Trey shook his head at the recollection. “My mom barely made it to the car before she broke down. When we got home, after I’d helped her unload the groceries and all that, I pulled something out of my pocket and gave it to her. It was money, and the woman at the store had told me not to give it to her until we got home, but I had no idea how much it was.” He chuckled.
“I probably would have forgotten the whole thing if my mother’s reaction hadn’t been so … memorable. She dropped to her knees, pulled Clarinda and me into a hug, and began thanking the Lord right then and there. It was a hundred dollar bill. We struggled for a whole lot of years beyond that, but eventually my Dad left, and my mom found Ray. Course by then we were back on our feet.” He shook his head, gazing over the light reflected off the glassy surface of the pond. “Guess I just really appreciate folks who speak out like that. Give a voice to those who’ve lost their own.”
He turned back to Ann, noticed hints of moisture in her eyes. Eyes that looked more hazel than green here in the shadows.
“That’s… thank you for sharing that. It’s really inspiring.” She shrugged. “It makes me want to be that person for someone in a moment of struggle.”
“Sounds like you’ve been able to do some good already.”
“Yeah, I have. I guess I like the idea of doing something right in the moment. Being brave enough to speak up. I’m kind of better with a keyboard than I am in person, I’m afraid.”
Trey would’ve guessed she’d be good at both. “What were your other articles about?”
Ann scooted forward a bit, and then lay onto her back as she answered. “Let’s see… I wrote one about a local business that refused to let this woman bring in her service dog. Shortly after the article was published, they changed their policy, so that was cool.”
“Very,” Trey agreed. He liked watching Ann from this angle. A perfect view of her profile, accented by the sparse light falling over them.
“I can’t believe how many stars I can see right now,” Ann said, her voice taking on a reverent tone. “This is probably more than I’ve ever seen at one time. It’s incredible.”
Trey remained on his side, but he glanced up to appreciate the view. Bright clusters of brilliant stars were set against the black sky. “Sure is,” he said.
Ann sighed and then turned onto her side to face him. Trey gulped, suddenly very aware of how close they were. Her face was less than half a foot from his, her body, too. “I wrote about this small business that was just opening—a cute little cupcake shop.”
Ann went on to tell how the business was threatened by a dishonest property owner who wanted to close her down and open a bakery of his own after seeing how well the shop did.
Her eyes went wide and expectant as she spoke of it. “Can you believe someone would do that?”
“Sadly, I can,” he admitted. “Sounds like something a dishonest person would do.”
“Hmm. Yeah. So I encouraged her to do what she could legally,” Ann continued, “but the guy was threatening to close her doors before they could even get a court date. With the permission of my boss, I did an interview, brought in a photographer, and wrote about how popular the place had become. But at the very end of the article, I mentioned that there was an issue with the property lease. I wrote that I was certain it’d be cleared up easily enough as he was also the owner of several other well-known plazas in the area. Something that was public knowledge if anyone cared to look it up.”
“That was clever. He doesn’t want to spoil his name for future business leases,” Trey said. “Or jeopardize the success of his existing clients.”
She nodded. “Exactly. I figured if what she’d said was true, the man wouldn’t dare put her out of business and then start up his own. Not after having so much light shed on the cupcake shop.”
“So how long ago was that?” he asked
“Over a year. The place is still up and doing better than ever.”
“That’s awesome. Way to go.”
She giggled. “Thanks. Lucky for me, I still get to eat those cupcakes, too. Kind of self serving I guess.”
Trey chuckled, his gaze moving to her hand as she stretched it toward him. She plucked something from his sleeve, then held it up so he could see in the low light. A blade of grass.
She let it flutter to the ground before placing her hand on his bicep.
Whoa. Heat stirred low in his belly. Just why did Ann’s touch affect him like this? It wasn’t that he was starved for a woman’s touch. Heck, whenever Jenessa got the chance, she was grabbing his arm or rubbing his back. But Ann’s touch felt different—in the best way.
