“No, that’s our…” Her words stopped. How did she explain Kage? She hadn’t talked to Callie much since Kage’s arrival. And when they did talk, it was to discuss wedding plans which Callie was extremely busy with. “His name’s Kage. He’s temporarily working on our ranch.” She emphasized the word both for her benefit and for Callie’s.
“Temporarily?” Callie frowned, catching the emphasis.
Shrugging as if it and he meant nothing to her, Teagan looked down to brush away a non-existent thread.
“Yeah. He wants to learn all the different phases of mountain ranching to see if he wants to buy a ranch here or not.”
With half-a-nod, Callie peered out the window again. “He sure is a looker. Is he single?”
“Single?” Teagan asked, teasing. “What do you care? You’re getting married today. Remember?”
“Haha,” Callie said with no humor to the syllables.
Teagan knew what Callie was up to, but it wasn’t going to work. Before Callie had them married, Teagan needed to set her straight and remind her that she wasn’t interested in a relationship with Kage or any other rancher.
Her friend was always trying to set her up with one guy or another. Ever since Callie got engaged, she had wanted the same happiness for Teagan. And while Teagan appreciated it, she knew Callie didn’t understand her need to leave this place. To see the world. And to dance. She opened her mouth to tell her all of that but clamped it shut when she heard Barbara’s voice.
“Callie, it’s time. Everybody take your places,” Barbara, Callie’s mom, announced.
Their conversation about Kage and about not interested in having a relationship with him would have to wait. Telling herself that fact, however, wouldn’t.
Teagan, don’t even go there. Remember your dreams. Your promise to your mom. Remember how much you hate ranching. Well, not really hate. It isn’t your cup of tea. Dancing is. Anyway, get your eyes off of Kage and onto that dream. Got it, lady?
No. No she didn’t. The second she stepped out of the barn, her gaze went straight over to him, his back to be more precise, and with one glance, things she shouldn’t be thinking nearly swept her away. It took all her will to get it back onto the aisle and away from him. She was slip-sliding down a slope she’d never seen coming.
Dear Lord, help me, she pleaded before taking her place in line with the rest of the other seven bridesmaids.
I can’t fall for him. I can’t.
~*~ ♥ ~*~
Music drifted across the guests. Kage shifted in his seat along with everyone else. Everyone except for Brandy. Her eyes were glued on him, and she smiled at him as if that smile would charm him. Well, it had the complete opposite effect on him. He wasn’t interested. Why couldn’t she get the message?
He quickly shifted his eyes and placed them on Teagan. Her smile and face lit up the area brighter than the sun ever could. His gaze followed her, hoping she would glance his way if even only for a second. But she didn’t.
Not once.
A soft sigh slipped through him. What did he expect? With 200 other people here, why did he think she would single him out? Just because he felt a strange, instant connection to her, that didn’t mean that she felt it too. Besides, even if she did, nothing would ever come of it. Teagan needed to dance. Her talent was too good to waste. It was her dream. And he would never do anything to come between her and her dream.
Minutes later after the bride came down the aisle, and the bride and groom spoke their vows, Kage found himself watching Teagan at the front. He wondered if things would be different for Teagan and him if the dream wasn’t between them. For the moment, he let himself feel what it would be like to be with her, with nothing standing in their way. It was a nice dream, one he could get used to having even if in reality it would never be his.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the preacher, wearing a gray Stetson, a gray, white and blue Brushpopper shirt, black Wrangler jeans, and cowboy boots, announced. “Dustin Lockwood, you may now kiss your bride.”
The groom dipped his new bride and kissed her soundly. Whoops and hollers went through the crowd. Kage couldn’t help but smile. He was happy for them, but he couldn’t help but envy the man. To be united with the love of your life forever, that had to be an amazing feeling. Again, his focus shifted to Teagan. Only this time, their eyes connected for the briefest of moments before Teagan lowered her eyes and her cheeks tinted pink.
Enthralled, Kage continued to watch her, willing her to look at him again.
Slowly, her gaze rose to meet his, and her smile for him graced only her eyes.
All noise around him evaporated like water drops on a hot branding iron. It was as if the only two people around were him and Teagan. He smiled at her and winked.
Her eyes widened for just a second. Then those full lips of hers curled into the prettiest smile ever. Kage’s heart did a Texas two-step inside his chest complete with a whirl and a dip. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her.
“Quiet down now everyone, so I can introduce the new couple to you.” The preacher’s chuckle-filled voice broke the eye contact between them but not the connection. How Kage knew that, he had no clue, but he felt it clear to his toes. Just like the other times, somehow he just knew.
Their eyes connected again and a hint of a cute smile tilted her lips before she turned back to the bride and groom making their way down the aisle. This time when Teagan went past him, she glanced his way, caught his eye and gave him a half wink.
Kage silently chuckled. He couldn’t wait for the dance. It would be his chance to get close to her again. Even though he knew things would never work out between them, he would enjoy the dream, the fantasy, and the connection to her while it lasted. Because even when she was long gone, the dream would remain forever fixed in his heart.
