by Ellie Hall
“We haven’t set a date yet.” Dallen stepped to Kayla’s side as soon as Chloe reminded him how wicked she could be and dump all over her sister. Despite the trouble he and his brothers had, they wouldn’t treat each other that way. No, they just wouldn’t talk. He wasn’t sure which was worse. But seeing Kayla beaten down made his heart soften and his jaw tense.
Both sisters raised their eyebrows.
Chloe’s mouth twisted. “Is that so? He’s quite the catch. I’m only sorry I didn’t jump at the chance sooner.”
Kayla became rigid beside him. “That’s a strange thing to say considering you just got married yesterday.” Her voice was sharp, cutting.
It surprised him since the day before she didn’t stick up for herself. However, he had thought it odd Chloe showed up early the morning after her wedding requesting lessons.
Chloe shrugged. “Bryan wanted to sleep in and he had to leave for a week-long work conference later this morning. But Dallen, you don’t seem like the marrying type.” She winked at him. “I’ve heard rumors about you Hawkins boys.” She laughed.
“Now that your wedding is over, we can focus on ours.” Kayla lifted her chin and squared her shoulders as though she’d found inner reserves of strength to stand up to her sister, either that or she didn’t like the idea of Chloe rushing off to spend the morning with some man that wasn’t her new husband. Maybe that’s why she went along with it. Women were as mysterious as the stars.
“My calendar is filling in and I wouldn’t want it to conflict with my honeymoon…”
“We also have to work around Tripp and Sadie’s wedding.” Kayla glanced at Dallen but he didn’t let any emotion show at the thought of his brother getting married and not telling him about it or being invited.
Dallen brushed his hands together. “Yeah, I was thinking this summer after the mud run at the resort. The tourists will be gone for a few weeks between seasons.”
The resort was operational year-round with hikers, mount bikers, other extreme sports, and the annual mud run, which was a charity for veterans. But there were always a few weeks when things slowed down.
Were they were actually going to go through with the crazy idea? He’d been inspired by the wedding the day before, or more accurately, meeting Kayla, but the words had slipped out as he’d come to her defense. Were they getting married? A thick lump rose to his throat.
“The clock is ticking,” Chloe said. “Where’s the ring?”
“He hasn’t proposed yet,” Kayla said.
“So, it’s not official?” Chloe cocked a hip.
Kayla looked to Dallen.
“We’ve talked about it and decided it’s the next logical step in both our lives.” He cleared his throat. If only he knew what she was thinking. If only he understood how he felt.
Chloe made a show of flashing her ring. “Well, it is nice to have something big and sparkly on your finger.”
Oh, he’d show her big and sparkly. He’d get Kayla the biggest, sparkliest ring just so she could have one up on Chloe. He shook the competitive and silly thought off as quickly as it has rushed into his mind.
Chloe waved and sashayed off to the SUV. Before she closed the door, she purred, “It was nice getting to know you, Dallen.”
After they stepped away from the cloud of dust, Kayla set the bag down on the hood of her car and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She paced a small circle. “The goods? Quite the catch? She’s sorry she didn’t jump at the chance? What is wrong with her?”
Dallen leaned on the car and crossed his legs at the ankle along with his arms across his chest. “Are you sure you’re sisters?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Ordinarily, I’d say something about loving your family despite differences but she is…how do I put this?”
“A piece of work? Insane? Obnoxious?”
Dallen nodded. “You said it not me.”
Kayla shook her fists and rounded on him. “And now we just told her we’re getting married. That’s the next logical step?”
“This is a side of you I haven’t seen yet.” An amused smile played on his lips.
“Because we hardly know each other. But for your information, I’ve had it with letting my mother and sister walk all over me.” She shook her head. “I’m done with that. With them. Let’s go, right now. We can elope.”
“I rather liked the ceremony in the church and the reception you described.”
She laughed. “This is nuts. We can’t get married. We don’t know each other. You’re a Hawkins brother. There’s no way—” The anger dulled to what looked like helplessness as she paced and wrung her hands.
“I thought I could get her off your back. They really put the pressure on you and I guess I wasn’t thinking.” He pushed to standing, wanting to wrap his arms around her, still her restless movements, and let her know it was okay.
She scrunched up her eyes and nose. “You don’t understand. Everyone from here to the city is going to know in five, four, three, two, one…” From her purse, her phone beeped with a text then again and again. Kayla let out a frustrated groan.
“We’ll figure something out.” Dallen recalled the rehearsal dinner, the wedding the day before, and how he felt in her presence. No, he wasn’t going to get married. That was preposterous. He knew it was just setting them both up for heartbreak. He started to think about ways they could play it off, stage a breakup, or do something to fix it.
But he had to admit she was adorable even when she was frustrated. He couldn’t help but watch her every move, change in expression, and shift in her stride. Her hair was in a messy bun and her cheeks were pink as though she’d been outside all morning. He moved closer and caught her vanilla scent topped with the refreshing smell of snow. She must’ve been at the resort.
