Come and get it, he called heartily. Lunch is ready.
Just in time. My stomach is grumbling. As proof, it gurgled. Embarrassing.
Or perfect timing. Luke leaned in, the smoky notes in his voice ringing low and mesmerizing. Cmon. In this family you snooze, you lose. The McKaslins love their food.
So I see. Caterers buzzed in and out of the kitchen, migrating to two cloth-covered tables loaded with choices.
She took the plate Luke handed her and scooped a hot dog bun out of the bag. Little kids ran by her, looking for their moms. The yellow dog bounded after them, skidded to a stop, lifted his nose into the air and breathed deep.
Dont even think about it, Oscar. Liam, the groom, grabbed the Lab by his collar. Good behavior, remember? Or youll be banned to the house.
Oscars head tilted, he gave a whine of apology and irresistible chocolate eyes blinked sadly.
Cmon, Ill get an extra hot dog for you. Liam seemed like a really nice guy, kind and strong. A very nice combination. She thought of gentle, sweet Brooke and nodded. It was a good match. A very good one, indeed. The newlyweds met in the center of the deck. Soft touches, loving smiles and rippling laughter.
Just the way love should be. Again, she thought of Kip and the wedding hed wantedbig, fancy, expensive, a showcase. Without love, it would have been a shell of what a real wedding ought to be. Shed definitely done the right thing in fleeing Malibu even if she wasnt exactly happy here.
She caught sight of Jerrod ambling into view with a taller, older teen boy carrying a soccer ball. Jerrod looked as though he was having a good time. Good, she thought. Exactly what he needed.
What would you like, missy? the elderly gentleman asked, his spatula poised and ready over the grill.
She eyed her choices.
A hot dog, please, she said with a smile, laughing when Luke held out his plate for one, too.
They were so alike, it was kind of fun. She was so, so glad shed decided to come. Here, with Luke, she didnt miss home. He was exactly the friend in person hed been online. She couldnt ask for more than that.
Chapter Four
Laughter dominated the conversation buzzing around her as she took a bite of her hotdog. She couldnt help taking a moment to drink it all in. Happiness buzzed in the air, family and friends chatted, laughed, joked. Best of all, the happy newlyweds sat together, their happiness so infectious it made Honor start to think love wasnt such a bad thing, after all.
This isnt the kind of wedding reception youre used to, is it? Luke dragged a potato chip through a puddle of dip on his plate.
You have no idea. She reached for her cup of punch, sucked it down and reached for the mustard bottle. You have no idea what Im used to.
Enlighten me.
Not sure youre tough enough to handle it. She eyed the man beside her at the picnic table, considered his muscled form and shook her head. No, I dont think you can. Most men run.
Im not most men. Give it a shot. Just see if I bolt.
You do look tougher than most. She didnt have to ask to know Lukes strength wasnt honed in a gym but through hard, physical work. I knew something was off the instant I walked into church.
Off? A dimple etched into his cheek.
She really needed to stop noticing his dimples. Where were the nerves, the tempers and the frantic craziness? When my oldest sister got married, we lived in a frenetic state for four months pre-wedding.
Was it a fancy wedding?
An exquisite one. She squirted mustard along the length of the bun in an even stripe. A fairy tale come true. The wedding planner had to hire extra help to pull it all.
Sounds like a fancy affair.
The fanciest. She didnt mention her father was one of the most sought after financial managers in the state. His clientele ranged from movie stars to corporate multimillionaires.
Something tells me you were expecting something spiffier. The wind ruffled Lukes thick, sandy hair. Hope we didnt disappoint. I did warn you.
Ive been to a lot of spiffy weddings. All three of her sisters weddings, cousins, friends, her fathers clients. Not one has been as genuine as this one. Brooke and Liam clearly love one another.
They do.
Silence fell between them. At the next picnic table over, the bride and groom nestled together, sharing a private moment despite the family surrounding them. The groom leaned in to whisper something, and Brookes smile blossomed and the love that filled her eyes when she gazed upon her new husband was singular. Never had Honor seen anything as pure and true.
And here Ive vowed to stop believing in the existence of true love. She dug her fork into the remnants of potato salad on her plate.
