Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) (9 page)

Rosie and Dottie left in a rush.

“And I guess that’s that,” Sophie said.

“General Rosie,” Annelise agreed.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

The door opened again and Annelise’s mother, followed by Sophie’s, slipped in.

“Oh, baby!” Georgia Montjoy practically smothered her daughter in a hug. “You look so beautiful. My little girl.” She stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “You’re a woman.”

“Yes, Mom, I am.”

“An almost married woman.”

A huge smile split Annelise’s face. “I know,” she whispered.

“I like your Cash, honey.”

Cash’s mother, standing just inside the door, cleared her throat.

“Sorry.” Georgia blushed. “I just…” She gestured toward her daughter.

Pauline Hardeman nodded. “Our children all grown up, ready to start their lives with the person they love.”

Marilyn London hugged her own daughter. “How are you, honey?”

“I’m good, Mom.” Sophie hugged her back. “You smell so good. You always do. I’m so glad you came.”“I wouldn’t have missed Annelise’s wedding for the world.”

“Look at me, Grandma.” Abbie kicked up her feet to show off her new shoes, then twirled across the room to where her dress hung. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“You’ll look good enough to eat, sweetie.” Pauline scooped up her granddaughter for a hug and a kiss, and turned to Annelise.

“Mrs. Hardeman—”

“Annie, in less than an hour,
you’re
going to be Mrs. Hardeman, too. I’d love it if you’d call me Pauline.”

“I’d like that.”

Sophie couldn’t help envying the tears of joy welling in Annelise’s eyes. Reminded herself each person had her own destiny.

Pauline blinked away tears of her own. “Okay, that’s out of the way. And so you know, I just left the men. They’ve dried up nicely after their morning escapade and are looking very handsome.”

“Is someone taking pictures?”

“You bet.”

Another knock sounded. Pauline opened the door and helped Rosie and Dottie into the room. The two toted picnic baskets loaded down with everything they’d need for a prewedding brunch.

“Are the guys eating?”

“Yep, dads included,” Rosie said. “Hank took them platters of cold cuts and cheeses for sandwiches, along with potato salad. And beer. Told that man of mine to keep an eye on their consumption. Don’t need any of them staggering around. Not yet, anyway.”

“Oh, God.” Annelise paled. “Do you think that might happen?”

Rosie patted her hand. “Not a chance. Hank knows his life wouldn’t be worth spit if he lets them get to that point. Besides, none of them boys is gonna want to do that and ruin your wedding day. They all love you.”

The wedding planner, who’d been outside overseeing the final decorations while they ate, bustled into the room. “Time’s not our friend right now. Bridesmaids, maid of honor, and flower girl, into your dresses.”

Maggie rushed in carrying the bridal veil. “It’s ready. I’m done fussing.”

Sophie took Annelise’s hand. In a teasing tone, she asked, “You’re sure about this? You’re really going to marry the cowboy?”

“Oh, yes.” Annelise’s face split in a huge grin. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

“Then let’s do it, cuz.”

The planner dropped the maid-of-honor dress over Sophie’s head. The material flowed over her like liquid, and she turned to the mirror. “Maggie, you’re a genius.”

“Of course.” She laughed, looking sophisticated in a tea-length, blush-colored dress that highlighted her curves.

Then all attention turned to the bride.

They held their collective breath as Maggie stepped to the wedding gown, still hidden in its garment bag. She grasped the zipper, then, with a mischievous expression on her face, paused and looked at Annelise.

Annelise shook her head. “Not yet. Everybody, turn around and close your eyes.”

“Annie,” Babs groaned. “You’re killing us.”

“I hope so.” The bride circled her finger. “Go on. Turn. And no peeking.”

Muttering and mumbling about the unfairness, they did. The room went silent but for the rasp of the zipper, followed by rustling and shushing of fabric over fabric.

“Okay, ladies, feast your eyes,” Maggie said.

They turned as one.

Sophie’s heart caught in her throat. “Oh, Annelise!”

From the corner of her eye, she saw her aunt fumbling a tissue out of a small jeweled purse. Sighing happily, Sophie leaned into her own mom.

