by Megan Ryder
“You’d have to get to the speed limit, which you never did. And she was magical, before you ruined her.”
Ty stared at the women, fighting a smile, while West laughed like a lunatic next to him. “Darlin’, you do know that you’re supposed to stay on one side of the road, right?”
She looked down the driveway. “Well, there wasn’t anything marked so it doesn’t matter, right?”
Emma groaned while West helped her up, still laughing. “Trust me, it didn’t matter if the road was marked or not. She didn’t stay within the lines.”
Piper scowled. “Most of the lines were dotted so that meant I could go around people. They went around me often enough.”
“It’s called self-preservation. Everyone wanted to be far away from you, even me. Keys, now.”
Piper tossed her the keys with a huff. Emma snatched them out of the air, then turned to Ty. “Never let her near your truck. She’s a menace.”
Ty held up his hands. “Don’t worry. No one drives my baby.” He ignored Piper’s glare and focused on Emma. “Was your shopping trip successful, or should we be expecting the state cops to come looking for you two?”
Piper sniffed and folded her arms. “It wasn’t that bad. Emma exaggerates. And yes, we were successful, but West can’t see.”
West held up his hands and backed off. “No problem. I’ll leave you in Ty’s very capable hands. And Piper? Hands off my truck too. I don’t think I have enough insurance.” He ducked and laughed, heading back to the barn.
Emma fanned herself. “I need some sustenance and medicine to recover. I’m sure Marie has something to help me. Hopefully, tequila or fireball. You can show Ty what we found. Just remember, I have my keys, so you can’t take my Sorceress. And you still owe me. Maybe more than one session now. I have to think on this. When I’ve recovered.” And she headed in the house, still looking a little unsteady on her feet. Fireball would not make her any steadier, and Ty mentally made a note to check on her before she left.
“So, what did you buy? Boots? Dresses? Fancy bridesmaids’ stuff?”
Piper looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m not sure these are the kinds of purchases you’d want to see.”
He had a brief fantasy of Piper fixing a cup of coffee wearing just the barest hint of white lace lingerie. Damn, was it getting hot out here? “Lacy things?” Then he remembered why they were here. “Wait, for Tara? On second thought, I don’t need to see my sister-in-law’s unmentionables.”
She nodded eagerly, a little too eagerly. “Sure, that’s what they are. You don’t need to see them. You wouldn’t like them anyway.”
He crossed his arms in front of him, not believing her for an instant. “You’re going to need help getting all those bags to your cabin. I’m going to see something. Spill.”
She reached in the back of the cab and pulled out a few bags. “Trust me, you don’t want to see these things.”
She handed him a couple of big paper bags with handles and then grabbed a couple for herself. “This should be it. Emma can take the rest of the decorations for the hall.”
He opened one of the bags and peered inside. Cups. He pulled one out, arching his eyebrow as he displayed it for Piper. “Let’s raise a little hell before the wedding bells? What kind of party are you planning, Ms. Raines?”
He held up a packet of garland. “Last ride for the bride? Where are you taking her, and tell me you haven’t ordered strippers, because West will lose his mind.”
Piper flushed and snatched the package out of his hand. “You’ll have to ask Emma. I just went with her and helped her shop. That’s all.”
“Emma needs a keeper,” Ty grumbled. “And what the holy hell are these?”
He shook the package of bikini underwear in front of Piper’s face and she blushed bright red, which was actually adorable, but he was a little focused on the words scrawled on the underwear. She recovered very nicely, grabbing the package primly and giving him a schoolteacher look. “We’re all wearing these in solidarity with her. And you. Won’t. Be. Able. To. See. Them.”
She turned and flounced off, her dark hair in the ponytail swishing behind her, taunting him like a red rag to a bull. Damn it. He really wanted to see them on her, and nothing else. Her little pert butt sashaying away, attitude and all.
Fuck, he had it bad.
