Branded

by Stacy Gail

  Even without thousands of festive white fairy lights illuminating the outdoor entertainment area, the countless luminaria in their Lone Star bags lining the walkways snaking through the main complex, and the overflowing hanging baskets of bougainvillea placed every few feet along the grand Victorian’s wraparound porch, it was still a structure to behold. But with all the party trappings, it could have easily passed for a movie set.

  The lighting and flowers were Celia’s doing. Three days before the party, she had made arrangements with Dottie Ledbetter to rent two large screens so that the campaign she’d put together for Ry’s Pure Angus could be seen from any angle. She then thought it would be fun to hire a videographer to livestream the party and broadcast it in real time on those screens, but Dottie had assured her that video didn’t do well when they used only the house lighting and light from a fire pit. If an outdoor party ever got too dark, some of the ranch’s vehicles were driven into the area so the headlights could be used.

  It took all of Celia’s Proper Southern Woman strength not to scream in abject horror.

  After she’d recovered, she called Lucy and Pauline for an emergency powwow with Dottie—who, to her credit, had often tried to explain to the Brody boys that there were classier alternatives than vehicle headlight illumination. With Ry’s blessing and credit card in hand, Celia and her party posse made a road trip into San Antonio to buy every festive outdoor light they could get their hands on.

  Once they’d made it back home, the men were lassoed into getting everything set up, and their complaint level was kept in check with ice cold beer, her grandmother’s secret recipe for carne guisada tacos and queso, two boxes filled with an assortment of cookies from Lucy’s bakery, and an entire tub of Pauline’s famous praline ice cream.

  At first, Celia was doubtful food would be enough to keep the guys in check. After all, the Brodys had been throwing successful parties for years without any extra fuss, so she fretted they’d resent being put to the bother. But Lucy, Pauline and Dottie assured her that not only did that so-called extra fuss need to happen, but men were fairly simple creatures. If they got fed top-notch food, they’d jump through any hoop. They might grumble about it, but they’d jump.

  To her surprise, they were right.

  Better yet, after the job was done and the men realized her way was, in fact, better than what they had been doing, the Brodys admitted she’d been right, too.

  Now, if her presentation convinced Ry’s prospective buyers to sign up for Green Rock Ranch’s range-fed Black Angus, all would be right with her world.

  What to wear became a small crisis, as Ry had been crystal clear that she was co-hosting this important business party of his. Eventually she settled on a flutter-sleeve V-backed bright turquoise dress that showed off her legs Ry loved so much. It wasn’t exactly the color of malachite, but it was close enough to the color used in Green Rock Ranch’s logo, a small touch she’d placed everywhere she could think of. She even found a long silver and turquoise-studded back-drop necklace that was showcased by the skin-bearing deep V at the back of her dress. Polishing off the outfit with ankle-cuff turquoise sandals, she hoped she looked casual enough for people to relax, while still trying to put her best foot forward as Ry’s official...

  What?

  What the hell was she, anyway?

  Significant other, maybe.

  Or girlfriend, though that seemed kind of high schoolish.

  Co-host?

  Ugh. That sounded like she should be on a daytime TV talk show.

  It didn’t matter, she decided, buzzing by the two professionally manned open-bar tables on either end of the dancing area to see if anything was needed. She wasn’t going to label what she and Ry were. All she was going to do was enjoy the hell out of it, and that was that.

  Now if she could just get all of Bitterthorn’s gossips to go along with that mindset, she’d be one happy camper.

  “There you are.” A warm hand slid down her exposed back to caress its way just inside the edge of her dress, before Ry turned her to him. “Good God, woman. How the hell am I supposed to function all night, trying to pretend I don’t see how hot you are?”

  Her pulse skipped several beats. “You think I’m hot?”

  “I know you’re hot. I think you want to drive me out of my mind by being so damn hot while we’re in public. You wearing any panties under this thing, darlin’?”

  “You’ll find out after the party’s over.”

