Page 78 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

Great. Just friggin’ great.

She’d noted that Lexi had placed the Russell family table right behind her father’s table. Nothing like a baptism by fire. The pounding in her head increased.

She spotted Rusty in the doorway, with a dolly filled with blooms. Too early for him to don a tux, he still looked good in jeans and a T-shirt.

She wasn’t superstitious, she reminded herself. Just because some things had blown up shouldn’t mean the event would be a bust, right?

***

Kristy’s face, scrunched into a grimace, looked flushed when Rusty spotted her across the room, talking to Pat, the complex liaison. Something was wrong.

He fought the urge to rush over and take care of it. He’d been trying hard not to step in where he wasn’t needed.

Instead, he watched her school her features as she strode toward him, the heels of her shoes clicking on the cement floor. By the time she reached him, the pained look was gone, replaced by clenched lips.

“How are things going?” A nice, neutral question.

“Fine.” Her tone was terse.

Okay, she wasn’t planning on telling him. That meant she had it under control, didn’t it?

“Place looks spectacular. How did you get it to look classyandlike everyone is going to have a good time?”

She smiled, relieving the tension around her mouth. “That’s what we do at An Affair to Remember.”

“I doubt anyone’s going to forget this. Especially with the auction you’re planning.”

“That’s the idea. And thank you again for agreeing to do it. I know you’re doing it for me.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

She was right. He was doing it for that look in her eye and that kiss on his cheek because no one else would have ever been able to get him in that jail cell. “You’ll keep your promise and bid on me?”

“Even if someone else does.”

Now that warmed his heart.

“Regardless, if I can find a moment, I’m claiming a dance with you,” Kristy said.

Now he was blushing. “Good to hear.”

“I’ll help you place these cowboy hat arrangements. They look great. June did a stellar job.”

“You’re sure everything’s okay?” He’d try one more time.

“Yup. And now that you’re here, and with the flowers, it’s better than okay.”

Hearing that made his heart bump against his ribs. “Let’s get to work then.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Greta Hutchins walking toward them with Ariel. Greta was a very pretty woman. A little too plastic for his liking, but in a sleek black gown, she certainly would stand out in a room. Stetson had been pumped after meeting her at the studio, even if she’d declined to go out for coffee with him.

“I’m here, Kristy. Thanks so much for letting me shadow you.” Greta wiggled her slender fingers in a wave.

“Ariel.” Rusty nodded his greeting. Ariel didn’t look so bad either, in a flowy white gown that reminded him of an angel with wings. “And Greta? Surprised to see you here already.”

“Greta asked if she could tag along today and help,” Kristy explained. “She’s interested in event planning. After modeling, of course.”

Greta smiled. “I believe in contingency planning for life after modeling.”

“You can help me place the cowboy hats,” Kristy said.

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