Always a Bridesmaid

by Cindi Madsen

  Unease churned in his gut, although he couldn’t pinpoint why. Possibly because every aspect of his life that he pulled her into was another string that could trip or entangle.

  “You’re quiet.” Violet wrapped him in a side hug, linking her fingers above his hip. “You’re never quiet.”

  “Not never. Once in a blue moon I get all thoughtful-like.”

  She snuggled closer. “Sounds dangerous.”

  “Oh, it is,” he said, brushing his lips across hers, and there was the serenity he’d been missing. “Primarily for you. Most of my thoughtfulness involves getting you naked.”

  Even in the dim light, he could see the blush, and he savored the fact that it hadn’t dimmed in spite of how many times they’d had sex this past week.

  Muted laughter drifted toward them as they crossed the wooden walkway. Light spilled from the windows, the glow yellow and happy.

  Various greetings met them as they stepped inside. Ford guided Violet through the narrow alleyway between the kitchen and living room area.

  “It’s so good to see you,” Lexi said, leaning across the table to hug Violet. “One might even say you’re looking rather succulent.”

  Violet giggled, and Ford shared a glance with Addie, since the two of them were the butt of the joke.

  Night before last, they’d gone to a floral shop to finalize bouquets and arrangements.

  “What about succulents?” Violet had asked Lexi when she suggested they add a bit of greenery to the white and yellow daisy and sunflower bouquets.

  “Succulents?” Addie bounded closer to the counter. “Are those flowers you can eat?”

  Since Ford could get on board with that, he’d peeked over the top of the women’s heads. He and Addie had exchanged a WTH expression when they saw the plant the florist had placed on the glass countertop. “Isn’t that a cactus?”

  Addie touched the end of one of the fat leaves and jerked back her finger. “Ouch, it’s pokey. What, you guys don’t think wearing a dress will be uncomfortable enough? Like hey, let’s add stabby plants to the mix?”

  “Oh, come on,” Violet had said. “They’re cute.”

  “Putting a bow on a turd doesn’t make it a present,” Ford countered.

  Lexi carefully lifted the plant by the tiny stem. “It’s like a lovely reminder to nurture your relationship.”

  “But cacti don’t need nurturing. That’s the beauty of them.”

  Simultaneous sighs had come from Lexi and Violet, and eventually the hoity-toity cacti were vetoed in favor of seeded eucalyptus, which was apparently different from regular kind. What he and Addie had agreed on was that it smelled good and looked nice, and Violet and Lexi were so thrilled they’d agreed on anything that they ran with it.

  “Very funny,” Ford said now, adding waggling eyebrows as he looked Violet up and down. “Although not untrue. You’re absolutely succulent tonight.”

  “Are you saying I’m only a little prickly?” The pinch Violet gave his side was more affectionate than prickly.

  Easton paused his shuffling, half the deck in each of his hands. “I feel like I’m missing something.”

  “Bro, you’re missing a lot of things,” Ford teased, adding a smirk. “But this particular thing’s a bridesmaid thing.”

  Ford turned to Violet and placed his hand on her lower back. “You know how to play Texas hold ’em?”

  “In theory,” she said. “In reality, it’s been a while.”

  “We can be a team if you’d like.” He settled into his usual chair and pulled her onto his lap.

  “Good idea. Ford needs all the help he can get,” Easton said, and Ford shot him the bird.

  It took a few rounds, but Violet caught on to the game and the house rules. Right as Ford was about to bet, she twisted her head, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, “Addie didn’t get the card she was hoping for. Raise twice your usual amount and see what she does.”

  Without thinking, he almost looked at Addie. But that would give him away.

  Still, she was the hardest one of them to read, so he struggled to believe Violet already had her pegged.

  Pegged. Now that’s something I’d like her to do to me.

  Ford shifted in his seat, but Violet’s sharp intake of breath made him think she felt his reaction, and that certainly wasn’t helping matters.

  Since talking quietly had never been one of Ford’s special skills, he held his phone under the table and sent a text to Violet.

