Something Blue, page 2
“Have y’all picked a date yet? Do you have time to get a dress?”
“Well, the date isn’t written in stone yet, but funny you should ask about all that. We want to have the wedding right here at Orchard Inn!”
Beth had to blink to keep her eyes in their sockets.
“I know things have been slow around here since…you know.”
Shelby had always said a lady didn’t speak of unseemly things. Like bad salad.
“And this could really help you out. The wedding will be a big event. Garrett said his family will pay for part of it, so you’ll have a nice budget to really do things up.”
“That would be amazing and thank you, but don’t feel obligated to—”
“You stop right there. This is not out of obligation. This is where I’d want to get married regardless, because it’s beautiful and perfect and you’re my best friend. And we want a big outdoor wedding that’s romantic and charming, and there’s no better place for that than right here.”
When Shelby got nervous, she rambled.
Beth took her hands. “Okay. Just forget I said a word.”
“You remember the dream box I kept under my bed, freshman year?”
She smiled at the memory. “The one with Southern Living magazine clippings and pictures of Channing Tatum? Yes, I remember.”
“And the articles about interior design because I just knew I was going to have my own show on HGTV someday.” Shelby laughed. “See? No one else knows me or could plan my wedding like you.”
She wasn’t wrong. Beth had heard all about the dream wedding for years. If it wasn’t the oil baron who looked like Channing Tatum, it was the quarterback at Tamu, who’d surely go pro. And play for one of the Texas leagues. Naturally.
“Fair enough. I would love to give you the wedding you’ve always wanted.”
“Eee!” Shelby started bouncing again. “And, and, and”—she flapped her hands in the air—“I think you know what else I’ll ask, or you should, but would you please be my maid of honor?”
Beth’s breath caught. She actually hadn’t known Shelby would ask. Yes, they were best friends from college, but Shelby had close-knit cousins galore and a sister-in-law. The Meyers family was laden with potential bridesmaids and maids of honor, with a tendency to keep high-profile gigs like MoH in the family. “Of course I will. I’d be honored to do it.”
She had a feeling there’d be some sour grapes among Shelby’s family over this, but too bad. Beth was going to be the best maid of honor anyone had ever seen!
“So, tell me when you want to get married.” Because the planning would need to start ASAP.
“Well, before it gets too hot, so…soon. Like, in two months? Tops?” Her already huge brown eyes widened expectantly. “The sooner the better, I think. Right?”
People never said no to the Meyers family. Not even when they wanted the moon.
Beth wouldn’t say no because she loved her friend. She also wouldn’t say no because this was a blessing in the making.
A big wedding in two months was exactly the redemption Orchard Inn needed. Shelby might be preppy and privileged, but she wasn’t completely clueless. The rush-order wedding was meant to benefit Beth too.
“I think you’re right. And I think you’re an awesome friend.”
“Aww. Don’t sing my praises just yet, though. You have to deal with my mother on some of this too.”
Beth’s stomach turned to cold lead.
Evelyn Meyers. Old Texas money, expensive taste, impossible expectations. For everything.
Their freshman year of college, she’d berated Shelby to the point of tears because she’d wanted to pledge a different sorority than Evelyn’s legacy. Shelby had won out in the end and gone her own way, but to this day, it was a point of contention between mother and daughter.
Evelyn was queen of the castle. Everybody’s castle.
“Everything is going to be perfect.” Beth smiled. Because she’d make sure it was. Whatever challenge came along with this wedding, she’d rise and conquer, for her family.
“This will be the best wedding Texas has ever seen,” she promised her friend.
“Thank you.” Shelby hugged her tight. “I know you won’t let me down.”
Chapter 2
Engaged. Can you believe it? Boy is barely out of law school and can’t even get out of the gate before getting tied down.” Sawyer shook his head and waited for a response.
Clyde, his most reliable confidant and horse, trotted along with nothing to say as they made their way around the first bend on the family property’s easiest trail.
“I know, I know. He’s been out of college and working for years now, but he’s still young. Too young to go marry some girl this fast.” In Sawyer’s eyes, his brother, Garrett, was eternally underage.
Too young to go away to school. Too young to drink. Too young to move somewhere like Austin. And way too young to be someone’s husband.
Clyde reached the top of the hill and came to a halt, familiar with the route of their favorite ride.
