Charlene Sands - Vegas Vows, Texas Nights

Luke frowned. “I can’t. He’s out of the country on a personal matter.”

“Personal matter? You could say this is your personal matter.”

He sighed. “His mother is extremely ill and he’s there to help get her affairs in order. That is, if the worst happens.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. Can’t you use someone else?”

Luke shook his head. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. At least not for me.”

She jammed her hands on her hips and his attention immediately was drawn there. Gosh, how much of last night did he remember? He was looking at her differently than he ever had before. As if he was taking their marriage seriously, as if she was…his wife. “I can’t go back to Boone Springs married to you, Luke.”

“Looks like you’re going to have to. Our flight leaves in a few hours.”

Katie sighed and tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

He kept silent.

She had no choice but to relent. She saw no other way out. If she prolonged her stay here in Las Vegas, the entire wedding party would get suspicious. She didn’t need that. She had to keep what happened between her and Luke quiet. She’d think of something before the Boone company plane took off.

“Fine. I’m not happy about this. If the truth comes out, I’m doomed. It’ll ruin my relationship with my family. And who knows how this would affect my mama’s health. Promise me that no one will know about this, promise me you’ll keep our secret.”

Luke touched her hand, his slight caress sweet, comforting and confusing as hell. “I promise, Katie. No one will know.”

Luke waited until everyone boarded the Boone company plane, keeping his eyes trained on Katie. She took a seat by the bridesmaids in the back, all the girls huddling around the bride-to-be.

He couldn’t keep from admiring Katie’s beautiful blond hair tied up in a ponytail, the strands framing her face making her look wholesome and sweet. She was all those things, but last night at the club, he’d seen her flirty, passionate side. Mischief had glowed in her soft green eyes, especially while she’d been dancing in her sexy black dress. Now, in a denim jacket and jeans, she contrasted beautifully with the creamy leather seats and ambience of the custom designed plane.

She was his wife now. He could hardly believe it. He was actually married to Katie Rodgers. While Mason was engaged to Drea and his other brother, Risk, was engaged to April, Luke had inadvertently beaten his brothers down the aisle.

Katie glanced his way and their eyes met. He could look at her forever and never tire of it. But as soon as she caught him eyeing her, she turned away.

He smiled inside but didn’t dare appear content around a quiet, sullen Katie. She was just cordial enough to her friends to ward off questions. She’d told everyone she’d gotten sick last night, barfing up her brains and Luke had taken her to urgent care in the wee hours of the morning to make sure she wasn’t dehydrated. It was a feasible fib, one everyone seemed to believe, with the exception of his brothers. While Drea had thanked him for taking care of her best friend, both Risk and Mason had given him the stink eye.

Hell, he certainly hadn’t planned any of this, but hearing Katie’s softly spoken desire about wanting love in her life, wanting to be married, had reached down deep inside him and wrung out his lonely heart. He’d been drunk, too, and his willpower around her had been at an all-time low. She’d flirted with him, practically asked him to make love to her, and well…he didn’t have much defense against that. Not with her.

The pilot, a navy veteran, came by to say hello to the passengers and make sure everyone was ready for takeoff.

Luke shook his hand. “Hey, Bill. Hope you didn’t lose too much at the tables while you were here.”

“Nah, my big gambling days are behind me. The penny slots are just my speed.”

“I hear you,” Luke said. He’d never been a gambler. He didn’t like to play games he couldn’t control. And he didn’t like the odds in Las Vegas, with the exception of his recent marriage.

The odds of him marrying Katie had been slim to none. Yet he’d beat them and no one was more surprised than he was. Except Katie. He’d won the jackpot and now he had to convince his new bride being married to him wasn’t a big fat mistake.

“Any time you want to come up and copilot, you know where the cockpit is,” Bill said.

“Maybe later. Right now I’m still feeling the effects of last night’s party.” Luke grinned. “I’m afraid you’re the designated driver today.” He was in no shape to navigate anything, much less fly the friendly skies. He’d become a helicopter pilot while living on Rising Springs Ranch and had gotten his pilot’s license in flight school during his stint in the service. Yet Mason had insisted he not pilot the plane so Luke could let loose and not have to worry about his alcohol consumption. His brother wanted everyone to have a good time.

“Sure thing. I’ll see that you all have a good flight.”

“Thanks, Bill.”

Luke buckled up and glanced back at Katie. She was all set, looking like she’d just lost her best friend, even though Drea was sitting right next to her.

He sighed and as he turned his head around, he came eye to eye with Risk in the seat beside him. “Something going on between you two?” he asked.

He’d promised Katie he wouldn’t give away their secret and he wouldn’t betray that vow. “Who?”

“Don’t be obtuse. You and Katie.”

“No, nothing.”

“I’m not judging,” Risk said. “And if you do have something going with her, it’d be a good thing. I can read you like a book. You’re hot for her.”

Luke shot him a warning look.

Risk’s hands went up. “I’m just saying, if you get together with her, you have my approval.”

“Like I’d need it.”

“Hey, just want to see you happy for once.”

“You do know who she is, right?”

Risk smirked. “The best pastry chef in all of Texas. She’d keep us silly in gourmet cupcakes.”

“She’s Shelly’s younger sister. And she barely tolerates me.”

Years ago, Katie had dragged Shelly to a Red Barrel charity function and had introduced them. There’d been instant attraction between them and Luke had begun dating Katie’s big sister. The engagement had seemed to fall right into place. Until the day Luke had woken up and realized he was making a big mistake.

“You two took off together last night,” Risk said, “and today, you can’t take your eyes off her.”

“Leave it alone. Okay?”

Risk seemed to read the emotion on his face. “Okay, I’ll back off.” He slapped Luke on the shoulder. “But if you run into a problem, I’m here for you.”

“Appreciate that. Why aren’t you hanging with your fiancée?”

“Seems the girls won’t call it quits on their bachelorette party until the plane touches down in Boone Springs.”

Risk eyed April, giving Luke a chance to seek out Katie again. And there she was, trying her best not to spoil everyone’s fun, trying to smile and conceal the pain she must be going through. The thought that he was the cause of her pain ate away at him. It was the last thing he wanted. But he couldn’t let her go. Not now.

She was the girl who shared a love of horses with him, the girl he’d danced with most of the night, the impossible girl who’d been in his dreams for the past five years.

He needed a chance with her, and this was the best he was going to get.

One chance.

Was that too much to ask?

Two

A Boone limo picked up the entire wedding party at the airport, taking everyone directly to their homes on the outskirts of town. Katie was among the last to be dropped off since she lived in the heart of Boone Springs, her apartment just above the bakery. It was a modest place, with one bedroom, one bath, but the rooms were spacious enough and her large home kitchen served as a backup when orders in the bakery exceeded their limit. That didn’t happen often. Katie ran an efficient place and there was nothing like rolling out of bed at 4:00 a.m. and working in her jammies downstairs until the bakery opened at seven o’clock.