Page 64 of New in Town

“It is.”

“You can’t ignore the groom on his wedding day!”

“I’m not the one marrying him,” he replies with a shrug. He needs to hear what she was going to say.

“Grey,” she rolls her eyes.

“Just tell me why you were off yesterday, please. It seemed like… it was because of me.”

Maddie begins to open her mouth as the sound of footsteps echo through the cottage. They turn in unison to see Brett standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

“You should lock your door,” Brett says, leaning against the doorjamb, a wicked smile playing at his lips. “I wouldn’t bother you, but we have a problem. The bride sent me.”

Grey sighs as Maddie rolls away from him, her cheeks stained with the adorable pink color he loves. “Whatever it is, we’ve got it,” he tells the cowboy before them.

Brett nods appreciatively. “With everything going on yesterday we had to cancel the rental set up. They dropped everything off, but that’s it. Laurel’s brothers are headed out to the ceremony site now to get started. I hate to ask, but I need your help, man.”

“I’d be pissed if you didn’t ask. I’ll head up there now,” Grey replies. “Reception too?”

“Yeah, reception too.” Brett looks almost nervous as he admits to the lack of preparedness. Asking for help wasn’t his forte. Turning to Maddie, he adds, “Gracie is helping Laurel get ready, she’s asked for you to join.”

With a pat to Pippa, Brett disappears once again. “Well, looks like we have our marching orders,” Grey says, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. “I’d still like to talk about everything.”

“We will. In case you forgot, we have a very fancy date planned for tonight,” she says with a kiss.

Tonight. He’d get her alone tonight, in a romantic setting even. What better place to bring up commitment than at a wedding?

* * *

A frantic knock echoes through the air, pulling him out of his thoughts. He’d been ruminating about Maddie, again. Stopping halfway through buttoning up his shirt, Grey moves through his cottage to see who needs him.

He opens it to find Cooper standing on his porch, an undone tie around his neck and a frustrated look in his eyes.

“Cowboys don’t wear ties.”

He laughs and motions for him to come inside. “New Englanders do.”

Laurel had settled in nicely to life as a cowgirl. But when planning a wedding, her east coast past reared its head.

“I don’t know how to tie this damn thing,” Cooper say, pulling the chestnut-colored silk from his neck.

“Give it here,” he replies, taking it and hanging it around his own neck. He ties it quickly, keeping it loose enough to slide over his head and hand back. Cooper slides it under the collar of his own white linen shirt and pulls it tight. He is still lanky, but he no longer looks like the kid Grey had met all those years ago.

Cooper had been fostered by Floyd and Mary until they were able to adopt him. He was young, in Grey’s eyes, when he had arrived on the ranch. But apparently, he was considered old and unlikely to be adopted in the foster care system. Just like Grey, he had been brought in with open arms. He was the only other person who truly understood how Grey felt about his Hayes Ranch family, because he felt the same.

Adjusting his collar so it and the tie laid flat, Cooper looks up at him. “Good?” he asks.

“Yeah, you look good, kid.”

“Do you think there will be any hot girls from Massachusetts here?”

He laughs, “No chance in hell any of us will let you hit on them if so.”

“Hey, speaking of girls. I want to make sure I get to thank Maddie tonight. And apologize… to all of you.” Cooper sits down on a kitchen stool and drops his gaze to the floor. He is the picture of a guilty puppy atoning for his sins. “I was a dumbass, taking off alone.”

“We’re just glad you’re alright, Coop. Don’t do it again though?”

He finishes buttoning his shirt and steps into his room to grab his tie and suit jacket. He comes back out, working on his own four-in-hand knot.

---