I know what you mean, Luke agreed.
Those two had to prove me wrong. She sighed a little, watching the couple. What am I going to do now? Start believing again?
Brooke and Liam have that effect, he agreed lightly. Where did your disillusionment come from, your former fiancé?
Partly. Marriage is a big business in my family. Not that there isnt love. She looked quick to clarify. But money trumps love if it ever comes down to it. You should have seen my parents divorce.
Mine was pretty ugly, too. He blocked out those old memories. Not worth thinking about. It was why hed always thought long and hard before getting serious in a relationship. Not that it was a fail-safe plan. Sonya had broken his heart. Love could turn out better, like it had for Brooke and for his other sister, Bree, but there was a pattern in his family. One of romantic disaster. He was afraid of repeating it.
Picking the right woman seemed to be the key, hed decided. The trick was in finding her.
Thats why Im single. She took a small bite of hot dog. I worried that Kip and I didnt have what it took to make it last. There were too many problems.
Like what?
Just about everything. She swiped a dab of mustard from her lip.
Pretty lip. He leaned in a little closer, wanting to hear her better. The rest of the party faded away, the din of cheerful conversations silenced until there was only Honor with the breeze tousling her hair and the golden sunshine adoring her. Zip, there she was. The center of his attention.
Kip went to college with my sister and one day she bumped into him, found out he was all alone on the West Coast without family and invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. She set down her hot dog and picked up her fork. He was charming and his interest in me was flattering. When he called me up a week later to ask me out, I accepted.
Was he a nice guy?
He was. He was also really ambitious. She shrugged her shoulders in a what-can-you-do gesture. He was polite, he worked hard to ingratiate himself with my family and he seemed happy to be with me. It seemed like the sort of relationship Id been hoping for.
Youre using seemed a lot. I get the sense that was the problem.
Exactly. He did everything right and he said everything right, but something felt off. Something felt missing. I didnt know what. I just chalked it up to him being so busy with his work. My father liked him and had offered him a job. Which was his goal all along, apparently.
Oh, I get it. Hed set his sights on the bosss daughter.
And not really me. A dash of pain flashed in her eyes, but she shrugged it away. Shed been hurt.
He hated that. He knew what it was like to find out the one you were falling in love with wasnt as devoted as you thought. How did you find out?
It was the first time we met with our wedding planner. He kept texting, answering his phone, leaving to sort out some problem at work. He had a high-pressure job, I got it, but when he came back and was sitting near me, he wasnt there. He was bored, not with the plans but with me. It wasnt me he loved.
It was the successful life he was trying to build?
Thats it. Her hand landed on his arm, reaching out to him.
As he looked down at her slender fingers against the white cuff of his shirtsleeve, his heart tripped.
Kip never actually loved me. It wasnt that he didnt care, it was more that I was a necessary step to what he wanted his life to be, she explained. As my husband, his future at the company would be secure.
Ouch. He winced, understanding. Shed loved the man and wanted his love in return. Hed been in a similar situation.
After the wedding planner, we had a heart-to-heart. Kip didnt have time to talk, so we argued and in his anger the truth spilled out. I was stunned.
Did you break off the engagement right away?
Yes, but my family pressured me to reconsider. Everyone loved him. He fit in so well. My sisters and mom kept saying it was just wedding jitters, that what I was feeling was perfectly normal. After the wedding I would be a happy bride. Not to worry.
Im glad you didnt give in.
Me, too. I didnt want to marry a man who loved success more than he would love me. My family was devastated with my decision.
They love you. They must want whats best for you.
They were convinced Kip was it. Thats the hard part. She stirred her fork around in the remains of her potato salad, and he could feel how hard it had been for her.
It must have taken a lot of courage to stand up for what you wanted with all that well-meaning pressure.
I dont know about courage, but it wasnt easy. Thats why I took the job tutoring Jerrod. It got me away from the situation. I could regroup, figure out what I wanted and get my head together.
And the pieces of her heart, he figured. He knew how that felt, too. Is it working?
