“You look like you’ve got ants in your pants,” Jason Corwin said when he stopped in the doorway, his hands filled with catering trays. “Relax, would you? Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“You bet it’s easy for me to say.” Jason checked the oven, then rotated the two trays inside. “This wedding’s easy peasy compared to mine and Abby’s. We had two national magazines and a TV production company filming it for a two-hour special.”
“The curse of a celebrity chef. I feel so bad for you.”
“Yeah.” Jason grinned. “Don’t ya just?”
“Red alert.” Frankie burst in through the door, Holly and Abby right on her heels. “I think we have a problem.”
“Just when I got the groom calmed down,” Jason muttered.
“What’s wrong? Is Brooke all right? She didn’t leave, did she?” Sebastian fired off one question after another.
“Dude.” Frankie pinned him with a look. “Do not even go down that road. Her mother showed up. Bam! Out of the blue. Just like the wicked witch of the North. Still chilly as anything.” She shivered.
“And you left Brooke alone with her?”
“Brooke is going to be just fine,” Holly said, planting a hand on his chest. “Take it down a notch. Brooke’s been needing to have this out with her mother for her entire life. She’s not going to ruin anything now. Breathe, Sebastian. In and out. There you go.” She looked at Jason. “You got any smelling salts around?”
“We’re at Calliope’s,” Abby reminded her. “There’s everything around.”
“Most of the guests have arrived.” Calliope wiggled through the crowd at the door. “Maybe we should all be outside greeting them? We’re going to have a full party going in a bit. Let’s make sure everything is ready and waiting for our guests of honor.”
“I’ll call Alethea and ask her to take another spin around town in the food truck to stall Mandy,” Holly said.
“Hold up. We’re not going to need it.” Jason was looking out the kitchen window. “I think that’s BethAnn’s car now.”
Sebastian didn’t wait to find out for sure. He pushed past his friends into the lush garden that surrounded Calliope’s cottage house. He dodged arriving guests, barely acknowledging the congratulatory greetings as he went to find Brooke.
She climbed out of BethAnn’s car just as he reached it. “What happened with your mother?” He stopped, losing his breath as he studied her. He couldn’t help it. He swept her into his arms and kissed her. “You are stunning.”
She leaned back, beaming. “You’re not so bad yourself. You know that good mood you’re in? Keep it in place, will you?”
His smile faded. “Why?”
BethAnn circled around from her car, a familiar, most unwelcome visitor trailing behind her. “Mrs. Ardell.” Sebastian’s arm squeezed Brooke’s waist. “What—”
Brooke kissed him again, then murmured against his lips, “Do this for me. I’ll tell you everything later. Please.” She nodded, the smile curving her lips filled with a loving promise.
“All right.” He released her and approached his future mother-in-law. “If Brooke is all right with you being here, welcome.”
“Thank you, Sebastian.” Candice Ardell looked almost misty-eyed. “I appreciate being included. Is Amanda here yet?”
“Mandy will be here shortly,” Brooke said, stooping under Sebastian’s arm. “This wedding is her surprise birthday present. BethAnn, would you find a seat for my mother, please?”
“Of course, of course.”
Sebastian watched the two older women make their way into the party. “That’s going to be some explanation.”
“You have no idea. It’s not perfect,” Brooke told him. “It probably never will be, but she came to give us her support. And for now, that’s enough for me.”
“You’re still going to marry me, then?”
“What?” Brooke grinned. “You think I’m going to let anything stand in the way of me marrying the only man I’ve ever loved?” She stretched up on her toes and kissed him. “I’ve been waiting longer than a decade for this. Can we please get going already?”
“Mandy’s on her way,” Holly shouted to everyone, then went to hurry the last of the guests through the wooden gate. “Just one more thing to do first.”
* * *
“I’M NOT SUPPOSED to have to work on my birthday weekend,” Mandy groaned when Alethea continued to reorganize the food trays after parking a half hour ago outside Skipper Park. “My party’s starting in a few minutes.”
“I know, I know.” Alethea Costas darted around the interior of the food truck like a pinball. “I’m sorry. I told Jason I’d get the truck back to him in pristine condition. There’s some big event this afternoon he’s been scheduled to cater at the last minute. Bear with me, okay?”
“Fine, whatever. Hey, Eleni!” Mandy playfully kicked her best friend. “Seriously, with the munching. Knock it off. There’s gonna be tons of food at my party.”
“I know. I’m just nervous, I guess.” She popped another fried cheese curd into her mouth. “Alethea, can I drive?”
“Absolutely not.” Alethea booted her out of the way with her hip. “Get those lids put away, will you? I just got buzzed. There’s someone waiting outside to talk to Mandy.”
“Ugh.” Mandy dropped her head back and groaned. “Nothing is going right today! Who is it?” She headed to the back of the truck.
“No idea. Just make it fast,” Alethea said.
Mandy popped open the door and stuck her head out. “Kyle!”
