Taming the Cowboy (Family Ties Book 3)

by Carolyne Aarsen

  Could he?

  Chapter 15

  “We are so thankful you all could be here to share this day with us,” Kane was saying after all the other speeches were over, his arm around Faith, holding her close to his side. “And we are especially thankful to our heavenly Father for bringing us together. For the blessing of this relationship.” Kane looked down at Faith, his eyes brimming with love. When he bent over to kiss her, Kinsley captured the moment.

  Kane straightened and looked over the crowd, nodding to the DJ, who cued up the first song, a slow waltz.

  The bridal couple walked onto the wooden dance floor. Kane turned to Faith, slipped his arms around her, and together they moved to the music.

  Kinsley took a few pictures from her vantage point, then moved to catch another shot. She had gotten some great captures today, and now, as Elliot and Tricia joined them, she knew this part of her job, was coming to an end.

  She crouched down, pleased to notice that her hip wasn’t even that sore. She had been worried that it would hold her back, but that wasn’t the case.

  As she watched Faith and Kane dancing, she noted with pleasure how the dress flowed around Faith’s legs, how the bodice sparkled in the subdued light from the paper lanterns hanging in the tent. It was the perfect dress for her, and though, initially, it had been difficult to see her friend wear the dress that was supposed to be the beginning of her own happily ever after, now it didn’t matter.

  And as she took her last picture she saw, coming onto the floor, the man who had changed so much for her. Elliot took Tricia into his arms, but as he did, he looked over at Kinsley, giving her a smile so warm and intimate it made her heart shiver.

  She swallowed and lifted her camera again, hiding behind it. However, as she took pictures of the bridal party, she zoomed in a few times on Elliot. He seemed to sense every time she did because he looked directly at her, pulling silly faces sometimes, other times blowing kisses. Despite his shenanigans she captured a few good, serious shots.

  Then, as she straightened, the DJ changed the tempo of the music to upbeat country, inviting everyone onto the dance floor.

  Kinsley snapped a few more pictures, then she walked toward the table where Jill sat so she could look them over. Faith had said she didn’t want any formal pictures of the reception. She and Kane had put cards on each table asking people who took pictures with their phone to send them to a number printed on the card.

  Kinsley was glad she was finished for the night. Her feet throbbed, and though her hip wasn’t bothering her too much, she was tired mentally as well as physically.

  “Things seem to have gone well,” Jill said to her as Kinsley sat down. Jill had been sitting the entire time at the same table as Kinsley, scribbling notes in a small book. Every time she did, Kinsley’s pulse picked up another notch. Was she writing good things? Bad things? Criticisms? Suggestions?

  Kinsley struggled to keep her focus on the job she was doing at the moment, trying not to worry what Jill was writing down.

  “I’m fairly pleased,” Kinsley said. And she was. The wedding ceremony had gone smoothly, even with the distraction of taking pictures.

  The dinner of appetizers had also gone well.

  Carmen was a consummate professional. She had enlisted the help of some friends, her new boyfriend, Brent, being one of them, to help serve. They were all dressed in black pants and white shirts. People still drifted over to the tables to eat some more, but it looked like there had been more than enough.

  “I was surprised you went with the transmission from Kane’s brother,” Jill said, closing her book and clipping the pen to it. “I don’t know as I would have done it. It created a dissonance—”

  “I thought it was an important thing to do,” Kinsley cut in, quashing her fears of Jill’s disapproval. “This is a close family, and even though it might not have been the most upbeat situation, I’m glad we did it. Lucas is a part of the family and he couldn’t be here. I knew that was difficult for him and I knew it was also difficult for Elliot, Kane, and Tricia.”

  She sounded more defensive than she should. Jill’s approval meant too much.

  “I understand that,” Jill said. “But I would discourage that in the future. Live transmissions like that don’t always work and can interrupt the flow of the event.”

  “Kinsley has a real knack for knowing precisely what to do and how to make it happen.”