~*~ ♥ ~*~
Teagan’s heart had been heavy when she had first noticed Kage looking Brandy’s direction after the procession, but the moment she saw the look of disgust cross his face when he caught sight of Brandy, the knot in her gut untied itself. Then when he winked at Teagan, she thought her knees would buckle right there.
She still couldn’t believe that she had winked at him. But she couldn’t help herself. Her feelings had gotten the best of her and had completely taken over her senses. In fact, they still had a stronghold on her even now as she stood in the receiving line. She did her best to greet the others, never once looking Kage’s direction for fear he would see what was hiding in her heart. She steadfastly refused to let herself even as much as shoot a tiny glance his way.
Then, realizing she was being childish, and though nothing would ever come of her feelings, she made a decision right then to enjoy every moment she had with Kage before she had to say goodbye. That way the memories would always be with her even if he wasn’t. The thought of him not being there saddened her, but she refused to dwell on that fact. She was determined to enjoy herself and to not let anything put a damper on today or the days remaining before either he or she left. The reality for them was… good-bye would happen sooner or later.
Chapter Seven
When all the pictures both inside and outside were taken, Teagan went in search of Kage. She spotted him inside the barn talking with Richard Baine from the Lazy T River Ranch and a few of the other William Fork ranchers. All she saw was his back, but with one look, she knew it was Kage. She’d recognize those shoulders and that stance anywhere.
With determination in her steps, she strode toward him. Only a few yards now separated them.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, from her left, Brandy pushed her way through the men and looped her arm through Kage’s.
Teagan stopped.
Surprise jerked him sideways, and then with a glance at the others and a few words, Kage removed Brandy’s hand, excused himself and hurried outside. With a flounce, Brandy turned and followed him.
Knowing how Brandy was and that Kage obviously didn’t want anything to do with her, Teagan hurried to
catch up with him.
Outside, she panned the crowd searching for him. She spotted him heading toward the small hay bales where they’d just finished taking the last set of photos.
“Kage. Wait up,” Brandy’s sickening voice crooned as she waved and hurried after him.
Didn’t the woman get that he wasn’t interested?
Kage kept walking and disappeared into the trees and away from the mingling wedding guests.
Teagan quickened her steps, cutting a diagonal path that would surely meet right up with his. Sure enough, she got a visual on him and called out, “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Kage stopped and whirled around, nearly bumping into Brandy who was coming in a stumblingly not-straight-line after him.
Relief flooded his face the second he saw Teagan.
“Teagan.” Walking around Brandy, he came right over and pulled Teagan into his arms. In the next heartbeat she found his lips on hers. They were soft, warmer than she had imagined, but so unexpected that they took her breath away.
When he backed up only slightly, her eyes shot to his. He rolled those silver-green eyes of his Brandy’s direction and then turned them back onto to her, sending her a discreet wink.
Oh. Oh. By kissing her, he was hoping to get rid of Brandy. Well, Teagan was more than happy to follow along with his plan. She winked back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him like she meant it. Which she did. But he would never have to know that.
The kiss between them deepened, and suddenly this didn’t feel at all like play-acting. Whether it was her or him that did it, she didn’t quite know. But what she did know was every part of her melted quicker than a batch of chocolate wedding mints left out in the hot sun.
Her heart rate sped up as his soft, yet firm lips caressed hers and hers caressed his. His hands slid over her waist and up onto her back, drawing her closer to him.
“Well, I never,” Brandy huffed. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Teagan were together, you big tease?”
The second Brandy spoke, Teagan pulled her lips from his, intent on telling Brandy off, but they didn’t get far because Kage found them again and for the moment, all things Brandy disappeared from her thoughts. She didn’t mind one bit. Play-acting was starting to feel very, very real.
She could feel more than hear Brandy’s retreat. Knowing the woman was gone and that Kage was now safe from Brandy’s clutches, Teagan knew she needed to end the kiss that was meant to do just that. The only thing was, now caught in the middle of it, she didn’t want to. And if Kage’s continual kiss was any indication, neither did he.
Or, maybe he didn’t know Brandy had left yet. That had to be it. He didn’t know or he wouldn’t be kissing her like this.
Reluctantly, Teagan pulled back and put her head down. “She’s gone now. We can stop.” Still in his arms, her eyes drifted up to his, some in apology, some in hope.
What little air was left in her lungs froze at the intensity in his eyes.
“What if I don’t want to stop?” The huskiness in his voice, along with the serious, intense look in his eyes, sent shivers pirouetting around her heart.
Remembering the promise to herself to enjoy him while she could, she sent him a small smile. “Then don’t.”
~*~ ♥ ~*~
That was all the encouragement Kage needed. What had started out as desperation, and if he were being honest with himself an excuse to get Brandy away from him once and for all, turned into much, much more.
Bringing Teagan closer to him, he lowered his head and kissed her again.
An explosion of fireworks went off inside of him. Bright colors, many he had never seen before ricocheted through him. Blues and greens. Reds and pinks. One at a time and all at the same time so he could hardly fathom them all.
His heart reached out to hers with a longing to hold it there forever.
“Teagan?” The woman’s voice split through the fireworks with a hard thwack that left Kage dazed and blinking as he fought to bring reality back.
