“She was a total bridezilla.”
Noelle wrinkled her nose. “She really was. We tried, Lucas. But she was tough to get along with.”
For Noelle to have a bad word to say spoke volumes. The woman could get along with a piranha. He wasn’t sure what that made Vanessa, but it wasn’t pretty.
“Are you really okay?” Lucas wasn’t sure what surprised him more. The question or that it had come from Wes, who had up until that moment been stone still beside his wife.
“I will be. I don’t like the hassle it is for the family. All that I’ve put you through.”
“It’s no hassle. We’ve canceled big events before without issue.” His father sat between the two couples, his demeanor difficult to read.
“I know, but the press won’t be fun.”
“We’ve handled that before as well.” Mike gave him a small smile.
When Anna’s accident happened, the story was everywhere. Wealthy race car driver loses wife in car accident had been a juicy headline.
Lucas had to admit he didn’t expect this kind of support. His family loved him, he knew that. But being a St. Claire was… unique. Their world wasn’t like everyone else’s. Keeping things private could be a full-time job. But, as he looked at each face, he discovered that was exactly what connected them. They all understood and they had his back.
Wes stood as Noelle did the same. “Let us know if we can help with anything, brother.”
He came around and shook Lucas’ hand. “You made a good decision.”
Noelle kissed his cheek. “We love you, Lucas.”
The two of them left the room, hand in hand.
Mike and Franchesca did the same, each one giving him a hug and their support before going.
Lucas turned to face his father. Daniel St. Claire had always been a tough businessman. A good father, but not around a ton when they were little because of work. Between his wife’s death and the presence of his granddaughter, his father had softened, quite a bit.
“I’m proud of you, son.”
Lucas almost fell out of his chair.
His dad crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back. “I mean it. You could have taken the easy way out and gone through with it. But you faced your true feelings and, for that, I’m glad.”
Still trying to wrap his head around what his father was saying, Lucas sat speechless.
“I know you think you live in Wes and Mike’s shadow. Wes more so. I understand that. I do. Your mother and I never intended for you to feel that way, though. We tried to treat each one of you as individuals.”
“It’s not anything you or mom did or didn’t do, Dad.”
His dad nodded. “Wes is a tough act to follow. I’ll give you that. But we never expected you to feel the need to do so.” He looked around the room then back at Lucas. “You were always most at home here. I was surprised when you chose a boardroom over the outdoors.”
Since they were having a moment of pure honesty, Lucas took a chance to lay things out on the table. “I didn’t think I had a choice.”
“Of course you did. We’ve never strapped McKenna to a desk, or any of you other kids, for that matter. Mike drove race cars, for heaven’s sake.”
“McKenna’s a girl. And Mike still works for the family.”
“So what?” His father’s tone intensified. “You have the means to do anything you want to do. The decision is yours.”
Lucas’s mind spun at his father’s words. He’d never believed he had the freedom to choose to work outside of St. Claire Enterprises but in truth, he’d never asked. He’d gone to college thinking that was what was expected of him, went with the mindset of making his parents and brothers proud. Not once did he think to have a conversation with any of them about what he wanted.
“Vanessa was all wrong for you. Money aside. I’m glad you’ve seen that Erin’s the one.”
Once again, Lucas stared at this father in shock. It took effort to put his chin back in place after it had dropped.
“Don’t look so surprised. You kids think I don’t have eyes in my head. I knew back when you were a kid that she was good for you. Nothing false with that girl. No games. She shoots straight. That’s what I like most about her.” He got off his barstool and came around to Lucas. “Don’t let her go this time, okay, son?” He patted Lucas’ shoulder and left the room.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lucas’s mind was still spinning from the conversation with his dad.
He’d texted Cynthia and asked her to meet him. A mere few hours ago he would have been meeting her to talk last-minute wedding plans. Now he was going to tell her it was off and all her hard work was for nothing.
It was his day to disappoint one person after another. Although, his family had gone above and beyond any possible response he could have imagined. And again, his dad’s words about Erin were foremost in his mind.
Lucas had sought Erin’s advice about whether he should marry Vanessa or not. One of the biggest decisions of his life. He’d looked to her before anyone else, even his own family. That spoke volumes about his level of trust in her. And like he’d told her the other day, she understood him unlike anyone else ever had.
It was almost comical how his dad had seen Lucas’s love for Erin before he did. As he drove to meet Cynthia, all the moments with Erin flipped through his memory like a scrapbook. Hanging out as kids, uninhibited by opinions or stress, being themselves because they could be with one another. The freedom he had to be himself with her. Seeing her enter the main room of the Graff Hotel the night of his engagement party. Watching her eyes light up after she beat him in the horse race. And the way she’d felt in his arms the day he’d kissed her. Both times he’d kissed her. Each one a moment in time he’d never forget.
He parked on the street and went into the Java Café. It was late afternoon so it wasn’t crowded. Grateful for that, he made his way to Cynthia who had snagged a table in the back corner with no one around. To anyone who saw them, it would look like they were talking wedding plans, but Lucas didn’t want anyone within earshot on what he was about to say.
