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He had gone over that same night. Those same words.
It did something to her.
Meant something to her.
She wished it didn’t.
“I didn’t say that I needed help with the beer,” she said.
He moved the edge of the bottle opener beneath the perforated cap and flipped it up. “No, you didn’t. But I’m nice like that. A real gentleman, some might say.”
“Who? Who has ever said that?”
“Not entirely sure.”
“No one has ever said it.”
He shrugged. “Someone must have.”
“Not me.”
“You’re the president of my fan club. At least I thought so. If not, this is awkward. Because I thought...”
“You did not.”
And she felt herself getting red, because... Because, all this banter was just a little bit too close to reality.
“We’re not enemies anymore, or did you miss the memo.”
“I missedzeromemos. Believe me. And I tried to talk my sister out of this whole thing. You know, back when she lied to your brother about being her ranch hand when he had amnesia. And then fell in love with him. Yeah. I tried to interfere with all that.”
“When you put it like that, it sounds vaguely ridiculous.”
“It does,” she said.
But ridiculous or not, it had occurred. That could honestly be the subtitle of a movie about her life.Ridiculous or not, it had occurred.
He lifted the beer bottle to his lips, and she couldn’t help but watch the movement of his mouth, his throat working up and down as he took a long pull off the bottle. Why was he so damned compelling. Why? He didn’t have any right to be. He was just a cowboy. They were a dime a dozen around here. Hell, he was one of six boys. There really was no call for him to be all this compelling. She had been married to a rancher. This one shouldn’t stir...
She didn’t want to think about this. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Kit Carson while she was dealing with marriage and wedding feelings. She didn’t want to think of him in a game of compare and contrast with Chuck and what she had felt for him.
She had loved Chuck. The love of her life. That phrase couldn’t be truer about anyone or anything than it was about Chuck. She had loved him from the time she was twelve years old. And was certain that she would marry him from that same time. She had loved the man until the day he had died, and in all the days since. Kit Carson wasn’t owed the same mental airspace as Chuck.
“You got your speech all nailed down?” he asked.
“Yes,” she lied. “It’s going to be the best speech.”
“And you’re ready for the bachelorette party?”
“More than ready.”
They would be hosting the bachelor and bachelorette parties at the wedding venue. Which was going to be at a ranch about an hour away, up in the mountains, Green Springs Ranch. They were all going to stay in the different buildings on the property, and the wedding would take place in one of the main barns. As maid of honor, it was up to her to plan the bachelorette party. As best man, it was up to Kit to do the bachelor party.
“How did you end up being the best man, anyway?” she asked.
“I drew the short straw.”
“What?”