“What is he thinking?” But Garrett was going to do whatever Garrett wanted to do, same as always. Unless Sawyer truly put his foot down.
That’d only happened twice in their lives, and neither were moments he wanted to revisit.
“You talking to the horse again?” Uncle Joe came up beside him, his steed, Malice, nuzzling into the tall grasses next to Clyde.
“Like you don’t do it too.”
“All the time. A horse makes a good listener. Only when they start talking back that you’ve got a problem.”
Sawyer grinned at the long-running joke.
“Something on your mind, son?”
He shook his head but started spilling anyway. “Just Garrett and this getting-married business. Thinking he’s all grown up when he’s not even old enough to know better. He’s known her what, a month? And now she’s just supposed to be a part of the family? I’ve been around her exactly two times.”
“He says he’s in love.”
“He’s been in love before.”
Love was a bedtime story people told themselves so they’d sleep better at night. People were people, and at the end of the day, their self-interest would always come before love.
“He says this time is different.”
“That’s the infatuation talking.” Everything was always sunshine and a field of flowers at first. Give it time. It’d all turn to torrential rain and mudslides in the end.
“He seems pretty sure of himself.”
Sawyer rubbed Clyde’s neck. Garrett was always sure of himself.
He’d been sure he wanted a beat-up old Chevy as his first truck, because it was a classic. They worked for weeks getting the thing to run, only for Garrett to buy a new truck a year later. The old Chevy, still temperamental as a mule, remained in Sawyer’s garage.
Garrett had been sure he didn’t want to be a part of the family business too. Then, after college, he’d used that big brain of his to change his mind and get into land-use law. He might not be a part of Silva Ranch’s day-to-day operations, but Garrett regularly came to town and consulted with them on the future of their ranch.
“Garrett doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Sawyer insisted.
They slowly made their way through a pasture, and his uncle offered no reply for at least five minutes. “Big step, getting married. Neither of us have done it,” he finally said.
His statement hung there between them in the long silence, the low sounds of the horses winding around his words.
Uncle Joe was a self-proclaimed bachelor for life. Early on, it’d likely been by choice. Later, he’d been saddled with raising Sawyer and his brother.
Saddled wasn’t the right word. His uncle had raised them both with a good spirit, even if with a gruff demeanor.
When their parents died, he’d taken on the responsibility, protecting and providing for them both like they were his own. And, as the oldest, Sawyer had fallen into a surrogate role of nurturer.
Garrett was their responsibility.
So how in the world was his baby brother responsible enough to get married?
And who was this girl, anyway? Shelby Meyers.
He knew the Meyers name. Everybody knew the Meyers name.
“How much do we really know about this Shelby, anyway?”
His uncle shrugged.
“I guess she seems nice enough, but she’s a Meyers.”
“Mmm.”
Deep down, she would be just like the rest of them. Looking down their nose at everyone else in the county, or in the whole state, all because they have—or had—money and their ancestors settled Texas—way back in 1330 BCE, to hear them tell it.
“I’m not overly fond of that family.”
“Mmm.”
He wasn’t fond of the rumors about their financial state either.
He’d seen an article in the local magazine featuring Shelby Meyers as one of their “30 Under 30,” and she’d flat-out told the interviewer she intended to turn her family’s fortune around.
Turn it around, as in turn it from bad times to good.
He didn’t put a ton of stock in gossip, but where there was smoke, there was at least a flame. If even a whisper of the gossip was true, the uppity Meyers family was on much harder times than they alluded to.
Their little princess marrying someone as well-off as Garrett Silva would go a long way to ensuring the future smoothed right out for them.
He didn’t like thinking that way, but in the ranching business and, unfortunately, in life, he’d learned that thinking the worst of people was often the safest mindset.
Sawyer took a steadying breath and tried to focus on the rolling hills before him, dappled with green amid dry stretches of land and grass. Over the farthest hill was a vineyard, and past that, a wildflower farm.
Beautiful country that soothed his soul.
A breeze reached the hilltop, ruffling Clyde’s mane.
A ride on their property always cleared his head, the view from their favorite path a soothing reminder of all the Silvas had to be thankful for.
Today it also drove home how much was at stake.
This was his family. His blood. He’d sworn to take care of Garrett since they were little. He couldn’t stand by if some high-and-mighty family was trying to take advantage of him. And in so doing, taking advantage of Silva Ranch.