  He groaned. “You’re going to make me wait all friggin’ night to find out?”

  “It’s not going to be all night. It’s just for a few hours that you have to be on your best behavior.”

  “It’ll feel like all damn night, and then some.” He cupped a hand around her neck, pushed his thumb up under her chin to lift it, and hovered his mouth over hers. “If I kiss you, you’re not going to freak out about me messing up your lipstick or something stupid like that, are you?”

  “When it comes to choosing between a kiss from you or on-point lipstick, there’s no contest.” Eyes on him, she tilted her head back in invitation. “I love the feel of your mouth on mine. Don’t make me wait for it.”

  “Celia. Jesus, you’re pure fire, woman, you know that? And there’s nothing I love more than being burned by you.” The teasing light went out of his eyes before he lowered his head for a kiss that was hot and wet and held nothing back. It was the panty-melting kind of kiss that led to bigger and better things—things that they didn’t have time for—but she didn’t give a damn. Nothing ever mattered when he was kissing her. Only Ry.

  “The guests haven’t arrived yet.” His lips left hers to skim along her jawline to the sensitive hollow behind her ear. Her knees threatened to go on strike when the hot glide of his tongue caressed her there. “Even if they do, Dottie or my brothers can take care of them. Let’s go and find a quiet—”

  “We can’t, Ry.” It took a lot out of her—it was a wonder how she even got the words out—but she managed to lean a few inches away from him. “It’s your party. You represent Green Rock Ranch. Pure Angus is your pet project. You can’t ditch your own party.”

  “I can do whatever the hell I want. And what I want to do, right the fuck now, is you.”

  She had to laugh. “Nice turn of phrase.”

  “I’m serious, Cel. You, looking the way you do tonight and standing by my side because you’ve made the choice to be here with me...that’s everything. All the other moving parts that make up my life are nothing compared to you being here with me.”

  Aww. “It’s no big deal, Ry.”

  “It is. Most people don’t recognize it when the most important moments happen to them, but I do. This is one of those moments. You chose to be here with me, to help me do something important for my family that’ll hopefully benefit all the generations to come after us. You chose to be my partner in this, so I’m damn well going to savor this moment. And I want to savor it by being inside you.” Then he stiffened and looked over his shoulder back at the house and the luminaria lined path. All at once Celia could hear the sound of engines and the faint murmur of voices. “Shit.”

  “It won’t last forever, honey.” With her heart so full of emotion she half-feared it would burst, she rested her hands on his chest and tried not to look too thrilled at his obvious frustration. “Let’s just get through tonight. Then I’m all yours.”

  “It’s going to be a long, long night,” he muttered grimly. Then he cradled her hand in his, took one last moment to kiss it, then turned toward the pathway leading around the main house like a man facing his own execution.

  * * *

  “By far, this is the best party the Brody boys have ever thrown, and it’s all because of you.” Looking splendidly majestic in a gauzy blue maternity dress, Lucy eased down onto the end of a bench at the picnic table she and her husband Sully had grabbed along with Pauline and
Willard, Coe and his wife Miranda. Most of the partygoers were now all out on the dance floor or at the many buffet tables. The energized buzz of conversation was high despite the live country music pumping out of the speakers from the newly constructed and well-lit bandstand. “I especially loved the opening that showed the history of Green Rock and the no-chemicals approach to raising organic beef. Happy cows equal healthy cows, and it doesn’t get much happier than this Texas-sized slice of heaven on earth.”

  “I’m hoping everyone else liked it, too.” Celia’s gaze wandered to where Ry sat with two of the prospective buyers, a massive grocery store chain in north Texas and Oklahoma, and the leading organic foods market covering the entire southwest. Everyone was smiling and one of the men had both his phone out and a pen to write on a paper napkin, clearly doing calculations. It was killing her not to wander over to see what was going on, so she forced her attention back to her friend. “Has anyone commented on all the amazing logo-themed goodies you made for the party?”

