Lookin' for Trouble (Honky Tonk Angels Book 6)

by Ciana Stone

  “Good thing we hired all those new workers last month.”

  “Amen to that. So how are things going here?” Jayce looked around the backyard of the church.

  Bryson guzzled down half a bottle of water before answering. “One step forward, two steps back.”

  Jayce smiled and shook his head. “Callie said that Hannah seems to be having a hell of a time making up her mind exactly what she wants for this wedding. And she says Cody thinks Hannah has gone off the deep end. Hannah has known what she wanted since she was a kid and now here she is changing her mind every other day.”

  “Well, she’s just… passionate about it.” Bryson came to Hannah’s defense. “She wants everything to be perfect and it’s not like we don’t get paid for all the changes so—“

  “Careful little brother, your crush is showing.”

  Bryson made a scoffing sound. “Crush my ass.”

  Jayce gave him a look, one that clearly said I’m not buying it, and Bryson looked at him. “Okay, so I think she’s special. It’s not like I’m doing anything to try and derail her wedding.”

  “Didn’t think you would, bro. Just letting you know that it’s obvious you have a thing for her. I’d hate for her to realize it and make things uncomfortable for you to do this job.”

  “She won’t. She’s way too caught up in this wedding to notice.”

  “Wedding or being married.”

  “Wedding.” Bryson said and stood. He and Hannah spent a lot of time together, designing, discussing and planning this project. While most of their discussions were about the wedding, sometimes they ended up just talking. He enjoyed those times. Were it not for her obsession with this wedding and spending Cooper into the poor house to pull off something that wasn’t at all suited for a little town like Cotton Creek, he’d think they had the basis for more than a friendship.

  But Hannah’s mind was on this wedding and little else.

  “Look,” he said to Jayce. “Hannah’s a nice gal. Real nice. She’s smart and pretty and fun to be around. But it seems to me like she’s all caught up in who Cooper is, and by that, I mean his wealth. Marrying him puts her into a whole new league. She can travel and have the best money can buy and you know that girl’s been wanting to get out of here and into high society since she was old enough to talk.”

  “Kinda sounds like she loves the life and not the man, the way you tell it.”

  Bryson gave another shrug. “That’s not what I’m saying. I don’t see her as the kind of person who’d do that, but whatever the case, she’s marrying him and I’m not going to do anything to interfere.”

  “Didn’t think you would, bro, and sorry I brought it up. I best get on. Got one more job to check and then I promised to meet Callie and Lily for lunch. You wanna come over for dinner tonight?”

  “Sure, thanks.”

  “Good. See you at seven or earlier if you can make it.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Bryson watched Jayce drive away. He wouldn’t admit to anyone just how attracted he was to Hannah Sweet or how much he wished she’d figure out that she wasn’t nearly as in love with Cooper Quinlan as she thought.

  No, he wouldn’t admit that at all, but it didn’t stop it from being true.

  *****

  “I love you, but I am not wearing that.” Cody slid the magazine back across the table to Hannah.

  “Mama!”

  Stella Sweet smiled and sat down at the kitchen table with her daughters. “Cody Ann, this is your sister’s wedding and you promised you’d cooperate.”

  “Cooperate, yes.” Cody snatched the magazine from Hannah’s hand and stabbed her finger at the image on the left side of the page. “Wear that? No. No. And hell no.”

  “I think it’s pretty.” Hannah protested in a trembling voice Cody knew all too well. It was the Cody is being mean to me and hurt my feelings voice.

  “So do I,” KC, their younger sister added.

  “Since you’re not the one having to wear it.” Cody retorted and topped off her pithy remark with a sharp look.

  “Cody.” Stella had that tone. The one that clearly spelled she was about to play the mother card.

  “Look.” Cody slid the magazine to Hannah. “I know you want your wedding to be perfect, and honest to god, so do I. But I am simply not going to wear some frilly, fluffy pink thing that looks like a cream puff. I’m just not doing it. So either you pick something else or find someone else.”

