Something Blue, page 7
His tough outer shell made a little more sense now.
“I’m glad you had your uncle Joe.”
She’d had no one when her dad left. Not even her mom. Not really. For almost a year after her dad took all of their money, savings, and livelihood, her mom had been despondent.
She slept, ate very little, drank too much wine, repeat.
Getting up, going to school, getting on with life had fallen to Beth.
She’d kept her family together, kept her sisters on track, kept the ship afloat, until their mother rebounded, and got herself together.
Sawyer’s gaze met hers and, though they spoke not a word, she felt that, somehow, he knew.
She was, once again, pulled toward him, and away from the dozens of priorities that sat at her feet.
But it was so refreshing to feel like someone might understand what it was like to have those kinds of responsibilities at a young age.
“You’ll have to meet him sometime,” he said. “I mean, really meet him.” His voice was impossibly soft; an understanding laced his words and made her heart ache.
“Maybe when I come over to ride?”
“That sounds really nice.”
They stood there, unmoving, the sound of the party so far away. Beth felt as though a spell had been cast, her focus on Shelby’s concerns evaporated, until there was only her and Sawyer.
Chapter 6
You are going to love the new doors we put on the stalls back here. You’ll want some for your place.”
Sawyer followed Peyton to the other stables, the ones without Bucky.
“Are you keeping me away from my horse? Is this some kind of sales tactic?”
Peyton turned and walked backward as she grinned. “He ain’t yours yet.”
“He will be. You and I both know that.”
“Yeah, but until you sign on the line and Bert’s got that check, you have to see our stall doors and amuse me before getting quality time with my Bucky.”
“Now he’s your Bucky?”
“Yep. Mine until he’s yours.” She spun around with a laugh, her ponytail whipping through the air.
Peyton couldn’t be older than twenty, twenty-one, but she had the same grit and gumption as some of the old-timers who’d been around for decades.
She was also about to try selling him on another horse, he could tell.
The Fergusons had a future star employee on their hands. He’d have to let them know, after he got his horse. Or horses.
They entered the stable and, sure enough, the new stall doors were nice. Double hinged, sturdy.
Conveniently enough, the stall Peyton chose to show him contained a beautiful black filly with a big personality. She cozied up to Sawyer immediately.
“Mmm-hmm. I see,” he said.
“This is Sugar.” Peyton stroked the filly’s head.
“I’m only looking to acquire one horse. A stallion.”
“She likes you, though.”
“She probably likes everyone,” he argued, taking over with stroking her head. “That’d be why she’s named Sugar. Because she’s so sweet.”
“No. She’s named Sugar because she likes sweets. Check it out.” Peyton began to unwrap a peppermint candy and immediately had Sugar’s full focus.
“You want some candy, Shug-Shug?” Peyton placed the peppermint in the palm of her hand and held it out for Sugar.
The horse took the candy and rolled it around in her mouth, clicking and clacking it against her teeth before crunching down on it like a grinder.
Sawyer couldn’t help but smile at the light in the filly’s eyes. She was a beauty.
“You ought to see her with a butterscotch,” Peyton said. “She is sweet too. I’ll give you that. She’s gentle and happy—she’d be ideal for any newbies that come to your ranch.” Peyton lifted both eyebrows and waited.
“Then why don’t y’all keep her?”
“Hey, I’m just trying to look out for you. Besides, we got what we need right now.”
Sawyer rubbed her muzzle and she nuzzled the palm of his hand, looking for another mint. His chest squeezed as he fought the urge to make kissing noises.
A horse like this would be perfect to have now, and continue her training his way.
No, he was here for Buck, not Sugar.
“She’d make someone an excellent horse,” Peyton said in a singsong voice.
Sawyer pulled his hand away. “I’ll think about it.”
Damn, he was a sucker for a good horse.
“Now, where is my stallion?”
Peyton silently clapped her hands together and led him out of the stables at the same end they entered. As they turned to go, movement from the other end caught his eyes.
He stopped and glanced back. “I’ll be a son of a—”
Shelby Meyers. Strolling out of the stables with the same too-tall cowboy.
He was about to ask Peyton about the man Shelby was with, but as the two of them turned the corner the sunlight caught their faces, and Sawyer realized exactly who he was dealing with.
Exactly the type of person his brother’s fiancée was making time with.
Clay Reynolds.
Sawyer started stomping after them.
Why was Shelby hanging around the most well-known ladies’ man in town?
