On the day of the wedding, Jennifer primped like she hadn’t done in years. The straightening, then curling, of her wavy hair brought back memories of prom night years ago. Prom night, when her father had interrogated her date, and she did not use that term lightly. Prom night, when her aunt chose the dress Jennifer would wear. Not the one she’d wanted because the yellow gown was “far too bright.”
“You’ll look like the sun. Do you want to look like Big Bird? A tall girl needs to wear more subdued colors so as not to appear even larger. You should look delicate. Like the petal of a flower. Think pink pastels and blues.”
No, thanks!
Petal of a flower? She was far more like the stem.
That’s probably why Jennifer went a little “girls gone wild” at university. But after that one unfortunate kegger, she kept her boldness and adventure confined to her clothes. It was nothing unusual to see her wearing cut-off overalls, and she rarely wore anything but yellow, orange, and red. “Here comes Jennifer! You can’t miss her,” her friends said. One fellow student had affectionately called her a walking stop sign. She’d gotten it out of her system that first year, but it had been her choice.
Aunt Betty probably wouldn’t approve of the floor-length royal-blue gown she’d be wearing today, either, but at least it wasn’t yellow.
Today, she wanted to impress, for Colton’s sake more than her own. This was her part in their ruse. He’d taken such good care of her, even feeding her fantastic meals when that wasn’t part of the deal. The least she could do is look drop-dead gorgeous. She’d never looked drop-dead gorgeous in her life but there was always a first time. Hope sprang eternal. After all, she’d been gifted with all the proper, um, equipment. Generous-sized breasts and long legs.
The gown was tight around the bodice and flared out a little, somewhat camouflaging her wide hips. She was sensitive about her rather ample behind, even if a former boyfriend had said she had a butt like the famous Jennifer. This Jennifer would have preferred to be model-thin and svelte. She had the height, but no amount of dieting or exercise made her butt any smaller. It would probably require surgery and she wasn’t willing to go that far.
All the dieting made her rear end appear even more pronounced when the rest of her was too thin. So, back to potato chips she went, so the rest of her would match her behind. Oh well.
First world problems.
Today she’d watch two of her favorite new people vow their love for each other, followed by a huge party at the ranch thrown by a Hollywood production company. Who knew? Maybe she’d even make some contacts and find a way to revitalize her photography career. Colton made a good point. It could be a backup plan, because truth be told, she didn’t miss the podcast like she’d thought she would.
Last night, she’d chatted with Mallory for over an hour before bed. It was strange to no longer text, that impersonal way of chatting with friends that kept a distance between them. She could text while watching TV, for instance, and no one complained that she wasn’t listening. Because she’d “listen” when she had a minute and then respond when she wanted. But texting was a dim memory now.
After assuring Mallory she was fine and still in one piece, Jennifer answered all pressing questions about her current situation.
“What is this bodyguard cowboy like? Is he anything like the bouncer types in bars? Big and hairy?”
“No, probably because he’s not a bodyguard. He’s just someone my father asked to look out for me until Dan stops the madness. We’re staying in the same house, and he just follows me around when I go anywhere off the ranch.”
“Sounds like a bodyguard to me. And what does his family think about all this? Did you explain what happened with your podcast?”
“This one is a little tougher to explain.”
Jennifer told her about the fake engagement and how happy his family was about him appearing settled.
“I can’t believe this,” Mallory said. “You’re like…living a romantic comedy.”
“Except it’s not that funny.”
“Tell me about it. Nothing about Dan is funny.”
“Has he been bothering you?”
Jennifer’s second biggest fear was that he’d go after her friends. But at least he didn’t know where they lived. He did, however, know that Mallory worked at the restaurant where they’d had their one and only date.
“He’s been in a couple of times alone. Keeps asking about you. I told him we had a falling out and are no longer friends.”
“Smart.”
“I also told him he needs to stop bothering you before he gets arrested. He says that he never violates the restraining order and always stays the appropriate distance away. What’s wrong with that guy? By all accounts he’s handsome, seems perfectly normal, and should have to beat the women off with a stick.”
“He’s possibly done this before, and I can’t see that anyone would put up with it for long.”
“At least he’s never been violent,” Mallory said.
Yet.
Maybe her father had ripped her from her life out of love and not control the way she’d initially believed.
A love he didn’t easily show.
“When will you come home?”
“I… I think my father was right. I might actually have to move.”
“You love that condo! Don’t let Dan do this to you. I thought we agreed you couldn’t let him win.”
“I’m not winning when I’m a prisoner in my home. When I don’t have any real peace of mind. When I won’t even go swimming because he might see me. When my family and friends fear for my life. Here, I feel like I’m on a vacation in the countryside. You should see it.”
“Hey, let’s not forget that place is temporary. Whether or not you sell the condo, you can’t stay there.”
“Oh, I know. But listen. There are horses and cattle here, and a cute dog named Beer. There’s a lake I’m probably going to swim in, and you know how long it’s been since I went swimming. And the people. They’re the best.”
“Okay, I’m going to let the dog named Beer go for now. I just hope you’re aware that sooner or later, you are going to have to get back to work.”
