Jacob knew there was more behind his dad’s words than what he’d said. The longer Jacob stayed in Bozeman, the more settled his parents thought he’d be.
Over the last year, Jacob had spent more time in Bozeman than anywhere else. It had been fairly easy to manage his commercial properties from Montana. In-between flights around the country, he’d had the type of lifestyle that he hadn’t enjoyed since he’d been a teenager.
When he’d bought Emerald Lake and the three thousand acres around it, his intention had always been to create an exclusive subdivision, retaining one parcel of land for himself. While the land was being subdivided, he’d lived in the three-bedroom cottage on the ranch.
But his plans had changed. He needed to get away from Bozeman, find some way to cure the restlessness inside of him.
Emily put more potatoes on her plate. “What realtor are you using?”
“I’m selling the land myself. I’ve already got a buyer lined up for one property.”
His dad put his knife and fork down. “You’ve invested a lot of money into that land. Are you sure you’ve got the time to sell the properties?”
Jacob shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll make the time.”
“What marketing have you done?” Emily asked.
Jacob thought about the spreadsheet sitting on his computer. He had a list of things he needed to do, previous clients he wanted to contact. “Not much.”
“Have you taken any promotional photos of the property?”
Jacob didn’t trust the innocent expression on his sister-in-law’s face. “Not yet. It’s on my list of things to do.”
“You should talk to Molly O’Donaghue about taking the photos.”
The thought had crossed Jacob’s mind, but he’d quickly pushed it away. Molly didn’t want anything to do with him. “She’s busy.”
Emily frowned. “I’m sure she’d do it. What if I called her? If anyone can help you sell the land, it will be Molly.”
“That’s a great idea,” Jacob’s mom said. “I’ve seen some of her work. She’s very talented.”
Jacob knew she was, but he wasn’t going to be bulldozed by his family.
Emily started talking about the photos Molly had taken for The Bridesmaids Club website. And that lead to a general discussion about weddings and other things that Jacob wasn’t interested in. Just when he thought everyone had lost interest in his plans, Emily pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.
“What are you doing?” He tried to keep his voice level, but he couldn’t help the prickle of worry hitting him between his shoulder blades.
Emily held the phone to her ear. “I’m calling Molly.”
“No, you’re not. Put the phone away. I can sort out my own life.”
“Don’t go all caveman on me.” Emily ended the call. “She’s not home, anyway. What’s the worst that could happen? If she’s busy, she’ll let you know.”
Jacob knew what the worst was. It involved being told to buzz off and leave her alone. She’d think he was a stalker. “I’ll figure it out myself.”
Alex grinned. “While you’re figuring it out, you can pass me more roast beef. And just for the record, Emily’s right. No one takes photos like Molly. If I was selling some multi-million dollar properties, I’d want her working for me.”
Jacob passed his brother the plate of meat. Molly might be the best photographer in Bozeman, but he knew she wouldn’t work for him. Not now, and not in the future.
***
Molly ran her hand along the dresses on the rack in front of her. There weren’t many times when she had The Bridesmaids Club to herself. She was enjoying the peace, the pretty dresses, and the luxury of not having to work quickly. She pulled dress number thirty-five off the Cinderella Collection rack, then walked across to their Grace Kelly Collection.
They’d arranged the bridesmaids’ dresses according to the style of the dress, added them to an impressive catalog, then advertised them on their website. Each week, they received lots of letters and emails from women wanting to know if they could wear the donated dresses.
Molly glanced at the clock on the wall. Rachel should be here soon. Sally, Annie, and Tess were all busy, so Molly had decided to arrive a little earlier to get everything ready for their afternoon appointment. Three bridesmaids, the bride, and the mother of the bride would be arriving in ten minutes.
She hunted through the Grace Kelly Collection and put dress number twenty-eight beside the other eight dresses she’d found. The bridesmaids had chosen three dress options each. They’d try the dresses on and hopefully find one that looked perfect.
