“You look amazing, Renata.” Josie pointed.
“The lack of boots and jeans has been noted,” Annabeth agreed.
Renata pressed her hand against her neck. “I feel horrible.”
“Sorry, sweetie.” Kylee patted her arm, giving her a full once-over. “But sneaking out might be a challenge.”
She groaned. “I will never wear a dress again.”
“Sit.” Clara moved one of the folding chairs outside the tent. “Drink more water first. It might help.”
“We’ll keep you company until you feel better,” Annabeth offered.
“I’m good. Some fresh air will perk me up. Go dance with your husbands.” She appreciated the show of support, but she was fine being alone.
“To be honest, dancing is the last thing on my mind.” Kylee sat in a chair just inside the large white tent, within range of a radiant space heater. “My ankles are swelling. I look like a bowling ball with legs. In a fancy dress.”
“Well, my brother can’t take his eyes off you,” Renata assured her.
It was true. The twinge of jealousy was there, reminding her she had no man to look at her the way her brothers looked at their wives.
But I have you. She almost stroked her stomach. Almost. Where’s your father? Her gaze swept the tent again. She’d assumed he’d be here. Since the doctor appointment, he’d made a habit out of popping up when she least expected it. His excuse? Questions about the gingerbread contest, interest in serving on a committee for some creek restoration project—even helping Irma find the burned-out bulb on the office Christmas tree. He was there. Smiling. Acting like there was nothing out of the ordinary about him being there.
So where was he now? He could show up here without fabricating a reason. Things like big social events, especially ones connected to his co-workers, were logical functions for a new resident to attend. But there was no sign of him.
“Who are you looking for?” Annabeth asked.
Caught in the act.
“Ash Carmichael.” Kylee ran her hands over her stomach.
Renata stared at her sister-in-law. “No—” She was a terrible liar.
“Please.” Kylee shook her head. “I’ve known you for years now, Renata. I have never seen you...like that. It wasn’t just nerves, either. You like him. Like him, like him.” She smiled. “And he likes you. I don’t know how Fisher missed it. An instant spark.”
Fine. Yes. There was a spark between them. Who was she kidding? More like a full-blown, all-consuming blaze. That was all. Some bizarre physical connection that would, surely, fizzle out over time. Letting her imagination run wild or entertaining thoughts of things like love was ridiculous. She barely knew him. And she was pregnant—meaning not thinking straight. Allowing herself to possibly, maybe, fall for Ash Carmichael was out of the question. Except there was the very real possibility it was too late.
Way too late.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Renata hugged herself and swallowed. Hard.
“More water?” Clara asked.
She shook her head. She wanted to go home. If her stomach would cooperate long enough, she’d make her getaway—over the fence if necessary.
“You’re still green,” Clara argued, taking her empty glass and heading for a refill.
Once it was clear she wasn’t talking, conversation turned to the new playground equipment her father was funding for one of the city parks in honor of his grandchildren. It was important to him, a testament to how much he loved his grandchildren. Nothing was more important to her father than family.
Like Ash.
Her gaze wandered to the entrance again. And this time...
He was here.
Of course he was.
Instead of irritation or frustration, she felt... Stop with the feelings.
But looking at him, all manly and beautiful, had everything fading into the background. He was too damn beautiful. Crazy as it was, and it was, the tingles and warning bells and flutters returned. With a vengeance.
I am not falling for him. She swallowed. Nope.
He was talking to Quinton Sheehan and his cronies, laughing and smiling. Making her heart happy.
Being happy to see him was okay. It didn’t mean anything. Stonewall Crossing was his home now, too, so they’d see each other. And there was the whole baby thing.
Still, should she feel this happy? Like, giddy?
Nope. Stop looking at him. Now.
But Clara was joining his group, sidling up beside him—whispering in his ear? All the nausea and clamminess and general ick quadrupled. Whatever Clara said had Ash’s gray gaze searching the crowd. For her—she knew it.
Dammit.
The moment Ash’s eyes found her, Renata was done for.
He was walking her way, dangerously handsome in his tuxedo, a crooked grin on his face. The closer he got, the harder it was to breathe. The look on his face, heat simmering in his gaze, was impossible to ignore. Or misread.
I can think of worse things than being overwhelmingly attracted to the mother of my child. His words replayed, over and over.
It was hot. Very hot. And her stomach was in the midst of a series of spins and dives that made it impossible to stay seated. Not if the women were going to keep teasing. And he was closing in on her. Besides, if she continued to sit here, he’d join them. There was no way she’d be able to hide what she was feeling. They’d take one look at her and know it.
She was up and moving toward him before she had time to think things through. And once she was inches away from him, her senses were flooded with things like his scent and his warmth and...him. “Ash.” Apparently, that was all she could muster.
“Renata.” His voice was gruff and low.
Try again. “You...look nice in a tux.”
“Thank you.” He swallowed. “You look hot.”
His serious expression had her laughing.
She liked it when he was looking at her mouth like that. Like he wanted to kiss her. The way he was looking at her right now. It would be better if they weren’t surrounded by Stonewall Crossing’s finest.