“Do you think Cash will like it?” Annelise wondered.

“Like it?” Babs asked. “The poor boy might not recover the power of speech in time for his wedding vows.”

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” Kinsey whispered.

“And then some,” Sophie agreed.

Annelise lifted the hem of her gown. “What do you think girls?” Tiffany blue stilettos encased her feet. “I know they should be white, but…I wanted something fun. They’re my something blue.”

“They’re incredible,” Babs said. “Oh, Cash is gonna have his hands full with you, girl. I can’t wait to see his face when he catches his first glimpse. He’s gonna swallow his tongue for sure.”

“I hope not. I’ve got plans for that tongue.”

Sophie chuckled along with everyone else and noticed her aunt’s blink at her daughter’s naughty comment.

From a small drawer in the dressing table, Annelise drew out a jeweler’s box. “Cash gave these to me last night.” She opened the lid and took out a pair of dangly diamond earrings. “For today.”

She slid the French hooks in her ears, turned her head to admire them in the mirror.

“They’re exactly right,” Kinsey said. “Your almost-husband has great taste.”

“He does, doesn’t he? In both jewelry
and
women.” She rolled her glacier-blue eyes.

“I want to see.” Abbie tugged at her skirt, and Annelise knelt down to give her a better view. The little girl touched them, making them sway. “Oooh, they’re pretty.”

“So are you.” Annelise hugged the girl. “Thank you for being in my wedding today.”

“You’re welcome.” Abbie grinned, showing off a gap where she’d lost a baby tooth.

“I have something for you, from your uncle Cash and me.” She took out another box. A single small diamond winked from a silver chain.

The girl’s eyes grew big. “For me?”

“It is.” Annelise lifted Abbie’s blond curls and hooked the necklace, then handed her a small mirror. “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.” She ran over to Babs. “Mommy, look what Annie gave me.”

“I see.” Babs hugged her. Looking past her daughter, she mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Our pleasure.” Then she dipped her head, examining her dress. “See these crystals? They’re from my grandmother’s gown.”

“I have my something old, something new, something blue.”

“And I have your something borrowed.” Sophie lifted the edge of her gown, revealing a thin, golden ankle bracelet, a tiny fairy dangling from it. She secured the chain around her cousin’s ankle. “There. A little extra magic. As if it’s needed today.”

“Thanks.” Annelise examined it in the mirror. “You may have trouble getting this back.”

Her mother, Georgia, and Pauline took turns giving the bride another quick hug, then left to take their places outside.

Overhead, Sophie heard the instantly recognizable sound of helicopters. They’d buzzed the place all day, hoping for a shot of the bride and groom. The event of the year, and it was being held on an isolated ranch.

Nothing to do about the choppers, but they’d kept the invasion of privacy to a minimum. A few of the guests had run into news crews on the road from town, but security at the end of the drive admitted only those with invitations. Rufus and Silas, Annelise’s personal bodyguards, stood post outside the house itself.

“Here you go.” Sophie handed the bride her bouquet. “You look stunning.”

Sophie smiled. All her cousin’s decisions had been the right ones. The groom, her new home, her dress. Annelise’s happiness all but blinded Sophie.

Five minutes later, the music started.

“Oh, God.” For the first time that day, nerves, undoubtedly present all along, showed on Annelise’s face. “I’m really doing this.”

“You are. And Cash Hardeman is one lucky man.”

Annelise grinned. “You bet he is.”

A
s she stood at the altar beside her best friend, Sophie looked over to see Ty watching not the bride, but her. Their eyes locked, and the butterflies in her own stomach swarmed.

When the minister pronounced Cash and Annelise man and wife, the kiss that followed had every woman practically swooning. Sophie was no exception. Oh, to be loved like that.

She took Brawley’s arm, and they followed the bride and groom down the flower-strewn, grassy aisle.

Even the barn was resplendent today. Chandeliers hung from the rafters and antique mirrors covered the walls. Flowers draped over stall doors, sat in buckets and planters, and filled the building with their scent.