Kayla glanced at her phone and then turned it off. “It’s just like her to want what’s mine.” Her eyes widened as though startled by her own words. “I mean, not what’s mine,” she said quickly. “When I started making cupcakes, she had to do it better. When I made the ski team, when I met Bradley, then when things fell apart it was like she was happy. It gave her the opportunity to best me. But then I just gave up. It became so exhausting. It’s like as soon as I have something…” Kayla groaned once more stricken by the implication in her words. “You know what I mean.”
He did know what she meant but also didn’t mind the idea of being hers at least for the afternoon. “I know a thing or two about being on the wrong end of a split. If we’re talking about exes, I’d gotten serious with a woman named Stephanie, a few years back. Our relationship was promising but she didn’t want to wait to get married.” He waved his hand. “Anyway, you don’t want to hear about that. Just know that I understand.” He sighed and then gently pointed in her general direction. “On a different note, what was it you were saying about cupcakes…”
She sunk back. “I forgot. Happy birthday.” She opened her arms like she was going to hug him then picked up the shopping bag. “I was going to surprise you with cupcakes but I picked up a shift at the resort this morning—group class on the bunny trail—and thought I could just, um, make them here.”
He poked his nose in the bag and sure enough, she had all the ingredients for cupcakes. His mother never cooked, except for her cocoa. Kayla’s gesture caused a stitch in his heart. “So, you’re planning on staying a while.” He took the bag from her hands and motioned she follow him toward the main house.
“I guess long enough to plan our fake wedding or how to call it off,” she added.
He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of calling it off or it being fake. Again, emotions rippled through him and stirred something up but he wasn’t sure what or maybe he didn’t want to know.
After setting the supplies on the counter, she started to unload the bag. “Where do you keep—” She stopped, stunned, and looked around as if she’d been too preoccupied with her frustration to notice their surroundings. “Wow. You have a nice kitchen.”
>
Long before his father passed, he took the reins, as it were, of the ranch. Originally, it had been intended to be part of the resort: a place for guests to stay, take riding lessons, and enjoy ranch life—a dream he still had. But Dallen hadn’t quite gotten much beyond starting the website, which he hadn’t finished before his father died and everything ground to a halt.
He was more of a caretaker than a business owner. Partly because of the stipulations in his father’s will about not taking control of the running of the corporation until he was married and partly because he wasn’t sure he was ready to have strangers at the ranch. It was a place his mother had loved when he was growing up—she preferred the lake and ranch to the ski slopes and winter recreation. Her single contribution had been the now-famous cocoa they served at the resort.
Even though memories of her pained him, it was one way he could stay connected to the good before all the bad. The other part was he wanted his brothers’ blessing if not their input on any changes he made. He didn’t want to do anything at the ranch that might drive another wedge between them.
But he had a vision for it, much like Kayla did for her wedding. Their wedding. He swallowed. “Over the years, I’ve made some updates. Custom kitchen, new bathrooms, sauna, jacuzzi, and the great room.” He tilted his head for her to follow.
He hadn’t had anyone over in a long time and was pleased to show off his rustic yet modern home. It was worthy of a magazine spread or a home show on TV. Exposed beams spanned the ceiling, polished hardwood floors throughout, and the hearth was slate but the furnishings were creamy white cut with soft gray.
She spun in a circle before stopping in front of the large windows overlooking the hills and pastures. “It’s like a painting.” She smiled.
“It’s even better because we get to live in it.” He envisioned her riding through the fields on Genesis, coming home to the ranch, and the two of them snuggling in front of the fire at the end of the day. The stirrings in his chest prompted his pulse to increase as though he’d been riding by her side. He felt warm all over as if the hearth was ablaze.
“I should probably go make those cupcakes,” she said at a whisper.
He closed the space between them. Did she feel it too? “First, we ride.”
She shook her head and spread her fingers in a universal stop gesture. “I thought I could bake instead of—”
Without thinking he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and made for the exit to the barns. “Off we go.”
“Dallen, you heard my mother and my sister—” She protested as she gently beat her fists against his back.
“I also heard you when you stood up to Chloe. That was the voice of a woman who is fierce and strong and who can ride a horse.”
Chapter 7
Kayla
Kayla was forced to tag along to every single one of Chloe’s horse lessons when she was a kid so she knew the basics. However, as Dallen explained them the voice of objection in her mind about getting on the powerful beast quieted and the fear lessened.
Was it because she’d found her own voice and stood up to Chloe after she showed her true colors—a person who’d consider betraying her husband if only to compete with her sister?
Was it because Dallen brought something out in her—a primal, strong woman who could roar if she wanted to?
Or was it the way he made her feel? Like there was possibility for her future even if it started as a fake date and became a fake marriage.
No, because no matter how it had started, she knew how it would end. In disaster, sadness, and heartache. Experience had been a cruel teacher.
But that wouldn’t stop her from enjoying the moment, or rather the scenery. Specifically, the Cute Cowboy. As Dallen fastened the saddle on Genesis’s back, she couldn’t help but admire the way his T-shirt hugged the cut muscles in his arms, how he moved with confidence and masculinity, and the way the private smile on his lips made her wonder what he was thinking.
“Alright, up you go,” he said.
“Do we really have to do this?” She tried to get out of it one last time.