Chapter Nine
The next day they focused on the party favors and getting the barn ready for the shindig. Or was it a hoedown? Either way, Tara didn’t appreciate the assorted names Piper teased her with for her wedding venue, but even Piper had to admit the barn was shaping up to be a beautiful setting, not a cow patty or pile of horse manure to be found.
Tara had commissioned Gene to make a few rustic signs to direct guests to the wedding, parking and then interior signs for stations such as cake, bar, and booty shaking. They took oak wooden barrels and placed them strategically around as bases for wooden planks for tables along the side of the barn and placement for flowers and signs throughout the venue, adding rustic charm. They even incorporated a few piles of hay in the corner, aligned to be decorative rather than functional. The entrance to the barn would eventually have tulle twisted along the sides and into an arch above the top, welcoming everyone to the wedding, and that would be where Tara would proceed in. But they’d wait until the last minute to do that.
The end result was actually a very charming venue that would have done any wedding planner proud. By the end of the day, the girls were tired and ready to cut loose a little. And Piper was definitely curious to hear Ty sing at the local bar. He’d stopped by her cabin that morning again to pick up Dundee, who’d stayed with her to protect her from the coyotes, or offer her peace of mind, and she still heard the distant drone of an ATV engine periodically at night. But she hadn’t heard coyotes. Granted, she’d just about passed out when her head hit the pillow, so who knew what may have been lurking by the cabin, but Dundee was a snuggly houseguest and she’d miss him when she went back home.
Her coffee supply was running low since she shared her pot every morning with Ty, who seemed to love it as much as she did, but she didn’t mind. She liked their morning chats. She had wanted to bring up his music, but it never seemed the right time. She thought she heard him playing last night, the sound of his guitar wafting on the night air from his cabin since he didn’t have calving duty, but he didn’t speak of it that morning, so she said nothing.
Now, Piper walked into The Rock, Granite Junction’s bar and grill, with Tara and West. How long had it been since she’d hung out and just listened to music? She couldn’t just go to a bar in Nashville without running the risk of being recognized. People would ask for her autograph, beg her to sing, and then criticize her for not sounding like her album, acting like they thought she shouldn’t be on stage, or worse. So, she tended to avoid bars and stick to smaller venues and dark corners. Not Tara. She marched right to a center table, where her other bridesmaids were already waiting, with beers on the table. West took one look, groaned and walked away.
“I take it you’ve done this before?”
Emma grinned up at her. “We kind of have a bit of a reputation here. But there will be no fighting tonight, right, Hailey and Tara?”
Both Hailey and Tara shrugged and avoided looking at her. Emma only rolled her eyes and smiled at Piper. “You have no idea the trouble these two can cause, especially when we get fireball involved. Although I wonder what the bachelorette party will be like if we’re already doing shots.”
Hailey turned and narrowed her eyes. “It wasn’t just the fireball. It was those women coming on to our men.”
“Hormones. Yup, but now you own his ass and you have nothing to blame it on.” Tara laughed.
Hailey sipped her beer, looking like the cat who got into the cream. Emma just shook her head. “Ignore them. You’re in for a treat tonight. Ty is singing, so the place will be packed.” She paused, a look of discomfort crossing her face. “Well, maybe it won’t be a novelty for you.
I suppose you’re used to this.”
Piper took a sip of her beer and settled into the wood chair, the spindles digging a little into her back, adding to the discomfort of the whole evening. “I don’t get to go to a lot of bars, honestly. I’m usually the one up on the stage. This is a refreshing change, to be honest.”
“Do you wish you were up there? I’m sure Zane would let you sing if you wanted,” Tara said.
“God no.” The words shot out of Piper’s mouth before she could pull them back, and Tara narrowed her eyes, studying her carefully. “I mean, the tour was long and tiring. I could use a break. Besides, contracts, you know?”
“Welcome to The Rock, ladies. Ms. Raines. Here’s your shots, as ordered.” Zane fixed a stern glare on the two ladies who were avoiding him. “Tara and Hailey, I’m watching you. First sign of trouble, you’re out of here.”