Outside, mile-long linen-covered trestle tables staggered beneath the weight of the wedding feast…and more lavish floral bouquets. Sophie estimated the food would feed an army—with leftovers. The cake, square layers decorated with black-frosting ribbons, was flanked by the groom’s cake, a tiered banquet of cupcakes, each topped with Whispering Pine’s brand.

What tickled Sophie, though, was the cake topper. The bride, decked out in her wedding gown, straddled a Harley. Behind her, the dark-haired groom, dressed in his tux, had one arm wrapped around his bride’s waist, the other raised overhead, waving his Stetson. Both had Cheshire-cat grins on their ceramic faces.

Kinsey moved to the table. “Says a lot about the two of them, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does. That Cash would be willing to take a back seat to Annelise—” Sophie shrugged. “Impressive.”

“He did, you know. Let her take him for a ride on the Harley one night. She told me.”

“Cash has enough self-confidence, enough self-esteem to be good with that.”

“He put up a fuss about it first,” Kinsey said.

“That would be mandatory.”

Snagging two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter, Sophie handed one to Kinsey. Raising hers, she said, “Here’s to men who aren’t intimidated by strong women.”

“I can drink to that.” Kinsey took a sip, then stopped and stared when a man, notepad in hand, scribbling madly, bumped into her.

“Oh, sorry,” he said.

Kinsey simply nodded at him.

“Hi, Mel,” Sophie said. “You’re not working today, are you?”

He grinned. “The news never sleeps. If there’s anybody within a hundred miles of here who wasn’t invited or couldn’t make it, they’ll want to read all the details. And everybody who is here?” He winked. “They’ll buy a paper to see if their name’s mentioned. Won’t be able to help themselves. It’s human nature. We’ll sell a lot of copies when this story runs, and in the newspaper business, it’s all about numbers.”

“Well, take some time to enjoy.”

“You bet.” He wandered off.

“Close your mouth, Kinsey. You don’t want to swallow a fly.”

“You’re right about that. Who is he?”

“Mel Ryker. He’s the owner and chief reporter of the
Maverick Junction Daily
, the local newspaper.”

“Single?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Straight?”

“Very.” Sophie picked up Kinsey’s left hand and turned it so the sun glinted off her wedding band. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Nope. I’m still madly in love with my Ron. Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the scenery, though. And I’ve got a sister who could really use a good guy in her life right now.” Kinsey’s eyes wandered over the crowd until she found Mel again. “He should be walking the beach somewhere. All that blond hair. Those blue, blue eyes. And that tan. The man’s gorgeous.”

“All the men around here are. Seems to be a curse.”

Grinning, Kinsey’s gaze snapped to hers. “What a shame, huh?” She glanced past Sophie. “Speaking of impressive.”

Startled, she spun around. Ty stood behind her, hand out. “Dance with me.”

Kinsey took her glass. “Go.”

Because she wanted to, she stepped into his arms and rested her head on Ty’s chest. The music soothed her, and she sank into the dance.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and Ty turned them so she faced Annelise.

“Thanks for everything, cuz.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You ran interference with my parents through that whole miserable search for my aunt.” Her gaze traveled across the room, and Sophie followed it to where her now healthy grandfather danced with his newly found half sister.

“And if all that wasn’t enough, here you are. At my wedding.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “You’re always there for me.”

“Hey, so am I,” Cash said.

“Yes, you are.” Annelise kissed him. “Dance with me, husband.”

“Don’t mind if I do. Wife.” He swept her into the center of the makeshift dance floor.

When the music ended, Ty escorted Sophie back to her table and left. She watched him walk away. He wore a pair of jeans better than any man she knew, yet today in his tailored tux he was to-die-for handsome and James Bond sexy. Comfortable in his own skin, the clothes didn’t matter.

The man was an enigma. He made her crazy. He made her want all sorts of things she didn’t
want
to want. She brought her hand to her nose. She swore she could smell him on her skin, that rough maleness.

And this wouldn’t do. Refusing to think about him anymore, she moved from group to group, speaking to everyone. She took another glass of champagne from a waiter. She’d long ago passed her limit, but what the heck. She wasn’t driving and today was for celebrating.

