One Night in Texas

by Charlene Sands

  “You’re so bad.”

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.” Lauren feigned a pout.

  Gracie didn’t want anyone to know about her budding relationship with her baby’s daddy. But Lauren was a good friend, and she knew about the night of the masquerade ball. She supposed if she told anyone, it would be her business partner. “Maybe Sebastian and I went on a date, and maybe he just stopped by last night to bring me a bouquet of flowers.”

  “Sounds interesting. Go on.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Can’t you use your imagination, Chef?”

  “I do, with my creations, but when it comes to friends, I want to hear it all.”

  “Okay, fine. Since I need a favor from you, I’ll tell you that Sebastian made me happy twice last night.”

  Lauren’s eyes bugged out. “Wow,” she mouthed. “That’s awesome. Are you two...”

  “Dating? Sort of. He’s taking me to Beth and Cam’s wedding. And I don’t know what the heck I’m doing.”

  “You don’t have to know, Gracie. Just let things happen naturally.”

  “I don’t want to be pressured, that’s all,” she admitted.

  “Sebastian knows that, I’m sure. But it would be absolutely per—”

  “About that favor,” she interrupted. She knew it would be perfect if Sebastian fell in love with her, but that might not ever happen, and she had the baby to protect. For as hard as she tried, she couldn’t shake off the constant, nagging suspicion that she’d never been good enough for a Wingate, and that was why Sebastian had never even considered her an option. But no matter what, she wasn’t going to settle for anything less than true love. She wanted the kind of love that made birds sing and flowers bloom.

  She wanted the fairy tale.

  “When it slows down in here, will you help me shop for a dress for Beth’s wedding?” she asked.

  “I’d love to. Give me two hours to serve the lunch crowd and I’ll go with you.”

  “Great, I’ll plant myself in the back office and do some work until you’re ready.”

  Lauren dug her teeth into her lower lip. “You know, you already have a gorgeous red gown.”

  Gracie began shaking her head. “No way. I can’t go in the dress I wore to the masquerade ball, Lauren. Not anymore than you can.” They’d both worn deep red gowns and gold masks on that night, part of the reason there’d been a case of mistaken identity.

  “I know.” Her friend shrugged. “It was just a thought.”

  “If you need me for anything, just give a shout. I’ll be in the back.”

  And three hours later, Gracie and Lauren walked into a high-end boutique in Royal and, with the help of a very astute saleswoman, narrowed down Gracie’s choices to three. In between try-on sessions, they were served passion fruit herbal tea and cookies. Both passed on the cookies but sipped the tea. Gracie and Lauren both came from humble beginnings, and this type of not off-the-rack shopping was new to them. But it was fun, and Gracie felt a little bit like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman choosing a dress this way. Only, she was using her own credit card for the purchase.

  The saleswoman, Edith, couldn’t be nicer, even though Gracie opted for a dress on clearance that was slightly more money than she’d earn as a waitress for a month. “It’s fabulous on you,” Edith said.

  “I think it’s the one, Gracie,” Lauren concurred.

  Gracie glanced at herself in the triple mirror, admiring the amethyst lace dress from all angles. It had off-the-shoulder sleeves, a sweetheart neckline decorated with delicate rhinestones that traveled down to a tapered waistline and a high-low hem hitting her well below the knee. She knew it might just be the last time she’d squeeze into a garment like this. Her tummy was still flat, but her breasts were fuller and her waist was thickening a little. All in preparation for the baby, so it was a good thing. “I think so, too.”

  “Wonderful! Shall I get it ready for delivery?” Edith asked.

  Gracie looked to Lauren, and she nodded enthusiastically.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Great! If you don’t mind me saying so, I’m thrilled to have met you, Miss Diaz. To think Rhonda Pearson came in just before you. Two celebrities in just one day.”

  “I’m hardly a celebrity,” Gracie said, humbled. “So Rhonda Pearson shops here, too?” She knew Rhonda had dated Sebastian for a long time. Rumor had it they were to be married, but then they’d had a very public breakup. The supermodel had dumped him and the tabloids had a field day with that story. Now Rhonda was back in town. To see Sebastian?