  “They have, and thanks so much for putting the shop’s cards out on the dessert table. But that’s not what I want to talk about right now.” Leaning forward, Lucy grabbed her hand. “You do realize what a big step it was for Ry to have you coordinate this party for him, don’t you?”

  “Dottie Ledbetter deserves all the props. She’d already done most of the heavy-lifting by the time I came along.”

  “Honey, I’ve been to Brody parties that Dottie was allowed to put together, and I promise you there’s a freaking world of difference. Dottie didn’t have the power to do the lighting the way it needed to be done, or order the specialty food, or hire a videographer, or all the other things Ry let you have free rein over.” Lucy’s fingers tightened as she grinned from ear to ear. “Those are privileges, and they’re usually reserved for the woman of the house. You know, like a wife.”

  Celia’s breath caught before she quickly shook her head. “Luce, Ry and I are still getting used to being a couple, okay? Talk like that is so premature it borders on insanity.”

  “Then why did Ry let you handle certain things when he wouldn’t let his perfectionist office manager handle them? Because he wanted to make you happy,” she answered her own question before Celia could open her mouth. “You know what they say—happy wife, happy life. Ry wanted a happy life, so he’s making sure you’re happy.”

  Good grief. “Will you shut up about that? I’m not his wife.”

  “Not yet.” She glanced at her husband, Sully, who was headed their way with drinks in hand, and her smile became brilliant. “Too bad there isn’t a snappy phrase for happy husbands. Ry certainly looks happy, doesn’t he?”

  Once again Celia looked over at Ry, who was now listening to one of the prospective buyers. He did look happy, she had to admit, and she could only hope that boded well for his business. But before she could point out that wheeling and dealing was probably the reason behind Ry’s happiness, Sully joined them, handing a glass of soda to his wife.

  “Best party ever,” he announced without preamble, slinging a leg over the bench to slide in behind his wife. “Ya done good, Cel. And just think, if you decide to stick around instead of heading off to Dallas or wherever, nights like this with friends and loved ones all around you could happen all the time.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at that. “I turned down the job at Velni and Associates, Sully.”

  Lucy gasped. “What? You didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been waiting on pins and needles all this time. When did this happen?”

  “Um.” The moment she’d looked up at Ry as they’d stood by his favorite fishing hole and she’d realized she loved him...that was the moment she knew she didn’t belong anywhere else. But such a profound realization of where she belonged and why she existed in the world was too much to put into mere words. “A while ago.”

  “Oh my God.” Lucy put a hand to her chest. “I can’t believe you’re so casual about this. If I didn’t love you so much I’d kill you.”

  Celia laughed through a cringe. “Sorry, Luce. Next time I’ll take out an ad in the paper.”

  “There better not be a next time, young lady.” Her friend tried and failed miserably at sounding stern, as her beaming smile got in the way. “Am I right in saying that Ry had something to do with your decision to stay?”

  “There’s no other reason that’d make me want to stay,” Celia said with a wry shrug. “It’s weird, but none of the problems I’ve had with the men in town matter now. Ry is all I need to make wherever I am the place I want to be. If he’s in Bitterthorn, then so am I.”

  “Don’t worry about this town,” Sully said, even as Lucy looked torn between being happy for her and pissed at everything else. “Bitterthorn has a way of getting a bug up its ass one minute, and being nothing but rainbows the next. I have a feeling you hanging tough and sticking around is all going to be worth it.”

  Celia’s brows inched up. “Why do you say that?”

  “Just a feeling.” Sully grinned, pulling his wife closer. “And also, I saw how Ry reacted when I told him you were moving.”

  Celia blinked. “What?”

  Sully’s grin morphed into a chuckle. “You heard me. All I did was mention to Ry that you were getting the hell outta Dodge by trying to land a job in one of the big cites. Next thing I know, the man’s all in your face asking you to dinner. You never stood a chance.”

  Celia’s jaw dropped. “Wait. What are you talking about? Are you saying that when Ry heard I was planning to leave Bitterthorn, he...uh...” Her brain refused to take another step.

