The hat wasn’t anything she would ever wear, but that wasn’t the point. She could see herself and part of him. He kept fussing with the way the hat sat on her head. As his fingers lightly stroked her cheek, she felt a tightness in her chest. A tightness unlike anything she’d experienced before.
Her breath caught and the world spun a little before settling. And then she knew. She was in love with Angel.
She who had vowed to never risk her heart, no matter what. She who defined her world by how much she controlled it. She who had always prided herself on her toughness, had fallen deeply and profoundly in love.
“Taryn?” Angel’s voice was sharp. “What’s wrong?” He turned her to face him. “You went pale.” He touched her forehead, then reached for her wrist and felt for her pulse. “Your heart is racing. Are you sick?”
She was, she thought frantically. Sick with love. Oh God. How had this happened? Why hadn’t she been paying attention?
But after the panic came certainty. This was right, she thought. Whatever happened, however this ended, she had fallen in love. And by giving her heart, she’d broken free of the last bond her father had on her. She’d overcome the fear.
She drew in a breath and smiled at him. “I’m okay. Just a little light-headed. I didn’t eat this morning.”
He tossed the hat lady the money for the hat, then put his arm around Taryn’s waist and led her toward the food booths. “We’ll get something into you right now.”
His touch was sure, she thought. She knew he would take care of her. It wasn’t love—he’d already given his heart and couldn’t do it again. She understood that. Later, she would deal with that pain, but for now it was enough to know that she wasn’t as freakish as she’d feared. She was almost like everyone else.
Angel got her a wrap and a soda for each of them, then made sure she ate all of hers. They were still discussing what to do that afternoon when Consuelo walked up and handed them each a piece of paper. There was an address on it.
“Five o’clock this afternoon,” she said, glaring at them. “It’s Kent’s mother’s house. There’ll be food. Don’t be late and don’t tell me you can’t make it. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Angel said.
Taryn smiled. “I’m not frightened by you, and yes, I’ll be there, too. What’s going on?”
“Nothing I want to talk about,” Consuelo grumbled, and walked away.
* * *
TARYN HADN’T BEEN sure what to wear to Consuelo’s undefined event. She figured it was something like a barbecue so chose a simple summer dress with a sweater to ward off any chill. As walking on grass might be required, she chose a platform sandal.
Angel picked her up at a quarter to five and they drove the few blocks to Denise’s house. There were already a few cars parked in front and several people walking up the front walk.
“Big party,” he said, then went around to the passenger side of his SUV and helped her out. As she slid to the ground, he leaned close. “Let’s not stay too late.”
The combination of his breath and his voice made her shiver. She looked into his eyes. “An early night sounds nice.”
He brushed his lips against her cheek before they headed toward the front door.
Nevada Hendrix Janack, one of the Hendrix triplet sisters, met them in the foyer. “Everyone’s out back,” she said. “Just go through the house. There’s plenty of seating.” She paused. “Angel, right?”
He nodded.
“My brother needs to speak to you.” She pointed to a hallway. “Down there. Taryn, can you find your own way to the backyard?”
Ford appeared and grabbed Angel’s arm. “You made it. Good. Hey, Taryn.” With that, both of them were gone.
Taryn wondered what on earth was happening. She followed the directions to the rear of the house and entered a large kitchen. From there she could see out big windows. A huge tent had been set up outside. The sides were rolled up so she could see the twinkle lights decorating the poles. Chairs had been set up in rows, with a center aisle. There was a beautiful cake on a small table at the far end of the garden, a dance floor to the left and flowers everywhere. If she didn’t know better, she would swear they’d been invited to a wedding.
Dellina came in from the backyard, saw Taryn and grinned. “Can’t talk. Way too busy. Who plans a wedding with twenty-four hours’ notice? It’s not possible, but here we are.”
Taryn didn’t have to ask the name of the bride. There was only one couple who would get married in Denise’s yard like this.
She walked outside. The guests were talking and obviously excited about what was happening. Servers circulated with glasses of champagne and trays of appetizers.
“My lady.”
She turned and saw Jack holding out a glass to her. She took it and smiled at him. “You’re here.”
“We were summoned,” he said, motioning to where Sam and Kenny were talking to some people she didn’t know.
“Larissa is going to be sorry to miss the wedding,” Taryn said. Larissa had gone back to L.A. to visit one of her sisters for the weekend.