“Garrett wants me to go all the way into Fredericksburg later today, to meet up with him and Shelby. Celebrate the good news and look at some bed-and-breakfast or something for the wedding.”
“Mmm.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Mmm.” His uncle kept with the one-syllable replies.
“He’s going to expect me to be happy for him. I have to act happy about this.”
“Folks love a wedding.”
“Not folks like me.”
“Mmm.”
Uncle Joe was right. He had no choice but to haul himself out to Fredericksburg and make nice about this whole farce. Garrett was his brother, and if he objected outright to his engagement, they’d have a big falling-out.
That was the last thing he wanted. He only wanted what was best for his brother.
And what was best was a long engagement and time for that boy to see the light.
Come to think of it, going to spend some time with his brother meant time to talk sense into him.
Not too obviously, of course. But pointing out there was no rush. He and Shelby didn’t have to move so quickly into marriage.
Sawyer could grind the gears down to a slower pace, if not halt them altogether. Give his brother time to think and see people for who they truly are.
“Thanks, Uncle Joe.” Sawyer urged Clyde back onto the path down the hill.
“Anytime.”
Sawyer drove to Fredericksburg, his decision made.
He’d give this wedding, and the girl, the slightest chance. But if he determined even an iota of his suspicions were true, he’d do something about it. He was not going to let someone marry Garrett just for his money. It’d break his brother’s heart and God have mercy on anyone who hurt his brother.
No one else was ever taking advantage of a Silva again.
But with Garrett, his methods couldn’t be heavy-handed. Give that boy anything resembling a hard line or an ultimatum, it was guaranteed to blow up in your face. Dragging the plans out, stalling the wedding long enough to ensure Garrett saw the truth—that was the way to go.
If Sawyer had only dated Melissa a few more months, he would’ve saved himself a barrel of heartache. But no one had warned him or been there to remind him there was no rush, to take the time to really know the woman you’d spend the rest of your life with.
Take the time to learn she loves your last name more than she loves you.
Garrett wasn’t going to make that same mistake.
Orchard Inn, formally the Bluebell Orchard, sat about a quarter mile off the main road, the drive lined on both sides with peach trees and, closer to the main house, what looked like a few plums. The house itself was a two-story, sprawling, traditional southern estate. Wraparound front porch, gazebo to the left, all in crisp white. Perfectly manicured grounds, potted plants dotting the porch, rocking chairs, and even a swing inviting you to sit a spell. Stay awhile.
He parked in the mostly empty pea-gravel lot designated for guest parking. Before he could even make it to the front porch, Garrett and Shelby bounced out the front door and onto the porch, big wide smiles on both of their faces.
“Sawyer!” Garrett grabbed his hand, pulling him into a hug. “You remember Shelby.”
“Shelby. Congratulations.” He put on his best manners.
“Thank you!” Shelby flung her arms around him, giving him no option but to accept her hug. “And thank you so much for meeting us out here on such short notice. We’re just so excited.”
“You’re going to love this place,” his brother added. “It’s perfect for a wedding.”
In other words, Please be pleasant and agreeable to everything we say and want to do.
“Is everybody here now?” A voice crossed the threshold before the person.
“We’re all here. Sawyer, this is Beth,” Shelby introduced the woman joining them outside. “One of my closest friends and the owner of Orchard Inn. She’s going to show us around.”
All air left his lungs, like he’d taken a fall off Clyde.
“Beth, this is Sawyer. Garrett’s older brother.”
“Nice to meet you.” The woman held out her hand. Only a little shorter than him in heels, Beth had strawberry blond hair that fell to her shoulders and sharp green eyes that pierced right through him.
Words. Words would be good right now.
“You too.”
Nice save.
“Now that we’re all here, how about we take a look around?”
They all followed Beth into the house, and she showed them every room on the first floor with the command presence of a horse master.
“This is the dining room, suitable for small parties like a bridal brunch or groomsmen dinner. Beyond the French doors you can see the side porch. We’ve had guests use a string quartet, and I recommend opening the doors and allowing the musicians to play outside so the music floats in, naturally.”
She went on and on about wedding details and reception ideas, a lot of which might as well be in another language.
What in the blazes was a reception lounge and ushers? Wasn’t a wedding reception just a party that people went to afterwards? Walk in, eat and dance, throw birdseed, the end?