“Hi, Cynthia. Thanks so much for meeting me on such short notice.”
“No worries. I’m at your beck and call from here on out.” She smiled and pulled her iPad out of her bag.
“I’m not sure you’re going to need that.”
She stopped tapping the screen and looked up and him. “What do you mean?”
“There’s probably no easy way to say this so I’m just gonna go for it. The wedding is off.”
She leaned back in her chair. “Can I be blunt?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He chuckled. “That seems to be the consensus today when I give anyone the news.”
“That ought to tell you something then, right?”
He shook his head and hung it.
“Sorry. That was too blunt.”
“No, it wasn’t.” He looked at her. “I’m an idiot.”
“No, you’re not. Do you mind if I ask why?”
“She wasn’t the one for me. And I found out she was after my money. That little tidbit I’m still digesting.”
“So… Erin decided to tell you.” She smiled.
“Erin? What does Erin have to do with this?” He sat back and crossed his arms.
Her smiled faded. “Oh, dear. Now I’ve really said the wrong thing.”
“Cynthia. What are you talking about?”
She let out a breath with a whoosh. “Oh, Lord. She’s going to kill me, but here goes.” She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. “Erin overhead Vanessa talking to her dad. Something about a bankruptcy and how once she was Mrs. Lucas St. Claire their worries would be over.”
Lucas didn’t think he could be more upset with Vanessa but at what Cynthia was saying, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he clenched his hands into fists.
“Erin knew about this?”
“Yes. She was sick over it. Bu
t please don’t be mad at her, Lucas. It wasn’t her place to tell you.”
“I thought she was my friend.” His stomach turned at the thought of Erin betraying him as well. And just when he thought the day couldn’t get any worse.
“She is your friend, Lucas. But she’s also loved you her whole life. With the money troubles she has, if she’d said anything to you, or told you at all how she felt, it would only look like she was after your money, too.”
Lucas unclenched his fists and placed his hands on his knees, his anger fading. He couldn’t fault Erin for protecting herself that way. In the course of the day, he’d gone through every emotion from anger to relief to confusion to now trying to process Cynthia saying that Erin loved him.
Why had it taken him so long to figure it all out? To come to the conclusion that it was Erin all along. To know he loved her was one thing, but to hear that she loved him back was another. It was as if the final piece of a puzzle was put into place.
An idea formed in his mind and, if he went through with it, it would be the absolute craziest thing to do. It would look like, without a doubt, he lived life without thinking things through. However, it would be the most solid, smartest thing he’d ever done.
“Okay. I can’t tell what that grin on your face means, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.”
He leaned forward. “Cynthia. I need your help.”
“Okay.”
“It will take some serious scrambling and plenty of secret keeping, at least for about twenty-four hours.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Okay.”
“And if I play my cards right, I think it will make Erin happy. The kind of happy I should have made her years ago.”
“I’m in.”
*
Erin moved around the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast dishes. Her father had gone outside with Wendell to work on something, he wouldn’t say what. He’d been secretive the past few days, telling her not to go in the barn. Something about Vanessa not wanting anyone going in before the wedding. He and Wendell were allowed, but she chalked it up to them helping get things ready.
She hadn’t heard a word from Lucas since they’d talked in the barn. But his version of the what-if game had kept her up at night. If he didn’t want to marry a woman with all the right credentials, why were there still deliveries and things happening in the barn? The wedding was on and there wasn’t a damn thing Erin could do about it.
She’d kept herself busy with chores. Not one to be on social media, her idea of downtime was keeping her head buried in a book, so she was able to avoid any news about the wedding that was out in the world.
Going for a horseback ride was what she needed so she went straight for the stables and saddled up Hemingway. Out in the open air, her head began to clear. She recognized it was time to accept a simple truth. Lucas had asked her advice and given her the chance to tell him not only how she felt, but that Vanessa was all wrong for him. And she let it slip by.
A decision she might live to regret, but she still believed telling him those things wouldn’t guarantee him running into her arms so they could run off into the sunset together. That was a dream she should have let go of a long time ago.
Tanner Ranch was her dream. Keeping it running and, one day, not living in the red would keep her busy without a doubt. The money from Lucas’s wedding was her new beginning of sorts. She was starting to wrap her head around the idea, but her heart would take time to follow.
As she rounded the bend and headed for home, her heart rate sped up when she saw Lucas’s truck in the driveway. He stood beside it, watching her as she rode in. Vanessa wasn’t with him. He must be checking on things without her. She took a deep breath and told herself she only had to hold it together a little while longer.
He was squinting as he looked up at her. In jeans, boots, a Henley shirt, and the coat he’d put around her that night on the deck when she’d been cold, he was pure eye candy.
She swung her leg over and slid down Hemingway’s side to the ground. “Hey there.”
“Hey yourself. How was your ride?”
With Hemingway’s reins in her hand, she walked over to him. “Great. As always.” She patted the horse’s neck.