Clay Reynolds didn’t have female friends; he had a trail of broken hearts. The two of them certainly weren’t co-workers, and there was no way their social circles entwined.
Shelby’s people were cocktails at brunch. Clay was beer on a tailgate.
“Where you going?” Peyton called after Sawyer.
He made it halfway down the corridor before he caught himself.
What exactly did he plan to do? Accuse Shelby of running around, right there at Northcliff Ranch? Punch Clay in the face?
This was a place of business, and one of his best connections.
He took a deep breath.
“You okay?” Peyton had caught up with him.
Sugar was whinnying for their attention, since in her world there was probably no reason for a human to come back into the stables except to bring her more candy.
“Yeah. Give me a mint.” Sawyer held out his hand.
Peyton dug into her pocket. “Here.”
He took the mint to Sugar, who delighted in his return. He counted to ten and rubbed her muzzle.
It didn’t make sense for Shelby to be here. She wasn’t a horse person. None of her family was. Everyone knew that.
There was no reason for her to be with or know Clay Reynolds.
No good reason anyway.
Sawyer knew plenty about that man and his reputation. Heat shot up Sawyer’s neck. Knowing it was Clay that’d been all snug in a booth with his brother’s fiancée made the whole situation worse.
Clay Reynolds loved the ladies, and they loved him. He had the reputation for easily catching the interest of any woman he wanted.
Well, his reputation wasn’t going to ruin Garrett’s life.
With one last rub, Sawyer turned from Sugar and marched to the stables with Buck.
He tried to get his eyes on Shelby again, while staying out of their sights. He couldn’t tip Shelby off to come up with yet another poor excuse about why she was there. Or, better yet, how she wasn’t even there.
Dress fittings, his ass.
But he didn’t see the pair anywhere.
Peyton let him into Buck’s stable and he tried to concentrate on the business at hand. The sight of those two played in his mind, though.
He had to talk to Garrett about Shelby and Clay.
This would not stand.
The next morning, Sawyer found Garrett hovering over the coffeepot in his kitchen, Dodger right by his side.
It wasn’t even six in the morning yet.
“Good morning?”
“Coffeepot at my place is on the blink,” Garrett mumbled and rubbed his eyes. “And you know I can’t come up to the big house without this one or he’s mad at me the rest of the day.” He nodded toward the dog.
As soon as the machine beeped it was ready, he poured his travel mug full. “I know you always set yours to start brewing before six, so it was just easier to drive up here than to a gas station.”
“I’m that predictable, huh?”
His brother smiled. “About certain things.”
Sawyer filled his mug as well and leaned a hip against the counter. “I’ll pick you up a new coffee maker when I’m in town today.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.” Garrett sipped and yawned, yawned and sipped.
“But things are okay otherwise?”
“Yep.”
Sawyer worked to keep his tone neutral. “Good. You’re good?”
A suspicious brow went up. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
His brother knew he wasn’t big into small talk, especially before coffee, but today he needed some information.
“No reason.”
“Mmm.” Garrett headed toward the back door.
Sawyer grabbed his shoes and followed his brother out. “You’re heading back already?”
“Probably. You need help with something around here?”
“No. I thought we could hang out a minute. Talk.”
Garrett stopped walking and turned. He put the back of his hand up to Sawyer’s forehead like he was feeling for a fever.
“Would you stop? I’m fine.”
“You never want to just talk.” He put on his Sawyer impersonation voice: “Who has time for small talk when there’s work to be done?”
“Come on. You’re getting married. Things are changing. Can’t I want to hang out with my brother?”
“Of course we can hang out. It’s just unusual is all. I was going by to see Delilah on my way back. Do you want to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
Garrett cocked an eyebrow again, but led the way nonetheless.
They found Delilah just waking up, nuzzling Garrett with the quiet trust of a three-year relationship. Then she lowered her head, acknowledging and inspecting Dodger like he was the oddest-looking small horse in their stables.
“What’d you get up to yesterday?” Sawyer took a drink of his coffee.
“Just working. Had a bunch of conference calls and loan agreements to review for clients. I had lunch with Joe, and Lina joined us. Hey, have you noticed the two of them hanging out more?”
“Not really. So, you didn’t have lunch with Shelby?”
“Huh?” Garrett shook off the question and focused on a tangle in Delilah’s mane.
“I thought you would’ve had lunch with Shelby.”
