two-stepped across the pavilion strung with Japanese lanterns. The smell of barbecue filled the air—pork ribs, chickenhalves, beef brisket, the whole nine yards. Two tables, covered in linen tablecloths, overflowed with platters of corn on the cob, yeast rolls, cornbread, potato and macaroni salad, and cowboy beans served buffet-style on bone china.
Another table held the desserts—banana pudding, chocolate cake, pineapple upside-down cake, apple fritters, peach pie, and cream cheese popovers. To one side, a half-dozen machines labored over various flavors of homemade ice cream.
A full bar was set up on the pathway leading down to the lake dock. Several people had already drifted toward the water, enjoying the breeze as the sun slipped below the horizon. When the song finished, Kathryn stepped to the microphone at the gazebo where the band was set up. “May I have everyone’s attention please?”
That was all it took. Heads turned and necks craned.
Kathryn motioned to Beau, who put his hand around Flynn’s waist and guided her up the gazebo steps. “You all know my son, Beau—”
Applause broke out.
“—and his girlfriend, Flynn.”
The applause ratcheted up a notch; someone whistled. Flynn’s cheeks heated. She felt self-conscious. She wasn’t a limelight kind of woman.
“They’ve just given me some news that has made me the proudest mother on this side of the Brazos.” Kathryn stepped back from the microphone. “Beau, I’ll let you do the honors.”
Beau’s hand shifted to Flynn’s shoulder and he drew her against his side. “Friends, neighbors.” Heturned to look at her, love shining in his eyes. A lump clotted her throat. “Flynn has consented to be my bride.”
A chorus of cheers erupted and several people hollered, “Finally!”
“The waiters are passing out champagne,” Beau said. “We want you all to share a toast with us.”
He kept talking, telling everyone how happy he was, how special Flynn was to him, giving a little speech she could tell he’d rehearsed in front of the mirror, until all the champagne had been distributed. Someone handed Flynn a champagne flute, and she curled her fingers around the stem.
“To my bride-to-be.” Beau raised his glass.
Flynn blushed again. She really didn’t like this overblown center-of-attention thing. She smiled.
“To Flynn!” the crowd called out, and then it was a simultaneous down-the-hatch.
Flynn took a small sip.
“My turn,” Kathryn said, maneuvering her way back to the microphone. “To the happy couple.”
Everyone was happy to take another drink.
“Anyone else like to offer a toast?” Beau asked, his words slurring slightly.
That’s when Flynn realized he was tipsy and looking at her like she was supposed to say something. How could he expect her to say something? He knew she hated public speaking and she wasn’t like him. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she’d need to prepare a speech.
“Anybody?” Beau shifted his gaze to the crowd.
“I do,” said a deep masculine voice from the bottom of the gazebo steps.
The second she heard it, Flynn’s gut clenched. It couldn’t be. Not here, not at the Trainer enclave. Cringing, she dared to turn her head.
Yep, greatest fear confirmed. It was Jesse. Decked out all in black. Black jeans, black cowboy boots, black T-shirt, with the skull tattoo on his arm peeking out from under the sleeve.
Every gaze in the place was welded on him as he sauntered up the steps. Flynn felt Beau tense beside her, but she didn’t dare look at him.
You coward .
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Jesse sauntered straight over to Beau and audaciously plucked the glass of champagne from his hand.
The crowd gasped.
Flynn stopped breathing and darted a fearful glance at Beau. He looked stunned and… scared?
Of Jesse?
Beau was a good five inches taller and fifty pounds heavier than Jesse. But Jesse was fast and wiry and he’d been to prison. A fistfight between them was bound to
Another table held the desserts—banana pudding, chocolate cake, pineapple upside-down cake, apple fritters, peach pie, and cream cheese popovers. To one side, a half-dozen machines labored over various flavors of homemade ice cream.
A full bar was set up on the pathway leading down to the lake dock. Several people had already drifted toward the water, enjoying the breeze as the sun slipped below the horizon. When the song finished, Kathryn stepped to the microphone at the gazebo where the band was set up. “May I have everyone’s attention please?”
That was all it took. Heads turned and necks craned.
Kathryn motioned to Beau, who put his hand around Flynn’s waist and guided her up the gazebo steps. “You all know my son, Beau—”
Applause broke out.
“—and his girlfriend, Flynn.”
The applause ratcheted up a notch; someone whistled. Flynn’s cheeks heated. She felt self-conscious. She wasn’t a limelight kind of woman.
“They’ve just given me some news that has made me the proudest mother on this side of the Brazos.” Kathryn stepped back from the microphone. “Beau, I’ll let you do the honors.”
Beau’s hand shifted to Flynn’s shoulder and he drew her against his side. “Friends, neighbors.” Heturned to look at her, love shining in his eyes. A lump clotted her throat. “Flynn has consented to be my bride.”
A chorus of cheers erupted and several people hollered, “Finally!”
“The waiters are passing out champagne,” Beau said. “We want you all to share a toast with us.”
He kept talking, telling everyone how happy he was, how special Flynn was to him, giving a little speech she could tell he’d rehearsed in front of the mirror, until all the champagne had been distributed. Someone handed Flynn a champagne flute, and she curled her fingers around the stem.
“To my bride-to-be.” Beau raised his glass.
Flynn blushed again. She really didn’t like this overblown center-of-attention thing. She smiled.
“To Flynn!” the crowd called out, and then it was a simultaneous down-the-hatch.
Flynn took a small sip.
“My turn,” Kathryn said, maneuvering her way back to the microphone. “To the happy couple.”
Everyone was happy to take another drink.
“Anyone else like to offer a toast?” Beau asked, his words slurring slightly.
That’s when Flynn realized he was tipsy and looking at her like she was supposed to say something. How could he expect her to say something? He knew she hated public speaking and she wasn’t like him. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she’d need to prepare a speech.
“Anybody?” Beau shifted his gaze to the crowd.
“I do,” said a deep masculine voice from the bottom of the gazebo steps.
The second she heard it, Flynn’s gut clenched. It couldn’t be. Not here, not at the Trainer enclave. Cringing, she dared to turn her head.
Yep, greatest fear confirmed. It was Jesse. Decked out all in black. Black jeans, black cowboy boots, black T-shirt, with the skull tattoo on his arm peeking out from under the sleeve.
Every gaze in the place was welded on him as he sauntered up the steps. Flynn felt Beau tense beside her, but she didn’t dare look at him.
You coward .
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Jesse sauntered straight over to Beau and audaciously plucked the glass of champagne from his hand.
The crowd gasped.
Flynn stopped breathing and darted a fearful glance at Beau. He looked stunned and… scared?
Of Jesse?
Beau was a good five inches taller and fifty pounds heavier than Jesse. But Jesse was fast and wiry and he’d been to prison. A fistfight between them was bound to
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