“Have you got a minute? I want to ask you about something?”
“Sure.”
She put Hemingway in the corral. The horse most likely wouldn’t wander anywhere, but with all the people coming and going lately, she didn’t want him spooked. He’d feel safe inside the corral.
He took her hand and they walked toward the barn. There were so many things right about her hand in his, but so many things wrong. He wasn’t hers to hold.
“I’m not supposed to go into the barn.”
He winked at her. “I think this time is okay. I need your opinion.”
Now her heart raced for a different reason. Lucas was up to something but she had no idea what.
He opened the barn door and led her inside. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the darker setting than the outside. She had to blink to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
Hay bales had been used as aisles for people to sit. Twinkle lights were strung across the ceiling and loft. Lanterns hung from rods in the ground to light the way up the center aisle and a chandelier with matching lanterns hung from the center of the ceiling.
It looked exactly as Erin had described her dream wedding.
And the exact design Vanessa had turned her nose up to.
“Lucas. It looks amazing. I don’t think Vanessa is going to be happy about this.”
“It’s not her happiness I’m worried about.” He put his arms around her and pulled her close.
He had to have felt the pounding of her heart in her chest. What was he up to?
“It’s you, Erin. It’s always been you.” His lips met hers and she melted against him.
Her arms moved up around his neck, her fingers toying with the back of his hair. It wasn’t the soft tender kiss they’d first shared, nor was it the passion-filled one that day they painted the barn. It was right in between, a mix of all the years gone by, all the ones she wanted in the future. It was all the unsaid things between them.
When he pulled back, he placed his forehead to hers. “I know the truth, Erin. Vanessa didn’t really want me. And, to be honest, she wasn’t the one for me, either. I’m so sorry, Erin. I was such a fool. You were there all along. It was always you.”
“I love you, Lucas. I’ve always loved you.”
“I know. Well, I know now…”
They laughed.
“But what is all this?” She motioned around them with her hand.
“This is for you. If you want it.” He dropped to one knee, both her hands in his. “Marry me, Erin.”
Tears streamed down her face. She’d dreamed of this moment since she was a girl. Not an hour ago, she was convincing herself it had to pass her by. But it didn’t. Lucas was choosing her. Making her dreams come true.
“Yes! Of course! Yes!”
He stood and spun her around. “I love you, Erin.”
“I love you, too.”
The creak of the barn door echoed through the room. “Can we come in yet?” Cynthia had poked her head in.
“Yes! She said yes!”
There was a chorus of woo-hoos as Lucas’s whole family, along with Erin’s dad, Wendell, Tucker, and other friends wandered into the barn.
“Let’s get this party started!” Franchesca shouted.
Erin looked at Lucas. “What is going on?”
“It’s your wedding day.”
“My—”
“Come on, friend. We need to get you ready.” Cynthia cut her off then grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Lucas who grinned and blew her a kiss.
“Cynthia. What are we doing?”
“I’ll explain as we go.”
Back in her room, all of the St. Claire women, along with Cynthia, got Erin dressed in a gown fit for a princess, not a cowgirl like her. But as sh
e looked at her reflection in the mirror, she thanked her friend for choosing the exact dress for her. With capped sleeves and a small belt made of jewels, it was the right mix of elegant and simple.
Her feet were adorned with white cowgirl boots, a gift from her dad, complete with turquoise gems and an intricate silver design.
As she dressed, Cynthia explained more of what had happened between Lucas and Vanessa. That he had gone to break it off and found out the truth. Relief flooded Erin at not having to be the one to tell Lucas.
“He loves you.” Cynthia said as she settled Erin’s veil in place. “He’s always loved you.”
They left the house and as she entered the barn, Lucas waited at the end of the aisle for her, his Christmas bride. It wasn’t as she had imagined it for all those years. All the time she’d spent wanting him to return and say he loved her. It was better. So much better.
Epilogue
1 year later
Erin watched as Lucas bent on one knee to cut down the Christmas tree that Annalise had chosen. Their niece stood beside him, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. She’d only gotten cuter, and a bigger handful, according to Franchesca. But the family adored her and were all anticipating with great happiness the arrival of Wes and Noelle’s first baby, a little girl due any day. Noelle was so happy to be having a child at Christmas. They’d already chosen the name Joy, continuing the tradition of Christmas themed names on Noelle’s side of the family.
Franchesca was also pregnant. She wasn’t due until May but she was carrying twin boys. The St. Claires were going to have quite a full house by next Christmas. As Erin watched Lucas lift the tree as if it weighed nothing and take it to the bed of his truck so he could deliver it to the St. Claire house, she thought of the children they talked of having. Not yet, but soon. They were enjoying time just the two of them. As Lucas said, they had a lot of time to catch up on.
Her father’s truck sat next to Lucas’s. As a wedding present to her, Lucas had a truck specifically built for Clayton, so he could now drive himself everywhere and had no trouble talking anyone’s ear off about all the bells and whistles that came with it.
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