“She couldn’t. She was in Austin with her mom.”
No, she was not!
She was at Northcliff Ranch, cozying up to Clay Reynolds.
“Why were they in Austin?”
“Shopping or something. I don’t even know. Did you hear what I said about Joe and Lina? You seriously don’t think they’ve been spending a lot of time together?”
“They’ve always hung out. Austin is a long way to go for some shopping.”
“With hundreds more stores than we have here. That’s my girl,” he cooed to Delilah.
“Maybe, but you don’t think it’s weird?”
Garrett dropped his hand from Delilah’s mane. “What is weird, Sawyer? You’re doing it again. Say whatever it is you’re trying to say.”
Shelby’s lying. Again.
But he couldn’t say that. With anyone else, he’d grab the bull by the horns and just tell it like it is. This was his brother, though. They’d already been through this, and Garrett would shoot down any insinuations and cut off any questions. They’d gone down this road the other day, and Sawyer had hit a dead end.
Regardless though, his fiancée was running around with the likes of Clay Reynolds, and Garrett needed to know.
“Shelby wasn’t in Austin yesterday.” The words flew from his mouth.
“Not this again.” Garrett was already walking away.
“She wasn’t. I saw her—”
His brother spun on him, finger pointed right at him. “I’m not doing this with you. You’re the most untrusting, suspicious person I know. If you don’t stop trying to ruin this for me—”
“I’m not trying to ruin this for you.”
Dodger barked at Sawyer in response, as though scolding him.
“Really? Because you’re doing a damn good job of it for someone who isn’t trying.”
Sawyer huffed a rough sigh. He couldn’t win here, no matter what.
The last thing he wanted was to push his brother away or break his brother’s heart, but that’s exactly what Shelby was going to do if he didn’t put a stop to this wedding.
The pain would only be worse the longer this went on.
“Shelby isn’t lying to me, she isn’t running around on me, she isn’t anything like your ex. Okay? Get that through your head. I know you think we’re rushing things, but this is what I want. You need to respect my wishes and stop with the questions and doubts. If you can’t do that, then maybe you don’t need to be involved in this wedding at all.” Garrett turned to leave the stables, his dog hot on his heels in complete support.
Sawyer’s gut hit the ground. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Garrett, wait.”
But there was no stopping him. He’d made up his mind that Sawyer was paranoid and being overly suspicious. He wouldn’t listen to reason and there’d be no talking him out of this wedding.
But Sawyer couldn’t stand by and let him marry an unfaithful gold digger.
Obviously, he couldn’t be this vocal about his opposition, though. That was a surefire way to get him iced out of his brother’s life.
He couldn’t keep accusing Shelby of cheating. He’d have to prove it. And that meant calling in reinforcements.
Chapter 7
She wants another glass of tea and one of your cheese biscuits.”
Aurora stopped peeling the carrot in her hands. “That woman is going to float away.”
Beth shrugged helplessly. “She has to keep her throat from getting dry while listing out all she wants for the big day. I’m on my fourth page of notes.”
“She’s been here for almost two hours.”
“Tell me about it.” She filled the glass with more tea and put another biscuit on the small plate.
Evelyn had planted herself in the sitting room of Orchard Inn at one o’clock this afternoon and hadn’t moved or stopped talking since.
The day had already been a long one by noon, with potential brides calling all morning, thanks in large part to the chatterbox in Beth’s sitting room.
Hence the reason she kept taking notes and serving tea with a smile. She owed Evelyn the very best service.
Evelyn’s penchant for gab and gossip meant she’d told anyone who’d listen—and probably even those who wouldn’t—about her daughter’s incomparable Hill Country spring wedding at the Orchard Inn. And if anyone brought up the unseemly salad incident, she’d dismiss it with a flick of her Tiffany-adorned wrist.
Beth could hear her now.
“Oh that? Well, you know, it was all because the inept caterer they had working there. He’s since been fired. He’s gone. Long gone. Now Aurora Shipley is handling all of the menus herself. You know she went to Auguste Escoffier’s for culinary school, right? And she got a coveted position at one of the best restaurants in California. Can you just imagine what she’ll come up with for my Shelby’s wedding? The reception will be the party of the season—dare I say, the year.”
Add to that the success of the bridal shower at Silva Ranch and Orchard Inn was officially back in business.
“Here you go.” Beth delivered the treats and sat back down next to Evelyn on the sofa.
