“Wrong.” His quick frown was dark. “You were the one who bewitched me, Brie. I came home one weekend to conduct some necessary business with my father. The next thing I knew, I was commuting back and forth twice a week, trying not to let anyone know why I was suddenly so enamored with being back in Royal. I panted after you like a puppy dog, but you were maddeningly hard to read. I used to wish you came with a manual so I could figure out what the hell you wanted.”
His sudden burst of frustration shocked her. “I wasn’t playing games, Vaughn. I was just happy to be with you.”
“But it wasn’t enough, was it?”
She couldn’t answer that. They both knew the truth. Brie had wanted and needed promises. Security.
Vaughn had been unable to deliver any of that and unwilling to pretend he could be that kind of man. So their relationship had unraveled, and Brie had moved away.
With a sigh, she rested her forehead against his. “Life is always about timing. You and I had something wonderful back then. Let’s not ruin the memories by arguing. I want to be with you tonight. But I have to go home soon.”
His muffled grunt wasn’t an answer. He carried her to the nearest, newest-looking bale of hay and sat down with her in his lap. His hands settled on her waist. “You outshone the bride tonight, Brie. Even if she is my sister.”
“Thank you.” What would happen if she told him she loved him? If she begged him to give up his life in Dallas/Fort Worth and stay in Royal with her?
To be fair, she would have to think long and hard if he turned the tables. Could she abandon her brand-new, thriving practice and move to Forth Worth? For a man with no track record in regard to long-term commitment?
The urge to blurt out three words was strong. I love you. If Brie had been on her own, the only risk would be heartbreak. But Danika was a factor in this equation. Even now, Brie couldn’t tell if Vaughn wanted to be a father or not.
She sifted her fingers through his thick, healthy hair. “I hope you came prepared.”
His chuckle sounded hoarse and breathless. “You can bet on it, Brie.”
She sucked in a sharp breath when his thumbs caressed the insides of her thighs, making her legs quiver. The subtle torture sent her higher. Wiggling so he would get the idea, she mentally urged him closer. Needy and urgent, she wanted it all.
Her breasts ached for his touch, for his possession. “Please,” she croaked, shaking.
At last, he moved. He fumbled in his pants for the condom and applied it quickly. Then he gave her a smile that was both sweet and searing hot. Her undies ended up on the floor with Houdini-like speed.
“I’ve been waiting for this all day,” he said, the words barely audible. With one hard push, he was inside her, huge and hard and crazy wonderful.
Her body tightened instinctively around him. “Yes,” she whispered, her eyes squeezed shut. “Yes.”
Something told her this would be the last time. Grief and joy mingled, odd bedfellows indeed. Vaughn’s big, warm hands kneaded her ass, his labored breath warm on her neck as he buried his face in her shoulder.
“Brie,” he muttered. “Brie.”
She could almost tell herself he loved her. But he had never said the words, and she had come too far to believe in fantasy now.
Instead of wishing for the moon, she closed her eyes and gave in to the moment. It was enough. It had to be.
Nineteen
In the midst of sheer, physical bliss, Brie found herself sad...resigned. Vaughn held her close against his heaving chest—not saying much at first. “We have to talk about a few things before I leave town tomorrow,” he said eventually.
Brie stiffened. “It’s going to be a busy day.”
“I know. But this is important.”
Brie stood and reached for her missing item of clothing. “I have to get back to Danika,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry to rush away.”
“I understand. Why don’t I drive you? I can get someone else to follow us with the babysitter’s car.”
His expression was impossible to read in the dim light. “Thank you, but no,” she said. “Sophie is your only sister. You’ve already skipped out on the party for too long. Go back. Play your part. Nika and I will see you at the wedding in the morning.”
After that, the silence grew. Their lovemaking had been off-the-charts good by any standard. Brie cried out his name when she came. But they might as well have been miles apart.