“Clara said you were feeling poorly again?”
“Your fault.” She shrugged.
His eyes widened and his knock-the-air-from-her-lungs grin spread. “Guilty.” He didn’t sound the least bit bad about it. He looked a little too...pleased with himself, actually. “Up for a dance?” He held his hand out.
Bad idea. “Are my feet in any danger?” His hand was warm around hers.
“I promise to make it up to you later.” The matter-of-fact delivery almost kept her bones from melting. Almost.
“Ash,” she whispered, willing her body to behave—with no success. Glancing around them confirmed her fears. People were staring. Smiling, but staring. And talking. People like Winnie Santos and Lola Stephens. Her stomach dropped.
Say no. Dancing with him? A colossal mistake. But No, thank you or Have a nice evening or Good night wouldn’t come out and, somehow, they ended up on the dance floor.
“Stop looking at me like that.” She pleaded, far too aware of the man holding her close.
“Like what?” He frowned. “You just have a dirty mind, Miss Boone.”
Her mouth dropped open and she was laughing again.
“You’re beautiful, Renata.” It was a whisper. His hand rested at the base of her spine. Big. Strong. Warm. “And sexy as hell.”
He was playing with her. And loving every minute of it. The problem was—so was she.
* * *
Ash was sweating. Nervous.
He could do this. He liked having Renata in his arms. He liked how easy the banter was between them. And the gleam in her eyes when she looked at him? He definitely liked that. All it took was one look, and anticipation was pumping through his veins—for this woman.
This c
ould work. This, they, could be good. But she had to give them a chance.
Teddy’s reluctant blessing—and warning—still rang in his ears.
My daughter deserves a man’s love and loyalty. Anything less is intolerable. He’d cleared his throat, his blue eyes sharp. You understand me, son?
Yes, sir. He’d forced the words out, feeling like a fraud.
Having this... It will mean... She’ll know you have my blessing. This was her mother’s. It’s special. Teddy’s voice had wavered as he’s handed over the filigree ruby ring. Like my daughter.
Now Ash stood, holding her close, the ring burning a hole through his pocket, trying to muster the courage to ask—plead if need be—to give their babies the family they deserved.
“I found a place I like today. The old Gruber place?”
Her blue eyes widened. “I used to call it the fairy-tale house.”
Ash knew that, courtesy of Teddy. The Grubers used to host parties throughout the years and, according to her father, Renata had looked forward to them most. She’d been entranced by the house’s dramatic steepled rooftops, gabled windows, stained glass and carved wooden doors—all imported by Charles Gruber’s relative sometime back in the early eighteen hundreds.
“I was sad when I heard the family was selling it.” She paused, frowning. “It’s a lot of house for you, isn’t it?”
He shook his head. “Big enough for half a dozen kids, me, the wife and the mothers. We’ll put the mothers in the carriage house, of course.” He ignored her shock and kept right on talking. “It’s mostly renovated. The kids will be spoiled, getting their own bathrooms. The living room and dining room are large, built for a big family.” He waited.
She blinked. “A half a dozen kids?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I want a big family. The wife can decide, since she’s the one who has to carry them for nine months.”
She blinked again, stiffening in his arms. “I’m sure she will appreciate that. Very considerate.”
“I’ll always do my best to be considerate of your thoughts and feelings.” He meant it.
She froze, in the middle of the dance floor, her blue eyes wide.
It had been a long time since he’d felt anything but pain in his chest, but now he felt something else. Panic, maybe. A little fear. And something else. A tug. In his chest. Deep down. He cared about Renata—making this far easier than he’d expected. “Renata Boone, I need to ask you something.”
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No, you don’t, Ash. Not here.”
“Yes, here. In front of your family.” He leaned closer. “And four brothers that might very well string me up if this goes wrong.”
She shook her head. “Ash, please—”
He stepped back, putting enough space between them to end her plea. There was no going back now. He pulled the ring from his pocket and held it out, the red stone sparkling under the hundreds of lights strung overhead—
It happened so quickly he didn’t have time to react. One minute she was shaking her head, wide eyes fixed on the ring, the next she was throwing up all over the dance floor and his polished shoes.
The whole tent seemed to erupt.
“Oh God,” Renata groaned, covering her face with her hands.
He was too startled to do much more than pull her close. “Are you okay?”
“No,” she whispered. “No, I’m not okay. I can’t believe you... Why did you do this?” She pushed away from him and straightened, attempting to hide how shaken and upset she really was.
“Oh, Renata, honey.” Clara was there, leading the Boone women onto the dance floor for a group rescue.
All he could do was stand there while they took her away, feeling like an ass. He’d expected shock. Possibly resistance. But there had been betrayal on her face—and humiliation.
Teddy Boone was doing his best not to laugh as he crossed the dance floor, offering Ash a handkerchief. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how you imagined it.” He chuckled then.
“No, sir,” he agreed, waving off the offer of his handkerchief as he surveyed his shoes. “I should check on her.”
“Let Clara take care of her.” Teddy sighed, his gaze sweeping the tent. “I’m afraid Renata’s...reaction will require some damage control.”