  “Why, yes, she does. She has excellent taste in clothes, if I do say do myself. And why wouldn’t she? She’s an international supermodel and just a lovely person.”

  “Y-yes, I suppose she is, though I’ve never met her,” Gracie said.

  Rhonda was gorgeous, from high cheekbones and perfect bone structure to a sweet-as-sugar smile. Plus, she had a mane of stunning blond hair that any woman would envy.

  Gracie wasn’t going to lie to herself, she didn’t like the memories flashing in her head of Rhonda and Sebastian. They’d made headlines often. And maybe a streak of jealousy flitted through her system, as well as self-doubt. She’s never been in Sebastian’s league, and Rhonda Pearson could make even the most confident woman feel the lesser.

  She tried not to think about it, yet feelings of unease still wedged their way in.

  “Thanks for the tea, Edith,” Lauren said. “And for your help today. I’m afraid I have to get back to work. Gracie and I just opened The Eatery in town. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? We’d love it if you stopped by one day, and be sure to bring your family.”

  Edith smiled warmly. “Thank you. I certainly will.”

  Gracie changed into her street clothes and handed the dress back to Edith. “Thanks again.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll have it sent to your home by tomorrow.”

  “I appreciate that,” she said.

  “All part of the service.” Edith beamed. “And thanks for shopping at Goodwins. Goodbye, now.”

  Lauren took Gracie’s arm and ushered her outside. “That was a blast! I like spending your money, Gracie. Does that make me a terrible friend?”

  “I don’t think of it that way, Lauren. We’re friends and partners, so in a way you’re making me money.”

  “Okay, I’ll take that. And OMG that dress—it’s stunning on you! Sebastian won’t know what hit him. The only trouble is, now I have to find something to knock Sutton’s socks off.”

  “Lauren, you’re engaged to him, and he thinks the sun shines on your shoulders. You have no worries.”

  “I know.” She giggled and kept the smile on her face all the way back to The Eatery.

  * * *

  Sebastian straightened his charcoal-and-black paisley tie in the mirror. He couldn’t believe his sister Beth was getting married today. Cam Guthrie was a good guy, a hard worker and a man who’d been building Beth a dream home on property that was intended to be their working dude ranch resort. They were getting married in a private family ceremony today and Gracie was going as his date.

  “What’re you smiling about?” Sutton poked his head into the room.

  “Beth,” he lied. “She’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.”

  “So are you lately. Must have something to do with a certain pretty woman we both know.”

  “Maybe.” He glanced at his brother. “But for years while growing up, Gracie wasn’t someone I thought I could date or even think of that way. She’s a little skittish around me, too, so we’ll see how it goes tonight.”

  “Got it. But otherwise things are going well?”

  He nodded. He didn’t want to go into detail, so he kept his mouth shut.

  “Hey, I have some news,” Sutton said. “Not to put a damper on the day, but you should know about this. Chloe had a
hunch about Keith Cooper’s involvement when Dad was recovering from his stroke. She thinks that while he was supposedly helping out with the company, he might’ve dipped his hand into the till, too. Miles is doing some digging now. And you know our brother—he won’t rest until he finds out the truth. He wants us to sit tight and see what he comes up with.”

  “If anyone can sort through the BS, it’s Miles.” Chloe was Miles’s fiancée and both were delving into the family’s past finances.

  Sebastian scratched his chin. What a corrupt man Keith Cooper had turned out to be. “It’s not the kind of news we want to talk about at the wedding.”

  “No, I agree. But I wanted to keep you up-to-date.”

  “Got it,” Sebastian said. “We’ll just wait to hear what Miles finds out.”

  “Right. But in any event, this is gonna be a happy day. The family needs a fun celebration to remember what life was like before all the negativity and deception.”

