While Morgyn and Brindle were fair like their father and her other siblings were darker, like their mother, Pepper had shades of brown and blond in her hair. She had a serious air about her and warm, intelligent eyes.
“What type of things do you develop?” he asked.
“Neurological devices mostly,” Pepper said, “but I’m researching a few other areas.”
“That’s fascinating. I’d love to hear how you got into that field.”
“She’s amazing,” Morgyn said. “She made Amber’s seizure-alarm necklace.”
Amber lifted a necklace from her chest with a shy smile. “Epilepsy, in case you’re wondering.” She reached down and petted the golden retriever standing beside her. “This is Reno, my service dog. Our mother trains service dogs and teaches them all to use the device.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Graham said, mentally noting information about each of her family members. He wanted to know everything about Morgyn’s family and the parents who had raised such an amazing daughter.
“Amber owns the best bookstore in Meadowside,” Morgyn explained. Her adoration for her siblings was apparent despite her claiming to have wanted a little less love from them at the festival.
“Ahem,” Brindle interrupted with a wiggle of her shoulders. “And your hottest sister…?”
“He already met Grace,” Morgyn teased. “This is Brindle. She teaches at the high school, runs the drama club for the elementary school, and has issues with modesty.”
Graham laughed. Drama. That made sense. While Pepper and Amber both seemed fairly demure and Morgyn and Sable were outgoing, Brindle gave off an overly dramatic, flirtatious vibe.
“Ah, yes,” Graham said. “The one who left you high and dry at the festival—”
Brindle rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Morgyn might have been high on life, but she ended up with you. There’s no way she was dry.”
“Brindle!” Morgyn turned away, but not before Graham noticed her blushing.
Graham pulled her closer. “Your family is great,” he said for her ears only.
“Nice save, Mustang,” one of the cowboys who was sizing up Graham said as he walked over and draped an arm possessively over Brindle’s shoulder. The other three guys and Trixie followed him over.
“You must be Brindle’s boyfriend?” Graham asked. “Bet I can get a few tips from you on how to romance a Montgomery girl.”
Brindle and the guy both laughed.
“No,” the guy said. “We’re not…”
“Do not take relationship advice from this one,” Amber said. “From either him or Brindle, actually.”
“Again with this?” Cowboy shook his head.
“I give good relationship advice,” Brindle said. “Don’t commit and no one can get hurt. There. Done.”
“Hey, Montgomerys!” Nana’s granddaughter, Lindsay, shouted as she approached. She carried a camera and looked like she was on a mission. “Family photos before drinks. We can’t have any stains on those pretty dresses. Let’s go.” She glanced at Graham and said, “I’m Lindsay Roberts, photographer extraordinaire and the master planner of this great event. Don’t worry. I got a great shot of your impromptu make-out session. I’ll blow it up to poster size for you, but first I need to steal your girl.”
Brindle grabbed Morgyn’s and Amber’s arms and said, “Come on, Pep!” as she dragged them all away.
“I’ll be fast!” Morgyn hollered over her shoulder. “Go have a drink!”
Graham watched Morgyn race away.
“Get used to it,” the guy who wasn’t Brindle’s boyfriend said as the other three guys and Trixie, the woman who worked with Nick, converged on Graham. “I think it’s time we get to know each other. I’m Trace Jericho and this is my brother Justus; you can call him JJ.”
JJ tipped his cowboy hat.
“I hear you know my sister, Trixie,” Trace said.
Trixie waved. “Small world.”
“Nice to see you again,” Graham said. He was used to seeing Trixie working with the horses, wearing jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt tied at her waist. She looked like a completely different person in a dress. Nick would probably lose his mind seeing the hourglass-shaped brunette in a short dress.
“And these are my buddies.” Trace motioned to the other guys—the sharp dresser and the serious-eyed dude. “Beckett Wheeler and Chet Hudson.”
“How’s it going?” Chet said.
Beckett’s jaw clenched and Trixie elbowed him. He grunted out a “Hey.”