  Clearly, Lucy wasn’t hampered by any such issue. “Sullivan is saying what everyone else has figured out by now, Cel. Ry wasn’t about to let you leave without giving you a reason to stay. And you have to admit, you haven’t mentioned leaving since you and Ry got together, have you?”

  “I...no.” Her mind had been too filled with Ry to think of anything else.

  “A man has to know when to approach his lady, put all his cards on the table and hope she’s willing to do the same.” Sully brushed a kiss against his wife’s jaw even as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands curving over her belly. “And hey, if he stacks the deck against her, that’s all the more reason to believe he’d do whatever it takes to win her over. Makes that woman think he believes she’s worth the effort, yeah?”

  “Mm-hm.” Celia couldn’t manage anything more, because a lump in her throat took up all available space. It was hard to imagine Ry being rattled by the idea that she was leaving. But now that she thought about it, he’d known without her telling him that she’d wanted to move to a big city and away from Bitterthorn. And every time he’d mentioned it, he’d done everything he could to prove life in Bitterthorn was all she needed to be happy.

  No.

  That he was all she needed to be happy.

  And he’d been right.

  Absolutely, totally right.

  Again she glanced over at Ry, only to discover he was looking in her direction. The moment their eyes met he lifted a beckoning hand while his companions also looked her way.

  “Looks like I’m being summoned.” With a quick smile to her friends, Celia rose to her feet. “Things are going along smoothly with Ry and me, so I’m going to be a smart girl and not overthink it. For now I’m just going to enjoy the ride.”

  That was exactly what she did for the next couple of hours, and not just because enjoyment was easy to come by when music, good food and great friends were all part of the package. Soon after she’d joined Ry with his prospective buyers, she learned they were ready to sign on the dotted line, along with several others who’d been invited to the party. Her heart melted when Ry proudly told his new clients that she was the one who had put together the Pure Angus presentation at the beginning of the party, and he did so while holding her tightly to his side. He didn’t let her go until he heard a song he li
ked and pulled her onto the dance floor. From there he had her two-stepping all over the place, and though it made her breathless she didn’t stumble or glance back nervously as he danced her all over the floor.

  She trusted him to take care of her.

  Because she loved him.

  Who knew that something as basic as a dance could teach her so much?

  It was nearly midnight when Celia walked Lucy and Sully to their car and waved them off, then did the same thing a few minutes later with Pauline and Willard. Pauline said rather loudly and tipsily that she expected to see Celia home shortly, before Willard managed to trundle her off. Celia was still chuckling when a strong, warm arm curled around her shoulders.

  “Pauline can expect you back until she’s blue in the face,” Ry murmured against her ear, and the purr just beneath the words made her shiver in response. “But it’s not going to change the fact that your ass is going to be in my bed, where it belongs, for the rest of the night.” He bent to kiss her neck just below her ear. “And tomorrow night. And the night after that...you getting the trend, darlin’?”

  “Subtlety isn’t exactly your thing, so yeah. I’m getting it.” She turned into him and pressed herself into his chest, enjoying the sensation of her breasts flattening against all that yummy masculine hardness. God, she loved the feel of her man. “Where is this bed of yours, anyway? Not in the main house, right?”

  “None of us live there anymore.” His hands slid along her bare back, the tips of his fingers slipping under the edges of the dress. “I’ve gotten what I wanted out of the party, and my brothers are still around somewhere to play host. I don’t think we’re going to be missed if I choose to give you a tour of my place. You up for that?”

  The mere thought of being alone with him—alone with him where his bed was—made delicious heat bloom between her legs. But a flash of irrepressible responsibility had her glancing back at the house. “I don’t know if it’s fair to leave Fin and Des—”

  “Yeah. You’re up for it.” With a quick, hard kiss that packed in a world of driving hunger that she obviously inspired in him, he swept her up off her feet and headed for the nearest Green Rock Ranch pickup.