  Sebastian glanced at his watch—it was almost time to pick up Gracie. His heart thumped hard, a current familiar reaction whenever he thought about her. This date was more than a date, because it was Beth’s wedding, and both he and Gracie loved her, wanted to see her happy. They had that in common. But for the first time, the family would see Gracie on his arm. He wanted that. He wanted to step up instead of hiding his paternity. Maybe today would be a start toward making that happen.

  “Time to run, bro,” he told Sutton.

  “Yeah, me, too. I’m picking up Lauren in a few minutes. Can’t wait to see the house, now that it’s all finished. Should be a special night.”

  He slapped his brother on the back. “And not just for Cam and Beth, but for all of us.”

  A short while later, Sebastian stood on Gracie’s threshold in total awe, mesmerized by the smile that lit up her entire face. The dress she wore was a knockout, fitting her form perfectly. Its deep amethyst color highlighted her olive skin tones and the smoky brown of her eyes. Her hair was up in a do that looked both complicated and trendy, held together by a rhinestone clasp in the back.

  “You look...” Delicious. Gorgeous. Stunning.

  “Thank you. You look nice, too. Let me just get my coat. Come in.”

  He stepped into her foyer. She was back with a cream-colored faux fur coat and a clutch purse. As he helped her put it on, the delicate scent of flowers tickled his nostrils. “Love that perfume,” he whispered as he tucked her into the coat, holding her lapels tight. “Reminds me of the other night.” When they’d made love...

  “You mean the way I smelled after getting off Duchess.” She sent him a coy smile.

  “Right, that’s exactly what I meant.” He tilted his head and leaned in to brush a quick kiss to her lips. It was something he needed to do, for his own sanity. He’d have to be a perfect gentleman tonight, in front of his family, and that was plain no fun.

  “We should go,” he said softly, stealing one more kiss. “Sorry, that’s gonna have to hold me through the night.”

  It was getting harder and harder to keep this slow pace with Gracie. He’d never been a patient man, and his baby mama was testing his limits.

  Six

  Gracie had seen the plans for the renovation of the two-story house, but nothing compared to seeing it in person. As Sebastian drove up, the entire ranchland was spread out before them, and smack in the center was Cam and Beth’s glorious home constructed with river stone, an amazing glass-and-wood double-door entry and a red tile roof. The architecture, a harmonious mix of Spanish style and Craftsman, spoke of casual elegance. The first floor had a wide veranda that could probably hold every single guest at the wedding, while the second floor sported a wraparound balcony, and she could only imagine the view from there on a clear blue-sky day.

  There were also bunkhouses and outer buildings and a gorgeous redone barn painted the color of fresh meadow grass.

  The invitation said cocktails in the main house first, before the ceremony, but the actual wedding would take place in the barn. It was Cam and Beth’s way of holding an open house as well as a wedding. Sebastian turned his keys over to a valet and waved the attendant off, opening the door for Gracie himself.

  He took her hand and led her up the steps of the grand home. Inside, they explored the rooms, checking out a dining room set with a large pine finished table and enough seating for ten. The great room was just that, great and large, furnished with an array of bulky furniture toned down by Beth’s soft, feminine touch. Gracie’s eyes drifted to the stone fireplace, which captured the room’s essence, floor-to-ceiling and massive, but again was not overdone, as a mantel displayed family photos backlit by pillar candles. Beth and Cam had good insight into making this space homey and comfortable.

  Waiters came by offering champagne and appetizers, and Gracie was touched when Sebastian took two flutes of sparkling water instead, offering her one with a smile. Seeing the food, her stomach growled, and she had no trouble accepting bacon-wrapped shrimp and a mini beef Wellington from another server. Sebastian watched her eat, his gorgeous green eyes on her as she chewed with gusto.

  They spent time admiring the house, and then Harley and Grant spotted them and walked over with little Daniel. “Hi, you two,” Harley said, giving them both quizzical looks. Grant, too, seemed surprised at seeing the two of them together. He was the doctor who’d been helping her with hormone therapy so she could have an in vitro procedure.

  Sebastian gave his sister a kiss on the cheek. “Harley, you look very pretty tonight.” He shook Grant’s hand, and then patted Daniel’s head. “Hey, buddy, how’s my favorite nephew today? Excited for Aunt Beth’s wedding?”

