“Uncle Travis,” Cass yelled as she and Tess came back in the house. “Uncle Travis!”
“I’m right here, kiddo,” Travis said, sitting up on the couch where he had been resting. If he was going to make it though the evening, he needed to spend some time with his legs elevated.
Cass ran through the dining area and around the couch, jumping on his chest. “I can’t wait to show you. It’s so pretty, just like in my fairy book,” Cass said, waving her little hands in animated motion as she described the decorations at the pond.
“Speaking of fairy books, why don’t you go get one of yours and we’ll read for a little while,” Tess said, smiling at Cass, knowing the little girl really needed a nap before the festivities.
“Okay!” Cass said, taking off at a run. When she returned, she leaped onto Tess’ lap, where she sat in the big rocking chair.
Slowly rocking the chair, Tess didn’t have to read long before Cass was sound asleep. Picking up the little girl, Tess carried Cass to her bedroom and settled her on the bed before partially closing her door. She knew from experience the tiny livewire would sleep an hour or two then be raring to go.
Returning to the great room, she decided to join Travis in taking a breather before the troops descended. Family Travis hadn’t seen in years would be arriving any time for the wedding. Every room in the house was going to be packed to overflowing.
“Come over here, honeybee,” Travis said, holding out his hand to Tess as she came back into the room. Turning on his side, he made room for her to rest beside him on the couch. Tess wasn’t sure about the wisdom of it, but decided they couldn’t get in too much trouble in the few minutes of quiet they’d have before the phone rang, a delivery arrived, or someone else needed something.
Snuggling her back against Travis’ chest, she released a contented sigh as he wrapped his arms around her and settled his chin on the top of her head.
“I could get used to this,” Travis rumbled in her ear.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Tess said quietly as Travis cuddled her close. “I think I kind of like you.”
“I like you, too, honeybee,” Travis whispered, suddenly exhausted. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply and let the warmth of Tess in his arms sink into his soul.
The next thing either of them knew, Cass was patting their cheeks and informing them they were missing out on “important busyness.”
“Busyness is right, miss busy bee,” Travis teased Cass as he came fully awake and tweaked her nose. Tess stretched against him, making him wish he could hold her tight and kiss her senseless. Her body, pressed to his, was doing things to him both physically and mentally that he just couldn’t deal with at the moment. Instead of giving in to his desires, he watched Tess get to her feet and follow Cass to the kitchen. Glancing at the clock, he couldn’t believe he and Tess slept for an hour. He hoped no one needed anything while they were dozing.
Feeling well-rested, he got up and hobbled to the kitchen just as the phone rang.
By four-thirty, the house was nearly bursting at the seams with people. Denni arrived with Nana and set up camp in one guest room. Aunts, uncles and cousins flooded in the doors and Travis couldn’t remember where half of them came from or even who some of them were.
He took a quick shower and shaved, getting mostly dressed in his tuxedo, leaving the jacket draped over a chair in the dining room.
Tess was in the kitchen making more iced tea and trying to keep Cass from getting dirty. The child had obviously just gotten out of the tub and was wearing a white slip as she sat at the counter drinking milk and eating cookies.
“You clean up well,” Tess said, glancing at Travis with admiration as he sat on a barstool and took a cookie from Cass. He bent down and rubbed his nose to hers, causing an eruption of giggles. His hair was still a little damp from his shower and though short, it curled on the ends, making Tess’ fingers itch to trail through it. He left his white tuxedo shirt unbuttoned and his chest muscles bunched and strained against his white undershirt.
Tess swallowed hard. When he got the tie and jacket in place, she wasn’t sure she could handle how good he was going to look. Returning her attention to making more tea and putting sandwiches and cookies on a platter, she tried to ignore the way her heart was pounding as Travis’ scent filled her nose and swamped her senses.
“Thanks, honeybee. You going to change soon?” Travis asked, looking forward to seeing her in her dress. She was beautiful to him no matter what she wore, but he did enjoy seeing her all “gussied up,” as Nana called it. Tess was one of those females who seemed to really enjoy being dressed up.
“As soon as I find an empty bathroom where I can take a quick shower,” Tess said grabbing Cass’ milk before she tipped it over. With Cady serving as matron of honor and helping Lindsay, Tess was more than happy to watch over Cass until she could fulfill her duty as flower girl. “Maybe I should just run home.”
“How about Cass’ room?” Travis asked, nodding his head in the direction of the hallway. Between his tanned face, glowing blue eyes and teasing grin, Tess felt her knees start to weaken.
“Nana is in there and your mom is in the room across the hall. I’ll figure out something,” Tess said glancing at the clock and knowing she needed to hurry. Before she could say anything else, another bunch of relatives Travis didn’t recognize came in the door. Tess disappeared before he could see where she went, taking Cass with her.
After leaving Cass with Denni, Tess gathered up her clothes and travel bag and ran over to see if she could find an empty bathroom in the other wing of the house. Poking her head in Travis’ door, she found an empty room and the bathroom door open. Hurrying in, she jumped in the shower trying to completely block out the thought that she was taking a shower in the bathroom Travis used every day. The scent of his aftershave and the man himself seemed to permeate the very walls of the room.