  Ford: How do you know Addie doesn’t have it? None of us can ever read her, even Tucker.

  Seconds later, his phone vibrated in his hand.

  Violet: Remember how many times I’ve been a bridesmaid? It means I’m a pro at reading brides. I saw her reactions to dresses and cakes and flowers. There’s a sparkle in her eye when she sees what she likes, and it’s not there.

  Sink or swim time, and was he honest-to-God going to rely on an eye sparkle? Or lack thereof?

  No, he was relying on Violet, and that made it a lot easier to go all in. His heart quickened at the idea, because now he was thinking about more than his stack of chips.

  All in, all in, all in… Violet hadn’t pushed or asked him again what he thought about her staying in Uncertainty for good. The question had gobsmacked him at the time, and he’d responded in the most neutral, up-to-you way he could muster.

  Once in a while, he felt it hanging in the air between them, this unspoken question that he suspected she wanted a solid answer to. Or maybe that was his paranoia. Add in the fear that he’d ask her to stay, only to feel suffocated and realize he wasn’t ready for more of a commitment, and shit his lungs were doing that deflating thing again.

  “McGuire? You’re looking a little pale,” Addie said. “Is someone thinking they bet off more than they could chew?” She slapped her knee. “Get it? Bet off?”

  The rest of the guys groaned as if they hadn’t come up with jokes just as cheesy before. It provided what Ford needed, though. The opportunity to pull himself together and focus on the cards—much easier to read.

  One by one, everyone folded except him and Addie. She was taking forever to decide whether or not to match or fold like everyone else. That wouldn’t do. He needed to know if Violet had been right.

  “Come on, Murph. Last month you told me you’ve seen the size of my balls and made it sound like yours were bigger. Are you really gonna back down now?”

  “Wait, what?” Violet said, spinning on his lap and making his dick lose focus on the game.

  “Don’t worry,” Lexi said, swiping a hand through the air. “They talk like this all the time. It’s all balls and boobs and trash talk.”

  Shep wrapped an arm around his wife. “I’d like to talk to you about my balls and your boobs.”

  Easton reached into the bag of Doritos, adding another layer of orange dust to his fingertips. “I thought they’d be less lovey-dovey after half a year of marriage.”

  Goofball that he was, Shep leaned in and placed a loud smacking kiss on Lexi’s lips. He added a boob grab that made Lexi cluck her tongue and say, “William Irving Shepherd!”

  But then she grinned and kissed him back, climbing on his lap to do so.

  Ford squeezed Violet’s thigh, hoping this wasn’t making her uncomfortable.

  When she glanced over her shoulder at him, though, she was grinning.

  Now he was the one leaning in for a smacking kiss. With his erection testing the bounds of his zipper, he was about to fold and carry her out of the boathouse and into his truck, where he could worship her body in private.

  Well, he might have to drive a mile or so into the boonies for privacy, but he’d never make it home.

  “Babe, it looks like we’re about to lose everyone,” Addie said. “And speaking of boobs and balls…” She and Tucker shared a kiss of their own.


  A groan came from Ford’s right, and Easton shook his head. “Great. Now I’m surrounded by couples. Let’s see the cards before this shindig turns into an orgy and I get to be the loser guy standing in the corner alone, holding his dick.”

  Chuckles went around the table, but the word “couple” spun through Ford’s head on a steady loop. He was part of a couple.

  It should freak him out—it had mere moments ago. But it felt damn good, having Violet on his lap, his friends surrounding him.

  This is what Doris meant when she called her life full. Contentment filled him head to toe, as if every part of his life was precisely as it should be.

  The arch of Addie’s eyebrow conveyed she could read his thoughts and agreed. She always did like to say “I told you so.”

  Time to end this game and bask in how okay I suddenly am with all this.

  Ford flipped his cards, pumping his fist when his two pair beat Addie’s jack and shit—literally. A jack and a lot of diamonds, save one.

