Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) (8 page)

“A problem?”

She started. She hadn’t heard him move behind her.

“No.” She chewed her lip, wishing she could confide in him. It might help to simply talk this over. Independence was great, but at times it would be nice to have someone to lean on. “Maybe,” she added. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Okay, then. I’m gonna be going. The sun’s trying to peek through the clouds. Gotta get that medicine home to Ray or he’ll be madder than a hornet.”

He stopped at the sink and rinsed his cup.

Admirable, she thought. A man who cleaned up after himself. But, then, he’d probably had to learn, hadn’t he? Maybe he missed someone to lean on, too.

“Thanks for the coffee, Tink.”

“Thanks for the ride.”

Hand on the doorknob, he hesitated, turned back. Nodding at her laptop, he said, “Guess you’ll be next to walk down the aisle.”

“Me?” She shook her head. “No way.”

“Your boyfriend might think differently.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

Ty looked skeptical. “You sure about that?”

“Oh, yes. Very.”

“He’s the one who called yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Seems the two of you have some wires crossed. I’m guessing he still thinks you’re a couple.”

“Because he’s not listening.”

“Hmmm.” With that, he closed the door gently behind himself.

Hmmm? What the heck did he mean by that?

If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she detected a touch of jealous in there. But that was ridiculous. Since there was nothing between them, there was nothing to be jealous of.

And if Nathan was her boyfriend, she’d never have danced with Ty the way she had the other night. The memory of his strong, work-roughened hand on her bare skin caused an instant heat wave, and she fanned herself.

What if Ty was her boyfriend? But he wasn’t and never would be. All things considered, that was probably a good thing. No, not probably.
Was
a good thing.

Wasn’t it?

Tempted to run after him, to ask him what he’d meant, she forced herself to walk to the window instead. She watched as he hurried through the still misting rain. His truck rumbled to life, and he backed out of the drive.

Sophie glanced at her laptop, and her mind shifted to Nathan. Would distance and time be enough to turn the trick?

Who the hell was Nathan? Ty drove toward his ranch, his new Toby Keith CD for company. He could have sworn Annie’d told him Sophie wasn’t with anyone. Sophie herself had said she wasn’t with anyone. If that was true, why would this jerk keep calling her? Send love notes?

He’d had no business reading her e-mail. He knew that. And he honestly hadn’t meant to. But it had been right there when he’d come up behind her.

He couldn’t help himself. He’d stood there, coffee in hand, breathing in her scent. She’d pulled that incredible blond hair into a damp, stubby ponytail.

Then he’d looked down at those hands, so delicate, so dainty. She wore a single thin, golden ring, several colored stones winking from it, on her right-hand thumb. Her fingers had stilled on the keyboard, and he simply hadn’t thought. Had read the message before he could stop himself. And hated it. Hated that Nathan had a place in Sophie’s life.

Thrown into the mix was his own sense of betrayal. Not on Sophie’s part. On his own. For the first time since Julia died, he found himself attracted to another woman. He felt disloyal. Felt like a cheating SOB. He’d never quit feeling married.

Yet here he was with all these emotions, and he didn’t know what to do with them. It was like someone had rammed a stick down his throat and was stirring everything up.

Part of him said to stand down. Another part wanted to test the water. But if Sophie had a boyfriend, he’d back off, no questions asked. Whoa! Back off? From what? There was nothing, absolutely nothing, between himself and Ms. Sophie London. Nothing to back away from.

Not yet.

So why this storm raging inside him, one almost as violent as the one that had dumped two inches of rain on them? What
was
he feeling? Jealousy? Stupid! He pounded the steering wheel.

He nearly drove off the road as a flash of fear ripped through him. Fear of loving someone, of losing that someone.

He wouldn’t survive it again.

Wouldn’t, ever, put himself in a position where he’d have to. He couldn’t.

Tink had to be strictly off-limits from here on out.

The rehearsal went well. Ty had wanted to cry off but knew he’d be out of line. His pal was getting married tomorrow, and he owed it to him to do his part.

The rain, as he’d promised, was only a memory.

Rosie, Cash’s housekeeper, rode herd on the boys while they went through the drill. Annie and Cash had decided to marry right here on the ranch under the hopefully rainless blue sky rather than in a church. As they ran through the practice a second time, relatives and friends milled around, watching or simply exploring. He guessed for a lot of them, this was their first experience with a real, honest-to-goodness, working Texas ranch.

