Page 18 of Nashville Cowboy
At first, she’d been exactly what he needed in his life. Winona hated Eve on his behalf, without knowing her. Hated Eve for the pain she’d caused him. She became his friend and drinking buddy, and one night they’d made the mistake of getting married. No plans or invitations. Just one long night of drinking and partying, waking up married. Biggest mistake of his life.
Now, he wasn’t looking to be tied down. He was fine with relationships lasting six months or so, and then everyone moved on. Being on the road, it was best not to form deep attachments to one woman.
But according to Hank, he’d never find anyone like Eve again. Period. It was damn annoying. Of course, Hank valued far more than Eve’s looks. She was the whole package: smart, kind, and beautiful.
He had a point.
Jackson dated his share of beautiful women. Toned bodies and perfect hair. Eve wasn’t perfect. Her long hair a little wild and untamed, and she didn’t seem to care. Rather than toned, she sometimes carried a little extra weight around the hips. But then there were those long legs and a smile that could knock a man out cold.
Hank loved her like a daughter. When Eve’s father, Ricardo, left his family, it was Hank who found Brenda work as a live-in maid for the Trueharts. Jackson figured the old man’s long friendship with Brenda somewhat clouded his judgement for Eve being anything less than the ideal young lady.
Rather than continue to argue, Jackson took another tactic. Agreement. He only had to get through this wedding. Then he’d be back to Nashville and a sense of normalcy again. His chest would stop being so tight, and he’d be able to breathe again. Deep, cleansing breaths, instead of the shallow ones he managed around Eve. He should get away from her before he said or did something he’d regret. No two ways about it.
“You’re right. I screwed up.” It was a cowboy’s job to take the blame, according to Hank.
“I’ll be gall darned. The first step is admitting it.” Hank turned his horse around. “Best get back. Got one heifer about to drop. It’s her first and Lincoln might need my help.”
Jackson turned Taco to follow. There was still so much he wanted to ask Hank.
Why are you still so angry? Am I doomed to wind up just like you?
Those questions would have to wait. First, they all had a wedding to attend.
Tables were coveredin burnt orange cotton cloth with adorable centerpieces Sadie’s mother, Wanda, had created. Small pieces of redwood were surrounded by pinecones, and little glass-enclosed white candles sat atop each piece of cut wood.
At the very center of the room Eve caught sight of a gigantic big-screen TV that was obviously Jackson’s gift, delivered late morning by an irritated UPS guy. Since it wasn’t wrapped, Eve slapped a big red bow on it.Someonewas thinking more about Lincoln than he was about Sadie though she supposed Sadie would also enjoy the new TV. Especially during their marathons ofChicago Fire.
They expected a large group of women to descend on them shortly, every parent from the school where Sadie taught, carrying all manner of household appliances.
One thought kept running through Eve’s mind over and over again. The memory of having to send back all of the presents from their wedding showerandher non-wedding day. A food processor, a state-of-the-art espresso machine, a twelve-person serving set, a crap ton of lingerie shecouldn’treturn and much more. Eve, her mother, and Sadie sat for hours composing “thank you, anyway” cards which they’d attached to the gifts as they were each returned.
The pain of that time still managed to render her nerves a quivering mess. But it was simple enough not to dwell on it all these years later, until Sadie and Lincoln announced their engagement. Then, memories rushed in, and Eve forced them back. She’d been thrown into all of the planning and anticipating. Everyone around her seemed to assume she’d long ago gotten over the fiasco of her wedding-day fail.
Eve thought so, too, until she began to help Sadie in the same way Sadie had helped Eve years ago. Then a strange sense of déjà vu covered her, with memories about the moments they’d spent together dreaming of the perfect day.
“Everything looks beautiful.” Sadie arrived with her mother, Wanda, with Lincoln bringing up the rear.
While Lincoln and Wanda headed in the direction of the buffet, Sadie headed straight for Eve and pulled her behind the huge plasma TV.
“I have a problem. You have to help me.”
“What’s wrong? Is it your dress?”
“Eve, I…” She hesitated. “I’m worried.”
“Why?”
She grasped Eve’s hands. “The wedding. Something could go wrong.”
“Something is bound to go wrong. But it won’t matter because you’re marrying the love of your life. Right?”
“Yes, true,” Sadie said, and bit on her lower lip. “But sometimes…unexpected things. Unplanned…”
“It’s all good. Nothing will ruin that day.”
When Sadie’s gaze lowered to her belly and a single tear rolled down her cheek, Eve was caught between emotions. She’d be happy but Sadie looked scared. “This might.”
Eve sucked in a breath and squeezed Sadie’s hands. “Did you tell him?”
