Jillian Hart - Montana Cowboy

“Thanks,” she said, but he was gone, hurrying to seat a latecoming guest.

The other groomsmen were lined up at the front, the groom a calm, content-looking man who joked with his best man. The low rumble of their laughter blended with the din of the crowd and the rise and fall of notes from the quartet. Finally the crowd hushed as the minister took his place and the processional music began.

“Are you sure the cake will be good?” Jerrod whispered to her as he put his iPod on pause. Apparently he knew where his priorities were.

“Positively.”

As quietly as she could, she unlatched her handbag and dug out a roll of candy. She offered it to Jerrod first, who happily took a few, ripped the paper farther down on the roll and popped the sweet-tart lozenge into her mouth. Flavor exploded on her tongue. Take that, low blood sugar.

An adorable little girl with bouncy brown curls paraded down the aisle, tossing rose petals from her fancy white basket. She looked like a cherub with angelic cheeks and sweet button face. Her snowy lacy dress swung around her knees. Completely adorable.

“That’s Madison, my niece,” whispered the woman who’d visited the dressing room. The baker, cousin Ava, leaned over the back of the pew, eyes wide with curiosity. “Isn’t she adorable? I hear you are dating Luke?”

“Not dating,” she corrected way too fast and way too defensive. Best to blame that on the low blood sugar, too. “Everyone has the wrong idea. Luke and I are just friends.”

“Sure. I know what you mean. That’s the best place to start.”

Not sure how to argue with that, she held her tongue. The little ring bearer strode down the aisle, a cute little boy sure of his duty.

“My nephew, Tyler,” Ava informed her.

The bridesmaids came next, strolling down the aisle carrying bouquets of daisies. Each dress was a different color—blue, lilac and gold. When they reached the front, Honor noticed Luke standing alongside the best man, shoulders set, back straight, striking in his dark suit. Incredibly fine-looking.

Her heart gave another swoop, so she popped a second candy into her mouth. That was absolutely the last time she was skipping breakfast.

* * *

Exultation flitted in the air like the scent of roses from a nearby border row as friends and family descended the church stairs and streamed toward their vehicles, buckled in and zoomed off. Honor beeped the remote, her car door locks popped and Jerrod dropped into the passenger seat. She went up on tiptoe, looking around for a sign of Luke. White pickup, he’d said. She frowned, seeing at least ten white trucks gleaming in the lot. Now what?

“Over here!” called a familiar voice.

She whirled around, shading her eyes with her hand as she squinted into the hot noon sun. “There you are. Did you know there are at least a dozen white pickups in this lot?”

“Sorry.” He eased behind the wheel, leaving the door open so he could holler across the roof of a departing car. “I’d planned on finding you in the crowd, but you made a fast dash toward the exit.”

“It was hard not to. It was like being a salmon in a river current. I decided to go with the flow.”

“The McKaslins and friends are a desperate bunch when we get hungry.”

“I know, right?” She slipped into the leather seat, scorching from sitting in the sun. Yikes. Her fingers seared when she touched the steering wheel. “Is it very far?”

If so, she’d likely melt.

“Not too far. Follow me.”

She eyed the mad dash of vehicles toward the exit. “I’ll try.”

“Not to worry. I’ll keep my eye on you.” He winked. Why did the man have to have a dazzling wink, too? His door closed and his truck’s engine roared to life.

“I’m dying,” Jerrod commented. “Air conditioning. Quick.”

“I doubt it will help in time. We may be a puddle of carbon-based goo before we reach the street.”

“No kidding.” Jerrod fanned himself, not that it would help, and whizzed down his window. The instant the engine turned over, he took charge of the a/c controls.

“So, not too bad so far, right?” She buckled up.

“At least we’re out of the house.” Jerrod frowned at the hot air spewing from the vents. “You’re sure there’ll be kids my age here?”

“That’s the word.” She checked her mirror, saw the grill of Luke’s truck lumbering closer and smiled in spite of herself. “You miss your friends back home.”

“You know it.” Jerrod leaned forward to catch the tepid air from the vents.

Luke motored by in his gleaming truck. She caught a flash of his smile as she pulled out to get in behind him. Here’s where her California driving skills came in handy. She nosed in front of a Buick jockeying for supremacy and angled in behind Luke’s tailgate. Skills honed from mall parking lots. Good to know they hadn’t gone rusty.

Her cell chimed. She scrambled for the Bluetooth earpiece and answered before it went to voice mail. “Hello?”

“Nice maneuvering back there. That was the minister’s car.”

“Oops!” She felt a twinge of guilt as she glanced in her rearview at the Buick idling behind her. “Between that and missing all but one percent of Sunday service, I’m in need of serious penance.”

“I’ll say. And before you ask, there’s not an afternoon service you can catch.”

“How did you know I was going to ask?” She flipped on her right blinker when his started to blink.

“I know you don’t like to miss church.”

“That’s right.” How many Sunday mornings had she ended a chat session because she needed to dash off to church? “It’s weird because you and I know each other, but at the same time we don’t. We’re strangers who are, well, strangers.”

“True. We just technically met.” His trunk made a neat turn onto the street.

She pulled up, took advantage of the clear road and turned after him. “So, tell me about where we’re going. You mentioned volleyball.”

“Shh. That’s top secret, remember? If anyone asks—”

“—I’ll deny any knowledge—”

“—or you’ll be disavowed.”

“Why do I suddenly want to hum the Mission: Impossible theme?”

“I don’t know, but I have the same urge.”

This was why she’d liked typing at Luke. He was fun. She scooted through a yellow light keeping on his tail, breezing through the intersection before the red. Perfect timing. “So, how does the volleyball team selection work in your family?”

“Don’t worry. When we choose sides, I’ll call you first.”

“You’re just going on my word that I can play. What if I’m exaggerating or have an overinflated opinion of my own skills?”

“That’s a risk I’m ready to take.”

“Aren’t those fateful words? Like pride goeth before a fall? Doom happens when you least expect it?”

“And here I thought you were an optimist. A glass-half-full kind of girl.”

“It depends on the day,” she quipped, following him through a housing development. “I’m always more positive on a full stomach. We were running late, so I missed breakfast.”

“The truth comes out. The concrete irrigation pipe being transported wasn’t the only reason you were late.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t bring it up, but yes. I couldn’t decide what to wear. It’s been so long since I really got to dress up.” She scooted into a spot at the curb behind his truck. A slope of lush lawn led the way to a lovely brick Tudor, shaded by maples. Must be their destination. She hated turning off the engine, now that the a/c was finally blowing glacial cold.

“You’re one of those fashionista types, aren’t you? Always shopping?”

“Could be, but I’ve known worse.” She gave Jerrod a nod, who opened his door and spilled out into the heat. “I’m nothing like my mom and sisters. They are serious fashion divas.”