Stud in Texas (Rugged and Risque 4)
Page 53
Sage advice, he conceded, but none of the tension in his shoulders loosened. Nor did he expect it to, until Mac Willet was behind bars and Sky could get on with her life.
He left Caleb and returned to the inn. Sky stood at the wall of windows, staring out at the wedding taking place on the event lawn.
She glanced over her shoulder as he approached, his boot heels on the hardwood floor alerting her of his presence.
“How you feeling, darlin’?,” he asked as he slipped his arms around her waist and held her with his chest pressed to her back.
“I know I should never doubt Reese’s devotion to me for a moment.”
“But you still haven’t told her?”
“Wedding mayhem. I’m just waiting for it to die down around here before I spring this on her.”
“Don’t stall,” he said in a quiet voice. “You know she’ll be there for you through thick and thin.”
“I know.”
“She loves you.”
Sky nodded. In the reflection in the glass panes, he saw a few tears tumble down her cheeks. “I pick really good friends. I can’t imagine why I end up with the wrong men.”
His gut twisted, but he managed to keep his tone causal. “’Cept for me, right?”
“You already know the answer to that, cowboy.”
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Sky rapped lightly on the doorframe to Reese’s office before stepping inside.
“Hey,” Reese said as she glanced up from her computer monitor. “How about that wedding reception last night? Good Lord, could they have gone through more champagne?”
With a soft laugh, Sky said, “At least there were enough teenagers with driver’s licenses to make sure everyone got home okay.”
“Well, I am all for a wild celebration, but I had a few moments of panic that those bridesmaids might start dancing on top of my tables.”
“Oh I saw it in their eyes,” Sky agreed. “I’m happy they kept their feet on the ground, that’s for sure.”
“I do like how lively it all was. This really is such a great venue for parties.”
“Without doubt.” Sky paused, her stomach suddenly churning with dread. “You got a couple minutes to spare?”
“Sure.” Concern crossed Reese’s delicate features. “What’s up?”
“I have something to tell you that won’t be any easier for you to hear than it will be for me to say.”
Concerned morphed into panic. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“No. I mean…not at the moment. I don’t know.” She shook her head. Moving toward the chair on the opposite side of Reese’s desk, she was about to sit, but realized she’d do this better standing. She gripped the back of the chair for support, though.
“Sky?”
The churning in her stomach turned into a raw clenching that actually hurt.
“It’s about Nashville, Reese. I need to tell you what went down there.”
“Okay.”
Jesus, where to start?