“It really is a generous gift, Uncle Jack. I’d be happy to pay for it, if you’d tell me…”
Jack held up his hand, cutting off Chase. “No. It’s a gift, from your folks and us.”
Chase couldn’t contain his snort of disbelief. “I know it’s from you two. My parents don’t care about my bride, my life, or anything else.”
“It really is from all of us,” Amy said, then amended. “Well, at least your father and us. Your mother wasn’t too pleased to hear about your bride.”
“I know. She’s left two tirades on my voice mail.” Chase didn’t want to spoil the party with morose thoughts of his parents so he changed the subject. “Are you two dressed warm enough for this?” He glanced at his uncle’s suit and his aunt’s wool dress with knee-high boots.
“We’ll be fine. Ashley assured us the heaters will keep the space warm. Once it is packed full of guests, we’ll all be toasty.” Amy smiled and patted Chase on the cheek. “The shop looks beautiful, honey. Have you seen it since the girls turned on all the lights?”
“No. I’ve been busy doing a bunch of other stuff this afternoon.” Chase was tempted to run outside and peek in the building, but Ashley wanted him to escort Jessie to the shop once all the guests had arrived.
“I’m going to go help Jessie so Ashley can get back out to the guests,” Amy said, nudging her husband toward the mudroom door. “Jack, will you please check on the caterers and make sure they’re on schedule.”
“I’m happy to do that, especially if they let me taste a sample or two.”
Jack left and Amy scurried down the hall toward Chase’s room. Only a minute passed before Ashley rushed into the kitchen, grabbed the long coat she’d tossed over a chair, and sailed outside.
Chase watched her walk across the snow-covered yard to the shop. The dusting of snow they received lasted through Christmas Day then the temperature warmed and the snow melted the following morning.
The weather had been mild all week, making accomplishing the long party preparation to-do list easier than it would have been in freezing temperatures with a foot of snow on the ground.
However, about the time dusk fell, the temperature plummeted to eighteen degrees and snow began to fall in big, fluffy flakes.
Jessie stared at the sky with a goofy smile on her face, making Chase smile in turn, until she raced off to finish setting up the decorations.
Lori, Lucas, and Stacey remained in the shop to greet everyone while Ashley and Jessie had run around making last minute adjustments. An hour ago, Ashley shoved Chase toward the house and told him to go shower and change because Jessie would need to get ready soon.
He’d hurried to shower and shave then dress in the tux. Now, he was antsy to get the evening started so it would end. He still couldn’t believe he’d allowed Ashley to talk him into all this craziness.
Was it really worth it?
A rustling behind him caught his attention and he turned around, awed at the sight of his wife.
Although Ashley assured him Jessie would not be dressed in a wedding gown, she had on a layered white skirt, tulle he thought he’d heard Aunt Amy call it. The material floated around her in airless layers to the floor. As a complete contrast to the skirt fit for a princess, she wore a red plaid flannel shirt, tucked into the skirt, while a wide leather belt cinched her tiny waist. Her hair was twisted up on her head with an array of tendrils falling around her face. She wore a glittering necklace that sparkled in the overhead light, like the diamond ring on her finger, and the rose bracelet he’d given her on their wedding day. She wore more makeup than he’d seen her wear since their wedding and knew Stacey and Ashley had a hand in it.
Chase had to clear his throat twice before he regained the ability to speak. “You look amazing, Jessie. That’s an unusual outfit.”
Self-conscious, she brushed a hand down the front of her airy skirt. “Ashley and Stacey talked me into wearing this. If you don’t like it, I can change. Ashley had the wedding dress sent here. I could…”
Chase kissed her cheek, silencing her nervous rambling. “You look lovely, darlin’. Are you sure you’ll be warm enough, though?” She’d basked in the warmer temperatures they’d had all week. He was afraid her system would go into another shock with the sudden cold snap.