He turned his head and when his eyes landed on her she warmed all over. “You wouldn’t deny the birthday boy, would you?”
“I brought ingredients to make cupcakes to celebrate your birthday. Isn’t that enough?” The plea was futile because she knew he’d get her on that horse. In fact, since they’d met, he’d challenged her to push past her comfort zone.
First, to warm him up at the café by joking—he was all prickly and mean—and she wasn’t ordinarily that friendly with strangers. Though it did help that he was outrageously handsome.
Then when he left her the cupcake top, he challenged her to forgive him for being such a jerk.
At the rehearsal dinner, there was the challenge of the idea that someone like him could be her fake date. She knew she wasn’t bad looking but not a single guy had so much as looked her way since Bradley had left her for the girl from the hot dog stand, as far as she knew, and certainly not a man as strikingly good-looking as Dallen. Then again, she didn’t exactly want guys to look at her since she’d sworn them off. But Dallen challenged her to look at the image she had of herself.
Then, just that morning, he challenged her ideas of marriage. She wanted to marry and had thought about every detail but after her relationship with Bradley imploded, part of her didn’t believe it would ever happen. Maybe she was wrong. Perhaps it could happen even if it was fake.
Just minutes earlier, with one look—and by tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of grain—Dallen challenged her to overcome her fear of horses.
“You ready?” he asked.
She muttered, “Hopefully, we’ll ride off into the wild blue yonder. No one will ever hear from me again and I can avoid fake weddings, real ones, and the sudden mess I’ve found myself in.”
“Come on, it’s not that bad. I can tell them it was a joke,” Dallen said as he tightened the reins.
“No, you saw how they are. I’m the joke. The family joke.”
He shook his head. “What about your brother?” His voice was measured, careful.
She inhaled. “No, I’m not a joke to him, but he also had the sense not to stick around. I miss him terribly though.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.”
A quiet understanding passed between them: they both had family difficulties. He’d seen hers and although she didn’t know what had happened between him and his brothers, his pain was visible in the way his forehead furrowed and from the sudden tension across his shoulders whenever it came up in conversation.
“We can talk about it if you want,” she offered.
He smirked. “That’s sweet of you but you’re not getting out of this.”
“That’s not why—”
He shook his head but his eyes crinkled and he teased her with a hint of a smile that just barely revealed his dimple. She exhaled the last bits of resistance as Dallen held out one of his large hands to boost her up. She gave in. Her hand fit delicately inside his, sending warmth and something more shooting through her. Kayla’s mind fogged over at the feeling of his touch and his low drawl as he instructed her on how to mount the horse.
Once more he challenged her, however, it was to remember her left and right hands, her center of gravity, and her right foot and left as she struggled to get in the saddle.
She wobbled and he laughed.
Her foot tangled in the stirrup and he chortled.
She clutched Genesis’s mane for dear life once she was on top and his expression softened.
He challenged her alright, only this time it was to think straight.
“Are you sure you’ve never done this before? You’re a natural.” The laughter remained in his voice. “And adorable,” he mumbled.
Or maybe he said abysmal, she wasn’t sure.
“Embrace it. Don’t overthink it.”
“Easy for you to say,” she retorted as he vaulted onto a bay Clydesdale who kept
stealing glances at Genesis.
“Eyes up, Jasper,” he said to his horse.
Dallen was a patient teacher as he instructed Kayla and soon, they moved at a gentle pace toward the fields.
“Thank you, Genesis,” she whispered. Had it been any other horse, she worried she’d already have been kicked off or clear up to Alaska.
Jasper, Dallen’s horse, repeatedly tried to nudge Genesis on her rear flank. She’d swish her tail and make a low scolding sound and he’d drop back a few paces.
“What’s going on?” Kayla asked the fifth time it happened and they’d stopped by a stream for the horses to drink. “Do I keep getting in your way or something?”
Dallen chuckled. “No, Jasper has a thing for Genesis.”
“A thing?”
“He’s doing the horse version of flirting.”
“Horses don’t flirt.”
“These two do.”
“Genesis is not flirting with him, are you girl?” Kayla smoothed her hand along the horse’s neck.
“Maybe not right now but she doesn’t need to. He can’t help himself.”
Water suddenly soaked Kayla’s foot and she stared at the pair of animals. Genesis snorted and shook the water from her muzzle after splashing Jasper.
“He’s like a boy in middle school who tugs on a girl’s pigtails because he likes her. As I said he can’t help himself.” He smirked.
When the horses were done drinking, Dallen said, “Let’s go up to that rise there and take a break. I’ll show you what I mean.”
Dallen led the way to a small hill where they had a three-hundred-sixty-degree vista, including the snowy mountains in the distance. He dismounted and then helped Kayla to the ground. His hand slipped down her waist to her hip, sending her body aquiver.
He passed her a bottle of water from the saddle bag, gave the horses a snack, then tossed her an apple. She caught it and they both sat in the grass, munching.
Genesis strutted down the hill a measure and Jasper followed her.
“Should we hold onto them?”
Dallen shook his head. “Trust me, as much as Jasper wants to run away with Genesis, they won’t go far. He’s a flirt but he’s also a good boy.”