“Nice to meet you,” Graham said as they headed toward the open bar. “I take it you’re the welcoming committee?”
“Something like that,” Beckett ground out.
They ordered drinks and Graham prepared for the inquisition, doing his own sizing up. Trace, JJ, and Chet had the type of brawn that came from hard physical labor, while Beckett was fit, but not bulky. Graham guessed he had an office job. The way Trixie was keeping an eye on the guys, he had a feeling she was there to keep the peace.
“Think of us as Morgyn’s big brothers,” Trace said. Then he took a sip of his beer.
“Okay, that’s just gross,” Trixie said. “You’re sleeping with Brindle, and now it sounds incestuous.”
“She’s right, dude,” JJ said with a chuckle.
Graham took a drink, his eyes shifting to Morgyn and her family taking pictures by the trees. She was all smiles, and he liked to think that was because they were together, but it could be because she and her sisters were goofing off while Lindsay tried to wrangle them into a pose.
“Did I hear you’re an investor?” Beckett asked, eyes narrowed and trained on Graham in what he probably thought gave him an edge.
Graham wasn’t impressed. This was a wedding, not a throwdown. “That’s right. Real estate, capital investments, that sort of thing. What is it that you do?”
“Uh-oh,” Chet said. “Investor versus investor.”
This could get interesting.
Graham wondered if the chip on Beckett’s shoulder was because they shared a field. “You’re an investor? What’s your market?”
Beckett took another drink, biding his time responding, an old negotiation tool used to gain the upper hand. It had no effect on Graham.
“Started out in banking,” Beckett finally said. “Now I do mostly personal investing, company startups…”
“He invests his time in giving Morgyn’s boyfriends grief,” Trixie teased.
“And why is that?” Graham asked, holding Beckett’s stare.
“Because she dumped him a few years ago, and he doesn’t think anyone else is good enough for her,” Trixie explained.
Beckett sneered. “She didn’t dump me. It was the other way around.”
“Does it matter?” Chet said. “Christ, Beck, give the guy a break. That ended years ago, and nobody wants to hear about it. Listen, Graham, we don’t know you, but we know and care about Morgyn. You waltz into town and sweep her off her feet…” He shrugged. “We just want to make sure she’s with a good guy.”
“He knows Reed,” Trixie pointed out. “Do you really think Reed would invite a jerk to the wedding? He’s Nick’s brother. You guys know Nick, and I’ve met Graham a dozen times over the last few years at Nick’s ranch, so back off already.”
“Listen, I’m sure there are people who think I’m a jerk,” Graham said. “And there are people who would kiss my feet. The fact is, I’m just a normal guy. I make a good living, travel a lot, put my family first, and feel lucky to have connected with someone as amazing as Morgyn.” He looked at Beckett and said, “I’d say I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you two, but that’d make me a liar, because she wouldn’t have been single when I met her. So let’s just get past the bullshit, assume we’re both good guys, and move on.”
“Here, here.” Trixie lifted her glass.
Trace elbowed Beckett, and Beckett reluctantly lifted his glass as Morgyn and her sisters approached.
“I hope you guys aren�
�t swinging dicks,” Brindle called out, “because from what Morgyn says, Graham will put all of y’all to shame!”
“I did not!” Morgyn insisted as she came to Graham’s side. “But he definitely would.”
Graham put his arm around her, pride filling his chest as he kissed her. “Thanks, sunshine.”
“Well, that’s more information than I needed to hear. Catch y’all later.” Beckett turned and stalked away.
“Be warned,” Trixie said to Morgyn. “Beckett has a bug up his butt.”
Morgyn turned worried eyes to Graham. “I hope he wasn’t a jerk. We went out for a little while.”
“He wasn’t, and it wouldn’t have mattered if he was. If I’d lost you I’d probably have a bug up my ass, too.”
