Page 34 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“Those were the musings of a teenager. This plan makes sense. And your comment about being invited you made earlier with Matt—it’s because you were gone that I didn’t get a chance to tell you that you are definitely on the guest list.”

He chose to ignore the words that came to mind at that moment. Jaxson’s gaze landed on the couple on the far side of the floor. “And CeeCee has everything planned the way you and Sean want it. It comes in handy having such a good friend as your wedding planner. What part will she play?”

Did he sense a change in his partner? She missed a step and then caught the rhythm back up again.

“CeeCee will be there. She’s the detail person. Sammi Jo will be matron of honor and Lacy will be the bridesmaid.”

“Why do I have a feeling that you have something stuck in your brain about CeeCee and Sean? Are you thinking there is something more than friendship between them? Because if that’s the case, you need to drop that idea, and do not go spreading around such nonsense, either.”

Laurel stopped. Her chin came up, and she fixed him with a sharpness in her gaze. She withdrew her hand from his. “Hate to burst your imagination, but a man and woman can be really good friends, and that is all.”

“Well then, guess there is always hope for us.”

“I doubt that.”

“I think you’re right,” he said, something taking over his better judgement. “Sean isn’t the man for you. I think you know that, but for whatever reason, you won’t admit it to yourself. This is more about business than love. There’s no passion between the two of you. You don’t even wear his ring. It just doesn’t add up.”

“Then you need to refresh your math skills. It adds up just fine for us, and that is all that matters. And if you feel like this, I guess you won’t be joining us for the wedding?”

“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. However, you know I can’t refuse a good meal and a party. And then there is the dancing part. How could I miss out dancing with you at your wedding?”

“My dance card might be full. But do enjoy the free food.” She turned away and he should have let her go. But he just had to have the final words.

“Mind if I bring a plus-one? Arabella would enjoy taking some notes.”

Laurel shook her head. “Why not? Bring your girlfriend along. The more the merrier.”

She turned away and didn’t look back. Laurel was soon lost to view in the crowded area of the pool hall where Sean and CeeCee had moved with Matt.

Instead of joining them, Jaxson headed for the front door, not pausing to return words with acquaintances along the way. He needed to be free of people. Pulling away from The Red Rooster, he had no destination in mind. How was he expected to behave as he watched Laurel make a huge mistake? Granted, he had selfish reasons, given the glaring truth that he couldn’t ignore—he loved Laurel. He had for most of his life. And he had a bad feeling it would last for what was left of it. His fist hit the seat beside him. Bringing up Arabella had definitely been the wrong thing to do. Laurel had gone cold and he had been shut out.

What was he supposed to do now? How did one cut out his heart and still keep breathing? And he also knew that he needed to have a conversation with Arabella. It wasn’t fair to allow her to keep thinking they had a chance. It would be a long time before his heart would be ready for anyone else.

Maybe never.

Chapter Fifteen

Two days hadpassed since she walked away from Jaxson. Why should she expect to come across him at the ranch? Half a million acres for a guy to get lost in if he wanted to avoid a crazy female. And she certainly felt that part as the clock ticked faster, bringing the wedding day closer. They were in the homestretch. She and Sean would both celebrate when it was all over and done. And she might even offer that dance that Jaxson had mentioned the last time they saw each other. But maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe his dances would all belong to Arabella. That was something she didn’t want to think about. So she had taken one of the pickups and found her way up to the crest of Willow Ridge.

The sun was glinting its last rays against the stained glass insets of the upper arched windows. It was even more beautiful that she remembered, the glow bringing life into the natural stone walls. Laurel turned off the engine and sat for a moment, breathing in the fresh breeze coming through the open windows of the truck. Birds were calling out to each other, small yellow butterflies flitted between the wildflower blooms, and a hummingbird hovered among the petals of the wild roses that filled tall trellises on either side of the double wooden doors in front.

She slid out of the truck and slowly walked forward. To her surprise, the front door opened under her touch and she stepped inside. Just as she thought—the light streaming through the stained glass insets infused the interior of the small wood-and-stone church with rainbows of colors. It was magical... just like she’d imagined it could be all those years before. It was as if someone had looked inside her mind and brought it to life. Laurel walked the aisle between the oak pews to stand before the raised lectern at the end. Her gaze lifted to the simple cross of glass that would allow the full beauty of the sunset over the valley beyond to fill the interior. How often had she ridden to this spot on her horse when she escaped from the world of cattle kingdom reality to envision what her future might hold?

“What is it about this old falling down stack of rocks that keeps you coming up here?”Jaxson had first discovered her secret place when he was fourteen. She had let him know that neither he nor his comments were welcome in her space. But that didn’t keep him from coming back and being a pain when she just wanted quiet.

When she was sixteen, he had stopped being a pain. And one day, when the sun was much the same as that moment, he had walked up the rock-strewn aisle and stopped in front of her. There was something different, a charged feeling in the air that day. It was the best way she could put it. Did it cause him to behave differently? He hadn’t stopped walking until he reached her, only a few inches of space separating them. She stood on the raised stone where an altar once stood. That put her almost eye to eye with him. She stood as if cemented in place as she watched that darkened gaze take control of hers, and very slowly he had lowered his head to hers, his mouth taking possession of hers.

So many thoughts and feelings had assailed her. There was shock, then euphoria. At last, she was being kissed by him, the object of her first serious crush on a member of the opposite sex. And he spoke to her in a whole different language that she had never known before. Only their lips joined them, their hands remaining at their sides. She had wanted to cry out for more when he lifted his head and slowly examined her face, her still parted lips. Laurel had wished she was more experienced so that she might read what his thoughts were all about. But Jaxson was practiced in keeping his thoughts his own even at a young age. He had spoken first.

“Our first kiss in front of an altar. Maybe our history begins right here. Who knows?”

“Changing your mind?” The boy’s image in her mind disappeared in a puff of smoke and the reality of the grown man materialized as he moved with his usual quiet steps up the aisle toward her. She was rooted to the spot, morphing from the dream of the past to the present reality.

“What do you mean, changing my mind?”

“I thought maybe you were deciding to move your nuptials from the gardens at the house to up here in your favored spot. It always seemed to be where you daydreamed about such girl things. I think it suits you. But then, maybe I just haven’t given up on the Texas girl in you being strong enough to not being totally replaced by the fancy California girl with more upscale views.”

“You always have such an infinite power to say the wrong thing. Maybe that’s why we shouldn’t talk.”

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