Annie’s life before she’d landed in Maverick Junction had been board meetings, power suits, and elbow-rubbing with the rich and famous. Her great-grandfather, Digger Montjoy, had hit pay dirt when he’d discovered the biggest oil field in the state on his land. About a year later, he’d hightailed it to Boston with his money to avoid a scandal…and to separate his wife and mistress.

Annie might have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but Ty had watched her, day after day, dressed in boots, jeans, and tees shoveling manure with the best of them.

He flat-out admired the woman. Cash was one lucky bastard.

And from the look on his friend’s face when the preacher said he could now kiss the bride, no doubt Cash knew it.

Hoots and whistles sounded as the kiss continued.

“Okay, you two,” Brawley drawled. “Save something for the wedding. And the wedding night.”

The rehearsal dinner, rather than an expensive catered affair or a sit-down in some stuffy, out-of-town black-tie restaurant, was a down-home buffet served in the farmhouse dining room. Guests spilled onto the wraparound porch and outside onto picnic tables scattered across the yard.

Plate in hand, Sophie came up beside him. “I’ll never get everyone straight. I know Babs and Matt, Rosie and Hank, Maggie, Brawley, and Mel. I met Kinsey at Christmas a couple years ago.”

“Speaking of Kinsey, glad she made it,” Ty said. “Annie was more than a little nervous about her flight, with the weather and all.”

“I know. And Kinsey had to be here. Without her, it’s doubtful any of this would have happened. She and Annelise were sorority sisters in college, and Kinsey took her in and gave her a much-needed rest during that infamous cross-country motorcycle trip.”

Ty added a healthy portion of potato salad to his plate. “Want some?”

She nodded. “Not that much, though.”

He scooped up a spoonful. “Good?”

“Perfect.”

He plopped it onto her plate. “Annie’s grandpa seems like a great guy.”

“He is.” Sophie’s eyes misted. “It’s a miracle to see him well again. Thanks to Cornelia.”

“And Annie,” Ty said.

“Yes, and Annelise.”

“You don’t ever call her Annie?”

Sophie’s forehead creased. “No. She’s always been Annelise. I never think of her as Annie.”

“Hmmm.” He scanned the room. “Guess it’s situational. In the boardroom, Annelise probably fits. Here on the ranch, Annie’s just right.”

They were all here, Ty thought. All the people who meant so much to the bride and groom. Cash’s mom and dad, his sister and her husband and kids, Annie’s parents and grandfather, and her newfound great-aunt along with their best friends.

“Want to sit outside?” he asked.

“Definitely.”

A small body slammed into his leg as he stepped out the door, and two arms wrapped around it. Jonah. He hunkered down so they were eye-to-eye.

“What’s going on, partner?”

“Josh was crying, so Rosie gived him a cookie. She gived us one, too.”

“Is Josh okay?”

“Yeah, he falled down but he didn’t bleed.”

Sophie laughed. “That’s the standard? No blood, no injury?”

Ty shrugged. “For the most part, yeah. What can I say? We’re a household of guys.”

He ruffled his son’s dark hair, freshly trimmed for tomorrow’s wedding. That in and of itself was a minor miracle. Taking three little boys—and himself—into the barber. Cliff had been doing hair, though, since forever and handled them well. Ty himself had sat in the man’s chair when he was his sons’ age.

“Well, then, no harm, no foul,” he told Jonah.

“But, Daddy, we already had a cookie. This makes…” He raised two pudgy fingers. “Two.”

“That’s okay.” Ty chuckled. “It’s a party.”

“So I can eat this?” He held up the sugar cookie, its pink icing coating his fingers.

“Absolutely.”

“Want a bite?” he offered.

“No, thanks, bud. I’ll get one later.”

Jonah’s little face broke out into a huge grin. “Thanks, Daddy. It’s okay,” he yelled to his brothers across the yard. “Daddy says it’s okay! We can eat ’em.”

He tore off through the grass to join his siblings.

“Must make you feel omnipotent,” Sophie murmured.

“What?”

“Having your word observed as law.”

He chuckled and, catching a strand of her pale hair between his fingers, gave it a tug. “Oh, if only that was true, Tink. If only. You have no idea how many times they overrule me. One-on-one, or three-on-one. There are days when I truly wonder who’s running the zoo.”

He took her arm. “Come on. I’m hungry.”