The front door opened and Rachel walked into the room carrying a big box. “Sorry I’m late. Tess wanted me to bring these dresses over from the café.”
Rachel left the box on the kitchen counter, then looked around the room. “What do you need me to do?”
“You can turn the coffeemaker on. I’ve got all of the dresses ready that the bridesmaids liked.”
“How long have you been here?”
“About half an hour.” Molly opened a storage cupboard and pulled five shoe boxes off the bottom shelf. After more than one bridesmaid had forgotten to bring shoes, they’d decided to have a few pairs available for the fittings. “Did you see Tess at the café?”
Rachel shook her head. “They’d already left for their hike.” She opened the flaps of the box and peered inside. “Wow.”
Molly looked at the frothy creation that Rachel pulled out of the box. As well as being sent bridesmaids’ dresses, they received a few bridal gowns, tiaras, and all kinds of wedding paraphernalia. This bride’s dress was stunning. Sequins sparkled between layers of tulle and satin. It was the kind of dress that a woman in love would adore. “What a beautiful dress. Where did it come from?”
Rachel opened the envelope she’d left on the counter. “Boise. The bride, Adelaide Foster, hopes we can find a new home for it.”
Molly took a hanger off one of the dress racks. “I’ll put it in the closet in the changing room and send it to the laundromat tomorrow.”
Rachel passed Molly the dress. “What time did you get to bed last night?”
Molly smiled. “Do I look that bad?”
“You never look bad, but you do look tired. You weren’t up all night developing the photos from Abbey’s wedding, were you?”
“No. I finished those after the wedding. I’ve started another project.”
Rachel sighed. “I thought you were concentrating on getting your images ready for Los Angeles?”
“I am, but that’s a few weeks away. I’ve got plenty of time to do other work.”
“Just don’t burn yourself out.”
Molly grinned at her friend. “Yes, mom.”
“I mean it. You spend so much time helping other people, that you forget about yourself.” Rachel turned toward the front door. The sound of happy chatter drifted through the loft. “I think our bridesmaids have arrived.”
Molly raced into the changing room and hung the new dress in the closet. By the time she walked into the living room, everyone was busy introducing each other. Mary-Anne Scollay, the bride-to-be, smiled at Molly as Rachel introduced her.
Mary-Anne’s mom and sisters were every bit as excited as she was about being in The Bridesmaids Club. “Thank you so much for meeting us today,” Mary-Anne said with a smile. “This is amazing.”
Molly moved across to the rack of dresses she’d put to one side. “We’re happy to help. Here are the dresses you chose from the catalog. If nothing looks quite right, let us know and we’ll do our best to find another dress for you.”
The smile on Mary-Anne’s face brought a lump to Molly’s throat. She knew what it felt like to have very little money. Even though her wedding had been an extravagant, over-the-top event, her life hadn’t always been that way. Molly and her sister had grown up with their gran. Their parents had died in a car accident when she’d been seven-years-old and life hadn’t been easy.
Laurel, one
of the bridesmaids, turned to Molly. “These are lovely dresses. I can’t believe you’re doing this for us.”
Rachel handed another sister the three dresses she’d chosen. “We couldn’t do this without the brides and bridesmaids who donate their dresses. They’re sent to us wrapped in love and a whole lot of good wishes.”
Tears gathered in Mary-Anne’s eyes. “We appreciate what you’re doing.”
Molly opened the door to the changing room. “You can pop in here and try the dresses on. We’ve got spare shoes if you didn’t bring yours, and dozens of petticoats you can use.”
The bridesmaids gathered all of their dresses in their arms and walked into the room with the bride.
Rachel offered Mary-Anne’s mom a cup of coffee. While the three bridesmaids tried on the dresses, Molly enjoyed hearing about the plans they’d made for Mary-Anne’s wedding. When the door to the changing room opened, everyone looked up.
