She put the flowers on a small table by the door. After turning back to face him, she put her hands on his shoulders and drew him close.

“Hey, handsome cowboy. I haven’t seen you in a while,” she murmured.

He went willingly, pulling her against him and kissing her deeply. Even as he ran his hands up and down her back, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. She met him stroke for stroke, arching against him, rubbing herself against his rapidly growing erection.

He moved his hands from her h*ps to her rear. He squeezed the curves. When that wasn’t enough, he found the zipper and jerked it down. After grabbing her dress by the shoulders, he gave it a tug.

Several things happened at once. Annabelle moved back slightly, so her dress could fall off her arms and drift down to the floor. He opened his eyes to watch the show. A heartbeat later, he saw she wasn’t wearing anything under the dress.

Nothing. As in na**d.

She smiled up at him. “I missed you.”

He had to swallow before speaking. “You, ah, mentioned that in your text.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

“I get that.”

“Good.” She took his hand, then turned and led the way to her bedroom. “I thought we could play doctor. I have a few places that need attention. Want me to show you?”

He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten so lucky. Annabelle was funny, smart and caring. She was also something of a wildcat in bed. No one looking at her reading a story to kids at the library would guess that. Unless the person knew about the dance of the happy virgin and had had the pleasure of kissing her into moaning surrender.

Need pulsed through him in time with his heartbeat. He was hard enough to ache, and more than ready to play any game she wanted.

They reached her bedroom. She turned to face him again. “Oh, Dr. Shane, can you help me?”

As his hands settled on her breasts, he leaned in to press his mouth to hers. “Yes, ma’am, I can. Let me see if I can figure out where it hurts and then I’ll kiss it and make it all better.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ANNABELLE WAITED AROUND the side of the barn. The day was warm and clear, with a light breeze. Two afternoons ago a storm had blown through, dropping enough rain to wash everything clean. Now the ground was dry, the flowers bright, the moment perfect. Wedding perfect.

“I feel ridiculous,” Charlie muttered, tugging on the waistband of her dress.

“You look great.”

She did, Annabelle thought. The pinkish-melon fabric complemented her coloring, while the sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice showed off unexpected curves. One of the Gionni sisters—both helping the bridal party and on a truce for the wedding—had curled her short hair then used product to add an edge to the curls. Makeup, applied by a very brave Nevada, accentuated her blue eyes and long, dark lashes.

“You can dress up a pig, but it’s still a pig,” Charlie muttered.

“Wilbur would look very handsome in a tuxedo, and you’re not a pig. You’ve spent your whole life trying to be the opposite of your mother. May I point out she’s not here, you’re a woman and every now and then it’s fun to dress like you remember that. You look beautiful. Yes, it’s a compliment. Suck it up and go with it.”

Charlie blinked at her. “For a short person, you have a lot of attitude.”

Annabelle laughed. “I’m also wearing four-inch heels which I could use as a weapon. Don’t piss me off.”

“I guess I won’t.”

Heidi came around the side of the barn. Glen and May were with her, both helping hold up the gown.

Heidi looked at them and sighed. “What was I thinking, wearing a train on grass? Once we get through the ceremony, I won’t care about stains but until Rafe sees me, I want to be perfect.”

“You’ve succeeded,” Annabelle told her, taking in the upswept hair, the sparkling tiara and the graceful dress. “You’re stunning.”

“She’s right,” Charlie told her, voice thick. “Damn, I’m getting all misty.”

“Thank you,” Heidi told them. “For everything. For being my friends and helping me and—”

“Stop it right now,” May said sternly. “I mean it, girls. Stop it or you’ll all start crying. There’s still the ceremony and then pictures. You can mess up your makeup all you want then. Do you hear me?”

“I’d listen if I were you,” Glen told them, his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile. “She can be mean.”

May gave a laugh, then started to straighten Heidi’s gown. When it was in place, Annabelle handed the bride her bouquet. May left to be seated up in front.

Glen moved next to Heidi and offered his arm. “You ready for this?”

Heidi nodded. “Thanks, Grandpa. You know I love you, right?”

“Nearly as much as I love you. Rafe’s a lucky man.”

“I’m lucky, too.”

Annabelle felt her eyes start to get a little misty. She blinked several times to avoid tears. The music changed to the last song before the bridal march. She looked at Charlie, who squared her shoulders, like a soldier heading to battle.

“I’m ready,” Charlie muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Ever the romantic.”

Charlie gave a strangled laugh, then started around the barn. Annabelle waited about fifteen seconds, then followed. She turned left and was able to see the seated guests and the archway where the couple would be married.

Rafe stood up front, with Shane and Clay at his side. Annabelle did her best not to stare longingly at the middle Stryker brother, aware that in this crowd anything could be fodder for town gossip. But it was hard not to be impressed by the well-cut dark suit and the handsome man wearing it.

She walked slowly up the petal-covered center walkway and took her place by Charlie. Off to the side a string quartet, compliments of the California University Fool’s Gold music department, seamlessly transitioned into the wedding march. The guests rose and the bride appeared.

The ceremony was quick but meaningful, with Rafe and Heidi reciting vows they’d written, followed by the traditional love, honor and cherish. The kiss was just passionate enough to assure everyone this couple was going to make it, then they straightened and were introduced as husband and wife.

An hour later the pictures had been taken. Heidi’s dress had one more surprise—the overskirt came off, leaving the bride in a reception-friendly long dress, absent extra layers and the heavy train.

The quartet was replaced by Fool’s Gold’s favorite party DJ and guests began to dance. Annabelle was just going to find Charlie when Shane came up and captured her hand.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, pulling her close as the music shifted to something slow and romantic and they began to move together.