Teagan stepped back so fast he lost his balance and almost fell forward. The emptiness of his arms ached for the loss of her.
“Oh. Sorry.” Maisy’s cheeks turned a bright red. She whirled and hurried back down through the trees, dodging them as she went.
“Maisy! Wait.” With no more, Teagan took off after her, and Kage followed not at all sure what he would say to either of them if he caught up with them.
“Maisy,” Teagan hollered. A few more feet and her sister stopped.
“Sorry, Tea. Didn’t mean to interrupt your… umm… your…” Her sister’s chin dropped to her chest. Maisy scuffed the dried leaves and pine needles with her cowboy boot and tugged at her fingers.
“Maisy, it’s fine.” Teagan laid her hand on Maisy’s arm. “Did you need something?”
Only with her eyes did she look at Teagan. The poor embarrassed girl wouldn’t even look over at him.
“Callie and Dustin are getting ready to cut the cake. I thought you’d like to know.”
Teagan’s glance shot to him then back to Maisy. “Thanks, I do want to know.” She looped her arm through her sister’s. With a glance back at him, Teagan said, “You coming?” Then she surprised him by looping her other arm through his. The three of them made their way to the barn and over to the bride and groom who were holding the knife mid-air and aimed at the seven-tiered cake.
While they cut the cake, Kage’s attention flitted back to Teagan. Their eyes connected, and she smiled. Kage wondered what she was thinking. Did she feel as awkward as he did? After all, they hadn’t had a chance to discuss what happened between them.
~*~ ♥ ~*~
As Teagan watched Callie and Dustin feed each other cake, she thought about how Maisy’s interrupting them was in a way a good thing. After all, what would they have said to each other when the kiss ended? Would they have felt awkward?
Did their kiss even mean anything to him? It sure did to her. More than she wanted it too actually. In fact, his skyrocketing, over-the-moon kiss made things even more complicated. Especially her leaving. Other than her mother’s death, leaving would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do. She certainly didn’t need to make it any harder.
The band started to play, thankfully and mercifully shattering her scattered, sad thoughts.
Her focus shifted to Callie and Dustin as they took the floor. Dustin pulled Callie into his arms and swayed to the music. Not once did they take their eyes off each other. They kissed and the crowd cheered.
“Everyone. Please join the happy couple on the floor,” the lead singer of the band announced.
“Shall we?” Kage materialized behind her and offered her his hand.
Teagan wanted to run, to protect her heart from getting in any deeper than she already was. Then she reminded herself about her promise to herself to enjoy the moments she had with him. It was a balance she was finding hard to make. She’d missed so many moments with her mom, and regretted every one of them. Well, she wouldn’t make that mistake again. She placed her hand in his, ignoring the spark racing up her arm. “Yes, we shall.”
Kage led her to the dance floor. He pulled her into his arms, keeping a respectable amount of distance between them as he Texas two-stepped them around the floor.
Neither spoke for several moments.
No longer able to stand the unspoken words between them, Teagan pulled in a long breath of courage before she gazed up at him. However, her courage vanished the minute her eyes connected to his. He was looking down at her with a tenderness even she couldn’t deny. It was a look of pure contentment, love even.
The music slowed. Or did it only seem like it did?
“Teagan,” Kage rasped. “Just so you know. I meant that kiss.” His eyes didn’t blink, not once as he continued to gaze down at her. Did she dare say that she meant it too?
“You don’t have to worry though. As hard as it will be for me, I would never do anything to stop your plans.” He pulled her close
r. “You deserve to chase your dream.”
She tucked her head into his chest and closed her eyes. The soothing beating of his heart offered her no comfort at all. He felt it too. This thing between them. And like her, he wasn’t about to do anything about it either.
Why did that bother her so much? Isn’t that what she wanted all along? Someone needed to tell her heart that, because right now, it wasn’t listening.
The music slowly faded as she continued to follow Kage’s lead. Was it her, or was the music getting softer and softer? She raised her head and found herself outside again, away from the guests. She knew she should pull out of his arms, but she didn’t want to. Instead she looked up at him. He smiled, and the world tilted, shifting the ground under her feet.
Kage lowered his head, and she raised her chin to meet him halfway. His lips touched hers, tentatively at first. Then he pulled her close and deepened the kiss. Teagan tucked every moment of this kiss into her heart and into her mind. It was something she would take out often and cherish.
Ringing floated to her ears.
Kage raised his head and unwound his arms from her. He reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “It’s my mom. I’d better take it.”
Teagan nodded.
“Hi, Mom.” The smile slipped from his face. “What? What hospital are they at?”
Hospital? Memories of her mom dying in the hospital buzzed through Teagan’s brain. She hated that word. Hospital meant sickness or death. She quickly shot up a prayer for Kage and for whoever it was that was in the hospital now.
“K. Yeah. I’ll head out now. Okay, I will.”
Her heart sank at those words, but she understood. He was leaving. He would, in fact, be the first to say good-bye.
“Don’t worry, Mom. God has this. They’ll be fine.”
The Dreamer and the Cowboy: A Contemporary Christian Romance NOVELLA (The Rancher's Daughters Series Book 2) Page 7