“There you are. Welcome back to the conversation,” Annie said dryly. “And I like the beard.”
“Sorry! I don’t want to offend Tyler’s family. I just want—”
“Everything to go perfectly,” Annie finished for her. “I know.” She squeezed her cousin’s hand. “Your dad is going to walk you down the aisle, hand you off to the man of your dreams, and I promise you nothing else is going to matter. When the rest of us look back at tomorrow, all we’re going to remember is how beautiful you were and the love on your faces.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so,” she said remembering CJ’s words in the kitchen. “If you make Tyler happy, his family will love you. Trust me.”
Crystal drew a shaky breath. “Thank you. You always know what to say.”
“That’s why I’m the companion pony.”
Shrieks from the bride drew every eye along with demands to be let in on the joke. Wiping away tears that had only been added to by her hysterics, Crystal shook her head helplessly and hugged Annie tightly. Seeing their confusion, Annie took pity on the pretty people.
“It’s a family joke. You had to be there to get it.”
Pulling her cousin’s head down on her shoulder, they snuggled in the beanbag like kids. Golden strands of hair flowed through Annie’s fingers. A flash of light made her look up. Her aunt smiled from behind the camera. Annie waved her phone, silently requesting a copy be forwarded. Crystal didn’t move. All the nerves and uncertainty seemed forgotten for now. Occasionally, a rogue giggle still escaped.
Eye landing on the onesie’s pink heart logo, Annie thought about their discussion. Her younger cousin hadn’t meant to hurt her. She knew that. The supposition that she would die old and alone wasn’t a new one in the family. Twelve years without a boyfriend and a hermit lifestyle didn’t do much to kill the scuttlebutt. But Crys had been right about one thing. There would be no more sleepovers, slumber parties, or even long nights in strange hotels in the next pageant city. She swallowed against the knot in her throat. This was it. They were all grown up.
Towering pines swayed under gale force winds. Snow came down in sheets. Mother Nature screamed, buffeting the log walls and tall windows with her blinding fury. Her power was awesome. It never failed to move him.
“Did you order this?”
Pulled back inside, CJ shot his cousin a smile. “You know better than to think anyone orders that bitch around.”
“It’s a different bitch that I’m worried about right now. This shit needs to blow through,” Tyler said, lips twisted in a grimace as he tentatively sipped his coffee.
CJ frowned. It was one thing to take a shot at Mother Nature, but that was not a word you tossed around, especially with the woman you were supposed to love.
“The ceremony is indoors. Everyone is here. All is ready. Don’t let the weather put a damper on what’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Worst case scenario, you have to start your honeymoon here and be truthful, how much outside of your hotel room are you really going to see?”
Tyler sputtered into his coffee in amusement. “Good point.”
They both turned as the women came down the stairs en masse. CJ grinned getting his first glimpse of the onesie pajamas his cousin had told him about. They were adorable on the girls but yeah, the guys had dodged a bullet. Annie’s arm was around Crystal who looked like she’d been crying. He couldn’t hear what the brunette was saying, but it was pretty clear from the body language that she was encouraging her cousin to eat something.
Word of the bride’s arrival downstairs had spurred the kitchen to roll out the full breakfast buffet. Anticipating a late night and early morning with the wedding going on, several employees had made the choice to stay onsite last night. It was a blessing with the unexpected storm blowing in. Joining the shuffling line, CJ listened to the omelet chef flirt and tease with the girls. A couple of them were ready to take the pretty boy home without even tasting the wares.
By the time he’d loaded his plate, Annie had her custom omelet and was looking around for a place to land or hide. He wasn’t sure which. It looked like Tyler now had the unenviable task of calming his bride along with his soon to be mother-in-law and the wedding planner. Taking a chance, he nudged Annie lightly with his elbow and gestured toward a quiet spot for two near the hearth. A smile lit her face and she nodded, following.
“Good morning and thank you for the save,” she whispered sinking into the chair.
