Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)

“Stop it right now,” May said sternly. “I mean it, girls. Stop it or you’ll all start crying. There’s still the ceremony and then pictures. You can mess up your makeup all you want then. Do you hear me?”


“I’d listen if I were you,” Glen told them, his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile. “She can be mean.”

May gave a laugh, then started to straighten Heidi’s gown. When it was in place, Annabelle handed the bride her bouquet. May left to be seated up in front.

Glen moved next to Heidi and offered his arm. “You ready for this?”

Heidi nodded. “Thanks, Grandpa. You know I love you, right?”

“Nearly as much as I love you. Rafe’s a lucky man.”

“I’m lucky, too.”

Annabelle felt her eyes start to get a little misty. She blinked several times to avoid tears. The music changed to the last song before the bridal march. She looked at Charlie, who squared her shoulders, like a soldier heading to battle.

“I’m ready,” Charlie muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Ever the romantic.”

Charlie gave a strangled laugh, then started around the barn. Annabelle waited about fifteen seconds, then followed. She turned left and was able to see the seated guests and the archway where the couple would be married.

Rafe stood up front, with Shane and Clay at his side. Annabelle did her best not to stare longingly at the middle Stryker brother, aware that in this crowd anything could be fodder for town gossip. But it was hard not to be impressed by the well-cut dark suit and the handsome man wearing it.

She walked slowly up the petal-covered center walkway and took her place by Charlie. Off to the side a string quartet, compliments of the California University Fool’s Gold music department, seamlessly transitioned into the wedding march. The guests rose and the bride appeared.

The ceremony was quick but meaningful, with Rafe and Heidi reciting vows they’d written, followed by the traditional love, honor and cherish. The kiss was just passionate enough to assure everyone this couple was going to make it, then they straightened and were introduced as husband and wife.

An hour later the pictures had been taken. Heidi’s dress had one more surprise—the overskirt came off, leaving the bride in a reception-friendly long dress, absent extra layers and the heavy train.

The quartet was replaced by Fool’s Gold’s favorite party DJ and guests began to dance. Annabelle was just going to find Charlie when Shane came up and captured her hand.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, pulling her close as the music shifted to something slow and romantic and they began to move together.

“No, I was giving you space.”

“Why?”

“You might have brought a date to the wedding.”

He looked genuinely confused. “Another woman?”

“Or a man. I’m not going to judge.”

Shane pulled her to the side of the dance floor. “Annabelle, what are you talking about? Why wouldn’t I be with you?”

She stared up at him. The four-inch heels helped, but honestly nothing could change the fact that she was just plain short.

“We’re spending time together,” she told him. “But we haven’t talked about anything. I didn’t want to presume.”

“That we’re together?”

She nodded.

He sighed. “I’ve been out of the game a long time if I’m doing it this badly.” He put his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I’m with you. What did you think the other night was about?”

“Enjoying each other.”

He frowned. “Are you enjoying yourself with anyone else?”

She smiled. “No. You have me firmly captivated.” A safer truth than the fact that she loved him. She would get into that later, assuming this conversation went well.

“Good. I want to captivate you. Because you’ve got me under your spell. There’s no one else. I’m only seeing you.”

Her heart gave a little flutter and she did her best to look interested but not giddy. “So if we were in high school…”

“I’d give you my letterman’s jacket, carry your books and beat the shit out of any guy who asked you out.”

She raised herself on tiptoes and kissed his mouth. “And I’d let you go all the way after prom.”

He touched her face. “I could never resist you.”

“I like that in a man.”

“Any man?”

“No. Just you.”

For a second, they stared at each other. She willed him to say more. To tell her he loved her. That he’d let go of the past and no matter what, he was going to trust her. But before he could say anything, May announced the buffet was open and that everyone should enjoy the food.

Shane put his arm around her. “Buy you dinner?”

Aware the moment had been lost, she smiled up at him. “I’d like that very much.”

* * *