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She opened the door, a smile coming instantly to her face. She scanned him from the cowboy hat to the boots, one hand moving to her hip. “You are perfection,” she said, plenty of flirtatiousness in her voice. “I fall more in love with you every time I lay eyes on you.”
Spur wondered how she knew exactly what to say to him to get him to calm down. Or get him revved up. Or make him happy. He marveled that the Lord had softened his heart enough to let her in, and such gratitude came over him that he said nothing.
“How do I look?” She turned for him, and Spur’s blood ran a little hotter. She wore a cream-colored dress with lots of little ruffly things rolling down it. A denim jacket wrapped around her shoulders, and her sun-kissed hair made her into an angel.
By the time she faced him again, Spur had found his voice. “Gorgeous,” he said. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.” He swept her into his arms, thrilled when she gave a little squeal and giggled.
They both sobered quickly, and Olli stepped back. “You know it’s going to be okay, Spur.”
“Is it?” he asked. “Because I’m pretty sure Duke got kicked by a horse today, and Ian smashed his thumb with a hammer. On top of that, I’m freaking out about the wedding, and Blaine is dating his best friend. Oh, and Cayden said when he met Ginny this afternoon, he felt a spark.”
Olli blinked at him, absorbing what he’d said as quickly as she could. “Okay, let’s start with—Ginny is going to be thrilled.” She squealed and reached for her phone. “I have to call her.”
“No,” Spur practically yelled. “No, you can’t tell her.”
Olli looked at him in surprise. “Why not? When we first started dating, she asked if we became serious if I’d introduce her to one of your brothers. Or all of them.” She grinned like matchmaking was going to be her new favorite hobby.
“He doesn’t want to be set up,” Spur explained. “He wants to get her number himself, and he wants to do things his way.” Spur took her phone from her. “Promise me you won’t tell her.”
Olli frowned and looked around, obviously hoping another solution would present itself. She finally said, “Fine, I won’t tell her. But let’s get going so we can put her and Cayden next to each other tonight.”
“I thought we weren’t assigning seats,” he said, reaching back inside to get the door as she rushed by him.
“We’re not,” she said. “But baby, if you think I can’t make sure they end up next to each other, you’ve got a lot to learn about me still.” She grinned at him and went down the steps. Spur could only chuckle, because he knew Olli could do anything she put her mind to.
They arrived at the banquet hall, and he wasn’t surprised to find her parents there. They showed up to everything at least fifteen minutes early, and Spur always felt like he was running late when he wasn’t.
“Hello, Paula,” he said, dropping Olli’s hand so he could embrace her mother. He kissed both of her cheeks and shook her father’s hand. “Alan.”
“Hullo, Spur,” he said, smiling up at him.
Olli greeted her parents and looked toward the doors. “Did y’all try to go in?”
“No,” her daddy said. “We’re just waitin’.”
“I hope you’re ready for this,” Spur said, glancing toward the parking lot as the rumble of an engine got closer. Thankfully, it was just his parents, and they’d be on their best behavior. When Spur and Katie had gotten married, he’d introduced her mother to his parents, and it had gone well. Katie’s dad lived in California, and they didn’t speak, so Spur had never met the man. Her mom hadn’t caused any ripples in the Chappell family, and everything had been easy with regards to trying to bring together two families.
Spur watched with a sinking heart as Ian and Duke spilled out of the back of the truck, both of them with their heads down. Mom followed, and she was lecturing them about proper safety around the ranch, her voice loud enough to carry across the distance between her and the Hudsons.
Spur sighed. “My mother is a special breed,” he said.
“She’s lovely,” Olli said, linking her arm through Spur’s. “You just have to know how to get on her good side.” She moved forward, taking Spur with her. “Julie,” she trilled out. “How are you?” She hugged Spur’s mother, who had stopped talking the moment Olli had spoken.
Spur got replaced by his mother, and Olli chatted her up as she took her toward her mom and dad. Spur stayed behind to help Daddy, and the four of them watched Olli and Mom.
“She’s incredible,” Ian said. “How does she do that?’
“Mom hasn’t stopped lecturing since we left the hospital,” Duke said, his voice awed too. “Twenty minutes, Daddy. She doesn’t even breathe when she’s lecturing like that.”
“She’s just worried about you boys,” Daddy said.
“Daddy,” Spur said. “Remember how we’re not boys anymore?” He stepped slowly with him, though his father was doing much better now.
“I know,” he said. “Mom forgets from time to time. She’s a good woman.”
“Of course she is,” Duke said. “The lecturing is somethin’ else, though.”
“Let’s just let Olli handle her tonight,” Ian said. “She’s doing a great job.”
