Page 23 of Ethan

She nodded and turned the horse back toward the center of the arena before he could see her smile.

Chapter Four

Ethan put the suit off as long as he could. He’d picked it up Thursday, hung it in the closet, and hadn’t looked at it since. Saturday morning he pulled it out, held it up, and sighed.

Western cut, purple vest, bolo tie, and a white rose pinned to his lapel. Ryan had picked it out and he hadn’t argued because it wasn’t his day. That didn’t mean he had to like it.

It fit well enough. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was he felt like a stranger in his own skin every time he dressed like this.

He dressed, settled the bolo tie, pulled on his black boots, ran a hand through his hair, set his black hat on his head, grabbed his keys, and headed out.

He was halfway to his truck when he heard her.

“Well.”

He stopped and turned. Naomi was leaning against the barn door, arms crossed, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.

“Not a word,” he said.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” She looked him over and that made him wish he’d gone out the back door. “You clean up beautifully, Ethan Harrison.”

“I look like somebody else.”

“You look like somebody who owns a very nice purple vest.” Her eyes were dancing.

“Ryan picked it out.”

“Smart woman.” She grinned. “The bolo tie is a nice touch.”

“Are you finished?”

She laughed. “You really do hate suits.”

“I really do.” He turned back toward the truck.

“Ethan.”

He looked back.

“Seth’s a lucky man to have you up there with him.” Her voice had gone soft, the teasing gone out of it.

He held her gaze for a second. “Thank you, Naomi.”

He climbed in the truck, pulled out of the yard, and he didn’t look in the rearview mirror.

Seth was waiting on the porch when Ethan pulled up, which was a relief. He’d half expected to have to drag him out of the house.

His brother looked good. Same western cut, same purple vest, black hat sitting straight on his head, the white rose in his lapel. He came down the porch steps and climbed into the passenger seat, and Ethan glanced down at his own matching rose and straightened it before pulling back out onto the road.

They drove in silence for a minute.

“You nervous?” Ethan asked.

“No.” Seth said it without hesitation. “Not even a little.”

Ethan glanced at him. He believed it. Seth had been sure about Ryan from almost the beginning, the kind of sure that didn’t leave room for nerves.

“Good.”