“I was just thinking, what would be best for seeing the couple off at the end of the reception? I know rice isn’t a thing anymore, but I’ve grown tired of bubbles and sparklers. So passé.”
“Has Shelby mentioned a preference?”
“No, and I doubt she cares about the finer details.”
Beth begged to differ, but she could always check with Shelby separately. “Tossing petals has regained popularity, large confetti—oh, or I heard that Wildflower Farms now has butterflies they’ll release. Native to the area, and they have a specialist.”
Evelyn clasped her hands together. “Now, I like the sound of that. Jot that down as the top option.”
Beth wrote down a few options to discuss with Shelby later.
She looked at her watch and realized how late it’d gotten. Sawyer had an appointment in about half an hour, and she needed to get rid of Evelyn.
“Well, I think we have all we need for now. Let’s see…hors d’oeuvre stations and servers before the main course, ice sculpture for the shrimp cocktail, specialty drink that Aurora will create, named either the Shelby or the Silva.”
“I think Silva. Don’t you?”
“I—”
“It’s not every day your only daughter takes the name of one of Texas’s most successful families.”
Beth’s forced smile felt a lot like a grimace.
After listening to Shelby’s concerns about Sawyer, all talk of the Silva money made Beth nervous. While she knew Shelby’s intentions were pure, and she obviously adored Garrett, she understood what it might look like to someone as skeptical as Sawyer.
“I know!” Evelyn slapped her hands together, making Beth jump. “A drink called the Silva and one called the Shelby.”
Two drinks were doable.
“Do you have any input on what they contain?”
“You girls can figure it out. Something classy and completely original. Maybe bourbon in the Silva. Or tequila. Yes, a top-shelf tequila.”
Beth kept jotting down notes.
“How much did you say Sawyer was going to contribute to the budget?”
“I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?”
“No ma’am. Only that he expressed a willingness to help and be involved.”
“Involved?”
“Insomuch as both families will be represented. Nothing more. I think it will be a nice touch.”
“Well, if he’s to be involved, then I’m sure the Silva family can afford to contribute more than a little to the budget. Did Shelby tell you they’re going to the Hawaiian Islands on their honeymoon? I told her to be sure they stay at the Four Seasons. You only get one honeymoon and there’s no reason to skimp on luxury, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m glad you had your uncle Joe.”
She’d had no one when her dad left. Not even her mom. Not really. For almost a year after her dad took all of their money, savings, and livelihood, her mom had been despondent.
She slept, ate very little, drank too much wine, repeat.
Getting up, going to school, getting on with life had fallen to Beth.
She’d kept her family together, kept her sisters on track, kept the ship afloat, until their mother rebounded, and got herself together.
Sawyer’s gaze met hers and, though they spoke not a word, she felt that, somehow, he knew.
She was, once again, pulled toward him, and away from the dozens of priorities that sat at her feet.
But it was so refreshing to feel like someone might understand what it was like to have those kinds of responsibilities at a young age.
“You’ll have to meet him sometime,” he said. “I mean, really meet him.” His voice was impossibly soft; an understanding laced his words and made her heart ache.
“Maybe when I come over to ride?”
“That sounds really nice.”
They stood there, unmoving, the sound of the party so far away. Beth felt as though a spell had been cast, her focus on Shelby’s concerns evaporated, until there was only her and Sawyer.
Chapter 6
You are going to love the new doors we put on the stalls back here. You’ll want some for your place.”
Sawyer followed Peyton to the other stables, the ones without Bucky.
“Are you keeping me away from my horse? Is this some kind of sales tactic?”
Peyton turned and walked backward as she grinned. “He ain’t yours yet.”
“He will be. You and I both know that.”
“Yeah, but until you sign on the line and Bert’s got that check, you have to see our stall doors and amuse me before getting quality time with my Bucky.”
“Now he’s your Bucky?”
“Yep. Mine until he’s yours.” She spun around with a laugh, her ponytail whipping through the air.
Peyton couldn’t be older than twenty, twenty-one, but she had the same grit and gumption as some of the old-timers who’d been around for decades.
She was also about to try selling him on another horse, he could tell.
The Fergusons had a future star employee on their hands. He’d have to let them know, after he got his horse. Or horses.
They entered the stable and, sure enough, the new stall doors were nice. Double hinged, sturdy.
Conveniently enough, the stall Peyton chose to show him contained a beautiful black filly with a big personality. She cozied up to Sawyer immediately.