Chapter Seven
THE RECEPTION FLEW by, or maybe floated by was a better description, because Morgyn was definitely on cloud nine. Dinner was delicious and the conversations were hilarious, as her siblings and their friends had ribbed her and Graham relentlessly. One of Morgyn’s pet peeves with the guys she’d gone out with was their inability to just be themselves, to live without pretense and roll with the punches without getting competitive. She’d known from the festival that Graham wasn’t like that, but being at the wedding, surrounded by so many people who were eager to see what he was made of, really put him to the test. Graham took it all in stride, blessing them with his dimples throughout the evening and kissing her without any hesitation. It was obvious that he was used to big families and the commotion that often came with them.
Now, as Sable’s band got ready to play another set, Morgyn watched Graham and her father cross the field toward the table carrying fresh drinks. Graham looked devilishly handsome in a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows, and a pair of dark slacks. Without his baseball cap he looked more serious, making it easier to picture him in a boardroom negotiating business deals. She might never understand the business world the way others did, but she respected it and was glad that so far he seemed to respect her world, too.
“What do you think Daddy’s saying?” she asked her mother.
“Let’s see. An engineering professor and an engineer slash investor? My bet is that they’re figuring out a better way to build the sound stage for Sable’s band.” Her mother patted her hand and said, “Either that, or he’s telling Graham about the time you and Brindle took off your clothes and did a rain dance at the Strawberry Festival.”
Morgyn covered her face. “Oh God. I hope not.”
“It’s better than him telling the story about the two of you sneaking out to go to that creek party when you were teenagers. If he tells that story, he’ll probably follow it up with a threat or two.”
“He would not.” She laughed, remembering how angry Brindle had been when their father had shown up. She glanced at Brindle and Trace on the dance floor. They were so right together, but they both fought it so hard. “Do you think Brin and Trace will ever become a real couple?”
“Honey, every time I think I have one of my daughters figured out, they surprise me. I don’t even try to figure you guys out anymore. But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. She leaves for Paris Friday, and she’s going to be so far away, all alone…” She patted Morgyn’s hand and said, “But like you, Brindle has always done things her own way. I have faith she’ll figure things out in a way that’s right for her. And I have a feeling you might be figuring something out, too. I’ve never seen you this smitten with a man before. By the way, you’re welcome to bring Graham to Brindle’s going-away dinner Tuesday night.”
“I don’t know if he’ll still be in town, but thank you.” How long was he staying? Her stomach dipped at the thought of him leaving. “Mom, how did you know that Dad was the one?”
“Oh, sweetheart, there were too many signs to ignore. Some so big they felt like billboards and some so small I was sure I dreamed them up,” her mother said. “But I think the biggest thing was that before your father and I met, I was sort of like you, drifting happily through life. Then he showed up, and suddenly he was front and center in every thought I had about my future. We were inescapable.”
“Inescapable,” she said softly.
Graham and her father had stopped a few feet from the table, their foreheads nearly touching like they were sharing secrets. Her father put a hand on Graham’s shoulder, both of them looking serious. Then her father said something and Graham cocked his head, and his gaze slid to Morgyn. Electricity arced between them. She drank in his broad chest and muscular forearms as his thick legs ate up the distance between them. She could still feel his body bearing down on her, his hips moving in slow, powerful thrusts, his tantalizing mouth sending her higher as he—
“I’d say that right there is a very good sign, sweet pea.”
Oh shit. Morgyn swallowed hard, feeling her cheeks burn. “You can see it?”
“I think everyone here can see that he passed your father’s test, don’t you?”
Relief rushed from her lungs as the men arrived and Graham stopped beside her chair.
He reached for her hand, bringing her up beside him. “Ready to light up the dance floor, sunshine? It’s calling our name.”
“Oh my, you are a sweet one, aren’t you?” her mother said.
Her father pulled her mother up to her feet and said, “Hey, Mare. That guy’s got nothing on me, except about twenty years.” Her father winked and said, “Let’s show these kids how it’s done.”