As she descended the ladder with him right below her, she swallowed her dismay. At the bottom, she found her shoes and rummaged for a small towel to wipe her feet.
Vaughn wanted to do it for her. She stepped away and handled it herself.
Then she walked out of the barn to the car. She was waiting for him in the passenger seat after he turned off the lights and closed the big door.
Not a word was spoken during the brief drive back to the sitter’s parked car. Danika and Tabitha had taken Brie’s vehicle with the car seat.
Brie fished keys out of her evening purse. “Good night, Vaughn.”
He took her wrist. Gently. No coercion. “We’ll figure this out. Danika deserves the best of both of us.”
“I know.”
This time, he kissed her forehead. The international symbol for I think we should just be friends. “Be careful going home.”
“I will.”
When she couldn’t bear the awkward tension between them any longer, she stepped back and seated herself in the unfamiliar car. Vaughn was little more than a shadow in the darkness.
Brie reversed, pulled out and drove away.
* * *
Danika woke up all smiles the following morning. The evening with the sitter had been a novelty, and Tabitha had reported it went very well.
Brie was far less perky than her daughter.
Three cups of coffee and she was still not herself. It hadn’t been smart to lie awake for hours thinking about Vaughn. Not smart at all. Now, not only was she facing a stressful day, but she was going into it with an exhaustion hangover.
They made it out to Blackwood Hollow right on time. Some of the pictures were being taken beforehand, including the ones with Sophie, all her bridesmaids and Danika.
Brie was relieved that her daughter cooperated. The ceremony itself would come and go, but pictures lasted forever.
A light breeze kept the temperature in the tent comfortable. Sophie seemed in good spirits, laughing and beaming. The men were sequestered in the other tent where the rehearsal dinner had taken place the night before.
Vaughn being absent was a good thing. Brie didn’t know what to say to him. She was all out of words.
Brie still thought Vaughn should be at his sister’s side going down the aisle, but the siblings had discussed it and decided it was more important for Vaughn to coax his daughter to the front.
Suddenly, without warning, it was time.
Brie had witnessed the influx of guests, hundreds of them, laughing and chatting excitedly as the crowd swelled. Most fit into the space for the ceremony, but perhaps three dozen latecomers were tucked away in the rear tent watching on a video feed.
The groomsmen and bridesmaids lined up two by two. Then Danika, then the bride.
The prelude music began.
Tears filled Brie’s eyes. She was happy for Sophie.
As the attendants played their parts, moving with measured steps along the satin runner, Kellan and Sophie exchanged a hug. Two siblings out of three happily married. Those were good odds.
The wedding director gave Brie a harried smile. “Time for the flower girl.”
Brie crouched and tucked a curl behind Nika’s ear. “Walk to Mr. V,” she said, her throat tight. “Just like you did last night.”
Danika beamed and stepped out, suddenly ready to perform. Her dress was perfect, her sweet smile adorable. The cro
wd loved it and responded audibly.
Brie met Vaughn’s gaze over the long distance that separated them. He gave Brie a thumbs-up, or perhaps the gesture was for the two-year-old.
Then Sophie and Kellan took their places. The music swelled. The crowd stood. The bride walked down the aisle.
During the brief but meaningful ceremony, Brie stood at the back of the tent, feeling a bit lost. Danika was safe and happy with her father. Brie was superfluous at the moment.
Was this how it would be if she and Vaughn shared custody? Would Brie spend half her days feeling oddly at loose ends whenever it was Vaughn’s turn to have Nika?
For one selfish moment, she hoped he would bow out completely. It would be so much easier to rear Danika on her own. And Brie wouldn’t have to see Vaughn over and over again.
But even as the thought flitted through her mind, she knew it was wrong. Nika needed her daddy, and though he might not realize it, Vaughn needed his daughter.
It was Kellan’s wife, Irina, who took Danika’s hand after the ceremony and walked the little girl back to Brie. Vaughn had disappeared with Kellan.
