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Beth’s horror mingled with her shock, but when he put the phone where she could see it, she read the nameRobert Merchant.
Her eyes flew to his, and he cocked his eyebrows. An entire conversation was had in only a moment, and Beth loved that they had that foundation between them.
Robert Merchant was one of the jockeys Trey had reached out to. His top choice, actually.
She nodded, and he quickly put the phone back in front of his body. He didn’t answer the call, but he hurried to thumb out a message before he slid his phone back into his pocket just as Pastor Adams said, “I’ve been told not to make this too long, so we’re ready to move into the vows.”
Beth looked at him, and he didn’t look very happy. Probably because the groom had been texting during his speech. Beth could admit she hadn’t heard any of it either, and regret made her offer him a small smile.
The pastor smiled back at her. “Beth, are you going first?”
“Yes,” she said, turning fully to Trey. “Trey, I know I drive you crazy when I try to do everything myself, and I know you get irritated when I argue with you.” She grinned at him as he chuckled and shook his head, his eyes dropping to the altar.
He looked back up when she said, “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and I love how you love my son. I can’t wait to build a life and a home with you.” She hadn’t said she loved him, because she didn’t.
She knew there was a difference between loving the service someone rendered and loving that person. She also knew that serving someone built a bridge that could easily lead to loving them.
“Beth,” Trey said. “The moment I met you, I wanted to know more about you.” He smiled at her and then over to TJ. “Every time your son came over to Bluegrass, I’d smile as wide as the sky, because then I’d get to take him home and see you. I love talking to you. I love learning about you. I love your son, and I think I’m going to love living at your farm. I’ll do my best every day to be the man you deserve.”
He nodded, and they turned back to the pastor. If anyone noticed that neither of them had professed their deep love for one another, Beth hoped they just wouldn’t say so.
Pastor Adams performed the ceremony, and Beth said, “I do,” when it was her turn. Trey said it too. Then the pastor said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Trey turned toward her and took her face in his big, rough, wonderful hands. He kissed her like a gentleman while the crowd only paces away cheered. His brothers were loud, as was hers.
She giggled, breaking the kiss. She and Trey got separated as his mom surged forward to hug him. He embraced her and then his father and Beth let her siblings and their spouses engulf her. After all the congratulations had been said, Beth migrated back to Trey’s side.
“Momma,” he said. “You’re up.”
Julie Chappell’s face lit up, and she walked down the aisle, weaving through the crowd to the top of the steps. She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled, and Beth gaped at her. “She just whistled at our wedding.”
Trey stared at his mother too. “We did put her in charge of the dinner, and she’s a born and bred Kentuckian.”
The crowd quieted, and Julie said, “Dinner will be served in five minutes. If you’ll all come with me to the yard to find your seat, please.”
She was a Southern socialite, that was for sure, and she did charm everyone who came her way. Beth watched Trish and Taylor Dixon smile and introduce themselves. Julie’s eyes widened, and then she grabbed onto them in a tight hug. She personally led them to their table, and Beth couldn’t think of a better person to be in charge of the dinner.
“We’re being paged,” Trey said, nudging her forward. Her bare feet ate up the distance across the deck and down the steps. She and Trey had been assigned seats at a table with her father, TJ, and Trey’s parents.
Beth experienced true happiness as she took her seat, and that surprised her slightly. She’d thought having a real shindig for a fake marriage would be more taxing than this.
That’s because this is not fake, she told herself.
The food arrived, and Julie eventually came to the table too. Beth went through everything required of her. She laughed. She talked. She danced with Trey and then her father.
Finally, the cake had been cut, the bouquet thrown, and another round of congratulations said. She hugged TJ tightly and said, “Be good for Grandpa.”
“I will, Momma.” He moved to Trey next, who stooped and said something to her son before the little boy skipped off to go home with her father.
When the last guest left, Beth waved at them and then looked at Trey. It was just the two of them now, and she couldn’t help thinking about what usually happened once a newly married couple was alone.
“Ready?” Trey asked, offering her his hand. “My bag is in the bedroom.”
“Mine too,” she said, slipping her fingers through his. She only moved because he did. He collected both bags and set them in the hallway before going into his room to change. She slipped out of her wedding dress alone, admiring the fabric and the beautiful baubles.
She put on a pair of loose, flowing black pants and a dark gray sweatshirt covered with autumn-colored flowers. With shoes and socks on, she left the bedroom and found Trey in the living room, both bags at his feet while he texted.
“Robert is in,” he said, glancing up. “I’m going to send him the contract when we get to the hotel, and he’ll be at your place in the morning to meet Somebody’s Lady.”
