Keith had his eyes on the rest of the herd. “She’ll sort herself out. C’mon, we should head back. Mom needs me to take over with Austin.”
“Why? What’s happening?”
“Dad got last-minute tickets to Alan Jackson in Calgary. She has to get ready.”
Another date. They’d always made time for each other, but since their mother’s spa session, the two were like newlyweds. It should be he and Keith acting that way, not their parents.
A warm day, Goldie and Blackberry didn’t care to hurry. Neither did Clover, who padded about, shoving her canine snout into every gopher hole. Even Keith, who was always on the move, let Goldie pick the pace. It was his day off and Keith was where he wanted to be.
Their dad seemed willing to let them take over the ranch, but Keith had always resisted. Will wondered if it was because his younger brother disagreed with Will’s intent to expand the horse operation.
“What do you think of Laura’s new maid of honor?” Keith said.
Laura and her mother had had a back-and-forth about it a couple of days back during which he and his dad had hid out with the horses. “Not my concern,” he said.
“She also told me that Krista’s playing the part of your rodeo girlfriend this year.”
“Yep.”
Keith pulled down on the front of his hat. “You and Dana have a falling-out?”
“Not that I’m aware of. She didn’t want to do it this year, is all, and I’m okay with that.”
“Why doesn’t she?”
Will shifted in his saddle to take a good look at Keith. Was his too-busy-to-think brother sparing a moment for Dana? The two wouldn’t do all that badly as a couple. They both loved farming; they both had the same ideas about it; she was good with Austin; they’d known each other since they were kids. Maybe all that was needed was for Will as his big brother to prod him in the right direction.
“Apparently she’s interested in someone who’s coming to the rodeo, and she doesn’t want to give the impression she’s with me.”
“Who?”
“She wouldn’t say.” At first, anyway.
Will let Keith mull on that up and down one short hill. “Must be one of the contestants. Didn’t think they were her type.”
Keith was definitely bothered by the notion of Dana with someone. “Could be. Could be one of the food truck operators. Or the clown.”
“Shut up,” Keith said easily. “I guess so long as it’s her idea, that’s fine. Otherwise considering how long Dana and you have been friends, it wouldn’t be right to pass her over for somebody like Krista.”
Will understood what his brother was getting at, but his hackles rose even so. “What are you implying?”
“I like her well enough, but she’s not suited for life with you.”
Pretty much the conclusion he and Krista had settled on, but that others saw it too...well, it was kind of disappointing. “I get that. We’re dating for a few days, pretending to anyway, and then it’s over.”
“Don’t forget Laura’s wedding. You two are going to be together most of the day, and then we have the rehearsal coming up, too.”
And just like that, Will felt better. “I forgot. There’s that whole dance thing we’ll have to figure out.”
“Which Alyssa had down pat.”
Only because of a couple of private sessions in which Will had spent as much time dancing around her advances as doing the dance itself. He should have come right out then and there, and told her plainly he wasn’t interested. He’d tried to hint at it. He’d asked her if she was seeing anyone, and she’d perked up and said no and why was he asking? Too late he realized his question implied interest. But he wasn’t sure how to let her down without hurting her. Krista had warned him about the coffee date but he’d sidestepped it until he could figure out what to say. Coward. Krista probably agreed.
“I’m sure Krista will catch on to the dance quick enough,” Will said.
“But why even ask Krista to replace Dana? Why do you need a fake girlfriend, anyway? Why not use a real one?”
“Because I don’t have a real one.”
“You could with Alyssa. You’d have to be blind not to see she wants to go out with you.”
“Maybe Laura and I feel the same way about her.”
“Better choice than Krista. Take it from me.”
Will bristled. “What? There some history between the two of you?”
“No. But you’ve got to recognize the similarity between Krista and Macey.”
“Other than the two are both blondes, no, I don’t.”
“How about the fact that they both hate farming—no, the entire outdoors, and they always want everything their way.”
He thought of Krista’s insistence on not missing any part of the pedicure. It wasn’t so much her way, but the right way. “Seems to me,” Will said, “you’re being a little excessive.”
“Am I? You warned me about Macey, and I didn’t listen. All I’m doing is handing your own advice back to you.”
They were at the corrals now and Will leaned down to open the gate. “First of all, we’re not dating.”
Goldie carried Keith through the opening. “That’s what you keep saying. But how come you asked her to be your fake girlfriend in the first place? You go off to get a gift certificate for Mom and you come back two hours later with a fake girlfriend. Which you don’t even mention until Laura finds out from Krista herself.”
Blackberry, practiced for years on farm work, held tight as Will pulled the gate closed. That kind of teamwork was why he trained horses.
“Because I’d half forgotten about it.” Except every night and morning when he rubbed his bare feet together.
“But why her?”
“She mentioned she wanted more clients, and I figured this way we could kill two birds with one stone.” He didn’t mention their discussion was over a pedicure. If Keith needed any proof that Will had lost his mind over Krista, permitting her to rub lotion on his bare feet would blow his cover wide open.