Together, plates loaded, they sat at a little table under an oak tree. This was good, he thought. Very good. The temperature was Texas perfect. Nobody could ask for better. The day’s rain had dried up and left a clear sky. Stars blinked to life in the heavens, his boys, stuffed with cookies, rolled around in the yard with Staubach, and he was sharing dinner with a beautiful, if off-limits, woman.

He was suddenly very glad he’d changed his mind and come tonight.

S
tumbling into the kitchen, Sophie raised the window over the sink. The trill of a bird caught her attention. Must be that early bird. The one that caught the worm. Well, he could have it. For herself, she’d rather do brunch. Mornings weren’t her favorite thing.

Nights sure could be, though, when they included dreams like the one she’d had last night! Starring in it with her? Ty Rawlins. The supersexy cowboy. Whew! Sophie fanned herself. Now there was an interesting man.

And today, Annelise would marry
her
cowboy. As maid of honor, Sophie had a thousand and ten things to do.

But before she started on any of them, she intended to indulge herself in a much-needed cup of tea. Last night’s rehearsal dinner had been…well, like a dream, too. Who’d have thought a late evening picnic could be so romantic? Even with all those people milling about, enjoying themselves, it had seemed so intimate.

Through her open window, Sophie heard a neighbor mowing his lawn. From the sounds of it, he’d just run the machine through a mound of gravel.

Settled at the kitchen table, she dunked her tea bag and let her mind wander over the evening.

Ty stoked her hormones into an intense storm. She’d like to blame part of that on the foreignness of her situation. Being here in Texas. Living in this strange apartment. All the new people she’d met. In all honesty, she didn’t know that she could.

Still, they’d eaten under the huge oak tree and talked about nothing, about everything. They’d laughed.

His boys, dirty and thoroughly worn out, had joined them one by one. Josh had been first. Tired and more than a bit cranky, he’d crawled onto Ty’s lap.

Intrigued, she’d watched as he’d cajoled the boy out of his foul mood by feeding him birdlike bites of Rosie’s coconut cake. Then he’d leaned across the table and hand-fed her a piece. When a flake of coconut stuck to her lip, he’d thumbed it off, then eaten it himself, his eyes holding hers.

Every nerve ending in her body short-circuited. The cowboy was lethal without even breaking a sweat. What would it be like if he turned his charisma to full power?

The cool night air became supercharged.

As she fought to get her feet under her, to find her bearings, another of the boys stumbled across the grass to join them.

“Hi, Daddy.” He propped his elbow on Ty’s knee and stared up at him.

“Hi, Jonah.”

“Is Josh okay?”

He ruffled his son’s hair. “Oh, my little sentry. You have to make sure everything and everybody is okay, don’t you?”

Big-eyed, Jonah nodded.

“I’m tired,” Josh said.

Jonah dropped to the grass and patted a spot beside him. “Lay down here. With me.”

Josh looked up at Ty. “Is that okay, Daddy?”

“Absolutely.”

Josh slid off his knee and, with the abandonment of young children, wrapped himself around his brother.

“You, too, Daddy.” Jonah ran his hand over the grass. “Right here.”

Ty glanced at Sophie. “You game?”

She hesitated only a fraction of a second. “Sure. Why not?” After one last sip of her lemonade, she stood, then stretched out on her side on the cool, green grass beneath the tree, facing Jonah and Josh.

Ty sprawled on the other side of the boys. He plucked a blade of grass and grinned at her. “Watch. Within two minutes, Jesse will be here.”

He was right. The words had barely left his mouth when Sophie heard the war whoop, and Jesse took a flying leap onto his dad. Ty grunted, then grabbed his son, rolled onto his back and lifted him in the air like a weighted barbell.

Sophie found herself captivated. He was so easy, so natural with them.

After a couple minutes of rough-housing, they all settled in and lay on their backs, watching the stars come to life in the vast Texas sky. Ty pointed out constellations to her and the boys.

She’d had a little taste of Heaven and had been sorry when the evening ended.

And now, by the time the sun set tonight, Annelise Montjoy would be Annelise Hardeman, a married woman. Destined to be one of the wealthiest women in the country, she’d call the Whispering Pines Ranch home.

Annelise was in love. The big L. A love that started with Cash and extended to his family, friends, and life. The ranch was a huge part of that.

Her cousin looked forward to living here in Maverick Junction, Texas. To calling it home.