“Mmm-hmm. I see,” he said.
“This is Sugar.” Peyton stroked the filly’s head.
“I’m only looking to acquire one horse. A stallion.”
“She likes you, though.”
“She probably likes everyone,” he argued, taking over with stroking her head. “That’d be why she’s named Sugar. Because she’s so sweet.”
“No. She’s named Sugar because she likes sweets. Check it out.” Peyton began to unwrap a peppermint candy and immediately had Sugar’s full focus.
“You want some candy, Shug-Shug?” Peyton placed the peppermint in the palm of her hand and held it out for Sugar.
The horse took the candy and rolled it around in her mouth, clicking and clacking it against her teeth before crunching down on it like a grinder.
Sawyer couldn’t help but smile at the light in the filly’s eyes. She was a beauty.
“You ought to see her with a butterscotch,” Peyton said. “She is sweet too. I’ll give you that. She’s gentle and happy—she’d be ideal for any newbies that come to your ranch.” Peyton lifted both eyebrows and waited.
“Then why don’t y’all keep her?”
“Hey, I’m just trying to look out for you. Besides, we got what we need right now.”
Sawyer rubbed her muzzle and she nuzzled the palm of his hand, looking for another mint. His chest squeezed as he fought the urge to make kissing noises.
A horse like this would be perfect to have now, and continue her training his way.
No, he was here for Buck, not Sugar.
“She’d make someone an excellent horse,” Peyton said in a singsong voice.
Sawyer pulled his hand away. “I’ll think about it.”
Damn, he was a sucker for a good horse.
“Now, where is my stallion?”
Peyton silently clapped her hands together and led him out of the stables at the same end they entered. As they turned to go, movement from the other end caught his eyes.
He stopped and glanced back. “I’ll be a son of a—”
Shelby Meyers. Strolling out of the stables with the same too-tall cowboy.
He was about to ask Peyton about the man Shelby was with, but as the two of them turned the corner the sunlight caught their faces, and Sawyer realized exactly who he was dealing with.
Exactly the type of person his brother’s fiancée was making time with.
Clay Reynolds.
Sawyer started stomping after them.
Why was Shelby hanging around the most well-known ladies’ man in town?
Clay Reynolds didn’t have female friends; he had a trail of broken hearts. The two of them certainly weren’t co-workers, and there was no way their social circles entwined.
Shelby’s people were cocktails at brunch. Clay was beer on a tailgate.
“Where you going?” Peyton called after Sawyer.
He made it halfway down the corridor before he caught himself.
What exactly did he plan to do? Accuse Shelby of running around, right there at Northcliff Ranch? Punch Clay in the face?
This was a place of business, and one of his best connections.
He took a deep breath.
“You okay?” Peyton had caught up with him.
Sugar was whinnying for their attention, since in her world there was probably no reason for a human to come back into the stables except to bring her more candy.
“Yeah. Give me a mint.” Sawyer held out his hand.
Peyton dug into her pocket. “Here.”
He took the mint to Sugar, who delighted in his return. He counted to ten and rubbed her muzzle.
It didn’t make sense for Shelby to be here. She wasn’t a horse person. None of her family was. Everyone knew that.
There was no reason for her to be with or know Clay Reynolds.
No good reason anyway.
Sawyer knew plenty about that man and his reputation. Heat shot up Sawyer’s neck. Knowing it was Clay that’d been all snug in a booth with his brother’s fiancée made the whole situation worse.
Clay Reynolds loved the ladies, and they loved him. He had the reputation for easily catching the interest of any woman he wanted.
Well, his reputation wasn’t going to ruin Garrett’s life.
With one last rub, Sawyer turned from Sugar and marched to the stables with Buck.
He tried to get his eyes on Shelby again, while staying out of their sights. He couldn’t tip Shelby off to come up with yet another poor excuse about why she was there. Or, better yet, how she wasn’t even there.
Dress fittings, his ass.
But he didn’t see the pair anywhere.
Peyton let him into Buck’s stable and he tried to concentrate on the business at hand. The sight of those two played in his mind, though.
He had to talk to Garrett about Shelby and Clay.
This would not stand.
The next morning, Sawyer found Garrett hovering over the coffeepot in his kitchen, Dodger right by his side.
It wasn’t even six in the morning yet.
“Good morning?”
“Coffeepot at my place is on the blink,” Garrett mumbled and rubbed his eyes. “And you know I can’t come up to the big house without this one or he’s mad at me the rest of the day.” He nodded toward the dog.