  Hannah crossed her arms. “Is that your final word?”

  “It is.”

  “Fine. Then I’ll let you know when I’ve decided.”

  “Okay then.” Cody stood. “I’ll head on over to the bar. Mama, KC? I’ll see you tomorrow. Hannah? You working tonight?”

  “No.”

  The tone with which she answered was curt and the thundercloud of an expression on her face backed up the fact that she was annoyed with Cody, but Cody let it go. “Okay then. See you later.”

  With that, she hurried out of the house and found her dad sitting on the front porch swing.

  “So, you’re hiding out here?” she asked.

  Billy patted the seat of the swing and Cody sat beside him. He put his arm around her shoulders. “Honey, be patient with your sister. You know she’s been planning the perfect wedding since she was five years old.”

  “Yeah, I know and I want her day to be everything she’s dreamed of, but Daddy, I am not putting on a dress that looks like a pink cream puff. Just not gonna happen.”

  Billy laughed and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “I reckon I have to take credit for your aversion to girly things. I shouldn’t have let you spend so much time with me on the ranch and at the bar when you were growing up.”

  “Oh yes, you should. I loved my childhood and wouldn’t change a thing about it. And I never gave a hoot about all the dress up, prissy stuff anyway. Far as I can see, a big old wedding like Hannah is planning is just a waste of good money. You’re not any more married than if you’d stood in front of a judge, but you’re damn sure a sight poorer.”

  “Amen to that honey.” Billy chuckled. “But you tell anyone I agreed and I’ll deny it. Your sisters and your mama are in hog-heaven right now and I wouldn’t deny them any one second of all the joy they’re getting out of this no matter what it costs.”

  Cody gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll try and cooperate, I promise. But I’m still not wearing the pink cream puff dress. She can find something a little more…me.”

  “I think you girls can come to a compromise. Now, what you have planned for the day?”

  “Beer and food delivery, get the pit cleaned out to start the pig, run back to the ranch and make sure Deroy and Mackey got everything done and then head back to open the bar.”

  “Cade working tonight?”

  “Nope. Him and Roxy are working with Dini, finishing up the spa. They’re planning on opening during Labor Day and that’s just a couple weeks away.

  “Yep. Oh, that reminds me. You setting up a booth at the lake for the Labor Day festival?”

  “Yeah, just like always. We’re cooking a pig and will have beer and soft-drinks.”

  “You need some help?”

  “I damn sure do.”

  “Then you got it, punkin. In fact, I can open up for you tonight if you want.”

  “Really? I’d appreciate it Daddy. I’ll do my best to be there, but it’d sure make it easier knowing you’ll be there.”

  “And I will. In fact, I’ll head over to handle the deliveries. Now get on with your day and try not to fight with your sister anymore today.”

  Cody grinned. “That’ll be easy. I won’t be seeing her again until tomorrow.”

  He grinned at her. “Smarty pants.”

  Cody gave him another kiss on the cheek and stood. “I love you. See you later.”

  “Love you, punkin.”

  With a parting smile, she headed for her truck. Before she pulled out of the parking lot, she took out her phone and placed
a call. Riggs answered on the second ring.

  “Hey beautiful.”

  “Hey. You coming to the bar tonight?”

  “Was thinking I might.”

  “Good. See ya.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  She smiled and ended the call. Riggs sure hadn’t made her any promises that he was going to stay in Cotton Creek, or that what they had would ever be more than it was, but at the moment she didn’t care.

  Cody had never felt this way about a man. Never wanted anyone the way she wanted Riggs. And she’d admit that sneaking around with him was a turn-on. He told her about being visited by her family while he was in the hospital. While she didn’t like that they’d tried to warn him off, Cody wasn’t mad at her family. She knew they meant well.

  None of them wanted to see her hurt and she loved them for that. And the truth was, she was in danger of some pretty powerful hurt. She wouldn’t tell Riggs but she’d fallen for him hard and she knew it would rip her up if he walked away from her.