Keith shook his head as he dismounted. “She sweet-talked you into it.”
Will followed suit. “No, it was my idea. I had to talk her into it. Can’t you give me some credit? I’m not as stupid as you were.”
“I was stupid,” Keith said, uncinching the straps, “but I’m not anymore. It’ll be a cold day before I ever marry again.”
Dana sure had her work cut out for her. “Not every woman’s like Macey,” Will said.
Keith swung his saddle off. “Question is, how can we ever be sure?”
Wasn’t that the million-dollar question? Not that it mattered with Krista. They were both clear that they didn’t care about each other, not like a real couple.
* * *
“YOU READY?” Will said from behind Krista.
“Not a clue. I hope your boots have steel toes.”
“You wouldn’t step all over your good work, would you?”
Before Krista could answer, Janet called the wedding party to attention. They were gathered in the Claverley rodeo dance hall to rehearse the wedding dance. “We’ll do it without the music first,” she said, “then with it, and finally we’ll review any part that needs extra work.”
Which would be every part in her case.
The five girls were strung out with the guys matched up behind before a low stage where the DJ would be, tonight represented by Janet’s ancient boombox. It was early evening, the perfect time for a walk along the lake, or to sit on her deck unwinding with Mara. Not to be untangling her feet among this choreographed ensemble.
“And one...”
“Do what I say,” Will whispered in her ear. Calm. Playful. Her breath steadied. Her nerves reacted well to that combo.
“...two, three, four. Vine to the right. Vine to the left,” Janet Claverley called
to the wedding party. “Remember, girls, you will be wearing your skirts. For those of you—Krista and Laura—not wearing them tonight, pretend you’re lifting them. Let’s start at the top.”
“I swear,” Keith muttered as they shuffled back to their starting positions, “this prancing around is enough to turn every man off marriage.”
His sister glared at him. He shrugged. “All I’m saying is why can’t we dance like normal?”
“Because,” Will said to Keith warningly, “this isn’t your wedding.”
Krista agreed with Will but the parts of her brain responsible for coordinating movement wanted to high-five Keith.
Janet clapped her hands and gave the start-up count. “Vine to the right. Vine to the left. Right forward. Left forward. Turn clockwise. Clockwise, Krista. Left forward. Right forward. Turn counterclockwise. No, the other way, Krista.”
Even with Will’s whispered instructions and his hand guiding her, she felt as if she’d crashed onto the stage of a dance troupe. Krista had watched the video of the dance a million times, but tonight Janet was throwing in variations that seemed to come straight out of Dancing with the Stars. It didn’t help that everyone else had been practicing for weeks and had probably been able to country dance the day after they started to walk.
As the music segued into the bridal dance, Laura, in Ryan’s arms, peeked over his shoulder at Krista. Her worry lines had reappeared.
“I’m stressing your sister,” Krista murmured to Will.
“Don’t worry. The wedding’s not for a while yet.”
“A week this Saturday, Will.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Well then, you’re screwed.” He paused. “We’re screwed.”
“I’m making you look bad, aren’t I?”
“I’ll live.”
She searched his face. Calm and composed. He really didn’t mind. “I don’t want to screw it up for Laura.”
“She’ll forgive you. No one will care.”
“I will care. My job is to make other people look good, but this is taking it a little too far. I’m the wonky wheel on the shopping cart. The loud drunk in the church. The—the—the—” She floundered to describe exactly how bad she was.
“The ex-rodeo rancher in the spa.”
He had her there. “Your feet recovered yet?”
“My toes curl in horror every time I put my boots on. They’ve gone all soft and spoiled.”
“Bring them back anytime and I’ll indulge their every wish.”
“Because my toes want what my toes want?”
Krista broke into laughter, surprising herself at its unintended flirty drift. She’d not dated since leaving Toronto. Her heart had needed a break. But if she could find someone like Will, someone laid-back—only less...country—she might try again.
The rest of the party was drifting off. “If you want, we can practice now.”
It would be a good idea, but she wasn’t sure if she should take him up on the offer. It might send mixed signals about their relationship to the others. And yet everyone could see she needed help, and she really didn’t want to mess things up for Laura.
“If you’ve the time...”
“Hey, Mom,” Will called. “Can you leave the music? Krista and I are staying to practice.”
In unison, everyone turned to them. Laura grinned. Janet and Keith frowned. Two out of three Claverleys disapproved of her. She’d no idea how Dave weighed in. Hard man to figure out. Like Will.
“Oh well, I suppose,” Janet said faintly.
“See you all later,” Will said. He sounded like when he’d been guiding her movements earlier. Steady and a titch bossy. In short order, the entire group was filing out as neatly as travelers through a turnstile, leaving the entire floor to Will and Krista.
* * *
WILL WAS A natural teacher. He switched on the music. “Otherwise it’s just walking in all directions.”
He sang to her, low and punching up the beats to signal the turns, humming through the instrumental riffs. He had a voice that could land him a stage in front of a crowd of buckle bunnies.