“Hi.” He was wearing a suit, dark blue, a crisp white shirt and a thin navy tie. All those romantic emotions she’d been trying to stifle surged to the surface.
“What are you doing here?”
“Happy birthday. A day late.” He held out a delicate corsage of baby pink and white roses. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Um, yeah.” She jumped down, slammed the door to stop Eleni from eavesdropping. She accepted the flower, her heart pounding. “What’s up?” Keep it casual, she told herself. Keep cool. Ignore the fact he looks drop-dead gorgeous and that he remembered your birthday.
“I had a talk with your mom the other day.” Kyle looked increasingly uncomfortable. “I lied to you, Mandy. I didn’t tell you the truth about why I didn’t want to see you anymore.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted you angry with me. I wanted you to be able to look beyond me into whatever future it is you see for yourself. My mom, my real mom, not that Lori isn’t my real mom now, but—”
“Kyle.” Mandy stepped forward, placed her fingers against his lips. “You’re circling.”
“Yeah, right.” He laughed, brushed his hand over her hip. “My real mom got trapped. She used to want to be an artist. A painter. But then she fell in love with my dad in high school and got...stuck. And it just got worse from there. I don’t want to be the reason you get stuck, Mandy.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” His brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“It means that I wasn’t going to decide where to go because of you, Kyle. I want to make these plans with you. If you come with me, great. If you don’t, I’ll come back. If we can make it work, we’ll make it work. But I was never going to not do something because I’m with you. We’d just figure it out. Like we always have.” She couldn’t believe he’d think that. Did he not know her at all? “I’m going to see the world, Kyle. I’m going to see all of it and hopefully you’ll come with me to see it. Or we can just enjoy the now. And take things day by day. How about that?”
He reached a hand up to her face. “How about that.”
“You boys are so dense sometimes.” She kissed him quick. “Now, are you coming to my birthday party? Why are you so dressed up?”
“Um. Matt and Lori have a big do tonight. I’m going with them.” He winced, then jumped back when the door flew open again.
“Hey, you two, in or out. Man? We need to go. Now!” Eleni’s grin was so wide Mandy could see her back teeth.
“Right. You want to come? Do you have time?” Mandy asked Kyle.
“I can make it work,” he said with a smile.
They scrambled into the food truck.
“I have to stop and change!” Mandy yelled when Alethea started the engine. “This is a disaster.”
“I grabbed you some extra clothes on the way out this morning,” Eleni said. “Just in case.” She squealed when Mandy locked her in a hug.
“You are the best.”
“Kyle, up front with me!” Alethea ordered. “Eyes that way.”
Mandy laughed. Fifteen minutes and one bumpy, chaotic clothes-changing truck ride later, they pulled to a stop in front of Duskywing Farm.
Soft music drifted out of the speakers. She could hear the chatter of guests, smell the telltale scent of barbecue, her requested food for the day. The previous barbecue she’d attended was a day she didn’t want to remember. Rather than trying to avoid another mishap, she’d decided to throw one herself. To make new memories. Better memories.
“How do I look?” The new petal-pink dress was one she’d found on her last shopping trip with Eleni in San Francisco. She’d been waiting for a special occasion to wear it. This seemed like the perfect time. She had, of course, opted for practical, simple white sneakers. No way was she going to miss out on any aspect of this celebration. The first birthday she’d be spending with both her mom and dad.
“You look amazing,” Eleni told her.
“Hang on. Just one quick hook here in the back...” Alethea straightened her own slim black skirt and smoothed her hair. “All ready. Let’s get this party started.”
Mandy took the lead, dropping out of the back of the van and quickly hurrying toward the swing gate. “Sorry we’re late!” she called to her mom and dad as she approached. “Alethea—” She slowed, not entirely sure what she was seeing.
“Happy birthday, Mandy.” Sebastian reached out and pulled her the rest of the way.
“What’s going on? Mom? What are you wearing?” Mandy stepped back after her mom kissed her cheek.
“A wedding dress.” Brooke smoothed a hand down Mandy’s long hair. “What better day for your father and me to get married than on your birthday.”
“You mean it? Really and truly? Eleni? Did you hear that? They’re...” She narrowed her eyes when Eleni started giggling. Kyle’s sheepish expression added him to the suspect list. “You knew? You both knew this was happening?”
“Just since the morning, after you parent-trapped them.” Eleni shrugged, then dragged Kyle off with her to join their families at the party.
“Everyone knew,” Sebastian said. “Turnabout is fair play. You sicced a good portion of the town on us, after all.”
“Oh, yeah.” Mandy winced. “How grounded am I?”
“We’ll talk about it after the honeymoon,” her father said. “Now, I’ve been waiting a long time for this woman to marry me. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” Her heart was about ready to burst out of her chest. Was it possible for one person to be this happy?
“Mandy, I have just one request,” Brooke said as Sebastian headed off to join his best man.
