Page 8 of First Date: Divorce
Eric’s hand went to the vicinity of the small of K.D.’s back in an automatic gesture of escorting a woman up steps.He stopped the gesture short of contact, and started to let his hand drop.
In that instant what seemed like a flood of people jumped out at them.
“Welcome to Far Hills Ranch,” Ellyn said from amid the flood.“I made calls on the way so we could get started.We’ll need photos, menu, flowers— Rebecca, what do you think about a dress?”
Two other women Eric had met stood behind Ellyn in the doorway.Rebecca, with her long, dark hair, and Kendra, with the noticing eyes of her journalistic background.
K.D.rocked back in surprise, bringing her derriere into full contact with the palm of his hand, which had reached that level.
Perfect fit.
He cupped his palm.Slightly.An automatic reaction.He stopped immediately.
Almost immediately.
Certainly stopped before his libido wanted to.
CHAPTER THREE
K.D.’s head swung around to look at him over her shoulder.At least her fist didn’t follow.
A camera stuttered in a tattoo of shots.
“Hope I caught that.”Kendra flashed a smile from behind a camera.
“Everyone, please,” Ellyn said with amusement.“I know this is urgent, but I do think we have time to let them in the door.”
The others opened a path for them.
Once inside, Ellyn gestured to an expansive table in the huge country kitchen, with three men already seated there.“Let’s sit at the table to discuss this.”
“Do you all know Eric, who has his law practice in Bardville?”Ellyn said from the head of the table as others took seats, several nodding that they knew him.“And this is Deputy Hamilton from Montana.She’s agreed to work with Eric as our undercover couple.”
“K.D.”she said.
“This is my husband, Grif,” Ellyn said.“That’s Kendra behind the camera, and Daniel.”A dark-haired man raised one hand.“And Rebecca and Luke.”
As Eric nodded hellos, he watched her take it all in, watched her clear eyes making connections between people he still worked at getting straight.
Cully and Tal sat at the end of the table.The residents of Far Hills Ranch plunged into a discussion full of the shortcuts used by people who knew each other well.
It centered on putting together a mock wedding, followed by a mock reception by Thursday.Though the conversation darted to other topics, including a school play, ranching work, concerns about “those people” at Marriage-Save, and, oddly, the growing season for tomatoes.He’d missed how that applied.
“…and that should be enough for a simple menu,” Ellyn concluded as she wrote notes.
“Simple?And there won’t be anyone to eat it all,” K.D.protested.“Even if there has to be a wedding for pictures, there won’t be guests, so we don’t need food.”
“You better have food.I’m comin’,” Grainger said.“I’m looking forward to another Far Hills spread.”
“There goes the budget,” Grif muttered.
Ellyn smiled.“Don’t worry, Cully.We’ll have food.Though you’ll have to hold off until we have photos to prove we had a spread.Speaking of photos… Kendra, can you make some look like they’ve come from other events, other times in their marriage?”
“Sure thing.”She’d been snapping or videoing him and K.D.practically non-stop.“Next time you’re out here, bring different clothes, sunglasses, winter hats, things like that.”
“I didn’t pack—”
Kendra interrupted.“Sorry, of course you didn’t, K.D.Don’t worry.We’ll dig up plenty around here.”