She was just wrapping a towel around her when she heard a quick knock and the door opened. Travis was talking as he stuck his head around the door.
“Trey, Trent said he needed…” Travis’ mouth hung open in surprise, but no words came out. Trent told him he thought Trey was getting ready in his room since Cady and Lindsay ousted him from the master suite. Hearing the shower turn off, Travis decided to poke his head in the door and ask Trey a question. Only the glimpse of soft woman that greeted him threw him for a loop.
Travis was spellbound by the sight of Tess, standing all dewy and fresh from the shower. Creamy skin, ringlets of long dark hair, chest heaving in startled bewilderment, and huge brown eyes drew him like a magnet. He wanted more than anything to grab the hand that held the towel together in a death grip beneath her armpit and watch the cloth fall to the floor.
Tess looked like a cat trapped with a pack of wild dogs as Travis stared at her. Although she was completely covered by the towel, she felt exposed and vulnerable, especially under Travis’ obvious and intent perusal.
“Tessa… you…dang, honeybee!” Travis finally rasped on a ragged breath, struggling to keep his composure. He suddenly felt like a fire had been lit at his toes and his quickly consuming him right to the top of his head. The temptation before him was almost more than he could handle.
Knowing if he took a step forward, things could quickly fly out of control, Travis couldn’t help himself. Crossing the distance between them in his slow gait, Travis lifted a dripping curl and wrapped it around his finger. Raising his eyes, they fused to hers. “I didn’t exactly expect to find you in here. Trent thought Trey was using my bathroom since Cady turned their room into bride-central.”
Tess offered a wobbly smile. “I… it was…It’ll just take a minute…”
“Take all the time you need to get ready. I’ll make sure no one bothers you, but you might want to lock the door,” Travis said, winking at her as he dropped the damp curl and stepped back, shutting the door behind him. Sagging onto his bed, he inhaled deeply. It took a herculean effort to step away from Tess and leave he
r alone.
Running his hand across his eyes, he knew without a doubt the vision of Tess right out of the shower was going to plague his dreams tonight. Maybe for the rest of his life. Envisioning what was on the other side of the closed bathroom door made his temperature spike even higher.
Before Travis could give it any more thought, Trent needed help with his tie, Trey couldn’t find his vest and Denni lost track of Cass in all of the hubbub.
At precisely six that evening, a hush fell over the crowd as the wedding march began and the two hundred guests turned as one to watch Lindsay’s father escort her down the pathway to the pond.
Trent gazed at his bride with emotion clogging his throat and love in his eyes. He thought she truly looked like a princess with her blond hair curled into ringlets on top of her head and her tall frame floating toward him in a princess style gown with a full skirt that seemed to be spun out of clouds, so light and airy were the multiple layers of tulle overlay. A simple fitted top was accented with cap sleeves of lace and the rhinestone necklace that her mother wore at her own wedding encircled her neck, sending out shards of sparkling light.
The sparkle Trent was most happy to see was that of love shining in Lindsay’s light blue eyes.
Lindsay looked at Trent, standing so tall and handsome in his tuxedo. It had been a challenge to find one that would fit a man six-feet-five and allow length for his boots on top of that.
Hoping the photographer remembered to take photos of the three Thompson brothers together, she thought Trent, Travis and Trey could pose for a magazine cover the way they all looked today. Lindsay couldn’t wait to officially become a part of this busy, crazy, wonderful, loving Thompson family.
Stepping on the rose petals so carefully strewn about by Cass, Lindsay smiled at the little flower girl as she stood next to Cady.
Hearing sniffling, Lindsay saw her mother already pressing a hankie to her perfectly made-up face and bit her cheek to keep from grinning. Thanks to Trent giving her mom an ear-full about the deplorable way she treated Lindsay, for the first time in her life Lindsay was enjoying spending time with her mother and forging a relationship with her.
Lindsay’s father placed her hand on top of Trent’s, kissed her cheek and took a seat next to her mother as the pastor began the service.
It was even lovelier than she imagined and Trent, along with the entire Thompson family, worked so hard to make her feel like a pampered princess today. Being married to Trent was going to mean a lifetime of romance, laughter and love.
Travis stood watching as Lindsay seemed to float to Trent. The love between the two of them was a living, breathing thing that anyone could see.
It was just as evident when he turned to see Trey and Cady sharing a private glance full of love and passion. Smiling, Travis thought once again that his brothers were really lucky guys. Their brides were as lovely on the inside as they were outside.
Tossing a quick look around the crowd, Travis stood a little straighter when his eye landed on Tess. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen with her glossy hair piled into a tumble of curls on her head, her cheeks a rosy shade of pink and those sweet lips just waiting to be kissed.
He fully intended to make sure they didn’t have to wait very long.
He tried to keep his focus on his duties and not the lovely dark-haired girl sitting in the third row wearing yet another figure-flattering dress that made him want to run his hands over the smooth navy fabric to see if it felt as cool and silky as it looked.
