Page 24 of My Not So Wicked Stepbrother (My Not So Wicked 1)

Unless he was your stepbrother and about to be taken. Unfortunately, I sighed audibly while lamenting, wondering if I could get a refund or an exchange on the gift I’d been given.

Sawyer whispered in my ear, “You ever think about doing this?” He flicked his head toward the bride and groom.

I nodded. “How about you?” I tried to keep my voice down to peep level.

“Lately, all the time.”

I object.Chapter SixThere was nothing like cupcakes to soothe your soul, especially when they were pumped full of raspberry lemon filling and topped with the best buttercream known to man. Frankie was a culinary rock star. Cupcakes and punch in the barn were part of the complimentary package for anyone who eloped at the Ranch.

“Frankie, I could kiss you right now.” I licked the buttercream on my second cupcake instead.

“What would you think if I added toasted coconut to the filling next time?” Frankie was adding more cupcakes to the cupcake stands. Word spread there was free food to be had and guests were filing into the informal reception.

“I think it’s genius. Let’s add them to the menu for the Farewell to Summer dance.” I had taken that tradition over too since Mom’s passing. At the end of the summer season before we closed the guest ranch, we always held a big dance here in the barn. All the guests that stayed with us that summer were invited to come, as well as the entire town of Carrington Cove. It was the hottest ticket in town, with a live band and the best food around. “I want to go all out this year to celebrate since it’s the twenty-fifth anniversary. As a tribute to mom, I thought we could do a slideshow of years past and ask former guests to talk about their memories here and of mom.”

Frankie looked up with a rare smile on her no-nonsense, smooth-but-aged face. “Your mom would love that. Let me know what else you want on the menu that night. Assuming I’m still here.” She glared at Josephine, who had an iron grip on Dad while scanning the barn like a hawk.

“Don’t say that,” I whispered.

Frankie harrumphed, making her gray wispy bangs fly. “I promised you until the end of the summer, but past that I make no promises. And who knows, the wicked witch may decide to fire me before then.”

I shook my head, startled. “Dad would never allow that.”

Frankie’s brows raised. “I’m not sure of that. Mr. Carrington isn’t himself anymore.”

I stared at Dad. Longing and loss filled me. I wanted him to make it all better like he used to when I was little and I’d had a bad dream. He would sit on the floor by my bed and hold my hand while telling me fairytales about the secret princesses who lived in our forest who were there to protect us until I fell back asleep. “I’ve noticed.”

“Hey.”

I turned to find a fierce looking Frankie.

“Don’t you give up on him. That would devastate your mom, and if anyone can get through to him, it’s you. He needs you now more than ever.”

“He’s not very happy with me.”

“No, honey, he’s not happy with himself. He’s always been proud of his Emma. I still overhear him telling people you graduated from the Colorado School of Mines and how you can kick a ball farther than most men.”

I gave Frankie a half smile.

“You go over there. You are the rightful lady of the Ranch now; don’t let anyone tell you any different.”

That sparked a tear in my eye and an idea. Every year we gave the dance a theme. This year’s would be the Lady of Carrington Ranch. “I love you, Frankie.”

She waved me away with a crooked smile. “Get out of here.”

I took my half-eaten cupcake with me and headed toward Dad and Josephine. They were standing just beneath the loft, right where my world had changed. Dad had since removed the ladder Mom fell from and replaced it with stairs. And no one was allowed to store anything up in the loft anymore. Frankie says she saw him burn the ladder once it was removed.

On my walk over, I noticed Ashton doing card tricks in front of a good-sized crowd. My sisters were front and center as he dazzled people with his sleight of hand. Sawyer was part of the crowd too, until he saw me and headed my way.

He sidled up next to me. “I see you’re still trying to avoid me.”

“You could have joined me at the cupcake table.” Though I was relieved he hadn’t. Ripping off this Band-Aid was killing me. But I had to, especially now since Southern Perfection had entered the picture and was making him think of getting married.

“You know, Frankie scares me,” he half teased. She could be intimidating if you didn’t know her well, or if you were related to Josephine.

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