Apparently weddings and receptions were way more complicated than he’d ever known.
“With your tighter schedule, you’ll want to start discussing a seating arrangement soon too.” Beth kept bestowing wedding intel while they walked. In her white blouse and fitted, light gray pants, she was buttoned up and all business, except for a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks turning traitor on her strictly professional demeanor.
It was cute. Not that he’d dare call her cute to her face.
She responded to all of Shelby’s questions and comments with authority. And there were a lot of questions and comments.
“What type of wedding dress do you see me in? You must go with me when it’s time to shop for it. I’ll need someone who will give me their honest opinion, but not brutally honest, like Mama. And I think I know who all I’m going to ask to be a bridesmaid, but there are two I’m on the fence about. What do you think about Julie?” Shelby jabbered their entire tour of the inn, Garrett somewhat forgotten beside her.
“I want to do a plated meal. Steak, of course, a fish option, and what about a vegan choice, just in case?”
“Nowadays, you definitely need a vegan, gluten-free option,” Beth said.
“Did I tell you my cousins are coming in from Dallas? And Daddy said I can get all the flowers I want, and he thinks he can get the Crashers to play the reception.”
Sawyer leaned closer to Garrett and kept his voice quiet. “Is she as excited about being married as she is about this wedding?”
Garrett ignored him.
At least he’d thought he was quiet. But Beth looked back at them, her green eyes flashing.
Sawyer cleared his throat. “That will be nice,” he commented to whatever Shelby had said last.
“Let’s go out the back of the house and circle around so you can see all of the grounds.” Beth led them from the house the same way she’d led them through it. Back straight, confident in her pace, she had only the slightest sway to her hips when she walked.
Which was, of course, completely beside the point.
Sawyer told himself he noticed things like that after years of teaching horseback riding. People’s stance, the way they sat. Their enticing way of walking.
“You can see more of the orchard from back here.” Beth’s heels clicked against the stone steps that took them to the backyard. “And we have had a few weddings out here as well, but most people prefer the front of the house. There you have photo opportunities with the porch and gazebo. The choice is completely up to you, though.”
He noticed a couple of other things about Beth too.
“Well, the date isn’t written in stone yet, but funny you should ask about all that. We want to have the wedding right here at Orchard Inn!”
Beth had to blink to keep her eyes in their sockets.
“I know things have been slow around here since…you know.”
Shelby had always said a lady didn’t speak of unseemly things. Like bad salad.
“And this could really help you out. The wedding will be a big event. Garrett said his family will pay for part of it, so you’ll have a nice budget to really do things up.”
“That would be amazing and thank you, but don’t feel obligated to—”
“You stop right there. This is not out of obligation. This is where I’d want to get married regardless, because it’s beautiful and perfect and you’re my best friend. And we want a big outdoor wedding that’s romantic and charming, and there’s no better place for that than right here.”
When Shelby got nervous, she rambled.
Beth took her hands. “Okay. Just forget I said a word.”
“You remember the dream box I kept under my bed, freshman year?”
She smiled at the memory. “The one with Southern Living magazine clippings and pictures of Channing Tatum? Yes, I remember.”
“And the articles about interior design because I just knew I was going to have my own show on HGTV someday.” Shelby laughed. “See? No one else knows me or could plan my wedding like you.”
She wasn’t wrong. Beth had heard all about the dream wedding for years. If it wasn’t the oil baron who looked like Channing Tatum, it was the quarterback at Tamu, who’d surely go pro. And play for one of the Texas leagues. Naturally.
“Fair enough. I would love to give you the wedding you’ve always wanted.”
“Eee!” Shelby started bouncing again. “And, and, and”—she flapped her hands in the air—“I think you know what else I’ll ask, or you should, but would you please be my maid of honor?”
Beth’s breath caught. She actually hadn’t known Shelby would ask. Yes, they were best friends from college, but Shelby had close-knit cousins galore and a sister-in-law. The Meyers family was laden with potential bridesmaids and maids of honor, with a tendency to keep high-profile gigs like MoH in the family. “Of course I will. I’d be honored to do it.”
She had a feeling there’d be some sour grapes among Shelby’s family over this, but too bad. Beth was going to be the best maid of honor anyone had ever seen!