The ceremony went as planned and when the pastor asked for the ring, Travis quickly handed it to Trent, grinning at the pastor in victory.
As Trent gave Lindsay a kiss that made guys erupt with whistles and her mother fan her face with a hankie, the crowd stood up and cheered.
Trent took the hand of his blushing bride and led her up the pathway to the yard where the reception was planned.
Waiting for the crowd to clear out, Tess noticed Travis sat in a vacated chair in the front row. He wasn’t going to be able to walk anywhere right now without his crutches and they were by the back door in the mudroom. It looked like he was at the mercy of whoever stayed behind to haul him up the hill on the four-wheeler. Good thing she was available.
When most everyone had gone up to the yard, Tess walked over to Travis. Standing in front of him, she took him in from the top of his new black Stetson to the tips of his polished black boots. He was handsome beyond words and Tess couldn’t keep from smiling.
“Why that smile?” Travis asked, reaching out a hand and gently brushing the fabric of her skirt. The dress felt as smooth as he anticipated only instead of being cool, it was exceedingly warm. Fitting his hand to the curve of Tess’ waist, he pulled her onto his lap, inhaling her citrusy scent.
“Because,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a hug.
“Because why?” he asked, closing his eyes as he savored the feel of her in his arms.
“Because I am more than a little fond of you and you are just about the most handsome cowboy I’ve ever seen,” Tess said, her face pressed to his chest.
Travis put his finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up so he could look in those big brown eyes. They sparkled with life, happiness and love.
“Just about? Not the absolute?” Travis asked, deciding to tease her. “Who ranks above me?”
Tess gave him a flirty grin. “Well, I think Trent gets that honor today, since he is the groom. But ask me tomorrow and you might get a different answer.”
“I will, honeybee. You can count on it,” Travis said, nuzzling her neck as he drew her closer to him. “What if I said you were the most beautiful woman here tonight?”
“I’d say you are either blind or given to flattery that isn’t true. You know Lindsay is the princess of this party and there are oodles of beautiful girls here. Some of them single, several who were eyeballing you,” Tess said, trying to ignore the storm of desire Travis was igniting with his kisses on her neck.
“Lindsay is the princess, so I’ll give you that. There are other girls here? I didn’t even notice them because you, my sweet honeybee, are the most lovely, enticing, wonderful woman in my eyes tonight and every night.”
“Travis,” Tess whispered, turning her head so their lips could meet.
Travis was convinced the crowd gathered in the yard would see the sparks combusting between them and think fireworks were shooting off at the pond. Before they got carried away, Tess took a deep breath and got to her feet.
“We better get up there before Trent misses part of the best man duo,” Tess said. She walked over to the four-wheeler, started it up and rode it side-saddle to Travis. He sat down behind her and she drove them up the hill where they joined the rest of the group filling their plates with the catered meal in the front yard. Studying the four-wheeler, Tess realized even it had been scrubbed and polished with white ribbons tied across the front and back of it.
The food was excellent, although not as good as Cady’s cooking, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Cass, the mini-princess of the evening in her frilly lace dress, was busy running around as she played with old friends and made new ones.
Tess sat next to Travis in one of the tents, enjoying the atmosphere and the company. The photographer had taken a wealth of photos and was now focused on the dance floor.
They watched as Trent danced with Lindsay. He then danced with his mom as Lindsay danced with her dad. When Trent took a turn with Lindsay’s mother, Trey stepped in for a dance with the bride. After that, the band started playing some lively dance music and a crowd was soon on the dance floor. Travis looked longingly in the direction of the band, but Tess pretended she didn’t notice.
“This is amazing, but I’m starting to think there was some merit in getting married with only a week to plan,” Cady said as she sank down by Travis. “I don’t know when I’ve ever been this tired.”
Cady, who helped Lindsay plan the wedding, wor
ked to make the yard and pond look picture perfect, prepared all the rehearsal dinner food, and was now playing host to two hundred guests, made it all look so simple and easy.
“You’ve done a great job with everything, Cady,” Travis said, leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek. “And I hope that brother of mine told you how absolutely stunning you look. If not, I’ll beat him with one of my crutches.”
Cady laughed as she patted Travis on the arm. “He may have mentioned once or twice that I look nice. Thank you, Travis. You guys all look movie-star handsome tonight. Tess, you look breathtaking in that dress.”
Brice and Trey came and sat at their table and the five of them visited, watching the shakers and movers have fun on the dance floor. Cass cornered a cousin close to her age and was making him dance with her, causing the adults to laugh at their antics. When a slow song began, Trey stood and took Cady’s hand in his.
“Cady, darlin’, will you please dance with me?” Trey turned on his charm and gave his wife a pleading look. “I know you’re pooped and you shucked off your shoes half an hour ago, so you can waltz out there barefoot for all I care, but come dance with me.”
“I’d be honored, boss-man,” Cady said, getting up from the table and stuffing her tired feet back into her high heels, letting Trey pull her toward the dance-floor.
A pretty cousin of Travis’ came up to Brice and shyly asked him to dance, which he was more than happy to do. That left Tess and Travis watching the dancers.
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