“I’ve been thinking maybe it’s time to end the show. I’m just tired.”
“Are you tired of being successful?”
When she put it that way…
“No. Of course not. But this isn’t at all how I wanted to be successful.”
“Cry me a river, Jen. We can’t all do exactly what we want, or I would be Chris Hemsworth’s personal assistant.”
“You’re right, I know. The money has been nice and actually making a living as an investigative journalist impressed my dad. But I only make enough to pay my bills with most of it being my ridiculous rent.”
The subject of rent in California was another one they exhausted before they finally hung up and promised to check in again later.
Now, Jennifer applied one last wave of mascara over her eyelashes and red color to her lips. She stood back and admired her efforts. Not too bad for a girl who didn’t normally wear makeup.
“Jennifer! Aren’t you ready yet?” Colton pounded on the bathroom door, startling her. “We’re going to be late.”
“We are not going to be late. By my calculations, I still have…um, five seconds.”
“Five, four, three…”
“Stop it!”
She took one last look in the mirror, fluffed her hair, and licked her lips. There.
“Two, one. Blast off. Open this door right now or I go to this wedding without you.”
He knew where to hit below the belt. No way was she going to wait inside this cottage while outside everyone was having fun. Not to mention that his entire family would wonder how she could miss this monumental event.
She threw open the door.
Oh my. She shouldn’t have been surprised but Colton looked incredible in black tie and matching black western hat. She’d been with him when he picked it up, but he hadn’t even tried it on. He’d shaved, too, and was clean-cut again.
She stared…and stared…and stared some more. It took her a minute to realize he was also staring as his gaze raked down her body and back up again. A little open-mouthed, actually. Oh God. She’d overdone it with the gown. One of the worst things any wedding guest could do was to outshine the bride. In her quest to be the spiciest thing since Hot Cheetos for Colton’s sake, she might have overshot. But surely not because Bonnie Lee was so preternaturally beautiful no one could even hope to compare. And blue was not anywhere near white. Or yellow.
She glanced down at her dress, feeling a wave of insecurity hit her. “Is this okay? It’s royal blue, not even close to white. I know that’s a huge no-no. But maybe…I don’t know…”
Colton swallowed, then held up both palms. “No, no. You’re fine, you’re perfect.”
“Thank you. You look pretty good, too.”
Pretty good? He looked amazing. She had no idea the man could clean up like this.
When he held out his arm she took it, grabbing her little wrist purse with her other hand, and followed him out the door.
Colton watched Sean and Bonnie Lee finally exchange their sacred vows, and marveled that his brother finally had the woman he’d always loved. It had been a long and circuitous route to their happy ending, but here they were, still with a lot of good years ahead of them. He couldn’t be happier for his brother. At one time, Colton had also pictured winding up on that altar with his first love. It hadn’t happened and now he couldn’t be happier. As the Garth Brooks song went, sometimes God’s greatest gifts were unanswered prayers.
He could barely remember the boy/young man who’d thought he loved Cherisse. Could barely remember what he found appealing about her at all. It seemed like an entirely different man had loved her, if he could even call it love. More likely it had been lust. Maybe true love was something that never died, like with Sean and Bonnie. Even with time and distance they still couldn’t stop loving each other. Colton once had his doubts it would ever happen for Sean, but the look on his brother’s face now was proof some things were worth waiting for.
Pastor June’s sermon focused on Sean and Bonnie Lee’s past, mentioning Corinthians and the true meaning of love.
“Sean Henderson, do you take Bonnie Lee Wheeler to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health from this day forward until death do you part?” Pastor June recited.
“I do,” said Sean.
“You better,” whispered Bonnie Lee, and their small group of family and close friends in the pews tittered.
The vows were repeated for Bonnie Lee, who loudly declared, “I do,” and then added, more softly, “I always have, I always will.”
At that point, Maybelle, Delores, and Beulah brought out the tissues and began to quietly sob.
“This is so beautiful. I think I’m going to cry.” From next to him, Jennifer sniffed and wiped away a tear.
“Here.” He handed her a handkerchief, the kind he never carried except to weddings and funerals since someone inevitably cried and Colton was always prepared.
He wasn’t surprised by Jennifer’s emotion. She was full of a range of feelings he’d witnessed since the day they were thrown together, neither one of them thrilled by the arrangement. He’d seen anger from her, desperation, fear, joy and now tears. His own emotions were ranging from tenderness to confusion to lust.
He'd nearly swallowed his tongue when he had a look at her today. She reminded him of a brunette Jessica Rabbit in that dress, all curves and scrumptious behind. Her sweet alabaster skin glowed pink, showing just enough cleavage to make him beg for more. At that moment he wondered how he’d keep his hands to himself and then remembered he didn’t have to. At least, not in public. Everyone believed they were in love, about to be married, and no one would blame him for wanting to be near her every moment.