  But she wasn’t about to let the what if’s rob her of what she had right now, which was a man who excited her physically, mentally and emotionally. If they were meant to go the long haul, then that was what would happen.

  If not, then chances were she’d cry a river, pull up her big girl britches and try to move on. But that hadn’t happened yet, so she was going to make the most of it.

  Her phone rang and she picked it up from the seat, smiled and answered, putting it on speaker.

  “Hey girl, is Hannah driving you up a wall with all the wedding stuff?” Cody asked.

  Pressley Pursel laughed. “Maybe a little, but I get it. She’s really into all this stuff. But that’s not why I called.”

  “So what’s up?”

  “Bronson.”

  “You two are still—“

  “Yeah, but he invited me to spend Labor Day weekend with him and his family and –“

  “Come on, Pressley, you’ve been around his kids. They’re all great and they all like you.”

  “This is different.”

  “How?”

  “He—he asked me to marry him.”

  Cody was struck speechless for a moment and then gave a whoop. “Congratulations! I’m guessing you said yes?”

  “I did.”

  “So I guess you might want to start paying attention to all the stuff Hannah’s doing, huh?”

  “Are you kidding? No way. We’ll have a quiet little wedding at his family’s ranch.”

  “Smart girl. So what’s the problem?”

  “What if his kids hate the idea? And what if I make a total mess out of being a stepmom?”

  Cody laughed. “You’ll be fine. Trust me. And the kids love you, so don’t sweat it. When are you going to get married, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Bronson wants to do it pretty soon so we can be together as a family for the holidays.”

  “And what do you want?”

  “I love him and want to marry him.”

  “Then go for it, girl.”

  “You don’t think Hannah will think I’m trying to steal her thunder or anything, do you? By getting married before her and Cooper, I mean?”

  “No, why would she? She’s your friend and roommate and she loves you. She’ll be happy for you.”

  “Are you sure? She’s—I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s like she hits the floor in the morning going a hundred miles an hour, completely consumed with the wedding and she’s that way all day, every day.”

  “Yeah, it’s serious business with Hannah—this wedding planning, I mean.”

  “No shit. I just want to say I do, kiss my honey and live happily ever after.”

  “Amen girl. But Hannah has had this dream all her life and she’s gonna drive herself and probably everyone around her into the dirt to make sure this wedding is perfect.”

  “Which is why I’m worried about telling her. She’s so wound up, she might think I’m trying to upstage her.”

  “With a wedding at The Weathered Rail Ranch? That’s not even in the same ballpark as what she has planned. Trust me. Just tell her.”

  “Okay, but if she blows a gasket, it’s on your head.”

  Cody laughed. “Okay, I’ll take the blame.”

  “Thanks, Cody.”

  “Any time. Talk to you soon.”

  “Okay, bye.”

  “Bye.” Cody ended the call and smiled. Once Pressley and Bronson had finally got together, it had taken about five red-hot minutes for them to realize they were crazy about one another. Cody thought they were a perfect match and was happy they’d found each other.

  Aside from Bryson, all of the Weathers men were now happily settled. Jasper had eloped with Dini Merrill last month, JD and Jolene were still happy, and now Bronson and Pressley were tying the knot. Cody wondered how long it would take Bryson to find someone to settle down with.

  Huh. It dawned on her that in the last few years a lot of people she knew had fallen in love and gotten married, starting with Riley. Once Annie came to town and they had fallen in love, it seemed to snowball.

  As she was nearing the Cotton Creek Energy Corporation office in town, Wes Pursell stepped out onto the sidewalk. Cody beeped her horn and waved. Even Wes, someone the entire town had thought of as a confirmed bachelor, was seriously involved.

  He and the attorney for the oil company, Lily Matthews had been dating for some time and from what Cody heard from Lily, it was pretty serious. Cody wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they were getting married.

  Damn, the way things were going she’d be the only single person in town over the age of twenty-five. That wiped the smile from her face and she told herself to not let anything negative creep into her mind and rob her of the happiness of the moment.