Her mom and dad whirled by on the dance floor, and, smiling, her mother waved at her. Not far from them, laughing out loud, her usually oh-so-proper aunt and uncle jitterbugged. All the people she loved—right here.

She hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in…she had no idea.

Shaded by the barn, Ty sprawled on an old wooden bench decorated with white ribbon and flowers. Idly he wondered how many flowers had given their lives for today’s shindig. Had to be enough to fill a cattle carrier.

The temperature, in the low seventies, was about as close to perfection as it got. He loosened his bow tie and took another drink of Lone Star.

Glancing up, he saw Brawley headed his way. Shoot. He wanted to be left alone.

Right now, he flat-ass wasn’t good company for anybody. Even Cash’s dog had the good sense to recognize that. Staubach had wandered over a bit ago, sniffed at him, and hightailed it to greener pastures.

“Hey, pal, why the long face? You’re not brooding over this wedding, are you? Thought you liked Annie.”

“I do. She’s a special woman, and Cash is one hell of a lucky man.”

Brawley dropped onto the bench beside him and set down his beer. “Something’s eating you. What’s wrong, Ty?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Aw, hell. I think it’s past time for me to go home. I’m a wet blanket.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I tried, though.”

Brawley frowned. “Tried?”

“All this.” He gestured at the people, the food, the festivities, and sighed. “Reminds me of the day Julia and I got hitched. The plans we made. The future we thought would be ours.”

Brawley nodded, and the two sat in companionable silence for several minutes. Finally, he said, “I don’t honestly know what to say, Ty. Maybe someday— Screw it. That doesn’t work. Empty platitudes. You’ve probably heard a gut full of them.”

“Yeah, I have.” Ty took another pull of his beer.

“Julia was a beautiful woman, pal. The best. Life dealt the two of you one hell of a rotten hand.”

“Yeah, it did. I don’t figure it can do me much worse.” He looked across the courtyard at Sophie, her head tipped back, laughing. And something inside him twisted.

Finishing his beer, he set the bottle down by his feet. “Problem is, if I leave now, I’ll upset Annie, and I can’t do that. Besides, I won’t fare any better at home. Only upside is that nobody else would have to put up with me.”

He hunched over, staring down at his clasped hands. “Speaking of problems, you really need to fix this thing between you and Red.”

“Maggie?”

“Yeah.” Ty glanced up.

Brawley’s lips set in a straight, hard line. “Forget it. She’s never going to forgive me. Just the way it is. I’m fine with that.”

Ty shot him a sharp look. “No, you’re not.”

“Sure I am. Besides, I have no choice. It is what it is.”

“Bullshit. Life’s too short, Brawley. You need to work things out with her.”

Both men cut their eyes to the dance floor, where Maggie and Annie’s grandfather were dancing a waltz. He spun her, and the wispy skirt of her dress flared around legs set off by mile-high heels. How women balanced, let alone danced, on those stilts was a mystery. Maggie’s long red hair curled around silky white shoulders.

Brawley looked away first but not before Ty saw raw pain in his friend’s eyes.

“Ain’t gonna happen. Not in this lifetime or the next. Maggie Sullivan is surly—and stubborn.”

“You two were friends long before you were lovers.”

Brawley snorted. “
Were
being the operative word. Major operative word. So past tense the relationship defies memory.”

The band started another number, and both men watched Kinsey and Sophie race onto the dance floor. The tempo was fast, the women’s movements pure sexual allure. Heat swept through Ty.

“What is it about two women dancing?” Brawley asked.

“Couldn’t tell you, but it’s hot.”

Brawley stood. “Want another beer?”

Ty took a needed breath. “Oh, yeah. An ice-cold one.”

As they walked to the bar, he finally admitted the time had come to face the truth. Time to be honest, even if only to himself.

His problem today, this past week, wasn’t Julia. It was Sophie. The woman had resurrected deeply buried feelings. Needs. And he didn’t know what to do with them.

The men had just grabbed two beers and started toward a table when the announcement came over the sound system that the bride and groom were leaving. All the guests were asked to gather on the drive to see them off.