Mary-Anne and her sisters walked into the room. Molly had seen a lot of bridesmaids standing in the middle of the loft, turning left and right as they looked at their dresses. Each time, she was amazed at how emotional she felt. It was a beautiful thing to see women so happy, especially when the kindness of other women had made it happen.
“What do you think?” Mary-Anne asked. “These were the dresses that everyone liked the most.”
Rachel tilted her head to the side. “They look great. I like that the dresses are all in shades of purple. It’s very classic.”
“Pretty without being pastel,” Molly added. “What are your bouquets going to look like?”
Mary-Anne tweaked the long skirt of one of her sister’s dresses. “We haven’t decided yet. But anything would work with the purple.”
Molly agreed. The bouquets could be made from wildflowers or roses, it wouldn’t matter. What mattered were the smiles on Mary-Anne’s sister’s faces. “You all look grand. Would you like to take these dresses home?”
Mary-Anne looked at her mom and sisters and they all nodded and smiled. “I guess that’s a unanimous yes from us. Is there anything we can do for you?”
Rachel shook her head. “Just enjoy your wedding and have a happy marriage.”
The smile on Mary-Anne’s face made Molly sigh. Dreaming about what your marriage would be like was one thing. Living the reality could be quite a different story.
***
Jacob leaned against the fence separating his dad’s prize-winning bulls from the rest of the herd. When his dad had been younger than Jacob, he’d been a rodeo champion. Jim Green had toured the world and won more gold buckles than anyone in Montana.
When he retired, he bought a ranch, built a rodeo school out of nothing, and started a breeding program for bucking bulls. With two world champion bulls in his care, his dad made a healthy living as a stock contractor.
Last year, Jacob had invested a significant chunk of money into his dad’s business. Breeding bucking bulls was a high-tech, multimillion-dollar industry. A DNA database of more than 160,000 animals kept everyone honest and more than a little in awe of what could be achieved.
“You want to tell me what’s on your mind?” Jacob’s dad asked.
Jacob stared at Renegade, the latest success story in his dad’s business. At 1500 pounds, the bull’s sheer size made him a force to be reckoned with. With all of the planning that had gone into Renegade’s birth, they’d had high expectations about what he would achieve. The prize-winning bull hadn’t let them down.
Renegade flicked his head around and looked at Jacob. His big brown eyes and long lashes seemed too pretty on a bull who’d sooner throw you off his back than keep you close. “I’ve been thinking about Emerald Lake.”
Jim Green tipped his hat back. “It came as a shock to hear that you’re going to sell it. We thought you were happy living in Bozeman.”
Jacob focused on his dad’s ranch. The sun was dipping below the top of the mountains, casting deep purple shadows across the pine and spruce trees surrounding them. He pulled his hat low over his head. “It’s time for a change.”
“That’s what you said ten years ago when you first left home.”
Jacob didn’t say anything.
“It’s been good having you around.”
Six months ago, Jacob’s dad had survived a heart attack. He was fifty-six-years-old; too young to die or think that maybe he wouldn’t be around to enjoy the rest of his life. Jacob had stayed in Bozeman because of his father. And now it was time to leave.
“I was speaking with Liam’s dad the other day. He’s worried about him. What do you know about the woman he’s living with?”
Jacob sighed. “They’re not living together, dad. She’s Liam’s roommate. People can live under the same roof without anything happening.”
His dad snorted. “What about you?”
Jacob glanced at his dad.
His dad stared back. “You can’t blame me for trying.”
Renegade lumbered across the pasture, stopping every once and a while to tear at another mouthful of grass with his powerful jaws. Jacob felt as though his life was about as empty as Renegades. “Did you ever wonder if this was all there was to life?”
“What more do you want?”
Jacob had spent the last few weeks thinking about what was missing from his life. “I want to find someone special, dad. But most of the women I know are either married, engaged, or living with someone. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.”