  Elliot’s voice behind her made her jump. She turned, smiling at his defense. “I think it worked out really well,” he continued.

  “Elliot, this is Jill,” she said as she introduced her future partner to Elliot. “Jill, this is Elliot. I’m sure you know he’s the brother of the groom.”

  “I have to say I enjoyed your speech,” Jill said, flashing a smile. Just like that, her prickly attitude was gone, and she was acting like every other woman did around Elliot. Grinning and borderline flirting with him.

  “It came from the heart,” Elliot said, placing his hand on his chest. He angled her a crooked smile, and Kinsley had to chuckle at how easily Jill fell under his spell.

  “Well, it was a good speech, and I think this wedding has gone well.” Jill's praise warmed her heart.

  “It’s been excellent. Kinsley has been fantastic. I’m also looking forward to seeing the pictures she took.”

  Jill folded her arms across her chest, her defensive body language eloquent as she turned to Kinsley again. “Are you sure that was such a good idea? Coordinating the wedding as well as taking pictures?”

  “Faith was in a bind. Her photographer wasn’t showing up.” Again Kinsley tried not to sound defensive.

  “Well, thankfully everything went smoothly.” Jill gave her a tight smile, but Kinsley could tell she wasn’t pleased with the whole setup. “But of course you won’t be repeating this if you work for me.”

  “Of course not,” Kinsley said. “This was a one-off.”

  “I would hope so,” Jill said primly. “It’s enough work, coordinating the wedding, without having to think of camera angles and shots.”

  “You just said this wedding went well,” Elliot said. “I don’t think you need to worry about what Kinsley can and can’t do.” Kinsley knew Elliot well enough by now to hear the faint edge of anger in his voice. While part of her was flattered with his defense of her, this was also her potential partner. And she didn’t need anything to jeopardize that.

  “Planning a wedding is a complex endeavor,” Jill said, still smiling. “It requires being on top of everything at all times.”

  “Kinsley’s pretty much in charge of everything,” Elliot put in. “And the best part, she’s able to roll with the flow.”

  Jill frowned at that. “Roll with the flow? What do you mean?”

  Kinsley could see Elliot marshaling another argument, so she grabbed his arm, catching his attention and smiling up at him.

  “I think we should have a dance,” she said, realizing this probably also fell under the realm of “not something a wedding planner would do” but right now she knew she had to get Elliot away from Jill.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Elliot agreed, slipping his arm over her shoulders and walking away from the table.

  “You need to know I’m not much of a dancer,” Kinsley said, aware of the pickle she had created in her desire to get Elliot away from her future partner.

  Now, as she watched other couples twirling around the dance floor, easily reading each other’s movements, completely in sync, she wished she hadn’t been so impulsive.

  “Well if it’s any consolation, I’m not much of one either,” Elliot said. “So we can kind of fumble along together.”

  Coming from anyone else she would’ve felt offended, but combined with Elliot’s grin and the way his arms held her close, it made her laugh instead.

  “So, that Jill lady, are you sure you want to work with her?” Elliot asked, slipping his arms around her, moving slowly to the music, just as he had promised.

 
“She’s one of the best in the business,” Kinsley said. “It would be a huge win for me if I got the job.”

  “She doesn’t seem like a lot of fun,” Elliot said. “I didn’t like how she was criticizing you.”

  “She wasn’t criticizing me,” Kinsley protested. “She was just—”

  “Criticizing you,” Elliot interrupted. He shot another glance to where Jill sat. “She’s taking notes again. She’s been doing that all evening. What is she writing in that little book of hers?”

  “Maybe she’s writing poetry,” Kinsley joked, not sure she wanted to talk about Jill with Elliot.

  Elliot said nothing for a moment as they moved over the dance floor, just taking small steps, swaying to the music. Kinsley hadn’t danced in a long time, but surprisingly, with Elliot, she didn’t even feel that self-conscious.