  “Ready to get out of here?” he whispered in Violet’s ear, and she melted against him and pressed her lips to his jaw.

  “As ready as you feel,” she said with a siren smile that made him even harder. Having her sit on his lap might’ve been the wrong call, yet he wasn’t willing to let go.

  Ford cleared his throat. “Thanks for the game, y’all. Violet and I are gonna go get a room.”

  “I wasn’t going to be that TMI about it, since I’m a lady, but I’ll echo his thanks.” She scooted out from the table, and he had to think about anatomy terms in order to compose himself.

  Still sporting a halfski, he stood, winding his arms around Violet’s waist to keep her close and himself concealed.

  Just like that, the situation in his pants returned full force. When he was two steps from the door, though, Lexi jumped up. “Ford, wait. Um, Addie and I need to talk to you really quickly.”

  Confusion wrinkled Addie’s brow, her bafflement clear. “We do?”

  Lexi widened her eyes at Addie. “Yes. Remember?”

  “Please don’t say it’s about the weddin’,” Addie all but begged. “We talked about makeup and hairstyle options all day, and I’m certain you were speakin’ French for all I understood. You’re welcome for the lack of phone call, McGuire.”

  His gratitude made it hard to refuse, even as his libido revolted at the idea of walking away from the beautiful temptress in front of him. “Give me a minute?”

  Violet nodded, and as he started away from her, she smacked him on the ass. “Go get ’em, tiger.”

  Since there wasn’t anywhere to go in the boathouse where everyone wouldn’t overhear, they ended up outside on the deck.

  Once the sliding glass door snicked closed behind them, Ford turned to Addie and Lexi. “What’s up?”

  …

  “Is this where y’all tell me I’d better take care of your friend or else?” Violet asked, a nervous laugh coming along for the ride. And dang it, she was picking up more southern slang by the day.

  Then again, if she were “fixin’ to” stay in Uncertainty, perhaps she should give in. Not that Ford’s been exactly forthcoming on how he feels about that subject.

  A tiny, persistent voice in her head—one she had too much pride to voice—constantly begged Want me.

  Choose me.

  “Nah.” Tucker procured a beer from the fridge, removed the cap, and extended it to her. “In case the meeting goes longer than expected. Lexi’s a talker.”

  “It transfers to the bedroom, if you know what I mean.” A smug, smitten grin spread across Will’s face. “For as proper as she is, things get real dirty real quick in there.”

  Violet gripped the cold beer bottle, taking a generous pull in hopes it’d calm the anxiety rising up and wheedling her to fidget.

  “How long are you stickin’ around town?” Easton asked, sitting on the edge of the table, where several stacks of chips and cards remained.

  “I’m not sure,” Violet said. “There are a lot of variables up in the air right now.” One of them being the guy outside, in addition to Maisy and Isla.

  Cheryl had also inserted herself into the equation last weekend, leaving Violet agonizing over the best way to solve it. While the allure to stay in Uncertainty was strong, impulsivity had bit her in the ass before. As had factoring in a man who didn’t want her the same way she’d wanted him.

  The police officer nodded, not giving her much to go on.

  Another sip of beer decided like the best course of action. “You guys have been friends for a long time, right?”

  Tucker, Easton, and Will gave uniform nods.

  “This is me trying to make conversation,” Violet said. “Help a girl out, will ya?”

  The heaviness crowding the air dissipated. “Guess we’re not used to Ford bringing a girl along,” Tucker said, huffing a laugh. “Apparently we’ve forgotten how to act.”

  Was that good? Bad? She wanted to feel special because he’d brought her, but what if that meant Cheryl’s warning was warranted? That Ford McGuire bounced from female to female, always looking for greener pastures?

  And how much longer could she delay making a decision before she fell back into old patterns and made too many excuses for a guy who didn’t bother making any of his own?

  …

  “Are you and Violet an official thing now?” Lexi asked, fists on hips, as if it were a reason to scold him instead of to celebrate.