Jessie lifted her skirt and held out a foot covered in a cream winter boot lined with sheepskin. The thick sole would provide traction on the snow while the warm lining should keep her toes from freezing. “Thank you for the boots, Chase. I don’t know where you found them, but they are perfect.”
“You’re welcome.” When he’d heard Ashley and Jessie discussing her footwear selections for the party, he’d gotten Ashley to tell him Jessie’s shoe size and ordered the pair online. With a rush delivery, they’d made it that afternoon. He was glad he’d purchased them. Jessie looked adorable in her outfit, holding out her foot as she showed off one of the boots. “I’m glad they fit.”
He took a step back and analyzed her from head to toe. She blushed, which made him grin. “Are you sure they’ll keep you warm enough?”
“I may have snuck on a pair of thermals beneath all this fluff and stuff,” she said, her blush deepening, but a spark of amusement flickered in her eyes. “Just don’t tell Ashley.”
He leaned down slightly, so his mouth brushed the curl by her ear. “Your secret is safe with me.”
She shivered, and this time he realized it wasn’t from a chill, but his presence. Pleased he could elicit such a response from her, he held out his arm to her and tipped his head. “Would you do me the pleasure of accompanying me out to this idiotic party my nitwit cousin has insisted we host?”
Jessie laughed. “With an invitation like that, how could I refuse?”
Chase lifted his hat off the kitchen table and settled it on his head, then guided Jessie out the mudroom door. Together they went down the porch steps, across the yard and made their way to the shop where the symphony of excited voices spilled out into the crisp evening air.
“Ready for this?” Chase whispered as they neared the door. He stopped and looked down at Jessie. She looked so young, so pretty, so delightfully delectable, he clamped his jaw to keep from leaning down and kissing her rosy lips.
She ran a nervous hand up to her hair and pushed in a few loose pins, took a deep breath, and smoothed the front of her skirt.
As she expelled the breath, she nodded her head and he took her hand in his.
Bothered by how right, how good it felt to have her delicate fingers entwined with his, he opened the shop door and followed her inside.
Taken aback by the appearance of the shop, he glanced around, noticing the tables covered with white linens and runners made of burlap and lace. Garlands of winter greens, interspersed with big burgundy roses, trailed across the centers of the long tables that took up a good portion of the floor space down the center of the shop.
Smaller round tables sat around the perimeter with food and beverage tables along the far wall. After dinner, they’d clear out some of the tables and create a place for dancing. He hadn’t mentioned anything to Jessie about dancing or the band he’d hired to play that evening. He had an idea the thought of dancing with him might send her into hiding.
Later, when the band began playing the first song of the evening, would be time enough to worry about her reaction. For now, they needed to make two hundred guests feel welcome.
“You girls did a great job. The shop looks like a winter fairyland.” Chase admired glass bell-shaped jars full of tiny fairy lights that glowed from the centers of the round tables and on the food tables.
The chandelier overhead sparkled and refracted the twinkling white lights that draped across the ceiling like a glittering canopy.
“Oh,” Jessie whispered, remaining by the door. Chase wondered if she’d had time to see the shop all lit up and fully decorated.
Hesitant to rush her, he allowed her a moment to take in the sight of the beautiful setting she’d helped create
before he slid a hand to her lower back and nudged her forward. “Let’s welcome this bunch of yahoos so we can eat. The smell of that beef has been making my mouth water for the last hour,” he whispered in a low, teasing voice. In truth, Jessie’s fragrance, that unusual blending of summer roses and vanilla, made his mouth water far more than any thoughts of food ever could.
She offered him a guarded smile and walked with him to the stage area where the band would play. Chase stayed a step behind Jessie as they moved onto the stage and turned to face the crowd. He bent his knees slightly so he could speak into the microphone and smiled at their guests.