  “So why her?” Elliot asked. “Why do you want to work for her?”

  “I told you, she’s the best in the field.” She wished he would drop this.

  “Better than Mr. Loser Drake?” Elliot asked.

  “Way better.”

  “And wedding planning is the dream for you?”

  Kinsley looked away from him, unwilling to hold his gaze. “You keep asking me these questions. Are you trying to make me unsure of what I should do with my future?”

  Elliot was silent a moment, his arm tightening around her, his hand holding hers against his chest. “I just know that you seem a lot happier when you’re taking pictures than when you’re walking around with your clipboard, making notes, making plans,” he said finally.

  “That’s because photography is a hobby, and making plans and writing on clipboards is my job.”

  “Well you just seem a lot happier doing your hobby than doing your job,” Elliot put in. “And your job, this partnership with Jill, will mean you moving back to the city, right?”

  Kinsley didn’t know what to say to that. His question shifted their conversation to a different level. Was he concerned about her moving? Did that matter to him?

  “But this isn’t what I was hoping we would talk about as I was dancing with you,” Elliot said. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how amazing you look.”

  Kinsley looked down at the slacks she wore. “I wanted something easy to move around in. And yet, something that still looked reasonably dressy.”

  The wide pants were made out of a pleated organza material that created the look of a dress, with the ease of movement of pants.

  He fingered the hem of the gauzy blouse she had layered over top of it, and smiled. “Well, you pulled it off. Just like you pulled off this wedding. I know Faith is absolutely thrilled with how everything went even if Jilly over there doesn’t seem to think you did things right.”

  “She was just offering her professional opinion.”

  “Which you’d probably have to follow if you worked for her.”

  And back they were to Jill.

  “Can we not talk about her?” she asked, leaning back just enough to catch his gaze. She gave him a tentative smile. “I’d much sooner just be with you.”

  He returned her smile and then, to her surprise, pleasure, and dismay, in front of his family and all the gathered guests, he kissed her.

  “Good plan. Let’s get out of here.”

  “But my cameras-“

  “No one will steal them.”

  “But it has all the pictures on it. From the wedding.”

  “Got it.”

  And before she could protest, he had her hand in his and was leading her off the dance floor. They stopped at a table where a couple sat.

  “Dietrich, can you get Kinsley’s camera and watch it for her? It’s over there, on the table where the lady with the sour face is sitting.”

  The man named Dietrich just grinned at Elliot’s description of Jill. “I’ll guard it with my life,” he said, getting up.

  Elliot tugged on her hand but Kinsley waited until Dietrich picked up her cameras and brought them back.

  “You can trust him. He runs the hardware store.”

  Then he led her out of the tent. The sun was just setting behind the mountains and the air was cool out here, but refreshing.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You don’t trust me?” he asked, grinning at her.

  “I do.” And as she spoke the words aloud the truth of them settled into her. She did trust him.

  They walked across the yard, headed, it looked like, to the shop, where he had been working on the buggy.

  He let go of her hand, grabbed a large handle on the door, and slid it open.

  “Come on in,” he said to her, his voice holding a curious note.

  She followed him, to a stack of straw bales with a blanket draped over them. “Sit down,” he said to her, doing so himself and tugging on her hand.

  As she did, his arm wrapped around her, pulling her back against the blanket-covered bales behind them.

  “I’ve been wanting to get you alone all day,” Elliot said, holding her close, resting his head on hers. She caught the faint whiff of the cologne he was wearing and nestled closer into his shoulder.

  They were quiet for a moment, just enjoying being together.

  “I have to ask you,” Elliot said, his voice quiet. “How did it feel to watch Faith wearing your dress as she got married?”

  “I was just thinking about that a few moments ago,” Kinsley said. “And to tell you the truth, I was glad. I was glad I could help her out.”

  “That’s good to know,” Elliot said, tipping her chin up to look at him. His eyes traveled over her face, his fingers caressing her cheek and neck. “I thought it might bother you. I felt terrible for you.”