Both women gave him innocent looks. He snorted and stalked away. Piper grinned. “You’ve certainly changed since boarding school and San Francisco, Tara. Getting married in a barn. Bar fights. Hell, living in Montana. It’s like I don’t even know you anymore. But I think I like this Tara.”
Tara leaned over and pulled her into a side hug. “I’m glad you came. I’ve missed you.”
Piper hugged her back. “Tell me more about this bar fight.”
“I was just defending myself and my friend, not to mention my man.”
*
The next hour or so passed with a lot of laughter, drinks, and visits from various people from the town—men and women. If anyone recognized Piper, no one said anything. They were more interested in teasing Tara about taking on West, moving to Montana, and her plans for the ranch. The jukebox played some country songs ranging from all eras, and some people got up and danced but most just milled about and chatted while the bar slowly filled until all the tables were taken and it was standing room only.
West and Chase had taken up residence with a few other ranchers at another table well within eyeshot of their table, probably to keep an eye on their women, especially if they were prone to starting fights, something Piper was damned curious to see. But this place seemed more like a reunion of people in the small town than a pick-up joint. Oh, there were the typical single cowboys on the prowl for one of the single cowgirls with their painted-on jeans and low-cut tops. But The Rock seemed more like a town gathering place than anything else.
She loved it. And regretted not accepting the offer to sing. It probably would have been less pressure and more fun than any other show, less a performance and more like just singing. The band, Scene of the Herd, was setting up their instruments on the small stage, but Ty was not among them. Had he decided against performing tonight?
Tara leaned over and nudged her arm. Piper obligingly leaned in so they could talk easier among the buzz of voices. “So, we haven’t had much of a chance to catch up. How are you really doing? Are you enjoying your week so far?”
“I wasn’t sure I would, but it’s been great. The tour was exhausting, and I usually need at least a month to recover, but I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything. And the cabin is wonderful. Your guests will really love the place once they start coming.” Piper was surprised to realize that these weren’t platitudes. She was truly relaxed and not as exhausted as she would typically be post-tour.
“Have you had a tour of the facilities? Ridden the land yet? I know I’ve kept you busy, and I feel terrible about that. Seems like all I ever do is call you when I need you. My last wedding. My divorce. Now this wedding.”
Piper grinned. “Maybe you only need me when you get married or when you want to celebrate tossing over a jerk like Mark. Though, I don’t think West will be letting you go anytime soon.” Piper slid a glance over at West, whose gaze had rarely left his fiancée.
Tara followed her eyes. “Maybe I won’t let him go. He’s worth hanging on to.” She refocused back on Piper. “Now, back to you. What’s going on with you? Don’t think I haven’t noticed you just kind of being quiet, settling in the background.”
Piper shrugged and sipped her beer. “You know me. Always the quiet one. It’s who I am.”
Tara studied her for a long moment. “True. I never understood why you followed your family into performing. That never seemed your thing. I mean, you have an amazing voice and can perform, but more in intimate settings, not big concert halls and high-energy places. When you got here, you were clearly drained of all energy. Why do you keep performing if you hate it so much?”
“I don’t hate it. It’s part of the job; you know that. We can’t love every aspect of our jobs. I love music and performing is part of that.”
Tara continued to watch her, her blue eyes stripping Piper to her soul. “Do you? Do you really need to do all of those tours all the time? Not everyone does it. Performing, and how you perform, is a very personal choice, and I don’t remember you being that kind of singer.”
Piper stared at the stage, at the four people who were now tuning their instruments in preparation for their set. “Times change, Tara. This is what I need to do to sell records.”
“How much have you been home in the past three years? How many songs have you written?”
Piper laughed, not much of a humorous sound, more of a raw bark. “Yeah, well, my songs weren’t popular enough for the label to want any more songs. Instead, they’ve hired other writers and had me record them.”
Tara’s brow furrowed. “That explains so much then. Those songs didn’t seem like the Piper Raines I knew back in school. They’re good but not you, if that makes sense.”