They looked at one another while crickets chirped a rhythmic song in the distance. Trey held very still as she trailed her fingers—softly, slowly—down the length of his arm. And then back up. He gave into the urge to close his eyes and take it in. Her skin was like silk. The touch magnetic. Igniting a certain yearning within him. That burning low in his belly. He thought back on their moment in the bar. The way Ann had surprised him by bringing her hands around his waist, encouraging him to extend the kiss.
He let his eyes drift open and smiled when he caught her looking at him. “Feels nice,” he mumbled. He twisted his arm as she neared his hand, allowing her feathery touch to flitter over the sensitive part at his wrist. He groaned.
Ann let out another soft giggle, drawing Trey’s gaze to the smile on her face. Full, natural lips, free of lipstick or gloss. He shouldn’t be thinking of kisses on what could barely be called their first date. But he couldn’t help it. There was something about this woman from the rainy city that reached parts of him he’d squelched for far too long.
You should not try to kiss her again, Trey. Resist the urge.
But then her hand went up, beyond the hem of his sleeve. She smoothed her palm up and over his shoulder, and he could swear she was pulling him closer.
How could he resist?
This confident, beautiful woman who lived hundreds of miles away lay just inches from him. Who knew how often she gave a guy the time of day? Yet here she was, telling him—by her actions alone—that he could taste her lips once more. At least, he thought that’s what she was saying.
Trey scooted forward the tiniest bit, stretched his arm toward her, and cupped his hand around her hip, warm and curvy.
“Thanks for coming with us tonight,” he said, leaning in the slightest bit.
Ann only nodded, her gaze falling to his lips.
“And thanks for opening up to me, about the articles you’ve written.”
She nodded slightly again, and then leaned in closer.
Heaven help him, there was no stopping it now. He closed the small gap between them and pressed his mouth to hers, reveling in the tiny whimpering sound deep in her throat. Back in the bar, Zoe had warned Trey that Ann hadn’t kissed too many times before. He’d believed it at the time, assuming she was simply particular, but now Trey wasn’t so sure. As her hand trailed along the span of his chest, the warmth of her palm evident through his thin T-shirt, he mused that Ann knew all too well what she was capable of—driving a man to near madness with desire.
The thought alone caused him to pull back, put an end to the kiss. “Sorry,” he said under his breath. “Not very gentleman-like of me to be so forward.”
Ann opened her eyes as he set his gaze on her, but her lids still looked heavy and dreamlike. “No, it’s… you’ve been a perfect gentleman.” She cleared her throat, shook her head slightly, and shifted to sit up. “It’s probably getting late, anyway. I wonder if Randy and Zoe are ready to head back.”
Trey would’ve sworn the comment was a joke (the two would likely want to stay out all night), but he hadn’t sensed any sarcasm in her tone. To complicate things, she’d turned away from him, had her sights set on the pond. It reminded him of how she’d been after he’d picked her up at the airport.
Hmm. Had he offended her? Embarrassed her? Or was she simply not interested in spending the rest of the n
ight with him. Perhaps the fireworks only went one way. Maybe—after their second kiss—she’d decided there was no chemistry on her end.
An inner voice said he was wrong in that assumption, but Trey let the loudest voice drown out the doubt. “I don’t think they’ll be ready to leave any time soon,” he said, “but if you’d like to get back, I’m sure Randy and Zoe can catch a ride with the ranch hands.”
“You mean like, you’d take me back right now?” She came to a stand, began smoothing a hand over her blouse.
Trey took hold of his shirt on the ground before coming to a stand beside her. “Sure, if that’s what you’d like.”
She nodded, making brief eye contact before looking off in the distance once more. “We are going to be getting up pretty early to help Cassie. If you don’t mind, maybe I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Ann squinted against her bright laptop screen in the dark room, opening a new document to share with her boss, Tom. She pictured him in his sweater vest and bowtie, the picture of a distinguished gentleman. She broke it into two parts: wins and fails. Speaking up about Zoe’s rude comment at the airport—win. Failing to speak up about the vegetable juice—fail. Bringing up the game at the bar: huge win. She would fashion her article around the main points of the book. Tonight’s being the benefits of well-timed (appropriate) touch.