As soon as the machine beeped it was ready, he poured his travel mug full. “I know you always set yours to start brewing before six, so it was just easier to drive up here than to a gas station.”
“I’m that predictable, huh?”
His brother smiled. “About certain things.”
Sawyer filled his mug as well and leaned a hip against the counter. “I’ll pick you up a new coffee maker when I’m in town today.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.” Garrett sipped and yawned, yawned and sipped.
“But things are okay otherwise?”
“Yep.”
Sawyer worked to keep his tone neutral. “Good. You’re good?”
A suspicious brow went up. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
His brother knew he wasn’t big into small talk, especially before coffee, but today he needed some information.
“No reason.”
“Mmm.” Garrett headed toward the back door.
Sawyer grabbed his shoes and followed his brother out. “You’re heading back already?”
“Probably. You need help with something around here?”
“No. I thought we could hang out a minute. Talk.”
Garrett stopped walking and turned. He put the back of his hand up to Sawyer’s forehead like he was feeling for a fever.
“Would you stop? I’m fine.”
“You never want to just talk.” He put on his Sawyer impersonation voice: “Who has time for small talk when there’s work to be done?”
“Come on. You’re getting married. Things are changing. Can’t I want to hang out with my brother?”
“Of course we can hang out. It’s just unusual is all. I was going by to see Delilah on my way back. Do you want to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
Garrett cocked an eyebrow again, but led the way nonetheless.
They found Delilah just waking up, nuzzling Garrett with the quiet trust of a three-year relationship. Then she lowered her head, acknowledging and inspecting Dodger like he was the oddest-looking small horse in their stables.
“What’d you get up to yesterday?” Sawyer took a drink of his coffee.
“Just working. Had a bunch of conference calls and loan agreements to review for clients. I had lunch with Joe, and Lina joined us. Hey, have you noticed the two of them hanging out more?”
“Not really. So, you didn’t have lunch with Shelby?”
“Huh?” Garrett shook off the question and focused on a tangle in Delilah’s mane.
“I thought you would’ve had lunch with Shelby.”
“She couldn’t. She was in Austin with her mom.”
No, she was not!
She was at Northcliff Ranch, cozying up to Clay Reynolds.
“Why were they in Austin?”
“Shopping or something. I don’t even know. Did you hear what I said about Joe and Lina? You seriously don’t think they’ve been spending a lot of time together?”
“They’ve always hung out. Austin is a long way to go for some shopping.”
“With hundreds more stores than we have here. That’s my girl,” he cooed to Delilah.
“Maybe, but you don’t think it’s weird?”
Garrett dropped his hand from Delilah’s mane. “What is weird, Sawyer? You’re doing it again. Say whatever it is you’re trying to say.”
Shelby’s lying. Again.
But he couldn’t say that. With anyone else, he’d grab the bull by the horns and just tell it like it is. This was his brother, though. They’d already been through this, and Garrett would shoot down any insinuations and cut off any questions. They’d gone down this road the other day, and Sawyer had hit a dead end.
Regardless though, his fiancée was running around with the likes of Clay Reynolds, and Garrett needed to know.
“Shelby wasn’t in Austin yesterday.” The words flew from his mouth.
“Not this again.” Garrett was already walking away.
“She wasn’t. I saw her—”
His brother spun on him, finger pointed right at him. “I’m not doing this with you. You’re the most untrusting, suspicious person I know. If you don’t stop trying to ruin this for me—”
“I’m not trying to ruin this for you.”
Dodger barked at Sawyer in response, as though scolding him.
“Really? Because you’re doing a damn good job of it for someone who isn’t trying.”
Sawyer huffed a rough sigh. He couldn’t win here, no matter what.
The last thing he wanted was to push his brother away or break his brother’s heart, but that’s exactly what Shelby was going to do if he didn’t put a stop to this wedding.
The pain would only be worse the longer this went on.
“Shelby isn’t lying to me, she isn’t running around on me, she isn’t anything like your ex. Okay? Get that through your head. I know you think we’re rushing things, but this is what I want. You need to respect my wishes and stop with the questions and doubts. If you can’t do that, then maybe you don’t need to be involved in this wedding at all.” Garrett turned to leave the stables, his dog hot on his heels in complete support.
Sawyer’s gut hit the ground. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Garrett, wait.”