Sophie sipped her tea and smiled. When she’d hopped aboard that plane in Chicago, she’d seriously worried Annelise might be headed into a gigantic mistake.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Her cousin truly had struck gold. It had nothing to do with money or fame, and everything to do with living well. Living happily.

No doubt Annelise would. Cash Hardeman was handing her the world.

Sophie didn’t want to envy her. She really didn’t. But, oh, it was hard not to. When she left here, she’d return to Chicago. To an empty apartment.

She shook her head. No. She’d return to the apartment she’d chosen, would pay for with her own labor, and had decorated beautifully. To a life of friends, her Cubs, and nights spent at Wrigley Field eating hot dogs and drinking cold sodas.

That was her life, a life that fit her, and it was a good one.

Unbidden came the memory of last night. Of lying in the cool grass with Ty and the boys. Of studying the stars in the endless sky.

Her breath hitched, and she stood.

Not her life. Not her world.

And enough of this. No pity parties today. Today was all about smiles, good thoughts, and happy-ever-afters.

The crystal sun catcher in the window sent an arch of rainbow-hued light across the hardwood floor. Moving to the window she looked out at a cloudless blue sky.
Happy is the bride the sun shines on.
Well, Annelise should be one giddy gal, then. What a gorgeous day.

A door opened and shut downstairs. Dottie. She’d come home last evening. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a beautiful silk short-sleeve top she’d found in Come Again, her favorite vintage shop in Chicago, Sophie dashed outside and down the stairs.

She rapped on the door, and the turkey on the Thanksgiving wreath bobbed its head. “Dottie?”

“On my way.” A moment later the door flew open. Clad in a pink nightdress and robe and wearing furry pink bunny slippers, Dottie wrapped Sophie up in a huge hug. “Come on in, sweetie. I was inhaling my first cup of coffee when you knocked. Figured I’d better rev up my system before the day gets in full swing. Want one?”

“No, I already had some tea.”

“How about a toffee-oatmeal cookie?” She slid a plate in front of Sophie. “Oatmeal’s breakfast food, you know.”

Sophie laughed. There was some sort of bent truth to that. Cookies for breakfast? What the heck. Why not? She gave in to temptation.

Taking her first bite, she closed her eyes. “Seriously, Dottie, you could make a fortune on these.”

“That would turn baking into a business instead of a joy, wouldn’t it?” She brushed the idea aside. “Besides, who, in his right mind, would pay good money for these?”

Sophie raised her hand.

Dottie swatted at her. “Go on.”

Sophie relaxed at Dottie’s homey pink island, surrounded by pink walls, counters, and flooring. “How was your trip? Your daughter and her family all well?”

Dottie clasped her hands in front of her. “Oh, we had such a good time. My grandchildren…well, they’re brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Every single one of them.” Her eyes sparkled.

Somehow, while they talked, a cold glass of milk appeared in front of Sophie. Not skim or fat-free. Oh, no. The real stuff. She luxuriated in the nearly-forgotten taste and texture.

“The wedding’s not till two, but I have to be at the ranch early. Makeup, hair, mani, pedi, the whole nine yards.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Dottie’s expression grew wistful. “Cash and Annie. The minute they pulled into my drive, I knew they were made for each other. Annie on that fancy new Harley, and Cash in his grandpa’s old blue Caddie.” She clapped her hands together. “I’m so happy for them.”

“Me, too.” Serious now, Sophie said, “The family owes you a huge debt of gratitude for giving Annelise a home and taking such good care of her. When she rode into town, she didn’t know anyone, and no questions asked, you took her under your wing.”

Dottie clucked. “Bosh! The girl’s a gem. I absolutely loved having a young thing here at the house again. And now you. Does my old heart good.”

“Oh, but—”

“Now, I need to get a move on, too,” Dottie said. “I promised Rosie I’d help with some of the last-minute details.”

“Haven’t they hired people to take care of everything?”

Dottie nodded. “Sure they did. Caterers, decorators, photographers, florists. You name it. Annie’s mother insisted. She even brought in some people from back East. Doesn’t mean Rosie’s not gonna be fussing, though. The woman’s like a second mama to Cash, and her little boy’s getting married today.”

Exactly that, Sophie thought. Exactly what she’d been thinking about before she came downstairs. All-encompassing love. They had it here in Maverick Junction. In spades.

Not that she didn’t. Her mother and father loved her. She’d never doubted that. But it had been different. She had no brothers or sisters. Her only cousin was Annelise, another only child.