Never before would Ann have simply reached out to pull a blade of grass off a gorgeous guy’s shirt like that, let alone let her hand linger on his muscular arm afterward. She’d been surprised by the way it seemed to deepen the connection they’d already made that night. All of it spoke well for the suggestions the author listed. She took notes on her missed opportunities, too, hoping it would help her do better next time.
Once she was done, the cursor flashing at the end of her last sentence, Ann sighed. Trey had unexpectedly ended their kiss by the pond in a way that made Ann doubt his interest in her. Perhaps it was simply the gentlemanly thing to do—stop before things got carried away—on their first date. But just what had all of this new-her behavior done?
Had it made her seem like a forward, possibly even promiscuous woman? She hoped not. That was not the impression she was going for at all. She’d ask Cassie to mention that to him. Of course, if Ann was being so forward about everything, she should probably do it herself.
Ann shook her head and rubbed at her eyes. It was late. Best to send off her first update, letting Tom know the office’s flight money was well spent and hit the sheets before Zoe came back.
A gentle swooshing noise came as the email was sent. Ann closed the laptop, scurried over to her bed, and noticed her phone glowing on the nightstand. She reached for it as she plopped onto the mattress and smiled when she realized who it was from.
Hey, it’s Trey. I know you’ll be busy tomorrow until the ring ceremony, but I’d like to spend some time with you once the bride and groom leave. Are you up for that? (By the way, do we still call them the bride and groom even if they’ve already been married for a while and it’s just a ring ceremony? I’m asking the self-proclaimed word nerd.)
Ann stifled a squeal. “Word geek,” she mumbled, loving the way he’d brought that up. So this is what it felt like to have a guy pursue her. A handsome guy that she was actually interested in. Perhaps he’d only shortened the kiss because he was—as Cassie said—a gentleman. With a grin as big as her face, Ann replied to his text.
The terms bride and groom are used for those about to marry or recently married. I think—since the ceremony celebrates their marriage—Cassie and Shane should definitely be referred to as the bride and groom. As for spending time with you afterward, I would love to! And thanks again for tonight. It was fun.
She watched. Waited. And sighed as he answered back.
My pleasure, Annie.
Chapter 11
Ann had never shed so many happy tears at a wedding before, or ring ceremony, as it was. Cassie was glowing with the evident love she felt for Shane. And he had a similar look about him. During the ceremony itself, Ann had been thinking only of the couple. Yet once the vows were exchanged, her thoughts shifted to what her own future might bring.
Seeing the happy couple had Ann wishing—more than she ever had—that she could marry a cowboy of her own. An honest, hard-working man who respected his family, his God, and the land he’d been blessed with. Oh, how she wished Trey’s feelings for her could be real. Wished that he might somehow be feeling something for her.
“You going to try to catch the bouquet?” Zoe asked, bringing Ann back into the crowded room around her. The men stood packed around Cassie and Shane for the garter toss, a mass of white shirts and cowboy hats. Ann’s gaze shot straight to Trey’s, a small thrill bubbling in her chest as she realized his focus was already on her. He lifted a brow and grinned.
“This baby’s mine,” he mouthed, a winning gleam in his eye.
One look at the determination on his face said he was probably right. Her eyes darted to the happy couple. A photographer snapped pictures as Shane looped a finger around the garter propped just above Cassie’s knee. The ranch hands let out a series of hoots and hollers as he snagged the garter with his teeth and slid it down her leg, around her ankle, and over the slender slope of her foot. He held it triumphantly in the air and then set his aim on the ranch hands.
Bright bulbs flashed as Shane slingshot the white, ruffled piece toward the awaiting crowd. Ann leaned in as it sped through the air, her heart racing as she took it all in.
Randy, though Ann doubted he wanted to get married anytime soon, had his back pressed against Trey’s shoulder, attempting to push him out of the way as it sped toward them. Max had been standing on the opposite side, but as it flew toward the other end of the group, he sprung toward the action like he was catching a fly ball. It was too late.