Nearly two years ago, he’d been engaged to a woman he’d loved. When she’d left, she’d taken a part of his heart with him.
Jacob’s dad looked at his ranch, then back at his son. “You think you’ll be able to find this person if you’re traveling around the country?”
“It’s better than staying at Emerald Lake. The only conversations I have are with the red hawks and squirrels.”
“Are you lonely, son?”
Jacob’s heart clenched tight. “I’ve got good friends here. But they’re all in relationships.”
“And you think leaving Montana is the answer?”
Jacob nodded.
“Well, I’d suggest you sell your land quickly and move to New York.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course I’d mind. Your mom and I will miss you, but it’s your life, son. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the last few months, it’s to make the most of every opportunity you get. If the sale of your land creates an opportunity somewhere else, then you’ve got to give it a go. But I’ll tell you one thing. If you want that land sold for a good price, you might want Molly taking the photos. One look at her pictures and everyone will be falling over themselves to buy a piece of paradise.”
“I’ll think about it.”
His dad nodded and started walking toward one of their barns. “You do that. Come and see our latest addition to the ranch. Matador is going to be bigger than Renegade.”
Jacob followed his dad. He didn’t have to think too hard about Molly. It didn’t matter that she thought about him. Business was business. He needed to sell the land for more than he’d paid for it. Molly was the best person to take the photos.
If she said no, he’d find someone else. If she said yes, he’d figure out what he wanted and leave her to the job he’d pay her to do. And if he was lucky, he wouldn’t see too much of her before he left town.
***
Molly parked her car in front of Angel Wings Café. After two days of being pestered by Emily, she’d agreed to meet Jacob. She didn’t know why he wanted her to help him. There were plenty of photographers in Montana who took commercial photos for a living. Given the price that Jacob would sell his land for, most of them would jump at the chance to work for him.
She didn’t even know if she wanted to work for Jacob. The only time she was nervous was when she was around him. He unsettled her and that wasn’t a feeling she liked.
She took her bag off the passenger seat and looked at the café. The red brick building ooz
ed charm. From the large container of daisies at the front door, to the old-fashioned menu board sitting on the sidewalk, it was as pretty a café as you’d see anywhere in the world.
She didn’t imagine that the meeting with Jacob would be anything other than short. She had a portfolio of photos to show him and she’d listen to what he had to say. When he realized that she didn’t have any real estate experience, she’d go home and never hear from him again.
If he liked what he saw, she didn’t know what she’d do. She didn’t need the money he’d be offering, but it would help pay some bills. Maybe if she worked with him, she wouldn’t notice everything that made him different to other men.
It would be like an injection for a disease. She could build her immunity in small doses, slowly get over her goose bumps and racing heart. Before she knew it, her reaction to Jacob would be just like any other man. Cool, calm, and considered, with a touch of charm to make life interesting.
With that crazy logic making more sense by the minute, she got out of her car, locked the door and headed toward the café.
As she walked inside, the doorbell jingled and Kate looked up from behind the counter. “Hi, Molly. How are you?”
“Happy to be inside. It’s a chilly wind today.”
Kate smiled and walked toward her. “You’re in the right place, then. Have a seat and I’ll get you a hot drink to chase away the cold. What would you like?”
Molly chose a table against the far wall. She didn’t want anyone to walk past the café and think there was more to this meeting than there was. “A cup of tea would be grand.”
“Would you like a scone or muffin with that?”
Molly shook her head. She didn’t plan on staying long enough to enjoy it. “Just the tea today.” The doorbell jingled again and Molly sighed. Jacob Green had arrived for their meeting.
He was here for business, that much was obvious. She hadn’t expected him to wear a charcoal gray suit or a bright red tie. Jacob’s gaze connected with hers and something close to panic kept her eyes locked on his.
“Hi, Jacob,” Kate said. “Can I get you a cup of coffee and something to eat?”
Sweet on You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 4) Page 3