“Best go wish them a good trip.” Ty headed in their direction, Brawley right behind him.

Ty hugged Annie, gave Cash a slap on the back, while Brawley dipped Annie low and planted a doozy of a kiss on her. Setting her back on her feet, he ordered the bride and groom to enjoy their honeymoon.

“Have fun in Paris,” Sophie whispered as she hugged Annelise.

Her cousin’s eyes glittered. “It’ll be the best trip I’ve ever made to that city.”

Sophie stepped away so the parents could have their moment. She nearly stepped on Brawley and Ty, who stood right behind her.

“They look so right together,” she said.

“Yeah, they do.” Brawley held up a hand. “Give me a minute. Be right back.”

He took off toward one of the outbuildings.

“What’s he doing?”

“You’ll see,” Ty said.

A minute later, they heard the roar of a motorcycle. Brawley cruised up to the newlyweds on Annelise’s Harley.

“Here you go, pal.” He turned it over to Cash.

“No way.” Sophie turned to Ty. “They’re not leaving on that.”

“Only as far as Cash’s place. They’ll change there—clothes and vehicles—before they head to the airport.”

Sure enough, Cash, in his tux, and Annelise, wearing that beautiful gown, hopped on the bike. The obligatory tin cans and newlywed sign trailed from the back.

Annelise tucked her dress around her and cuddled against Cash’s back. “He gets to drive today.” She smiled and raised her bouquet.

“Get ready, ladies.” Cash revved the bike. “Let’s see who’s next to walk down the aisle. Ready, Mrs. Hardeman?”

“You bet I am, Mr. Hardeman.” Annelise held the flowers higher. The crowd cheered, and females, young and old alike, raised their arms, hoping to catch the bouquet.

Ty watched in amusement as Sophie stepped away, trying to escape the flower toss. She actually turned her back.

Someone laughed loudly, and Sophie swiveled on her heel.
Thwack!
The bouquet hit her, and she instinctively put her hands up. And caught it.

Brawley grinned as she stood, open-mouthed, staring at it. “Don’t look so panicked, Soph. It’s tradition, not a death sentence.”

But when she looked up, it was straight into Ty’s intense gray eyes. Oh, fairy tales and fireflies. She was in trouble.

Her mother laid a hand on her shoulder. “Promise me, Sophie, you won’t get sucked up in all this and stay here.” Pale blond hair cut severely short and wearing a cocktail dress in the same shade blue as her eyes, her mom waved a hand at the barns and paddocks. “God only knows what’s on the bottom of my new Louboutins.”

“Mom.”

“Just saying, honey. I don’t think I could stand it if you decided to call this home.”

“It’s what Annelise wants. She’s happy here. Me?” She shook her head. “I’m a city girl all the way. I love a Sunday on the Navy Wharf, love taking my little skiff out on Lake Michigan, the wind in my hair. I love the shopping, the restaurants. Maverick Junction isn’t my idea of Heaven.”

“Thank God.” Her mother pinched her cheek.

Again, Sophie glanced up to see Ty studying her. No smile now. She opened her mouth to say something, but he turned and walked away.

Her throat tightened. He looked—hurt. But why? She’d never made a secret of her love for the city. Besides, why did it matter to him where she lived?

It wasn’t as if she’d insulted Maverick Junction. She’d simply stated her preference for Chicago.

The reception wound down. One by one and two by two, the guests said their good-byes and left.

Finally, only the family and wedding party remained.

Exhausted, Sophie dropped onto an old wooden swing hung from the branches of a tall oak. She slipped her shoes off aching feet.

Kinsey sat down beside her. “As much as I hate to, I have to leave. I’ve got an important meeting Monday and have to prep for it tomorrow. If the limo takes me to the airport, can you and Dottie get a ride home?”

“I’ll take her.” Ty’s deep voice startled Sophie.

“Are you sure?” Kinsey asked.

“Yep.”

“Okay.” She turned to hug Sophie. “It’s been so good to see you again. Wasn’t Annelise the most beautiful bride ever?”