“What, Mom?”
“Mom.” Brooke cupped Mandy’s chin in her palm. “I never get tired of hearing that.”
“I won’t get tired of saying it.” Mandy grinned. “What’s the favor?”
“Would you give me away?”
Every bit of Mandy’s life slipped into place. “I’ll walk you down the aisle,” Mandy said. “But no. I’m never giving you away. Happy wedding day, Mom.” She wrapped her arms around Brooke and squeezed as hard as she could.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
EPILOGUE
“I WOULD SAY that was a very successful book signing event, Mr. Evans.”
Brooke came up behind Sebastian where he sat at the kitchen table, crunching the final numbers from Hunter MacBride’s book release event.
“Considering we sold out of copies, I’d say so, too.” Sebastian started to stretch, then tugged Brooke’s arms around his neck. He turned his face to hers for a kiss. “Thank you for your help, Mrs. Evans.”
“Mmm.” Brooke leaned into him and the moment. While she had his attention, she reached out and closed his laptop. “I’ve got soup on the stove and bread warming in the oven.” Her feet were aching from hours spent at the bookstore helping the countless customers who had come into Cat’s Eye during the day. “Mandy is spending the night at Eleni’s.”
“She is?” Sebastian pulled back. “I thought—”
“I suggested it,” Brooke silenced him with a kiss. “I wanted to spend the evening alone with you. Come on.” She took hold of his hand and pulled him to his feet. “I have a present for you.”
“Don’t know that there’s anything more I need or want.”
Brooke grinned at him over her shoulder. “I’ll remind you of that come Christmas. Sit down.” She detoured around the coffee table and disappeared into their bedroom. A few moments later, she returned, the carved wooden box she used to keep hidden, securely in her hands. “This is for you.”
He accepted it, his gratitude overshadowed by confusion. It showed on his face. “It’s nice. Thanks.”
Brooke dropped down onto the couch beside him, tucked her legs under her. That she lived here now, in the home she and Sebastian had planned together, the home he’d raised their daughter in, still felt a bit like a dream, but it was a dream she was more than willing to embrace. “The gift’s inside.”
“Oh.” He lifted the lid and looked down at the stack of envelopes she’d tied with a thin red ribbon. There were dozens of them, all sealed, all addressed to him. They were the last secret she had; the last secret any Ardell had now that her mother had finally come to terms with the past that had kept her from truly connecting with, truly loving Brooke. “I don’t understand,” Sebastian said.
Brooke reached out, brushed her fingers through his hair. “I told you I thought about you and Mandy every day I was gone. What I didn’t tell you was that I wrote to each of you over the years. Birthdays, Christmas, when I needed someone to talk to. I never sent them.”
“You’re giving them to me now?”
“Yes.” How she loved the affection that rose in his eyes. “I have another box for Mandy. I’ll give that to her tomorrow. But for now, I wanted you to have these. So you didn’t have any doubt I never stopped loving you.”
“Brooke.” He caught her hand, brought her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss against her skin. “All my concerns are gone. We’re exactly where we were meant to be. You know where that is.”
“Right beside one another?”
He set the box aside, slipped his hand around her neck and pulled her close. “Exactly. I love you, Brooke Ardell-Evans.” Just before his lips touched hers, he hesitated.
“What?” She pressed a hand against his chest, felt his heart pound against her palm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I was just wondering...”
She narrowed her eyes, recognizing that same look from when Mandy got an idea into her head. “Wondering what?”
“How long do you want to wait before we try to have another baby?”
She took a deep breath, her own heart skipping a beat. “I’m not doing anything right now.” She kissed him, settling into him, into their home, into their life, with doubtless ease.
* * *
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CHAPTER ONE
LIAM DALE OPENED his eyes and looked at the stubby straw between his fingers. Looked at his brother Boone’s straw. Long. Looked at Tommy’s. Even longer. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Looks like you’d better start packing your bags, little brother.” Wyatt grinned at him with the smug face of someone who hadn’t even had to draw a straw. As the oldest, Wyatt did the accounts for the Dale Cattle Company. His business skills were too valuable for him to be caught up in this absurd notion of their father’s.
“You want to trade?” Boone leaned forward on the hay bale he was sitting on and offered his straw. When Liam reached, Boone pulled it away. “Just kidding.”
“Jerk.” Liam glared at his brother. He glanced around the barn. Leave here? With the early-spring sunshine lighting everything up, the air fresh and clean, it was the best time of year in Texas.
“Aw, don’t be like that.” Tommy, sprawled next to Boone, sent an elbow into his brother’s ribs. “Poor Liam here has to go to California. Land of sunshine and surfer girls.”
“You want to go?” Liam held out his small straw. “It’s all yours.”
“Thanks, but I’ll stick around here, I think.” Tommy glanced out the barn door like he had somewhere to go. “I’ve got a lot going on right now.”
A Match Made Perfect--A Clean Romance Page 23