But there was no stopping him. He’d made up his mind that Sawyer was paranoid and being overly suspicious. He wouldn’t listen to reason and there’d be no talking him out of this wedding.
But Sawyer couldn’t stand by and let him marry an unfaithful gold digger.
Obviously, he couldn’t be this vocal about his opposition, though. That was a surefire way to get him iced out of his brother’s life.
He couldn’t keep accusing Shelby of cheating. He’d have to prove it. And that meant calling in reinforcements.
Chapter 7
She wants another glass of tea and one of your cheese biscuits.”
Aurora stopped peeling the carrot in her hands. “That woman is going to float away.”
Beth shrugged helplessly. “She has to keep her throat from getting dry while listing out all she wants for the big day. I’m on my fourth page of notes.”
“She’s been here for almost two hours.”
“Tell me about it.” She filled the glass with more tea and put another biscuit on the small plate.
Evelyn had planted herself in the sitting room of Orchard Inn at one o’clock this afternoon and hadn’t moved or stopped talking since.
The day had already been a long one by noon, with potential brides calling all morning, thanks in large part to the chatterbox in Beth’s sitting room.
Hence the reason she kept taking notes and serving tea with a smile. She owed Evelyn the very best service.
Evelyn’s penchant for gab and gossip meant she’d told anyone who’d listen—and probably even those who wouldn’t—about her daughter’s incomparable Hill Country spring wedding at the Orchard Inn. And if anyone brought up the unseemly salad incident, she’d dismiss it with a flick of her Tiffany-adorned wrist.
Beth could hear her now.
“Oh that? Well, you know, it was all because the inept caterer they had working there. He’s since been fired. He’s gone. Long gone. Now Aurora Shipley is handling all of the menus herself. You know she went to Auguste Escoffier’s for culinary school, right? And she got a coveted position at one of the best restaurants in California. Can you just imagine what she’ll come up with for my Shelby’s wedding? The reception will be the party of the season—dare I say, the year.”
Add to that the success of the bridal shower at Silva Ranch and Orchard Inn was officially back in business.
“Here you go.” Beth delivered the treats and sat back down next to Evelyn on the sofa.
“I was just thinking, what would be best for seeing the couple off at the end of the reception? I know rice isn’t a thing anymore, but I’ve grown tired of bubbles and sparklers. So passé.”
“Has Shelby mentioned a preference?”
“No, and I doubt she cares about the finer details.”
Beth begged to differ, but she could always check with Shelby separately. “Tossing petals has regained popularity, large confetti—oh, or I heard that Wildflower Farms now has butterflies they’ll release. Native to the area, and they have a specialist.”
Evelyn clasped her hands together. “Now, I like the sound of that. Jot that down as the top option.”
Beth wrote down a few options to discuss with Shelby later.
She looked at her watch and realized how late it’d gotten. Sawyer had an appointment in about half an hour, and she needed to get rid of Evelyn.
“Well, I think we have all we need for now. Let’s see…hors d’oeuvre stations and servers before the main course, ice sculpture for the shrimp cocktail, specialty drink that Aurora will create, named either the Shelby or the Silva.”
“I think Silva. Don’t you?”
“I—”
“It’s not every day your only daughter takes the name of one of Texas’s most successful families.”
Beth’s forced smile felt a lot like a grimace.
After listening to Shelby’s concerns about Sawyer, all talk of the Silva money made Beth nervous. While she knew Shelby’s intentions were pure, and she obviously adored Garrett, she understood what it might look like to someone as skeptical as Sawyer.
“I know!” Evelyn slapped her hands together, making Beth jump. “A drink called the Silva and one called the Shelby.”
Two drinks were doable.
“Do you have any input on what they contain?”
“You girls can figure it out. Something classy and completely original. Maybe bourbon in the Silva. Or tequila. Yes, a top-shelf tequila.”
Beth kept jotting down notes.
“How much did you say Sawyer was going to contribute to the budget?”
“I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?”
“No ma’am. Only that he expressed a willingness to help and be involved.”
“Involved?”
“Insomuch as both families will be represented. Nothing more. I think it will be a nice touch.”
“Well, if he’s to be involved, then I’m sure the Silva family can afford to contribute more than a little to the budget. Did Shelby tell you they’re going to the Hawaiian Islands on their honeymoon? I told her to be sure they stay at the Four Seasons. You only get one honeymoon and there’s no reason to skimp on luxury, if you know what I mean.”