  “Uh-huh.” The four-year-old bobbed his head up and down. “And cake.”

  They all laughed. “I bet your mom will let you have as much cake as you’d like tonight.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” Harley gave her brother a quelling look.

  Sebastian smiled at the boy. “Daniel, can you say hello to my girlfriend, Gracie?”

  Daniel looked at her with big innocent eyes, while Harley and Grant exchanged glances. She’d never thought of herself as Sebastian’s girlfriend, yet it sounded right, and she wouldn’t refute it. “Hi, Daniel. I like your bow tie. You sure look handsome today. Maybe you and I can have a dance later on.”

  Daniel wiggled his nose, as if that was an awful idea. “May...be.”

  Harley took her hand and pulled her into a warm embrace. “Hi, Gracie. It’s pretty cool that you’re dating my brother now.”

  “Yes, we’ve, uh, been on a few dates.” She turned to Dr. Everett. “Hello. Nice to see you again.”

  “Hello, Gracie. It’s good to see you, as well,” he said discreetly. He was her doctor, and he must know that she’d gotten pregnant the natural way, since she hadn’t gone through with the in vitro.

  “Grant and I have some news,” Harley said. Her eyes beamed bright and eager, as if she couldn’t contain herself. “I’m not going to make a big deal of this, since it’s Beth’s big day, but we’ve decided to leave for Thailand in two weeks. We’re anxious to get started on our work overseas. We just can’t wait. We’ve told Daniel, and he’s excited about having this grand adventure.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty quick,” Sebastian said. “I’m sure you’ll do a lot of good over there. But we’re really gonna miss you.”

  “Thanks. And we’ll miss you all, too.” Grant put his arm around Harley’s shoulder and drew his son in close. “But now is the right time for us to go.”

  Gracie thought their commitment to go to a foreign land to bring change to the health care of the underprivileged was such a selfless and generous undertaking.

  The rest of Sebastian’s siblings and their significant others circled them, along with other relatives—Miles and Chloe, Sutton and Lauren, Piper and Brian, Luke and Kelly, and Zeke and Reagan. Once again Sebastian took her hand an
d made sure she was included, as his date and family friend, as they wished Grant and Harley good luck on their travels.

  Right after, it was announced that the ceremony was about to begin, and everyone filed outside and headed to the barn.

  As she and Sebastian stepped inside the wide doors, they entered into a wedding winter wonderland. Beth had done much of this by herself, and Gracie was honestly floored by what she’d accomplished, transforming a large, rustic barn into every bride’s dream. Half of the barn was set up for the ceremony, and the other half with tables and chairs ready for the reception. They walked toward their seats, separated by a snowy white aisleway.

  “Wow,” she said. “Beth has outdone herself here.”

  Sebastian gazed around and nodded. “Yes, she has.”

  Above them, sheets of sheer fabric swooped down from the rafters, and twinkling lights overhead softly illuminated the entire barn. Candles centered pedestals and were surrounded by greenery and red roses. The chairs were gold, with big ivory bows wrapped around their backs. It was a small private wedding with only family and close friends in attendance, and all thirty of the guests had admiring eyes as they took their seats.

  Gracie was thrilled for Beth, who deserved every bit of this happiness with Cam, the widower rancher. They would have a good life together. Gracie sighed, and Sebastian picked up on it. “What is it?”

  “Nothing.”

  His brows rose. “No? Sounded like something.”

  “It’s just all so beautiful. I’m happy for Beth and Cam.”

  “So am I.” He stared at her for such a long moment that she had to turn away. Because she saw something in his eyes that worried her, something that said they could have this, too. But no, Sebastian didn’t love her, and that was her bottom line. After the love and trust her parents shared, and now her good friends Lauren and Beth had found, how could she settle for anything less? How could she trust what she herself was feeling? Aside from her hormones acting up, she had pregnancy brain. It was a real thing, her friends had told her, and along with it came muddled confusion. She was beginning to believe they were right.