Not that she would tell him that. He’d think she was coming on to him. He’d break off his fake arrangement and she’d lose her best opportunity to rustle up clients. Not to mention dealing with a second rejection.
As it was, his every touch crackled through her. Her senses jumped at the push and pull of his fingertips as he coached her away and then closer to him.
“I bet,” she said, “that if I stayed trained to your hand, I’ll be good.”
“You’re really going to let me lead?”
“Of course. I can’t be trusted on my own, that’s clear.”
“Leading will be a new experience for me.”
He must be referring to dancing with Alyssa whose type A personality prevented her from letting someone else lead. And if Will had let Alyssa dominate on the dance floor, he’d likely not taken charge in their personal relationship. She debated speaking to Will as he walked over to kill the music.
In the sudden quiet, he strolled back, his boots on the plank floor beating out a slow rhythm. Her own heartbeat kicked up. No. She made up her mind. “I’m going to say something, okay?”
He gestured to where wall panels reached waist-high, a series of uprights continuing to run up to the overhanging roof. The open-air spaces between the uprights allowed for a view of the rodeo grounds, barn and, to the west, the dipping sun. He leaned his elbow on the ledge of one opening, adjusting to take the weight off his bad shoulder. Before she could ask about his injury, he said, “Shoot.”
Right. She was sticking her nose into his business enough without going into his medical history. “Has Laura told you much about her fight with Alyssa?” She was no-go territory among the bridal party. During the past week of preparations, the group texts were dead quiet on the sudden change in maids of honor. Whatever Laura wanted, the rest of them were more than happy to give.
“Nope. And she said she doesn’t plan to. I guess she’s still invited to the wedding.”
No-go territory among the Claverleys, too, it seemed. “And how do you feel about that?”
“It doesn’t affect me. Are you going somewhere with this?”
Krista had to tread carefully. She didn’t want to betray her friendship with Laura, but she also wanted to warn Will about Alyssa’s intentions.
“The thing is, the fight between Laura and Alyssa was mostly about me, but your name came up.”
Will winced as if she’d flicked dirt into his eyes. Poor Will. He really hated being the center of attention. She followed his gaze to the yard below. It was pretty. Deep shadows stretched from the barn, the fences, the trees, mellowing the edges of the day and softening harsh colors. Then there was the setting sun. She’d moved around a lot—first with her nomadic parents and then again as an adult—and seen sunsets around the world. This one might not be as majestic as one in Hawaii, but there was something to be said for its low-key splashiness. A free nighttime show for anyone to watch.
Will shifted beside her, his shoulder skimming hers. “Looks like the sky got into your nail polish.”
Changing the subject away from Alyssa and him. Then again, there was definite appeal to discussing a sunset with a handsome cowboy. What right-minded single girl wouldn’t? Only, she had a job to do. “Before things went south, Alyssa said that she’s been dropping hints that she’d like to date you.”
Will rolled his shoulders. “Yeah. I got that impression. I tried to set her straight without hurting her but it backfired.”
“You need to tell her straight-out. Otherwise this situation will blow up in your face.” There, it was finally out there.
Will removed his hat and gave his thick hair a fierce scrubbing. What she’d love to do with that hair. By way of styling, of
course. “But we haven’t even gone out. Won’t she get the hint after a while?”
“How long has she been chasing you?”
“Last few months for sure. She took me to the movies on Valentine’s Day. Some sort of singles celebration,” she said. “I didn’t get the hint until Keith explained it to me afterward.”
Krista puckered her lips not to laugh, but his eyes drifted to her mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if that flicked dirt was getting ground in. “Why can’t she say what she means?”
“Why don’t you?” Krista said. “Man up and tell her you’re not interested. A little honesty now will save you a whole lot of pain later.”
Some of her own bitterness edged into her voice. They both studied the sunset. The brilliant oranges were gone, faded to bands of purples and pinks.
“Speaking from bitter experience?” he said softly.
She could brush it off, but maybe if she shared her experience he would understand the urgency. “My ex from Toronto. Things between us weren’t going well. And when I decided to stay here, I broke things off between us. He got nasty.”
“Laura said he slandered you on Facebook and Instagram.”
“She told you about it?”
“Not at first, but at the time she was moody and thumping around, checking her phone every half hour. This whole ranch shrinks right up when Laura clouds over. She explained what was going on. Not all, I’m thinking, but enough.”
Will and his whole family knew about her humiliation. Had she really believed it would be otherwise? Had he seen the pics of her nightie on the blow-up doll? Phil’s innuendoes?
“It’s finished now.”
“I’ve got a head gate he could be fitted into. A whole lot of manure for him to get a close whiff of.”
He’d given this some thought. And she was a—a not-quite friend. Imagine his fierceness if she was...someone closer. “There’s something about the breakup I haven’t told anyone. Something I’ve only now realized myself.
Harlequin Heartwarming June 2021 Box Set Page 77