placed sequins for shine under the Christmas lights.

  She’d thought she’d be nervous on her wedding day, but she wasn’t. She was ready to become Mrs. Gray Hammond, and she actually couldn’t wait.

  “I think you should leave it straight,” Bree said. “You don’t want to look at your wedding pictures in ten years and not even recognize yourself.”

  “You’re right,” Elise said as the door behind her opened again. Her mother entered, carrying a bin full of hairstyling tools.

  “Oh, Elise.” She dropped the bin and rushed at Elise. “You’re so beautiful. It looks so good on.” She held Elise’s arms, which were bare all the way to the shoulder, and drank in the dress. “It’s lovely. I should’ve had you sew my dress.” Her mom met her eye, and Elise had never felt such happiness.

  She hugged her mother and said, “Okay, now I need you guys to make me shine.” She toed the train of the dress out of the way and stepped over to the closet. She’d change first, and then sit in the salon chair. Annie had arranged for everything at the lodge, and Elise, her mom, and Bree were currently in one of the guest rooms on the second floor.

  Eden had planned it so that the magnificent staircase that curled down to the main floor would be the aisle. The Christmas tree would already be lit, and that would be the only light and provide the scene for the altar.

  She was getting married first, and then Elise and Gray would take the stage. Because they were doing their tree-lighting ceremony and stocking exchange first, Elise had given up the superstition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding. She wouldn’t change into her gown until right before, but she’d just wanted to make sure the final alteration was right. And maybe she’d wanted to show off the dress to her mom and Bree.

  She shimmied out of it and into a much more casual, yet still festive, holiday dress, which she’d also made herself. Bree gaped at it. “You made that too.”

  “Yes, I did.” She grinned at her friend. “What gave it away?”

  “Well, I think it’s this bow around the middle.” She fingered the bright green bow, which was supposed to signify the ribbon on a package. The rest of the dress was made of a textured, silver fabric that gave Elise shape in places she didn
’t have it. “It’s like a Christmas present.”

  “Bingo,” she said, grinning at her friend. “Now, come on. We only have forty-five minutes until the tree-lighting ceremony.”

  Her mother didn’t even ask about the curlers. She plugged in a flat-iron and went over every piece of Elise’s hair before beginning to braid it back on the sides. She pinned it somehow in the back, saying, “The veil will go here,” and stepping away. “Yep. It’s perfect.”

  Bree swept on the last bit of makeup and proclaimed she was done. She turned the salon chair toward the mirror, and Elise looked at herself. She still looked like herself, thank goodness. Just a better version than the woman who wore gardening gloves and often had smudges of dirt on her neck and face.

  “Let’s go,” she said, and the three of them went downstairs and into the fray of people. Normally, Elise didn’t like the noise. She could handle it for a while, and then she needed an escape. But the energy at the lodge today was welcome, and she moved over to where Gray stood with Colton.

  He scanned her from head to toe and whistled. “Wow, look at you.”

  “Merry Christmas,” she said, hugging her best friend.

  “I put Hutch downstairs, because he looked like he might take a bite of the tree.”

  Elise nodded, then she turned to his brother. “And to you, Mister Hammond.” She grinned as she curtsied.

  Gray took her hand and kissed it. He wore a pair of black slacks and a white shirt—nothing terribly Christmasy about his clothes. “You look great.”

  “Are you ready for this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Where’s Hunter?”

  “He’s with Stockton and Bailey,” Gray said. “I’ve got him a seat right here. We’ll head back together as soon as Eden’s wedding ends.”

  “We don’t want a riot,” she said. “We’ll have to hurry.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m five minutes away from being ready.”

  “It’s time to start,” Beau said, as he was in charge this year. He stepped over the mic and repeated it. “Everyone take your seats, please. We have a lot to do tonight before dinner.” He grinned out at everyone as they settled down. Elise sat in the front row next to Gray and Colton, and Hunter joined them a moment later when he came upstairs with the other teens.