Ill let you know. She smiled, nothing could be prettier. His pulse fluttered, because hed never seen a more beautiful woman. Her expressive blue eyes just blew him away.
Hey, you two! Colbie trotted over, changed into a T-shirt, athletic shorts and tennis shoes. Let the game begin. Girls against guys.
No way. He dropped his fork on his plate. We talked about this, remember? Honors on my team.
Not anymore. As the entertainment director of this reception, I have unilaterally changed my mind. Sorry, buddy. Colbie winked at him. This is for Honors own good.
My own good? Honor sounded surprised as she took a last sip of punch. Is Luke a terrible player?
No, but were better. This way youll be on the winning team, and well get to know you better. Colbie gave a wink and bounded off to drum up more players for the match.
This is already spiraling out of control. Luke shook his head. Thats what happens when a woman takes over.
Im sure if your sister heard that and believed you meant it, she wouldnt take that well. Honor hopped up from the bench, reached over to steal his plate and stacked hers on top. Ill take these in. I need to change. I dont want to play in my dress.
Before he could answer, she breezed away. Brandi caught up to her, asking her about who designed her dress, some fancy name hed never heard before, and the pair tapped off in the direction of the house, leaving him behind like he was yesterdays laundry.
Well, at least he knew where he stood. He shook his head, pushed off the bench and dodged his cousins son, dashing off to play with the other little kids in the sprinkler. Around him rang the happiness of his family, who were still seated and relaxed, talking merrily.
Shes nice. Colbie returned to sidle up to him. Are you mad about the team thing?
Not mad, but something tells me you guessed she was a ringer.
Bingo. I see that look in your eye. You care for her. Colbie patted him on the arm.
And here I hoped it didnt show.
You have two choices. You can try harder to hide it or you could let her know.
She doesnt feel the same way I do.
Yet. Love gentled her words. Colbie was a great sister, always looking out for him. Maybe shell change her mind.
No, and its just as well. Shes leaving for home in a few weeks. He caught a glimpse of her through the open French doors, where she stood in the kitchen stacking the plates on the counter and chatting with Uncle John.
Honor was a city girl and not the farm girl he was looking for. Not the kind of woman who would fit into his life on the ranch. His chest ached with disappointment, but hed known that about her all along.
It was his heart giving him troubles, because his head knew for absolute certain she was not the woman for him.
Youd better go change. Colbies sympathy gentled her words. And dont be sad. The right woman is out there. I know it. You deserve the very best.
So do you. He gave her hand a squeeze.
* * *
I dont believe it! You dont like Montana? Bree spiked the ball, sending it flying over the net. The other team members jockeyed into position as the blur that was the ball soared straight up in the air.
Its not that I dont like Montana, its that I dont get Montana, Honor explained as she punched the ball and it arced over the net.
Whats not to get? Kelly, Lukes cousin, asked as her husband, Mitch, volleyed the ball back to Honors side.
Wheres the beach? She rocked up on her heels, watching as Colbie dove for the save. Wheres the ocean? Wheres the mall?
No ocean or beach, but weve got a mall, Colbie quipped as she sent the ball up into the air.
Two hours drive away from the Lamberts. Four round trip. She moved in to smack the ball with her fist, sending it flying straight at Luke. He was simply where her gaze went. Where she naturally aimed the ball. This wasnt the first time.
He knocked it back, his violet-blue gaze so intense it was all she could see. She tripped over her own feet and wham! Down she went. When she hit the ground shock ricocheted along her bones as her knee rammed into the earth. The ball thudded next to her.
Are you okay? Colbie towered over her, grabbed the ball. You went down so fast, I couldnt do anything.
It wont be the first time Ive tripped over my feet. She sat up and a shadow tumbled over her. A tall, broad-shouldered shadow. Her breathing hitched when she squinted up at Luke, who offered his hand.
Lets get you up and see the damage. His fingers wrapped around hers. You werent kidding about being a klutz. I didnt believe you.
I can be a hazard to myself. She found herself rising through the air and on her feet, breathless from the ascent. Maybe, just maybe, she had to admit, it may have something to do with the man. His callused palm, his touch, the snap of feeling that went way too deep.