“Good evening, everyone!” he said in a loud, commanding tone that caused conversations to fade and all eyes to turn to the stage. He drew Jessie close to his side, leaving his hand lingering on the curve of her waist as he spoke. “Thank you for coming out in the cold and snow tonight. For those of you who might have missed it, I married this beautiful girl a few weeks ago when we were in Las Vegas. Jessie and I thought it might be nice to celebrate our marriage and ring in the New Year at the same time. So welcome to our party. If you’ll all get in line over there by the food tables, the grub is hot and I’m hungry!”
Cheers and laughter filled the shop as people wandered toward the food tables.
“The bride and groom have to go through the line first,” Ashley said, appearing at Chase’s side.
Since he was hungry and figured there would be plenty of other opportunities to argue with her in the next few days, he took Jessie’s hand in his and led her to the food table. The pastor from the church Chase attended when he was in the area stood at the microphone on the stage and asked a blessing on the meal, on the newlyweds, and those gathered there that evening.
“You go first, darlin’,” Chase said, handing Jessie a plate. He could tell by the stiffness of her spine and the slight flush to her cheeks she hated being in the spotlight, but had handled it well. Most people would only see a lovely, fashionable girl, not a woman who dreaded being the center of attention.
After they filled their plates, Jessie led the way to the head table where they sat with Lucas and Lori, Jack and Amy, and Stacey.
Jessie forced a smile on her face and carried on a conversation with Stacey and Lori while Chase spoke primarily with his aunt and uncle.
Once everyone had eaten, Lucas and Stacey offered toasts to the newlyweds. After that, Ashley insisted Jessie and Chase pose by an elaborate four-layer cake that looked like tooled leather, accented with a few of the dark burgundy roses.
As he held his hand over Jessie’s on the long silver knife and they sliced into the cake, his heartbeat accelerated. For tonight, it was easy to believe they were truly married. That she was the one girl meant just for him, the one he would love for a lifetime.
Cameras clicked as they each lifted a thin slice of cake and held it for the other to take a bite. Chase had never been big on the joke of the bridal couple smearing cake all over each other’s faces. Even if he had thought it was funny, the wary look on Jessie’s face would have staid any childish impulses. Intuitively, he knew it would embarrass her even more than she already was.
With great care, he held the slice out for her and watched as she took a small bite. It seemed like the world around him shifted into slow motion as her tongue darted out and licked away a bit of frosting clinging to her lip. So enthralled with her, he didn’t realize she still held a piece out for him, waiting for him to take a bite until Lucas bumped him from behind.
He quickly bit into the cake and grinned at the crowd. Jessie seemed to relax beside him and he couldn’t stop himself when he swiped a finger through the frosting and placed a dollop on the end of her nose.
Her eyes widened and she stared at him. The crowd roared with approval when Chase leaned forward and kissed it away. He brushed a little spot of lingering frosting away with his finger then let his thumb graze across her cheek.
The skin he touched was so soft, so incredibly soft. For a moment, Chase allowed himself the indulgence of fantasizing about touching all of her skin before he yanked his thoughts back in line.
“This cake is awesome,” Chase muttered as Jessie cut a bigger slice and placed it on a plate for him.
“You didn’t even really get a taste, but Ashley said chocolate is your favorite.” Jessie handed him the plate, which he set aside then cut her a piece.
“I didn’t mean the taste. I meant the way the cake looks. The frosting looks like the leather on my favorite saddle.”
Jessie smiled. “That’s where we got the pattern. Ashley had me take a photo of it and send it to the bakery.”
He handed her a plate with a piece of cake and lifted his own. “You did a great job making this old shop look amazing, Jessie. I was a little worried you and Ashley would go all girly on me, but this is perfect. It’s beautiful and elegant with just enough hint of rustic country to really reflect both our personalities.”
“That’s what Ashley was going for. She said the photographers would love it.” Jessie spoke in a low voice only he could hear as they took seats back at their table.
Once everyone enjoyed pieces of the moist cake, several of the men moved aside a section of the tables so those who wanted to could dance.
Chase watched as a look of panic gave way to horror on Jessie’s face as she realized she’d have to dance with him. Thank goodness, none of the photographers were watching her at the moment.