Ash frowned, assessing the room.
Winnie Santos was smiling, animatedly talking to a group of women—Lola Stephens among them.
“Dammit,” he ground out. “She’s not going to be happy.”
“No, son, she’s not.” Teddy sighed. “But you can make it a little easier.”
“Tell me how.”
“Stonewall Crossing’s a small town, Ash. And Renata is well loved.” He nodded at his sons. “You need to win them over, and they’ll stop at nothing to help you win my daughter’s affection.”
It was his turn to feel nauseous. “Isn’t that a little manipulative? I don’t want to force her into—”
“Oh, you won’t. We both know how stubborn that girl is when she makes up her mind.” The older man clapped him on the shoulder. “But they won’t run you out of town if they know you want to marry her—even if she does say no.” His brows rose.
“Oh.” He nodded. There was no arguing with the older man’s wisdom. Stonewall Crossing was his home now, but what happened next could determine whether or not he remained welcome here.
“She okay?” Hunter asked, eyeing Ash with suspicion.
“Ash might have gotten her a little riled up.” Teddy smiled. “She’ll be fine.”
Hunter shot his father a sidelong look. “What’s going on?”
Teddy looked at him, shrugging. “Up to you.”
Ash pulled the ring from his pocket—right about the time Fisher arrived.
“What the hell?” Fisher practically growled. “I don’t know what you said to her but—” He broke off, his gaze falling to the ring Ash held.
Hunter chuckled. “That was her answer?”
“I was still asking the question when, well, you saw.” He looked down at his feet.
“Sounds like an answer to me,” Fisher bit out, turning his scowl on his father. “You’re telling me you’re okay with this?”
Teddy Boone’s brows rose and his jaw locked. “I am. And so should you be. That baby is his.”
“Babies,” Ash interjected.
“Of course.” Teddy chuckled.
“She doesn’t love him.” Fisher’s posture eased, the respect he bore for his father obvious. But the edge to his voice remained. “He doesn’t love her.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Teddy spoke with such confidence even Ash almost believed.
“Is Renata okay?” When Lola Stephens joined them, he wasn’t sure. But she was craning her neck to peer around Fisher Boone. Her gaze darted between them before honing in on the ring and instantly brightening. “Oh my! I knew it. I knew it. Ask Carl. I just knew you were sweet on our girl.”
Ash didn’t argue.
“And that, right there, is enough to make any girl a little overexcited. Winnie’s over there trying to turn it into something it’s not—you know how that woman is.” She shook her head.
“Well,” Teddy interrupted. “Sometimes there’s a grain of truth to things.”
Lola perked up.
“We might have gotten things a little out of order.” Ash mustered as much enthusiasm as possible. “But I have every intention of remedying things as soon as I can.”
Lola was all smiles. “Sometimes things can get a little carried away.”
Fisher’s jaw looked ready to pop off.
“I’m glad to hear it’ll all work out in the end.” Lola hooked her arm through Teddy’s, excited. “And that there are still folk that believe in old-fashioned values.”
It took no time for word to spread. He smiled, sho
ok hands and got so many congratulations it felt like the town had accepted they were already engaged. But he knew the truth. And tomorrow, when he faced her, he suspected she wouldn’t share in the enthusiasm. Or be eager to accept his proposal.
Chapter 10
Renata pulled on her mittens, zipped up her down coat and tugged her brightly colored knit hat on. It was twenty-eight degrees, pitch black and she had a flat tire. She could call one of her brothers...and they’d come and drag her home.
Home.
She rested her forehead on the steering wheel.
She didn’t run. Ever. But she’d never, ever been so humiliated. The whole town had been there, watching as Ash’s obvious proposal went horribly, horribly wrong. She groaned. What choice did she have? Facing Stonewall Crossing now—her family—set her stomach to churning all over again. And there was absolutely nothing left in it.
But it wasn’t just the spectacle of her absolute embarrassment. Betrayal and hurt battled for dominance. Her father... He’d given Ash his blessing? She’d told him, and her brothers, that they weren’t getting married. But clearly her opinion didn’t matter.
Of course her father wanted her to marry the father of her child—that’s what she wanted, too. If there was love and commitment and all the things an engaged couple should feel. She and Ash weren’t that couple. And, still, her own father wanted her to marry him? After telling her and showing her, every day of his life, the necessity of love to a marriage and family, how could he believe she’d accept Ash’s proposal?
What was worse... If she’d seen even a glimmer of something, beyond fear and panic, in his eyes—some hint of affection—she might have accepted his proposal. Because...because of what she was feeling for him.
She shook her head, firmly locking away that conundrum for now. Not tonight.
Whether or not the proposal had happened, word was out. And now Stonewall Crossing was abuzz over her impending marriage to the handsome new veterinarian. And the pregnancy? The constant ping of congratulations texts and well wishes seemed to suggest everyone was overjoyed at her pregnancy—due to her imminent marriage.
That would all change when she rejected him. And she would reject him.
Home on the Ranch: Texas Wedding Page 11