“Good morning to you too. Rough night?”
“Rougher morning. Somehow, Crystal didn’t envision it snowing on her winter wonderland wedding.”
He couldn’t contain a small grin at the weary snark lacing her words.
“Like I told Ty, the ceremony is indoors. Everyone is here and everything is ready. No worries.”
“Check, check and check. I told Crys the same thing,” Annie sighed clicking each point off with a wave of her fork. “The only concern is the honeymoon and what do they need beyond a bed? Move into one suite or the other. Problem solved,” she continued, rolling her eyes as she took a bite of her omelet. “Oh my God, this is good.”
He tried to smother a guffaw of laughter at both her matching opinion on the honeymoon activities and her appreciation of food. Color tinged her cheeks, but she smiled around another mouthful.
“Check,” he said, waving his fork in imitation of her. “Great minds think alike. Pretty much exactly what I told Ty so why the teary pow-wow over there?”
“I blame the wedding planner. She can’t leave anything alone. Every time I get Crys calmed down, the lady has a new crisis.”
“Isn’t it her job to deal with crap so the wedding couple doesn’t have to?”
Annie’s fork came up again to check the box and point at him. Apparently, they were on the same wavelength on this as well.
“Good omelet?”
She nodded, making a satisfied humming noise while she struggled to swallow the most recent bite.
“Sorry. Yes. Fantastic actually. I was dealing with some of that wedding crap the planner can’t handle and missed most of dinner last night so I’m starving this morning.”
“You could’ve called down or popped into the kitchen. No one goes hungry around here.”
“I should’ve, but it feels like feeding time at the zoo when I eat in front of them. If they’re not staring at me in horror, they’re salivating.”
Choking on a bite, CJ grabbed for his juice. He gulped half the glass before looking up at her through watery eyes.
“Are you trying to kill me?” he demanded, raising a fist to force a cough.
She tried to look sheepish, but the sparkle in her hazel eyes ruined the effect.
“Sorry.”
“Hearing some of the things that come out of your mouth, you must be a helluva writer,” he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up even as he shook his head.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She picked up her toast and looked at it for a moment before her eyes shifted to the apple butter on the table. The childlike delight and anticipation were cute. God, she was some sort of adorable. She reached but he beat her to it, sliding the dish over.
She dropped a generous dollop on her toast muttering, “Sorry.”
“For eating?”
Her head shake was immediate, smile wry now. “No. I’m not going to apologize for eating, or enjoying my food, but maybe inhaling it isn’t the politest.”
“Don’t hold back on my account. Do I look like I’ve missed any meals lately, or ever?”
Annie snorted, leaning forward over her plate to prevent apple butter from dripping on her pajamas.
“You’re not eating now,” she pointed out. “Don’t make me break out the zoo metaphor again.”
He looked down at his still full plate.
“Now it’s my turn to apologize. I—I got distracted.”
CJ winced at the stammer. He’d never met a girl so easy to talk
to. He couldn’t blow it now. A shriek halted any further attempt at explanation or flirtation.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Annie almost choked on her toast. Crystal rarely swore. Dropping the F-bomb at the top of her lungs in front of everyone that she cared about couldn’t be good. Swiping her lips, she dropped her napkin and hurried for her distraught cousin. She felt CJ behind her and was grateful for the backup, whatever this was.
“Crys?”
A single syllable and the stunning blonde turned into her arms, bursting into tears.
“We’re paying you to organize our wedding. Is it too much to ask that you do your job?”
The wedding planner drew herself up straight, glaring at the groom. “Mr. Barrett, it is because I am doing my job that you even know the pastor is not present. I’ve looked everywhere. He’s not answering his phone. I can’t—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Tyler snapped, throwing up a stalling hand in the woman’s face before turning away. “Do you have any ideas?”
Rubbing circles between Crystal’s heaving shoulders, Annie opened her mouth and closed it again. Thankfully, Tyler was looking over her head.
