Page 4 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“I came from Paul’s bachelor party.”

She wrapped her arms around her middle and waited.

“He… sent me to tell you he’s calling off the wedding.”

Cadence’s vision blurred. “He what?” Never had she dreamed it would be Paul backing out. In every scenario that ran through her mind, it had been her. She’d give him back the gaudy engagement ring and tell him she didn’t love him anymore. Hadn’t ever truly loved him. Didn’t think she could love him. All those possibilities, but not this one.

“I’m sorry, Cadence. He should have…”

Graham’s eyes pleaded with hers, but she wasn’t sure what they were saying. “Should have what?”

“Told you himself. Or, better yet, loved you like you deserve to be loved.” Then he shook his head and looked down.

Maybe Graham did care. Maybe she hadn’t imagined it all those years ago. Too bad he hadn’t been more candid then. But would she have given him a real chance? She doubted it. Paul was flashier. Way more fun.

Also, she might have been stupid and immature.

She knew she had been.

Cadence twisted the ring on her finger and slowly tugged it off. “What did his royal highness say to do with this?”

“I’ll return it to him, unless you want to do it yourself.”

Did she? There’d be some satisfaction in giving him a piece of her mind, but did she actually want to see him, talk to him, give him a chance to tell her he hadn’t meant it and, of course, he wanted to marry her on Saturday? That this was some sort of joke? The group of friends he’d been coaching to be groomsmen might have egged him on, especially if alcohol had been flowing.

She studied Graham, who sat a few feet away from her, leaning on his elbows, looking down. The man’s T-shirt clung to his shoulders. His damp board shirts stuck to his thighs. “Why are you wet?”

“They threw me in the pool.”

“Because?”

Graham scratched his neck. Stared down at the pavers. “I might have called Paul a coward.”

Cadence wasn’t sure whether it was sobs or laughter surging out of her, but it was all just too much.

Chapter Two

She thought it was funny?

Graham lifted his gaze to the woman seated across from him. She howled with laughter… and all at the thought Paul’s minions had tossed him in the pool. He’d felt so sorry for her that he’d come straight here, regardless of his personal discomfort, and she laughed?

Wait a sec.

Those gales sounded mighty on edge. And now mingled with sobs. Aw, man. What did a guy do with a hysterical woman? This was far worse than one who laughed at his personal plight.

He was an only child, and his mother showed so little emotion he’d had no experience dealing with it. Toss in a bunch of guy cousins, and… what was he supposed to do with Cadence now? Had he expected her to nod, square her shoulders, and carry on?

Fat chance. He’d get to dry off, exchange his chlorine-coated contacts for his glasses, and forget this ever happened, but her life’s plans had derailed, never to follow the same trajectory again. Of course, the situation was traumatic.

“Cadence?”

“What?” She hiccupped as she looked at him, tears streaming down her face.

Tears. She’d brought out the big guns.

Graham scrubbed the back of his neck, where his short hair was already dry. “Is there anything I can do for you?” Oh, wasn’t he full of helpful words tonight.

She snorted something between a shocked laugh and a cry. “Not unless you can conjure up a job and an apartment.” She snapped her fingers. “Preferably far away from anyone who’s going to laugh or offer false sympathy. I can’t believe this. I bet everyone saw it coming except me. He got what he wanted most with that deal with my dad. He didn’t ever even w-w-want me.”

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