  “You don’t need to feel bad for me. I’m over the heartbreak that my very ex-fiancé caused me.” She added a wide smile, knowing right down to the depths of her soul that she spoke the truth. “Besides, I have someone else occupying my mind.”

  “Really? Who might that be?”

  “As if you don’t know.” Kinsley chuckled. She slipped her hand up the back of his head, tangling her fingers in his long thick hair, and drew him closer, their lips meeting in a warm, soft kiss. He pulled her even closer, and their bodies melted together. Kinsley’s heart rate increased as their kiss deepened. Every part of her yearned for him, yearned for the closeness they were sharing, yearned for more.

  Finally they pulled away, his forehead resting against hers, his face a soft blur.

  “Oh, Kinsley,” he breathed. “You are taking over my life.”

  She felt the same, but a small part of her held back. This was here, and now, but what about tomorrow? And the day after? Would they be able to be together?

  She lowered her gaze, giving herself a little bit of physical distance. She wanted to ask him about the future, but fear held her back. She had made herself vulnerable to one man before, and despite what she said about Faith wearing her wedding dress, Kinsley knew she didn’t dare give herself wholeheartedly to this man. There were complications in his life that she wasn’t sure how to deal with. Wasn’t sure what the repercussions for herself would be.

  “I’m sorry if I spoke too soon,” Elliot said, misunderstanding her silence. “I don’t want to push you.”

  She shook her head, keeping her eyes focused on her hand resting now over his shirt pocket. Over his heart. “You’re not pushing me to places I don’t want to go.”

  She felt and heard his sigh of relief as his chest lifted below her hand.

  “I know this sounds cliché, but I never felt like this about anybody before.”

  His words both exhilarated and concerned her. She wanted to express those concerns, but right now the way he was looking at her, the way he was holding her, made her feel attractive and wanted and loved. And right now, after watching her friend get married in her old wedding dress, right now all she wanted was to hold on to this moment. To cling to this connection.

  And tomorrow?

  She quashed her doubts, stifled her
questions, and leaned into Elliot’s arms, allowing herself this moment. Allowing herself to escape her concerns and just be with this man.

  “You still working on the pictures?”

  Kinsley looked up from her laptop, stifling a yawn as Elliot dropped onto the wicker chair beside her. She had woken up early this morning and started editing the pictures.

  Then, when the truck arrived to take the tent down, she went outside to oversee the job.

  But Mason, Nathan, Elliot, Tricia, and the company’s employees were all helping. They shooed her away, so she took her laptop and sat on the patio. That way she was available if anyone needed her.

  “How’s the takedown coming?”

  “We’re done.”

  “Already? I was going to come and—”

  “What? Supervise?” Elliot asked. Kinsley fought a stab of guilt. “Is that what Miss Jill would say you should do?”

  “Probably.”

  “I had a chance to chat with her before she left last night.”

  Horror coursed through her. “Please tell me you were polite.”

  “I was the perfect gentleman,” Elliot said with an impudent grin that made her question his sincerity.

  “I hope so.”

  “She didn’t seem any nicer than when I talked to her with you.” Elliot leaned back, lacing his hands behind his head. “I still don’t know why you want to partner with her.”

  Kinsley didn’t know if she was being overly sensitive, but it seemed that there was a subtext to his question.

  “Like I told you, she’s the best. And she’s offering me a full-time position, which is a whole lot better than the part-time one I had before working with Drake.” She adjusted the black setting on the picture and sat back, looking at it more critically. No. She needed a different filter.

  Elliot pursed his lips, seeming to ponder her reply. “So working for her would be quite a coup then?”

  “Oh yeah. I can only imagine what Drake and his mother would think.”

  “Which is the point?”

  Kinsley looked over her laptop at Elliot, wondering what he meant by that, but he was staring at the sky, looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world.