“Well, apparently, I don’t sell so we had to find someone else. Only, they’re not selling anymore either. Common factor: Piper Raines. So, we’re in a rebuilding mode, figuring out how to right the ship for the next album.”
“Maybe try your songs again?”
“That idea was shot down fast enough. Not interested, Ms. Raines. That was their direct response. So, the hunt continues for the next writer. I think they should have a reality show. Who will be Piper Raines’s next writer? America votes, only $2.95 per ballot. A bargain!”
A man’s voice came from behind them, deep and angry. “Don’t let them do that. That would be bullshit.”
Both women’s heads tilted. Ty was standing behind them, fists clenched by his sides, glaring at Piper. Zane was next to him, a round of beers on a tray, a frown on his face. Piper pasted on her patented public smile, the one she used when trying to get through a crowd of fans or music executives.
“I was only joking. Maybe I’ve had too much to drink.” She tossed her hair a bit, hoping it would distract them, but their frowns only got deeper.
Ty gripped her shoulder, not too hard to be uncomfortable but enough to let her know that he was pissed. “Never joke about that. Don’t let anyone take your voice from you. It’s yours, and they have no right to do that.”
Zane slammed the beers down on the table, earning questioning looks from the women. “Natives are getting restless. Time to sing. I’m watching the rest of you.” With one final look at Tara and Hailey, he stalked off.
Ty gave Piper a nod and headed for the stage. Tara’s eyebrows rose. “Well, I guess he told you. How have you two been getting along? I hear he’s been stopping by for coffee every morning and you’ve been keeping him company at night in the barn.”
The other girls made a woo noise and leaned in. Emma gave Piper a sharp look. “You and Ty, huh? Well, he’s the last guy remaining. There’s no one left. So many disappointed women in town.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? There’s several single men around here,” Hailey said. “Cam Miller. Gene Woodruff. Nate Holt. Zane Calabrese. That’s four.”
Emma snorted. “Okay, first off, one of those is my brother, so yuck and illegal. Second, Cam has refused me every single time, so he’s out. Zane won’t look at me since my brother is the sheriff. And Gene is almost twice my age. I’m thinking I’ve just struck out. Boom. And this lucky bitch walks into town and swipes
up Ty.”
Piper’s face burned. “It’s not like that. Ty and I are just friends.”
Emma nodded, her lips pursed. “Yeah, right. Look at him. Why be friends when you can be so much more? He’s a nice guy and smokin’ hot. Unless he’s not your type.”
“He’s everybody’s type,” Piper automatically replied. “But I’m only here for a short time. It’s not fair to either one of us.”
“Yeah, right,” Emma grumbled. “Either way, no one for Emma.”
Piper caught Cam Miller, who was sitting with the other guys, not saying a whole heck of a lot, studying Emma intently. And Piper swore she’d seen Emma sneaking glances. There was definitely something going on there, and she’d had just enough liquid courage and knew Emma just enough to prod the woman a bit.
“Why not Cam? He seems handsome enough, in an older guy kind of way, maybe a bit cranky even. He doesn’t say much, but some guys talk too much anyway. He’s not a pretty boy. Is it because he’s a rancher?”
Emma glared at her. “It has nothing to do with him being a rancher. He’s just made it very clear on several occasions that I’m nothing more than a little sister to him.”
Tara and Hailey, who had been listening in, burst out laughing. “That’s such bullshit, Emma, and you know it. Any guy gets close to you and Cam runs him off faster than a coyote near the newborn calves. He’s totally into you. So, what’s really going on? What aren’t you telling us? Is it Nathan? Is Cam afraid of the law?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She slumped in her seat and looked miserable.
The band, who had been tuning their instruments, started playing more in sync and the bar patrons cheered, charging the dance floor as soon as the first song started, a song by Jason Aldean.
Piper sipped her drink and watched Ty sling the guitar strap over his neck. As if sensing her gaze, he shot her a quick glance and gave her a slow smile, sending a flash of heat deep inside. Maybe she did snag the last guy in town. Now, what did she want to do with him?