“He can’t just be missing. Remember that cell reception can be spotty. I’ll check with Mom and Dad and talk to the staff. If he left someone should know,” CJ said. The parting words he tossed over his shoulder were grim. “If he went down the mountain, I’ll check the forecast.”
“His room was paid for as part of his compensation.”
“I’m sure if he left he had a good reason,” Annie said, cutting off the planner’s need to continue the blame game. “Perhaps there was an emergency.”
“What are we going to do?” Crystal moaned.
“First, we’re going to make sure the pastor is okay, and then we’ll figure the rest out. The wedding isn’t until tonight. A lot can change in nine hours. Don’t go all bridezilla on us now, Princess,” Annie said, putting a little teasing into her voice at the end.
Crystal hiccupped and swatted at her. “Excuse me, sunshine. We’ll see how cheery you are when the wedding you’ve been planning since grade school falls apart.”
“Lucky for me I’ve never been under the delusion that life is fair.”
Rolling her eyes, the bride stepped over to her mother to accept a tissue.
“You handled that well,” Tyler muttered, blowing out a breath.
“I’ve had years of practice and figure I have immunity. We’re family. She can’t get rid of me,” Annie answered, watching her aunt fuss. “But now it’s your turn, grasshopper. I’m not moving out here to the Wild West so take notes. She’s had enough people in her life blow smoke up her ass. You’re someone she needs to trust to tell her the truth. Just try to soften it with love or humor where you can or, if all else fails, tell her she’s pretty.”
Tyler laughed. “She’s right. You’re funny.”
“She loves you, Tyler. She wouldn’t be trying this hard if she didn’t. Be patient with her.”
He nodded, watching his fiancée. “Thank you. I mean that.” He finally met her eye. “And if there is ever anything I, or we, can do for you, say the word.”
“Deal. And if you ever need to talk to someone that is fluent in princess, give me a call.”
CJ’s return interrupted their heart-to-heart.
“A member of the pastor’s congregation was injured on the job yesterday. He’s a young guy with a wife and twins on the way. Pastor John went to the hospital to be with the family intending to be back here this morning before anyone was any wiser. The storm had other ideas. Highway patrol just fished his Subaru out of the ditch and sent him back home to thaw.”
“Thank God he’s okay, but there has to be some way for him to get up here. I mean, what about a four-wheel drive?” Crystal’s mom asked.
All eyes swung back to CJ, but he was shaking his head.
“The roads are closed. I talked to a buddy of mine that works for the county and the plows are only running to support law enforcement and emergency personnel. Between the snow and the wind, visibility is nil and the wind chill is deadly.”
“What about a snowmobile?” Miss Texas asked.
“No,” CJ said firmly. “Like I explained, visibility and wind chill make that impossible. I’m sorry.”
“What are we going to do? Are we safe here?”
Annie didn’t see who asked the question, but you couldn’t miss the effect it had. Tension amplified. People wrapped their arms around loved ones or themselves.
“The lodge is fully stocked and perfectly safe. We are used to the sudden inclement weather and well prepared,” Mrs. Barrett said, stepping up next to her son.
“What if the wind blows the power out?”
“The lodge is equipped with backup generators and emergency heating. All of the fireplaces are also functional and available for added comfort,” CJ’s dad reassured the room of worried faces.
“We’ll keep in contact with the authorities and let you know of any updates. We’re as anxious to have Crystal join the family as our nephew is, but Mother Nature has decided we’ll have to wait a bit longer. As you’ve seen, our weather can change in a hurry. Until then, we’ll rework things a bit on the schedule. Please enjoy the breakfast buffet and if there is anything you need see one of us,” his wife chimed in again.
Shoulder to shoulder, the three of them exuded confidence and a closeness that Annie envied. CJ met her gaze and smiled, his pale eyes crinkling with a warmth that was so appealing. The moment was broken as Tyler stepped forward. Crystal in the crook of his arm and both sets of parents drifting in their wake, he raised his voice to be heard.