When he started over to where she stood with his aunt, Chase recognized resignation as it settled over her features.
He kissed her cheek and wrapped an arm around her waist when he reached her. “Do you know how to dance?” he whispered in her ear.
“Not really. I can manage a slow dance, but that’s about it.”
Chase grinned. “That’ll do, Mrs. Jarrett.”
He motioned to the band and they began playing Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello.” He took Jessie in his arms and swayed back and forth with her on the shop floor, beneath thousands of twinkling lights while a few hundred people watched.
In that moment, he knew he’d picked the right song for the first dance. Ashley had called him a genius when he told her what song he thought the band should play.
Anyone who’d questioned his sudden and unexpected marriage would think he had taken one look at Jessie and fallen in love. As he gazed into her eyes, lost himself in their depths, he realized the words weren’t far from the truth.
Oh, he wouldn’t admit he was in love with her, but he was certainly in something with her.
Infatuated? Maybe.
Entranced? Definitely.
Jessie was so, so different from any female he’d ever known. While some might think she seemed plain or unsophisticated, he found her refreshing and sweet.
Ashley had been correct when she’d said Jessie was genuine and uncomplicated. Although, the more he got to know her, the more he discovered her complexities were deep below the surface where few people bothered to look. Most people glanced at Jessie and saw an attractive yet reserved girl. They didn’t bother to discover she was an intelligent woman with a keen wit and an almost child-like wonder.
Even though he didn’t know her well, what little he’d discovered intrigued him. He’d been surprised Christmas night when she’d opened up to him about her family. Odd, protective feelings he’d never experienced welled up in him. He had half a mind to call her parents and tell them what morons they were for ignoring their daughter. It really was their loss, though. He couldn’t imagine anyone who knew Jessie not treasuring her friendship or enjoying her company.
Since she’d been at the ranch, he’d come to anticipate spending time with her. She didn’t feel a need to fill the quiet with nonstop chatter. She listened with both her heart and mind open. The few times she’d come out of her shell enough to offer him an opinion on something, he’d been impressed with her insight and ability to objectively solve problems.
More and more, he found himself seeking her out,
looking for excuses to be with her. And that greatly disturbed him.
He didn’t have time for a woman to clutter up his mind, his home, or his life. Determined to end the year as the world champion bull rider, he was not going to let anything, even this beautiful girl, derail his plans.
For tonight, though, it couldn’t hurt to surrender to his need to hold her. If his fascination with her was apparent, he didn’t care. It could only make the love story the reporters were weaving even better.
As the song ended and everyone clapped, Chase motioned to the band, a prearranged signal to play another slow song.
Jack and Amy approached them. Chase handed his bride off to his uncle while he danced with his aunt.
“She’s so lovely, Chase. We simply adore her.” Amy smiled at him then turned to watch Jessie dance with Jack.
She appeared at ease with the older man as she laughed at something he said.
“I’m glad you like her Aunt Amy. She does seem like a nice girl.”
His aunt scowled at him. “Nice girl? That’s all you can say about her? Ashley said Jessie came up with most of the ideas for this party and jumped right in to implement them. Jessie is a good cook, grew up on a farm, and has a great sense of humor. Even you can’t help but notice how pretty she looks tonight.”
Chase glanced over at his bride. She didn’t look pretty to him. No. She looked beautiful, especially with all those soft little lights shining down on her, gleaming in her auburn-streaked brown hair and shimmering in those big blue eyes.
“She does look lovely.” Chase grinned. “I don’t know how she came up with the idea of wearing a flannel shirt with a Cinderella skirt, but it looks good on her.”
Amy laughed. “Ashley wanted her to wear the wedding dress again, but Jessie said it wasn’t a wedding, it was a party. Her outfit is different, but it suits her, suits the setting, and especially suits you.”
Chase turned his gaze from Jessie to his aunt and caught the hint of amusement in her smile and the mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not saying anything that might later get me into trouble.”
Chasing Christmas Page 12