Page 75 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

"You look beautiful," Shane murmurs in my ear, his hand warm on the small of my back.

I force a smile, grateful for his support but unable to shake the feeling of being a fish out of water. "Thanks. You clean up pretty nice yourself, Kennedy."

He grins, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. For a moment, I can almost forget where we are, can almost believe that we're back at the ranch, just the two of us.

But then Eleanor glides over, Courtney in tow, and reality comes crashing back.

"Shane, darling," Eleanor says, air-kissing his cheek. "Look at who I found."

Courtney steps forward, all blonde hair and perfect teeth. Her dress is a work of art, clinging to her slim frame like it was painted on.

"Shane," she purrs, her hand lingering on his arm. "I missed seeing you at the office today."

I stiffen, fighting the urge to pull Shane away from her. He shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting to me. "I left early. We needed to prepare for tonight."

Eleanor turns to me, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Krystal, dear, why don't you tell us about the wedding plans? I'm sure you and Shane have discussed it."

I blink, caught off guard. Shane and I haven't talked about the wedding beyond agreeing that we want to get married. "Oh, um, we haven't really?—"

"We're thinking something small," Shane cuts in, his arm wrapping around my waist. "Intimate."

I nod, grateful for the save. "Yes, just close family and friends. Nothing too extravagant."

Eleanor's eyebrows shoot up. "Small? But darling, a Kennedy wedding is always the event of the season. We simply must invite all the right people."

"Mother," Shane says, his voice tight. "Krystal and I will decide what kind of wedding we want."

Eleanor waves a hand dismissively. "Of course, of course. But do think about it, won't you? It would be such a shame to miss this opportunity to solidify our connections."

Is that all our wedding is to her? A networking opportunity?

"Actually," I say, finding my voice, "I was thinking it might be nice to have the wedding back at the ranch. Where Shane and I met."

The silence that follows is deafening. Eleanor looks like she's just swallowed a lemon, while Courtney's perfect smile has frozen in place.

"The... ranch?" Eleanor repeats as if the word is foreign to her. "But surely you'd prefer something more... refined?"

I straighten my spine, meeting her gaze head-on. "The ranch is plenty refined, Mrs. Kennedy. And it means something to us."

Shane squeezes my waist, a silent show of support. "I think it's a great idea," he says. "We could have a beautiful outdoor ceremony."

Eleanor's lips purse, but Richard appears at her side before she can respond. "There you are," he says, his eyes landing on Shane. "The Morgans are here. They're very interested in discussing a joint initiative."

"Of course, Father. I'll be right there." Shane turns to me, apology written all over his face. "Will you be okay for a few minutes?"

I force a smile. "Go. Do what you need to do."

As Shane walks away with his father, I'm left alone with Eleanor and Courtney. The silence stretches between us, thick and uncomfortable.

"Well," Courtney says finally, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "A ranch wedding. How... quaint."

I clench my fists at my sides, biting back the retort on the tip of my tongue. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose my cool.

"It's where Shane and I fell in love," I say instead, my voice steady. "I think that's more important than any fancy ballroom."

Eleanor's laugh is like tinkling glass, sharp and brittle. "Oh, Krystal. You have so much to learn. A Kennedy wedding isn't just about the couple. It's about connections, about maintaining our place in society."

"With all due respect, Mrs. Kennedy," I say, my patience wearing thin, "I don't give a damn about your place in society. I care about marrying the man I love, surrounded by the people who matter to us."

---