“So, tell me when you want to get married.” Because the planning would need to start ASAP.
“Well, before it gets too hot, so…soon. Like, in two months? Tops?” Her already huge brown eyes widened expectantly. “The sooner the better, I think. Right?”
People never said no to the Meyers family. Not even when they wanted the moon.
Beth wouldn’t say no because she loved her friend. She also wouldn’t say no because this was a blessing in the making.
A big wedding in two months was exactly the redemption Orchard Inn needed. Shelby might be preppy and privileged, but she wasn’t completely clueless. The rush-order wedding was meant to benefit Beth too.
“I think you’re right. And I think you’re an awesome friend.”
“Aww. Don’t sing my praises just yet, though. You have to deal with my mother on some of this too.”
Beth’s stomach turned to cold lead.
Evelyn Meyers. Old Texas money, expensive taste, impossible expectations. For everything.
Their freshman year of college, she’d berated Shelby to the point of tears because she’d wanted to pledge a different sorority than Evelyn’s legacy. Shelby had won out in the end and gone her own way, but to this day, it was a point of contention between mother and daughter.
Evelyn was queen of the castle. Everybody’s castle.
“Everything is going to be perfect.” Beth smiled. Because she’d make sure it was. Whatever challenge came along with this wedding, she’d rise and conquer, for her family.
“This will be the best wedding Texas has ever seen,” she promised her friend.
“Thank you.” Shelby hugged her tight. “I know you won’t let me down.”
Chapter 2
Engaged. Can you believe it? Boy is barely out of law school and can’t even get out of the gate before getting tied down.” Sawyer shook his head and waited for a response.
Clyde, his most reliable confidant and horse, trotted along with nothing to say as they made their way around the first bend on the family property’s easiest trail.
“I know, I know. He’s been out of college and working for years now, but he’s still young. Too young to go marry some girl this fast.” In Sawyer’s eyes, his brother, Garrett, was eternally underage.
Too young to go away to school. Too young to drink. Too young to move somewhere like Austin. And way too young to be someone’s husband.
Clyde reached the top of the hill and came to a halt, familiar with the route of their favorite ride.
“What is he thinking?” But Garrett was going to do whatever Garrett wanted to do, same as always. Unless Sawyer truly put his foot down.
That’d only happened twice in their lives, and neither were moments he wanted to revisit.
“You talking to the horse again?” Uncle Joe came up beside him, his steed, Malice, nuzzling into the tall grasses next to Clyde.
“Like you don’t do it too.”
“All the time. A horse makes a good listener. Only when they start talking back that you’ve got a problem.”
Sawyer grinned at the long-running joke.
“Something on your mind, son?”
He shook his head but started spilling anyway. “Just Garrett and this getting-married business. Thinking he’s all grown up when he’s not even old enough to know better. He’s known her what, a month? And now she’s just supposed to be a part of the family? I’ve been around her exactly two times.”
“He says he’s in love.”
“He’s been in love before.”
Love was a bedtime story people told themselves so they’d sleep better at night. People were people, and at the end of the day, their self-interest would always come before love.
“He says this time is different.”
“That’s the infatuation talking.” Everything was always sunshine and a field of flowers at first. Give it time. It’d all turn to torrential rain and mudslides in the end.
“He seems pretty sure of himself.”
Sawyer rubbed Clyde’s neck. Garrett was always sure of himself.
He’d been sure he wanted a beat-up old Chevy as his first truck, because it was a classic. They worked for weeks getting the thing to run, only for Garrett to buy a new truck a year later. The old Chevy, still temperamental as a mule, remained in Sawyer’s garage.
Garrett had been sure he didn’t want to be a part of the family business too. Then, after college, he’d used that big brain of his to change his mind and get into land-use law. He might not be a part of Silva Ranch’s day-to-day operations, but Garrett regularly came to town and consulted with them on the future of their ranch.
“Garrett doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Sawyer insisted.
They slowly made their way through a pasture, and his uncle offered no reply for at least five minutes. “Big step, getting married. Neither of us have done it,” he finally said.
His statement hung there between them in the long silence, the low sounds of the horses winding around his words.
Uncle Joe was a self-proclaimed bachelor for life. Early on, it’d likely been by choice. Later, he’d been saddled with raising Sawyer and his brother.
