Page 55 of Blue Jean Summer

That Hollywood smile didn’t falter as she stared at the black screen of her phone.

Curiosity had gotten the better of me after running into Catherine at the funeral, and I had looked up a few of her pageant photos.

Fine. I had looked up a lot of her pageant photos.

That fake smile she used onstage had nothing on the one aimed at me right now.

“My dad’s coming to the wedding!” she blurted out, the words tumbling from her lips, one on top of the other. Tears of joy filled her eyes. “And he’s walking me down the aisle!”

I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, I was the one who had made the call that put a little needed pressure on dear old Governor Grant. Still, I wasn’t convinced he would truly do the right thing.

I squeezed her hand. “I’m happy for you.” And I was.

My mind flashed through all the times I had thought I was happy. When I finished grad school. When I began moving up the ranks at the Triticum Group. When I proposed to a woman I had actually planned to marry…and the sick relief when it had ended.

Heartbreak shouldn’t have felt like happiness, so why did it?

Had I ever truly felt happy?

Had I ever felt whatever it was that I felt for Catherine?

Catherine and I were getting married, but we weren’t in love. There were no delusions of grandeur. Still, I cared deeply for her.

Maybe that was it. I wanted her to be happy, but I didn’t want her to get hurt in the process, which was exactly why I didn’t trust the governor.

Catherine was too giddy to catch on to my suspicion. I supposed that was a good thing. She deserved a moment of pure bliss.

She squealed as she threw her arms around me, seemingly not caring in the least that I smelled like a sock. “I know you did this.” Her breath was warm against my chest as she squeezed my torso. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”

I chuckled as I gently patted her back. “I smell awful, Cath.”

Her laugh was light, bubbling over like a fountain. “I’m too happy to care. You’re the best.”

I cupped her cheeks. “I’m just happy you’re happy.”

Catherine popped up on her toes and kissed me. It was as quick as my breath of surprise, and I immediately wanted more. Feeling her body close tempered the undeniable craving for her that I hadn’t been able to satisfy.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I kissed her, slower and deeper than she had kissed me. Hers had been a peck. Mine was a wordless conversation.

This time, we weren’t standing by the pond, hidden behind the trees. We were in broad daylight where anyone could see. Mason and Levi were in the stables. Hallie could look out one of the windows. Any of the riders or trainers in the arenas could spot us.

And it didn’t bother me.

Catherine’s excited eyes had grown heavy with need. They were still lowered to half-mast as we broke the kiss. I watched as she licked her lips, savoring that last taste. Slender fingers trailed down my chest and hooked in my belt loops.

“You coming to dinner, cowboy?”

I chuckled. “I’m not a cowboy.”

“ ‘Not’ is a pretty definitive word.” Her eyes danced in amusement.

I brushed the bridge of her nose with the tip of mine. “I’m not.”

“Careful.” Her lips ghosted over mine, curving into a smile. “One day, you might surprise yourself.”

She turned, blonde hair splaying in the sunlight like spun sugar from the heavens. Catherine glanced over her shoulder. “See you up there?”