Brie thanked Vaughn’s sister-in-law. “What’s up with the guys? Where did they run off to? Don’t they know this is a special occasion?”
Irina rolled her eyes. “Something about an important business deal in Dallas. Now that Kellan for sure has the ranch, he wants to invest in Vaughn’s company.”
“Ah.”
The two women exchanged wry glances. Irina shook her head. “I’ve learned you can’t tame a Texan. We’re the ones who have to change and adapt.”
“But you look radiant and happy.”
Irina grinned. “Oh, I am. Kellan is the love of my life. He may be stubborn, but he dotes on me.”
After the woman walked away, Brie stayed put for a minute, pondering Irina’s words. Was Brie willing to make compromises for a shot at happiness? She honestly didn’t know. How much was too much to bend?
Unlike last night, the reception was not nearby. All the guests had to load up and head across town to the posh Bellamy resort, where the wedding brunch was to be held.
The bride and groom had arranged for fully staffed babysitting—by reservation—at the TCC childcare center. The new Mr. and Mrs. Townshend had even catered munchkin-friendly food for the little ones’ meals. Having the option was a relief. A formal wedding brunch at the elegant Bellamy was definitely not the place for kids.
Brie dropped Danika off at the center on the way. Nika was comfortable there by now and went without protest.
At the Bellamy, the scene was organized chaos. A larger-than-normal staff of valets was parking cars. Brie handed over her keys and tucked the claim ticket in her small beaded purse.
On one side of the entrance, Nigel’s unmistakably upper-crust family gathered as they were dropped off. Coincidentally, the opposite portion of the driveway had been overtaken with the cast and crew of the Secret Lives show.
Nigel and Sophie had invited all the wives and even granted camera access to the reception, within reason. Brie spotted Miranda entering the hotel alone. Something about Miranda’s dignified posture made Brie feel sorry for her. Miranda had done her best in a difficult situation.
As Brie made her way to the salon where the brunch was being served, a warm male hand descended on her shoulder. “There you are,” said a familiar voice.
She felt her cheeks go hot. “Hello, Vaughn.”
He cocked his head, his lips twitching. “That’s all you’ve got to say after last night?”
“I have no idea to what you are referring,” she said primly.
She was wearing an ankle-length gown spangled with tiny, tiny bugle beads. The halter neck left her shoulders bare.
Vaughn traced her collarbone with a fingertip, his gaze hooded. “This tangerine color suits you. I have a few ideas for getting you undressed later.”
Her spine stiffened. “You’re flying out later. Remember?” Perhaps he heard the tart bite in her voice.
“Details, details.” He took her elbow. “Come on. I found our seats already. And for the record, I’m starving.”
The long, gorgeous room had been decked out as a conservatory. Lush plants, everything from hibiscus to orchids, lined the corridors and graced the tables. Nigel and Sophie’s table was slightly raised, so the bride and groom could see all their guests.
Champagne flowed like water. Waiters with trays of mimosas in Baccarat crystal flutes circulated among the crowd.
At last everyone was seated, and the meal began. After the main course of raspberry crepes, eggs Benedict and honeyed dates, Nigel’s grandmother stood and regaled the group with rather saucy tales of his childhood. Brie smiled inwardly at seeing the proper Englishman be mortified by his own granny.
Vaughn and Kellan had their own set of stories about Sophie. The bride pretended to be insulted, but Brie could see that she loved the attention from the brothers she adored.
Then it was time for dessert. Someone from the kitchen wheeled out an enormous cart laden with the most beautiful wedding cake Brie had even seen. It was covered in pastel-pink-and-white fondant and adorned with tiny, handmade sugar ribbons and roses.
After Sophie and Nigel cut the cake, feeding each other in the process, the kitchen crew quickly sliced and served the masterpiece to every guest...with more alcohol for those who wanted it.
Vaughn whispered in her ear, “You have icing on the side of your mouth,” he said softly, leaning forward and removing it with his thumb. Then he sucked his thumb and smiled. “Delicious.”