“My family has lived here for a long time and know the ins and outs. We’re in good hands. Crystal and I invited you all here to enjoy a mini-vacation with us. Who is going to complain if it gets extended?”
A murmur of agreement and the beginnings of conversation met the groom’s announcement. With a little prodding, people began to drift back to their breakfast.
“I knew if I waited long enough there’d be a swimsuit portion to this pageant.”
Annie’s eyes flew open at the teasing words, her arms dropping from the tub’s rim to instinctually cover up. The sudden movement slipped her lower in the water and she sputtered, jerking her head back only to smack it on the fiberglass.
“Whoa. Don’t drown. I didn’t mean to startle you,” CJ said, squatting next to the sunken hot tub.
Coughing, she pushed herself back up in the molded seat. She probed the back of her tender skull with one hand while the other fussed with her teal and white polka-dotted halter. Her face flushed warmer, even in the humidity.
“Sorry. I um…I was…uhh…” she stammered, looking for a way to explain her habit of checking out of reality.
“Napping?” CJ suggested at her flustered silence.
“Uh…plotting?” she said, wincing when the word came out more a question than answer.
“Thinking about a book,” he said, nodding like he understood. “I drift off like that when I’m planning out a new piece.”
“Piece?” she asked, wondering if she’d hit her head harder than she’d thought.
“Piece, project. I make furniture. Not professionally. I mean I sell some of my pieces, but it’s more of a hobby,” CJ said, rambling before finishing up with, “It’s just something to keep me busy.”
She bit her lip to squelch a grin, the manly aw-shucks thing he had going on was so sexy. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’d love to see some of your work sometime.”
His head jerked back up. “You would? I mean, yeah. Sure. If we get the chance I’ll, um, we’ll do that.”
Annie frowned as those beautiful eyes clenched shut and he shook his head. She reached out to catch the fingers hanging loosely over his right knee.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just, you’d think by thirty I’d be over getting tongue-tied around a pretty girl.”
The words stole hers. She blinked, sorting back through the conversation from every direction. Each time she came to the same conclusion. He’d just called her a pretty girl. She couldn’t have stopped the goofy grin that spread over her face if she’d tried.
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever even dreamed a man would say to me.”
“I would’ve thought as a writer you’d have a more vivid imagination.”
“Simplistic and from the heart is so much better than empty flash,” she said, squeezing his fingers. His dimples deepened and her heart fluttered. “You’re welcome to join me,” she whispered. “We have a poolside view of the pageant’s water volleyball competition.”
CJ glanced at the pool and then back at her. “I’m much more interested in the view right here. I’ll be right back.”
Annie bit her lip watching him walk away. What was it about the man that made her feel like a teenager? Worse yet, sound like one. She might not have been on many dates since high school, but she wrote romance. She knew the stench of desperation was not something men went for, especially the man’s man variety like CJ.
Fumbling, she repositioned the rolled towel behind her neck and closed her eyes with a groan. Seeking advice from Crystal was iffy at the best of times and not an option right now. It wasn’t that her cousin didn’t want to help, just that men came easy for her. Even with everything going on, she’d probably be excited by both the prospect and the distraction. But CJ was Tyler’s cousin. What if Crys said something to him? Water exploded into Annie’s face.
A cry escaped her as she turned away, arms coming up to protect her head.
“Incoming!”
Laughter followed the shout and something brushed her elbow. Swiping water out of her eyes, she glared at the bobbing volleyball. Batting it away, she shifted the focus of her ire to the pool’s occupants.
“Thanks for the heads up. NORAD you’re not.”
More laughter.
“Come on. Throw it back.”
Snatching up the ball, she stepped on the seat and punched it back with a wicked spike. Cat calls and teasing followed the lawyer’s attempt at protecting his face.
Why not Wyoming? (Wyoming Wilds Series Book 1) Page 2