“No, I was giving you space.”

“Why?”

“You might have brought a date to the wedding.”

He looked genuinely confused. “Another woman?”

“Or a man. I’m not going to judge.”

Shane pulled her to the side of the dance floor. “Annabelle, what are you talking about? Why wouldn’t I be with you?”

She stared up at him. The four-inch heels helped, but honestly nothing could change the fact that she was just plain short.

“We’re spending time together,” she told him. “But we haven’t talked about anything. I didn’t want to presume.”

“That we’re together?”

She nodded.

He sighed. “I’ve been out of the game a long time if I’m doing it this badly.” He put his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I’m with you. What did you think the other night was about?”

“Enjoying each other.”

He frowned. “Are you enjoying yourself with anyone else?”

She smiled. “No. You have me firmly captivated.” A safer truth than the fact that she loved him. She would get into that later, assuming this conversation went well.

“Good. I want to captivate you. Because you’ve got me under your spell. There’s no one else. I’m only seeing you.”

Her heart gave a little flutter and she did her best to look interested but not giddy. “So if we were in high school…”

“I’d give you my letterman’s jacket, carry your books and beat the shit out of any guy who asked you out.”

She raised herself on tiptoes and kissed his mouth. “And I’d let you go all the way after prom.”

He touched her face. “I could never resist you.”

“I like that in a man.”

“Any man?”

“No. Just you.”

For a second, they stared at each other. She willed him to say more. To tell her he loved her. That he’d let go of the past and no matter what, he was going to trust her. But before he could say anything, May announced the buffet was open and that everyone should enjoy the food.

Shane put his arm around her. “Buy you dinner?”

Aware the moment had been lost, she smiled up at him. “I’d like that very much.”

* * *

FOUR HOURS LATER, ANNABELLE was feeling the champagne. It was a sneaky liquid, all bubbly and friendly. Going down so easily. Then it snuck up and bit you in the butt. Or in her case, the head. Because everything was just a little spinny.

It was her own fault. Because of all the work there’d been getting everything ready for the wedding, she hadn’t eaten and her trip to the buffet had come after the champagne. So the single glass she’d consumed had hit her hard. Good thing arrangements had already been made for rides back to town for the partygoers. May and Glen had rented the school buses. So driving wasn’t an issue, but she had a feeling she might be in for a rocky morning.

“A problem for another time,” she murmured, making her way back from the restroom. She walked, or maybe swayed, her way around the dance floor, searching for Shane. Clay stopped her instead.

“You’re drunk,” he said with a grin.

“Not drunk. You can’t say drunk,” she informed him. “Buzzed is a much better word. Seriously, I’ve had one glass, so how bad could it be?”

“You’re a pretty cheap date.”

She stared at him, trying to figure out what made him so attractive. A quirk of genetics. Appearance was all about math. She knew that. Symmetry and spacing. And…something else she couldn’t remember right now.

“You’re very handsome,” she told Clay. “I mean that in an objective way. I’m not the least bit interested in sleeping with you. Because the sex with Shane is amazing. Seriously.” She hiccupped slightly, then covered her mouth and leaned against him. “Sorry.”

Clay’s mouth twitched as he put his arms around her and held her upright. “You have it bad.”

She wasn’t sure if he meant the liquor or the man and decided it didn’t matter. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not so sure. Are you going to remember this conversation?”

“Of course. Probably. I’m not sure. Is it important?”

He laughed, moving his arm to her waist to keep her from swaying. “If you forget, I’ll tell you again. I talked to Mayor Marsha earlier. She mentioned the festival and dance you’re doing to raise money for the bookmobile. She said you’re still looking for a male sacrifice. I’ll do it if you want.”

It took Annabelle a second to process his words, then her eyes widened. “Really? You have to wear a loincloth and get your heart cut out. Not really. The heart bit. It’s pretend.”

“Sure. I’ve worn less than a loincloth.”

“You’ve been na**d,” Annabelle said in a whisper. “I’ve seen your butt in the movies. It’s nice.”

“Thank you.”

She held up her hands, wanting to be clear. “I’m still not interested. You know, in you.”

“I got that. Because you’re into Shane.”

She nodded and motioned for him to come closer. “I’m still in love with him. I don’t think that’s ever going to change. He doesn’t know yet.”

Clay surprised her by hugging her. “I’m glad,” he said in a low voice, when he released her. “He deserves someone like you.”

“I think so, too.”

He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her. “Shane is watching us. He’s that way.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

She started walking. The music seemed really loud and suddenly her stomach wasn’t as happy as it had been. Her champagne buzz became a little more of a headache.

This couldn’t be good, she thought, wondering if her happy time was about to catch up with her. She turned, thinking maybe she should head to the house and lie down for a few minutes, then spun back, deciding she would find Shane first. As she moved, she ran into Nevada.

“Sorry,” she said quickly. “I wasn’t looking.”

Nevada laughed. “No, it’s me. I’m not paying attention.” Nevada squeezed her hand, practically beaming. “Wasn’t the wedding wonderful? Isn’t everything perfect?”

Annabelle studied her friend. “Are you okay? You seem, um, different tonight.” Because saying “too happy” was a little too blunt. While Nevada was a lot of fun, she was rarely giddy. “Or are you enjoying the champagne as much as I am?”

Nevada drew in a breath, then sighed. “It’s not champagne,” she admitted. “I haven’t had any.” She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “Tucker and I just found out I’m pregnant. It’s totally unexpected. We’ve been using protection. But we’re newlyweds and we’ve been busy, so I guess we beat the odds. The plan was to wait for a couple of years, but here we are.”