Beneath the pristine linen tablecloth, Brie pressed her knees together. The man was a devil. “Stop that,” she hissed. “People are watching us.”
It was true. Nigel’s large family and Sophie’s smaller one, including Dixie Musgraves, were seated on either end of the dais, facing the rest of the guests. It was impossible to adjust a bra strap or remove food from your teeth without someone noticing.
After the cake cutting, there was a brief lull. Sophie and Nigel had exited for a brief moment alone, promising to return shortly for the obligatory bouquet toss.
Brie needed a breath of air. Though she had only consumed a single mimosa, her head was spinning. “I’m going to visit the ladies’ room,” she said. “Be right back.”
The lobby of the hotel was oddly silent. Most of the resort’s rooms had been overtaken by out-of-town wedding guests, so the most likely explanation was that everyone involved was occupied with brunch.
Just as Brie was crossing the wide expanse of lush carpet, a man intersected her path. He was a couple of decades her senior. His longish, dark blond hair wasn’t her preference, but he still possessed an attractive boyish charm.
It took Brie a moment to recognize him as Vaughn’s lawyer. Her stomach clenched. “Mr. Matthews. I didn’t expect to see you today.” He was dressed in a worn tux.
“Ms. Sophie is kind to an old guy like me. I appreciated the invitation.”
Brie manufactured a smile. “If you’ll excuse me...”
She turned to pursue her original errand, but the lawyer halted her with a hand on her arm. She shook off his touch. “I’m in a hurry,” she said curtly, no longer willing to feign social niceties now that she remembered who he was.
“Wait,” he insisted, touching her a second time. “I have something for you.” He pulled a standard-size manila envelope from his inside breast pocket. It was folded in half lengthwise. “Vaughn wanted me to give you these.”
Brie felt a chill on her skin. A premonition. Automatically, she took the envelope and flattened it where it had been folded. Almost without thinking, she withdrew the stack of pages. Not that many. Ten, maybe. Twelve at the most.
“What is this?” she asked, nausea rippling through her stomach as she took in words and phrases.
“Just a standard business thing,”
Trent said breezily. “Mr. McCready and your fiancé have to protect the integrity of their very important deal. All we’re doing is asking you to sign this and verify that you and the kid aren’t going to make any kind of claims on the profits. Which is only fair,” he said quickly, “since this acquisition was underway before the two of you came on the scene.”
“My daughter’s name is Danika,” Brie said carefully.
Her heart lay in ashes at her feet. She had anticipated getting hurt because she was more invested in this relationship than Vaughn. What she had never seen coming was such careless cruelty. She’d hoped Vaughn had changed...that his relationship with her and with Nika had become more important to him than profit or a bottom line.
Even in the midst of her distress, she paused, unwilling to convict her faux fiancé unfairly. She stared Trent Matthews straight in the eyes. “Has Vaughn Blackwood seen these papers?”
Matthews never hesitated. His head cocked to one side, a mildly puzzled smile on his face. “Of course.”
Twenty
Vaughn checked his watch for the third time. Brie had been gone twenty-five minutes. He assumed she would call the TCC to check on Danika, but even so, she should have been back by now.
Absently, he noticed that Trent Matthews was standing on the opposite side of the room near a doorway. The man’s expression was equal parts affable and satisfied. Why had Sophie invited him?
And then it dawned on Vaughn—she probably hadn’t. Trent Matthews was exactly the kind of man who would crash a wedding. Something wasn’t right.
Just when Vaughn was ready to go in search of Brie, she appeared, sliding into her seat with an apologetic smile.
“Everything okay?” he whispered. She was pale, and her forehead was damp.
“Yes,” she said, reaching for her water glass. “Shh. Nigel is about to say something.”
The bride and groom were inviting everyone into the adjoining ballroom for dancing and more festivities. The crowd rose as one, eager to continue the party.
Too Texan to Tame Page 15