Their subdued and refined family get-togethers couldn’t hold a candle to last night’s rehearsal dinner. The family Thanksgiving.

Until now, though, they’d always been enough. What was it about this town that left her feeling unsettled? Unsatisfied.

Jittery with nerves, she laid a hand over her stomach.

Well, she’d get over all of this fast enough once she returned to Chicago. To her Starbucks, her delis, her life.

Dottie had to know she wasn’t here long-term. Unlike Annelise, she wouldn’t be staying. But, like so many other things, that wasn’t a discussion for today. It would wait.

“The limo’s coming for me in…” Sophie checked the bubblegum-colored wall clock with pink flamingos at the end of each hand. “Forty minutes. Can you be ready? We’ll ride together.”

“In a limo?”

“Sure.”

Dottie did a little happy dance. “Oooh, I’ll be ready.” Her eyes rounded. “I rode in a limo in Dallas, you know, to Annie’s big fancy fund-raiser. Cash and Annie treated me like royalty. Annie bought me the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen. And the jewelry.” She put a hand to her heart. “Oh, my.”

Sophie grinned. “I saw pictures of you that night, and all I can say is, wow! You knocked them all dead.”

“What a magical night, and they shared it with me. Oh, and now I’m going to cry.” She swiped at her tears. “Happy, happy tears.”

Sophie’s eyes misted as she hugged this woman who had been so kind to her cousin and now to her. “Okay.” Hands on Dottie’s shoulders, she pulled back. “The wedding. Are you planning to dress at the ranch?”

“Yep. I’ve got everything all ready.” She nodded to a garment bag and a little tote. “Came home last night, unpacked, and repacked.” She shook her head. “I’ve never been so busy in my life. And I love it.”

When they pulled up at the ranch, Sophie and Dottie both plastered their faces to the limo’s window. Everywhere they turned, the place was a veritable beehive of activity.

All the horses had been moved to outer paddocks and the entire area groomed. White paper lanterns hung from the trees. Sparkly white lights covered the barn stem to stern. A crew busily set up chairs, ran streamers, and arranged flowers. It looked incredible. Like a Cinderella fairy tale.

Two of the ranch hands strung still more white lights over the split-rail fencing. White bows hung from each post, and tall white buckets sat at the end of each row of chairs, waiting, Sophie knew, for the daisies that would fill them.

Annelise had decided on simple elegance with a touch of country. Hanging by satin ribbons from the branches of a beautiful old shade tree, pretty little nosegays swayed in the gentle breeze. She and Cash would say their vows beneath that tree.

Sophie hit a button, and the car’s window slid down silently, giving them a clearer view.

Tables and benches had been arranged in the reception area. White runners, white candles, and crystal vases decorated each table. Hydrangeas, roses, Queen Anne’s lace, amaranthus, and dahlias spilled in profusion from the vases.

At first blush, it all looked simple, almost effortless. But hours and hours and hours had gone into the preparations, and no expense had been spared. The ranch had been transformed.

A window on the second floor opened. “Sophie! Up here!” Annelise leaned out and waved at them. “Hi, Dottie. Come up and have a glass of champagne with us.”

And so it began.

Already, the day was a blur of satin and lace, chiffon and ribbons. Flowers and magic.

A knock at the door had all the women stopping midsentence to stare at it. A sure sign of nerves…on everyone’s part.

“Yes?” Annelise asked.

“It’s only me.” Rosie peeked her head inside the door. “Wanted to let you know the men are in the house. Wetter than ducks when I saw them. The whole lot of them went swimming in Cash’s lake and came in laughing their fool heads off. A person would think they were all ten years old again.”

Annelise flashed a smile. “They’re having fun.”

“Yep. Cash is celebrating his wedding day. And a damn fine thing that is.” Rosie lifted the hem of her apron to swipe at her eyes. “But I threatened the bunch of them with my wooden spoon if I so much as saw any of them near the stairs.”

“Thanks, Rosie.”

“You all need to eat something.” Not a question.

Annelise put her hand on her stomach. “I’m too nervous. I swear every butterfly in the state of Texas has taken up residence in here.”

“Understood. A bride’s got a right to a few nerves. But a groom has a right to a bride who doesn’t faint at the altar. Dottie and I will bring you something.” She tipped her chin at her old friend, who nodded back. “We’ll toss in extra. I’m guessing your mom will be here any second. Cash’s mama is downstairs pacing. I’m gonna send her up to see you. Might calm her down some.”