  While he’d grown accustomed to Lexi’s fancy manners and boundless enthusiasm and appreciated how quickly she’d embraced small-town life, Ford felt like he’d never quite gotten on the right footing with her.

  Too backwoods, he supposed, although she’d accepted that side of Shep.

  He glanced at Murph, who shrugged. “Lexi said jump, and I just asked how high.”

  Lexi lowered her eyebrows and turned to Addie. “You honestly don’t know why I’m asking?”

  Addie grimaced. “Not a clue.”

  At least the exasperated sigh seemed to apply to both of them. “Okay, let me go old-school on you, then. Ford, what are your intentions with Violet?”

  He intended to take her home and give her as many orgasms as possible. Never let it be said he didn’t learn anything, though, because instinct and experience told him that wasn’t the answer Lexi was searching for.

  “Relax. She and I are just getting acquainted.” Ford nudged Addie. “In the biblical sense, if you know what I mean.”

  Addie rolled her eyes. “I always know what you mean.”

  Another sigh from Lexi. “That’s what I was worried about. Are you just having fun, or is there more to it?”

  In spite of landing plenty of inches below his throat, Ford tugged at the collar of his T-shirt in an attempt to get more air. “We haven’t bothered labeling it.”

  “Do you know anything about women?” Lexi asked as she paced the deck, and while he assumed the question was meant for him, Addie shrugged. “You’re thinking it’s all fun and games and whatever happens, happens. Meanwhile, she’s thinking you’re connecting and on your way to something real.”

  Lexi stopped her pacing directly in front of him. “And if you’re willing to put in the effort, I’m all for it. But Violet’s been hurt before. If you’re only playing with her heart—”

  “I’m not that cruel,” he said, offense churning in his gut. “It’s not like I go out with women planning on playing them.” In the past, he hadn’t thought a whole lot about their feelings, but he’d always been up-front about not getting too serious.

  “I’d never call you cruel. But sometimes things end up broken, even when you don’t plan to break them.”

  That statement hit him in the solar plexus. “So, what? You’re telling me to leave Violet alone?”

  Another hit, harder, leaving him short of breath.


  “Wait,” Addie said. “Violet’s good for him—I see a difference. And I can tell Ford likes her. He and I have talked about him getting serious and settling down.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Ford said, throwing up his hands. “I never said I was ready to settle down. More like I’d think about it.”

  Now Addie took up the stern expression, crossing her arms for emphasis. “Seriously? Can you honestly say your life doesn’t feel fuller lately? Like a piece that you didn’t realize was missing has suddenly clicked into place?”

  He couldn’t deny either of those things. “I care about her, yes. Violet’s funny. Smart. Sexy. She’s got this energy… And other times she’s calming. Plus, I never know what’s going to pop out of her mouth.”

  His burgeoning feelings for her scared him, frankly, but he wasn’t going to own up to that.

  Besides, it was akin to the fear he felt after cliff diving or rappelling. Adrenaline-fueled with a promise of adventure. “I just… I like her.”

  “I like her, too,” Lexi said, loud enough the words echoed across the lake. “That’s why I’m telling you that if you’re not serious about her…” She took a breath. “Ford, she thought she was going to get married, and the guy ended up destroying her heart and doing a real number on her self-esteem. At one point, she’d given up on men, and I’m afraid next time she won’t change her mind. Do you want to be responsible for that?”

  If it was other men besides him, then yes, yes he did. “Why does everything have to be ride or die? Why can’t we have fun and see where it leads? I can tell you I’m more serious about her than I’ve ever been with anyone else.”

  “That’s good.” Lexi softened her voice and patted his shoulder. “I don’t mean to come across so harsh. While you and I may not always understand each other, I know you’d do anything for your family and friends. You’re a great guy, and the matchmaker in me wants you and Violet to see how perfect you are for each other.”

  Lexi’s gaze clamped on to his, steady and inescapable and stirring up a whole tornado of emotions. “All I’m saying is that she’s had enough of false promises. So, until you’re sure you’re ready to follow through… Just be careful. For both your sakes.”