The vows and pronunciation over, everyone filed out for the ride back to the ranch. Colton steered Jennifer ahead of him down the steps of the chapel, scanning his surroundings, grateful he had a reason to be on high alert. He didn’t just have to write it off to PTSD and the sense that something could go wrong at any time, no matter how careful a soldier was. In this case, he suspected it to be true. Jennifer was the kind of woman who drew a man in and if that man happened to be obsessed, anything could happen. He was ready for it.
Seeing Riggs leaving the church with Winona and all three kids in tow reminded Colton that he still needed to have “the talk” with his older brother. Once Riggs saw that Colton was staying, regardless of his relationship situation, once he was assured, it would go down easier when all this…ended. He realized with a start it wasn’t the talk with Riggs he dreaded but the moment when Jennifer left. The moment he no longer had someone to talk to every morning and night, to cook and bake for, or commiserate with over bad TV reception.
She’d be gone soon, and he supposed the biddies would be after him to get hitched next. The last one standing. He could tell them his heart was broken and he needed some time, but that would only get him six months tops. The thing was, he wasn’t interested in getting married. First, he had to get his own act together and he wasn’t foolish enough to think three months of therapy and picking up a relaxing hobby meant he was good to go. He would sign up for more therapy at some point, even if the nightmares weren’t coming as frequently. The other night when he’d gotten up in the middle of the night to bake, he’d had the first real nightmare since his arrival in Stone Ridge. But he had his coping mechanisms in place and kept reminding himself someday it would get a little bit easier.
Their ranch was barely recognizable due to a large white tent in the middle of the field, with an open area that had been converted to a dance floor. An eight-piece band was setting up on risers, and caterers were rushing back and forth.
“Colton, I’ve made a big mistake.” Jennifer tugged on him.
“What is it?” If she was going to change her mind about the reception now, excuses might be even more awkward to make.
“I’m having a shoe moment.”
He followed her gaze to her legs. She stuck out a foot wearing a shoe with a heel that made every man stop thinking coherent thoughts.
“I mean…? You know?”
He swallowed hard and then had the epiphany right along with Jennifer. These were certainly not the type of shoes to wear on a ranch. And wedding or not, they were on a ranch.
“They were great for the chapel, but I can’t wear these here. I’ve already sunk into the ground a few times.”
“You should have said something.”
“I’m saying something now.”
They went back to the house so she could change. He stood near the door, glancing at his watch, and waited several minutes hearing frustrated and agonized sighs from her. One pair of shoes flew out the door and sailed into the hallway landing with a thud.
“You okay in there?”
He moved to her bedroom to find her bent over the suitcase on her bed. The sight of her bent, her generously shaped behind poised in the air, was the kind of temptation he didn’t need at the moment.
“I’m afraid this is all I have.” She held up a pair of red and white Chuck Taylors.
He smiled. “No boots?”
“I’m from Los Angeles, Colton.”
“I’ll have to buy you a pair of shit kickers.”
“A…what now?” She cocked her head, studying him.
“That’s what I call substantially made boots with thick soles.”
“Ugh, they sound ugly.”
“Well, I won’t get you the type with steel reinforced toes, then.” He motioned to the chucks. “Slip those on, no one is going to care.”
“You’re right. Everyone is going to be looking at Bonnie Lee.” She laced the high-top shoes.
Damn if he didn’t get turned on watching her hike up the dress.
They got to the tent just as more people were arriving.
“Hello, who are you?” A small woman came up to him and Jennifer. “Oh my gawd. Did you know you look just like Sean?”
“I’m taller,” Colton said, feeling like a jackass for pointing that out. As if it mattered.
“I’m Lori, the award-winning director of Mr. Cowboy. And this is Elton, he’s with me.”
“How you doing?” A beefy man holding a camera the size of a suitcase held out his hand.
Colton shook the man’s hand. “This is my fiancée, Jennifer.”
“Hi there,” Jennifer said, still holding on to his arm.
“Welcome to our ranch. I’m Colton, Sean’s brother.”
“I should have figured that,” Lori said. “Seeing as you could pass for his double.”
Colton wanted to protest but what was the point? These were people from Hollywood, and they only focused on a person’s looks. He looked like his brother. Somebody stop the presses.
“Thank you for your service,” Elton said.
The remark always made Colton tense and it was the first time he’d heard it since he’d come home. Next to him, he felt Jennifer squeeze his hand.
“Oh, yeah!” Lori said. “Thank you so much for your service.”
Again. What was he supposed to say? You’re welcome, it was my pleasure?
It had most definitely not been his pleasure.
“Yeah,” Colton said, and Jennifer squeezed his hand again.
It struck him that she knew. He had begun to realize that she somehow always understood when something had become tough for him emotionally.
A couple of days ago, he’d zoned out watching the horses and remembering some of the dead carcasses he’d seen in the desert. She’d pulled him out of that memory with a touch of her hand.
“Lori!” a throng of women squealed, coming fast in their direction. “Omigod, omigod!”
Colton stepped aside, taking Jennifer with him. He recognized three of them from the dress store, but there were more, and he counted. Seven, eight…he stopped at ten.
All fully vetted and no men with them. He scanned the crowd, reminding himself that even if the media had heavily advertised this event, the point was no one could possibly make the connection between Mr. Cowboy and Jennifer.