Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)

Annabelle hugged her back, then tugged on one of Heidi’s blond braids. “You’re welcome. Now show me this fancy wedding gown.”


Heidi slipped off her boots and walked to the dress. She carefully lifted the hanger, then expertly turned the dress so the train was still protected by the sheets.

A heart-shaped neckline had been done in pure white silk. The bodice was pleated and fitted. At the waist was delicate beading. The skirt was full with only a few scattered beads. Simple. Cap sleeves added to the air of innocence, while the fabric and pleating were more elegant. The train was long and had the most beading.

“It’s perfect,” Annabelle breathed. The gown was all things Heidi. Sweet and pretty, with unexpected touches. “How are you wearing your hair?”

“Up, I think. Of all things, May has a diamond tiara that belonged to her grandmother. It’s silly, but I actually love it.”

“Why not? Every bride should be a princess on her wedding day. Rafe isn’t going to know what hit him.”

Heidi put the dress back on the coatrack, then carefully smoothed the train into place.

“I hope so,” she said as she faced Annabelle again, then led the way out of the room. “I want him to be happy.”

Annabelle waited until they were in the hall to touch her friend’s arm. “The man is crazy about you. Seriously. If you’re in the room, he can’t stop looking at you. When he talks about you, he grins like a teenager on his first date. Do you really have any doubts?”

“No.” Heidi drew in a breath. “But sometimes I can’t believe I got so lucky. Six months ago I would have told you I didn’t believe in love and if someone convinced me it was real, I would never trust it. But then he was here and I couldn’t help myself.”

“The irresistible man?”

Heidi laughed. “Something like that. I never thought I could be this happy. First buying the ranch, then almost losing it, then having Rafe fall in love with me.”

Annabelle enjoyed her friend’s happiness, even as she felt a little knot of worry in her tummy. She wanted what Heidi had. Wanted to feel those feelings, wanted to be secure in knowing she was loved. She’d never had that with Lewis. Deep inside she’d always sensed she wasn’t a partner in their relationship.

For a while she’d assumed she was simply one of those women who wasn’t destined to find love. That she would make her life fulfilling in other ways. But now, with Shane, she found herself wanting her happy ending. Wanting him to be the one.

She just wasn’t sure it was possible.

* * *

“IT’S A FAUCET,” Shane said. “For a kitchen. Don’t I only need one?”

“Yes,” Annabelle said patiently. “One is great. So which do you like?”

He stared around in obvious bewilderment. Normally she would have taken advantage of the situation and mocked him, but right now she sort of understood his confusion.

On the advice of his contractor, they were in Sacramento at a bathroom and kitchen fixture specialty store. They were going to be able to make all the decisions regarding plumbing at once. There was only one problem. The store was the size of a grandstand and there were hundreds of choices for each option.

Shiny, brushed, stainless, copper-colored, brass, black, white. There were tall faucets and stubby faucets. Faucets that bent or sprayed or filtered water. She was half expecting to see one that talked.

There were even more choices for the bathrooms, along with sinks and tubs and shower fixtures. Oh, and there were rows and rows of toilets.

They were being assisted by a well-dressed thirty-something man named Marcus who had received the contractor’s email with the list of what Shane should be buying.

“We’ll start easy and work up to what’s difficult,” Marcus said, attaching their list to a clipboard and then handing it to Annabelle. He pulled out a touch-pad device and started entering information.

“What’s easy?” Shane asked warily.

“The kitchen. A faucet and a sink.”

Annabelle knew that wasn’t exactly true. There would be appliances and lighting, not to mention countertops, backsplashes and flooring. But none of that was Marcus’s problem.

“Farm sinks are very popular,” Marcus told them, leading them over to the kitchen area. Several displays showed the sinks and faucets in an actual kitchenlike setting.

“They’re large, which gives you a nice working space. Deep enough for pasta pots. Some people don’t want their sink split into two parts.”

Shane stared. “It’s a sink.”

Marcus gave a little sigh and pushed up his rimless glasses. “Yes. I hear that a lot.”

“This is important,” Annabelle told him.

“Why?” Shane looked genuinely confused.

“Are you going to be washing any small livestock in the sink?” she asked.

“No.”

“Then let’s get a traditional two sink configuration. With the one side deeper.”