Morgyn loved seeing her parents dance almost as much as she enjoyed being in Graham’s arms again. They danced for a long while. As the sun went down, the lights that were strung across the field and the balloon lanterns hanging from the trees lit up, giving the night an even more magical feel.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” she said as they swayed to the music. “What are your plans? How long are you staying?”
“My original plan was to assess the theater with Reed, then head across the country to visit relatives on my way to meet my business partner in Washington. We’re thinking of buying a property just outside of Seattle. Then I’m heading to New York to discuss another investment. We’ve also got another international deal in the wings, but…”
“Wow, you travel a lot.” Drive across the country? Then to Seattle and New York? An international deal? She had a feeling that no matter how great this was between them, it was probably temporary.
“I do, and those were my original plans. But then I met a sexy woman at a festival, and now I’m in no rush to leave.” His eyes darkened and he said, “I booked a room at the Meadowside B and B until Friday, when I have to leave for the West Coast. I figured we’d see how things went.”
“Five days,” she said, feeling lucky and knowing that would never be enough.
“It’s a start…” He held her a little tighter as they danced.
Her heart raced with the thought of seeing even more of him. “I was thinking you might want to stay with me, but if you’ve already paid—”
“Do you think I give a damn about a few bucks? There’s no place I’d rather be than with you. When I saw you come out of the theater with your sisters, I thought I conjured your image from thinking about you so much.”
He pressed his lips to hers, showing her just how much he’d rather be with her. His kisses sizzled through her, stealing her ability to think, and she melted against him. His lips were warm and sweet as he eased his efforts to a series of feathery, tantalizing grazes of his lips against hers.
They danced to several songs, kissing and holding each other. Morgyn loved Grace, and she wanted to support her, but the longer she danced with Graham, the deeper she longed to be alone with him, to feel their bodies melding together as they disappeared into each other.
Suddenly there was a commotion, tearing her from her fantasy.
Grace ran up to the stage and tapped the mic. “Who’s ready to catch the bouquet?”
A bunch of girls rushed toward the stage.
“Oh, no.” Morgyn tried to back away, but the crowd pushed forward. She was trapped.
“Aren’t you going to try to catch it?” Graham asked.
“No. If you catch the bouquet, everyone starts betting on wedding dates and babies. I don’t want that pressure.”
He looked amused and confused. “You’re really afraid of commitment, aren’t you? I don’t get it. Your parents seem happily married.”
“I’m not afraid of commitment. I’m good at committing. I just don’t need”—she waved her hand at the crowd—“all this to prove it’s real.”
“Ready?” Grace’s voice boomed over the speaker. She turned around and said, “One!”
Brindle ran over and said, “Let’s go, Morg. Come on, legs. We gotta get out of here.”
“Two! Three!” Grace threw the bouquet, and Morgyn and Brindle screamed and ducked.
The bouquet landed right in Graham’s arms. There was a collective gasp, followed by an uproar of laughter and congratulations.
Graham uttered, “Oh shit.”
“No. No, no, no.” Morgyn shook her head, waving her hands. “Drop it! Quick, just let it fall to the ground.”
“You’re screwed, Morg,” Brindle said.
Graham chuckled and held the flowers out toward Morgyn. “For you, sunshine.”
“Excuse me!” Nana pushed through the crowd and planted her hands on her hips. “I’m not sure what it means when a man catches the bouquet, but I’ll gladly give these to Lindsay!”
“You sure, Morgyn?” Graham arched a brow.
“Yes!” Morgyn took the flowers from him and handed them to Nana.
Nana’s arm shot up into the air, and she traipsed victoriously toward the stage, saying, “Lindsay! We’ve got the bouquet!”
The crowd cheered and followed Nana, giving Morgyn room to breathe.
“She takes her granddaughter’s love life very seriously,” she said lightly, but the concern in Graham’s eyes made her heart hurt.
“Uh-oh. Looks like Morg’s got some explaining to do.” Brindle leaned closer to Graham and said, “Rule number one. Never push a Montgomery into a corner. We’ll always come out fighting.”
Trails of Love Page 9