Saddled wasn’t the right word. His uncle had raised them both with a good spirit, even if with a gruff demeanor.
When their parents died, he’d taken on the responsibility, protecting and providing for them both like they were his own. And, as the oldest, Sawyer had fallen into a surrogate role of nurturer.
Garrett was their responsibility.
So how in the world was his baby brother responsible enough to get married?
And who was this girl, anyway? Shelby Meyers.
He knew the Meyers name. Everybody knew the Meyers name.
“How much do we really know about this Shelby, anyway?”
His uncle shrugged.
“I guess she seems nice enough, but she’s a Meyers.”
“Mmm.”
Deep down, she would be just like the rest of them. Looking down their nose at everyone else in the county, or in the whole state, all because they have—or had—money and their ancestors settled Texas—way back in 1330 BCE, to hear them tell it.
“I’m not overly fond of that family.”
“Mmm.”
He wasn’t fond of the rumors about their financial state either.
He’d seen an article in the local magazine featuring Shelby Meyers as one of their “30 Under 30,” and she’d flat-out told the interviewer she intended to turn her family’s fortune around.
Turn it around, as in turn it from bad times to good.
He didn’t put a ton of stock in gossip, but where there was smoke, there was at least a flame. If even a whisper of the gossip was true, the uppity Meyers family was on much harder times than they alluded to.
Their little princess marrying someone as well-off as Garrett Silva would go a long way to ensuring the future smoothed right out for them.
He didn’t like thinking that way, but in the ranching business and, unfortunately, in life, he’d learned that thinking the worst of people was often the safest mindset.
Sawyer took a steadying breath and tried to focus on the rolling hills before him, dappled with green amid dry stretches of land and grass. Over the farthest hill was a vineyard, and past that, a wildflower farm.
Beautiful country that soothed his soul.
A breeze reached the hilltop, ruffling Clyde’s mane.
A ride on their property always cleared his head, the view from their favorite path a soothing reminder of all the Silvas had to be thankful for.
Today it also drove home how much was at stake.
This was his family. His blood. He’d sworn to take care of Garrett since they were little. He couldn’t stand by if some high-and-mighty family was trying to take advantage of him. And in so doing, taking advantage of Silva Ranch.
“Garrett wants me to go all the way into Fredericksburg later today, to meet up with him and Shelby. Celebrate the good news and look at some bed-and-breakfast or something for the wedding.”
“Mmm.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Mmm.” His uncle kept with the one-syllable replies.
“He’s going to expect me to be happy for him. I have to act happy about this.”
“Folks love a wedding.”
“Not folks like me.”
“Mmm.”
Uncle Joe was right. He had no choice but to haul himself out to Fredericksburg and make nice about this whole farce. Garrett was his brother, and if he objected outright to his engagement, they’d have a big falling-out.
That was the last thing he wanted. He only wanted what was best for his brother.
And what was best was a long engagement and time for that boy to see the light.
Come to think of it, going to spend some time with his brother meant time to talk sense into him.
Not too obviously, of course. But pointing out there was no rush. He and Shelby didn’t have to move so quickly into marriage.
Sawyer could grind the gears down to a slower pace, if not halt them altogether. Give his brother time to think and see people for who they truly are.
“Thanks, Uncle Joe.” Sawyer urged Clyde back onto the path down the hill.
“Anytime.”
Sawyer drove to Fredericksburg, his decision made.
He’d give this wedding, and the girl, the slightest chance. But if he determined even an iota of his suspicions were true, he’d do something about it. He was not going to let someone marry Garrett just for his money. It’d break his brother’s heart and God have mercy on anyone who hurt his brother.
No one else was ever taking advantage of a Silva again.
But with Garrett, his methods couldn’t be heavy-handed. Give that boy anything resembling a hard line or an ultimatum, it was guaranteed to blow up in your face. Dragging the plans out, stalling the wedding long enough to ensure Garrett saw the truth—that was the way to go.
If Sawyer had only dated Melissa a few more months, he would’ve saved himself a barrel of heartache. But no one had warned him or been there to remind him there was no rush, to take the time to really know the woman you’d spend the rest of your life with.
Take the time to learn she loves your last name more than she loves you.
Garrett wasn’t going to make that same mistake.