Randy’s hand stretched high, but Trey’s went higher. The garter looped around the tip of one finger, and Trey grabbed it with a triumphant grin.
“Oh my gosh,” Zoe breathed. “You have to catch the bouquet now.”
“What? I don’t want to get tackled in this dress and heels.”
“Zoe set a firm hand on Ann’s shoulder. “Whoever catches it shares a dance with Trey.”
“Oh, you’re right. I forgot that part.” Ugh! Talk about pushing past her comfort level. “Besides, you said you weren’t going to hold back, right?”
“Right,” Ann said, remembering their conversation in the ladies room last night. Ann grabbed her phone off the table where it sat nudged beside her ice water and a linen napkin. A few swipes and taps, and soon she was reading over Tom’s reply for the twentieth time that day.
Ann, this is perfect! Even better than I hoped for. In fact, it’s so good that I’d like to send it to a few different magazines. Let the highest (most prestigious) bidder win!
There’s a lot of potential here, so keep up the good work!
Tom
Each time Ann read her boss’s exuberant email, one thought ran through her mind: Most prestigious—who’s more prestigious than Walquest Weekly? For those in the business, it didn’t get much better. But she liked the idea of having a backup plan, in case she didn’t get selected by WW. The chances were slim, after all. At least Tom was equally invested in scoring her a slot someplace. The man had high hopes that someone from the local paper would achieve wide acclaim.
She had to admit that—among the excitement, Ann felt a level of guilt. Having Cassie in the know about the article was one thing; Cassie knew and loved Trey. And she genuinely wanted him and Ann to find happiness. But having her boss involved made her take a closer look at what she was doing and wonder if it was wrong. Of course, it wasn’t as if her feelings were feigned.
What would be the harm in just telling Trey about it now? The idea made her cringe; they’d already spoken about her job and the articles she’d written. If Ann had come clean with it the night before. it would have been perfect. But now it just felt too late.
“Earth to Ann,” Zo
e blurted, yanking her arm toward the gathering girls.
Ann groaned. As much as she’d always wanted to snag a bouquet at a wedding, her usual practice was to sit on a chair in the fray and hope the flying bouquet would just land in her lap. She had gone as far as positioning herself in places she thought the bride was likely to throw if she overshot, but Ann had never been willing to join the frenzied mass of ramming shoulders in puffed sleeves.
The article, Ann. She imagined getting the article, the look on her mom’s face. Her dad would be shocked, too, not to mention her siblings. She wanted it. And she’d need to fight in order to get it.
Trey had said Ann’s kiss was the prize for looping a ring around a bottleneck at the bar. And a dance with Trey was definitely worth winning.
Ann blinked her way out of the daze she’d fallen under and realized that Trey was striding toward her, a grin on his handsome face. A tingly spurt of adrenaline surged through her.
“You’re up, Annie. Time to catch yourself a bouquet.” He held a hand out to her, the garter stretched across his fingers, bright against his skin. Her eyes moved up the impressive length of him. Already he’d loosened the neck of his white, button-up shirt, revealing a trace of his muscled chest. A new heat stirred inside her, further fanning her drive to win.
“Let’s go,” Zoe muttered in her ear. “Jenessa’s here, and you don’t want to let her catch it.” She shot Trey an apologetic grin. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he assured, lifting Ann’s hand toward his lips. He kissed the back of it, glancing at her through his lashes. “Good luck.” His heated breath tickled her skin, and a trail of goose bumps rushed up her arms.
Ann cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
Dozens of perfume scents clashed in the stuffy crowd of silk and lace and up-dos. Ann usually loathed being tall. It limited the guys she could (or at least would) date and somehow made her feel less feminine around shorter, more petite women. Back in junior high, she’d let her father talk her into joining the basketball team; she was less timid then. There, her height had paid off and earned them a slot in the championshop. She’d make sure it paid off here, too.
How to Catch a Cowboy in 10 Days (Unlikely Cowgirl) Page 6