  She and Riggs were having a great time. They could talk and laugh for hours and the sex was mind-blowingly great. They were also able to just be silent together. Sometimes they could spend hours without talking and it never feel uncomfortable or awkward. It was good and she couldn’t let thoughts of what might happen down the road screw things up.

  Cody stopped at the stop sign and waited for traffic to clear so she could make the turn and head out of town. She saw a semi pulled over on the side of the road. At first she thought he might be having trouble, but then she saw the dark-haired woman and a little girl. They walked around the front of the truck and looked both ways at the traffic.

  Something about the woman looked familiar. When she and the little girl started running across the street, it hit Cody. That was Belinda Mae Smith. She was a lot thinner that she had been back in high school.

  Cody checked traffic, backed up and made an illegal turn to come up behind Belinda, who was walking on the roadside, clutching the little girl’s hand.

  “Belinda?” she called out as she rolled to a crawl.

  The woman stopped and looked at Cody. “Cody?”

  “Yeah. Girl what are you doing?”

  “Believe it or not I was on my way to see you.”

  “Me? About what?”

  Belinda looked down at the little girl and then at Cody. “Maybe we could go somewhere and talk?”

  “Oh!” Cody was so shocked she wasn’t thinking straight. “Of course. Sure, sure, get in.”

  Belinda helped the little girl in, climbed in and closed the door. Cody waited for Belinda to fasten the center seat belt around the child. When she did not, Cody took the task in hand. “Hey, pretty girl. My name’s Cody. Mind if I fasten your seat belt? We want you to be snug and safe.”

  “Okay.” The little girl smiled up at Cody.

  “So, what’s your name, punkin?”

  “Bernice.”

  “Bernice. That’s a real nice name.” Cody finished adjusting the seat belt and looked around at traffic before pulling back onto the road. Then she cut a look at Belinda.

  “So, you said you were on your way to see me?”

  “Not here.” Belinda looked down at the child.
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  Cody frowned, but quickly plastered a smile on her face when Bernice looked up at her. “Tell you what,” Cody said. “How about we go over to my place in town? I can fix you up some lunch and we can talk?”

  “You mean your daddy’s bar?” Belinda asked. “That’s still open?”

  “It is, only now it’s also mine and Hannah’s. Daddy cut us in each a third. And we’ve rebuilt and renamed it.”

  “Well, you’re just coming right up in the world, aren’t you?”

  Cody couldn’t miss the sarcasm in Belinda’s voice and wondered what prompted it. Back in high school, when Cody had known Belinda, they had been good friends. They hung around with the same crowd and Belinda had been to many of the parties and sleepovers Cody and Hannah had as children.

  Wow, time really did change things. And people. No one said any more for the rest of the drive. Cody parked at the rear of the bar, got out and went to unlock the door, leaving Belinda to follow with Bernice.

  It was far too early for anyone to be at work, so Cody led them into the kitchen. “Take a load off and I’ll put together some sandwiches.”

  “Thanks.” Belinda took a seat at the employee table and looked around. “So, you and Hannah are part owners?”

  “Yep.” Cody answered as she started pulling things from the refrigerator and storage bins.

  “Guess y’all are doing okay then.”

  “We get by. So, Belinda, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

  Belinda got up and walked over to the counter where Cody was making barbecue sandwiches. “I wanted to see if you’d help me out?’

  “How?”

  “It’s kind of a long story and I don’t want to get into it in front of the baby, so for now maybe you could lend me some money so I could get me and Bernice a place to stay.”

  The minute Belinda asked for money a red flag raised in Cody’s mind. “Well, I can’t lend you money, but I can give you and Bernice a place to stay until you get on your feet. But out of curiosity, why come back here? Your folks sold out and moved almost ten years ago. Moved to Alabama, wasn’t it? Why not go—“

  “They won’t help me.” Belinda cut her off with a harsh tone, which she immediately softened. “Long story, but bottom line they won’t help. Not even their own grandchild.”