Orchard Inn, formally the Bluebell Orchard, sat about a quarter mile off the main road, the drive lined on both sides with peach trees and, closer to the main house, what looked like a few plums. The house itself was a two-story, sprawling, traditional southern estate. Wraparound front porch, gazebo to the left, all in crisp white. Perfectly manicured grounds, potted plants dotting the porch, rocking chairs, and even a swing inviting you to sit a spell. Stay awhile.
He parked in the mostly empty pea-gravel lot designated for guest parking. Before he could even make it to the front porch, Garrett and Shelby bounced out the front door and onto the porch, big wide smiles on both of their faces.
“Sawyer!” Garrett grabbed his hand, pulling him into a hug. “You remember Shelby.”
“Shelby. Congratulations.” He put on his best manners.
“Thank you!” Shelby flung her arms around him, giving him no option but to accept her hug. “And thank you so much for meeting us out here on such short notice. We’re just so excited.”
“You’re going to love this place,” his brother added. “It’s perfect for a wedding.”
In other words, Please be pleasant and agreeable to everything we say and want to do.
“Is everybody here now?” A voice crossed the threshold before the person.
“We’re all here. Sawyer, this is Beth,” Shelby introduced the woman joining them outside. “One of my closest friends and the owner of Orchard Inn. She’s going to show us around.”
All air left his lungs, like he’d taken a fall off Clyde.
“Beth, this is Sawyer. Garrett’s older brother.”
“Nice to meet you.” The woman held out her hand. Only a little shorter than him in heels, Beth had strawberry blond hair that fell to her shoulders and sharp green eyes that pierced right through him.
Words. Words would be good right now.
“You too.”
Nice save.
“Now that we’re all here, how about we take a look around?”
They all followed Beth into the house, and she showed them every room on the first floor with the command presence of a horse master.
“This is the dining room, suitable for small parties like a bridal brunch or groomsmen dinner. Beyond the French doors you can see the side porch. We’ve had guests use a string quartet, and I recommend opening the doors and allowing the musicians to play outside so the music floats in, naturally.”
She went on and on about wedding details and reception ideas, a lot of which might as well be in another language.
What in the blazes was a reception lounge and ushers? Wasn’t a wedding reception just a party that people went to afterwards? Walk in, eat and dance, throw birdseed, the end?
Apparently weddings and receptions were way more complicated than he’d ever known.
“With your tighter schedule, you’ll want to start discussing a seating arrangement soon too.” Beth kept bestowing wedding intel while they walked. In her white blouse and fitted, light gray pants, she was buttoned up and all business, except for a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks turning traitor on her strictly professional demeanor.
It was cute. Not that he’d dare call her cute to her face.
She responded to all of Shelby’s questions and comments with authority. And there were a lot of questions and comments.
“What type of wedding dress do you see me in? You must go with me when it’s time to shop for it. I’ll need someone who will give me their honest opinion, but not brutally honest, like Mama. And I think I know who all I’m going to ask to be a bridesmaid, but there are two I’m on the fence about. What do you think about Julie?” Shelby jabbered their entire tour of the inn, Garrett somewhat forgotten beside her.
“I want to do a plated meal. Steak, of course, a fish option, and what about a vegan choice, just in case?”
“Nowadays, you definitely need a vegan, gluten-free option,” Beth said.
“Did I tell you my cousins are coming in from Dallas? And Daddy said I can get all the flowers I want, and he thinks he can get the Crashers to play the reception.”
Sawyer leaned closer to Garrett and kept his voice quiet. “Is she as excited about being married as she is about this wedding?”
Garrett ignored him.
At least he’d thought he was quiet. But Beth looked back at them, her green eyes flashing.
Sawyer cleared his throat. “That will be nice,” he commented to whatever Shelby had said last.
“Let’s go out the back of the house and circle around so you can see all of the grounds.” Beth led them from the house the same way she’d led them through it. Back straight, confident in her pace, she had only the slightest sway to her hips when she walked.
Which was, of course, completely beside the point.
Sawyer told himself he noticed things like that after years of teaching horseback riding. People’s stance, the way they sat. Their enticing way of walking.
“You can see more of the orchard from back here.” Beth’s heels clicked against the stone steps that took them to the backyard. “And we have had a few weddings out here as well, but most people prefer the front of the house. There you have photo opportunities with the porch and gazebo. The choice is completely up to you, though.”
He noticed a couple of other things about Beth too.
