Yours Completely (Billionaires and Brides 1)

The blonde rolled her eyes and it took everything Ella had not to throw a handful of hay at her. Dislike rolled through Ella's stomach, but she kept the polite smile plastered on her face. Customer service was everything.

“Come on, girls. We have better places to be” The blonde glanced around one last time, letting out a contemptuous sniff. “Hang around here much longer and we'll end up smelling like the help.”

Ella held her smile so hard her jaw hurt. “Have a nice evening. Enjoy your stay at Blue Lake Inn and Resort.”

The women teetered away, still looking like they were about to topple over on the uneven cobblestones. For a moment, Ella wished they'd fall and break their necks before feeling bad. They were still guests. They could just break their heels. No injury needed.

The blonde lead the way, her chest puffed out and her hair perfect. Her voice carried in the warm darkness, heavy and full of intent. “Don't worry, girls. We'll find him. No bride is keeping that man out of my bed.”

Classy, thought Ella. One of them giggled, high pitched and over-the-top girly. It made Ella want to vomit. If Delores held a class on how to gold-dig one's way into riches, the blonde and her friends would have gotten top marks.

“They don't know anything,” Ella whispered to herself, taking in a deep calming breath as she slid the barn doors shut. The evening air was cool and refreshing, but she didn't want the catty women coming back any time soon. “And I don't smell.”

She took in one more big deep breath before turning around. Better people had said worse about her. She was used to being the brunt of someone else's joke. She wasn't about to let those awful women get the best of her.

“Stallion, huh?” Jace's head popped up over the stall door along with Commander's and then Captain's. Her laugh came out easily and smooth. It had been a long time since someone made her laugh with just two words. The stress melted from her shoulders without her thinking about it. Jace winked at her. “Considering both these horses are geldings...”

“Oh, shut up,” Ella replied, knowing that her cheeks were burning scarlet. She hadn't thought about her choice of words. Neither horse was a stallion anymore. The only “real” male in the barn was Jace. “At least they don't know anything about horses.”

Jace laughed. It was an easy, wonderful sound that sent her heart tumbling. I could listen to that laugh all day, Ella thought. Instantly, her brain was searching for something clever or funny to say, just to hear him laugh like that again.

She was going to have to ask him for his room number. He would be the very first guest that she ever approached like that, but the way he smiled, the sound of his laughter... she wanted more. A few minutes in the barn hiding from predatory women wasn't enough. She was even willing to risk her stepmother's disapproval, and that meant something.

Ella opened her mouth, ready to ask the question. What room are you staying in? Can I see you again? Want to groom the horses again tomorrow? Each sounded lamer than the last, but she knew she had to do something. Jace was wonderful and it was no wonder the blonde and her little group of fiends wanted to find him.

Yet, something was wrong with this image. Fantastic, handsome, wonderful men didn't fall into Ella's lap. There had to be something she was missing, something that didn't fit. Fate loved screwing with her too much to let something as obviously good as Ja

ce just happen to her.

No bride is keeping that man out of my bed... The blonde had said that. It was an odd phrase. She would just have to ask Jace what she had meant. Ella frowned, trying to place the name from the wedding guest list. Jace... She'd been over the guest list a thousand times and there wasn't a Jace listed. However, the groom for the wedding tomorrow was named Jason. Jace would be an easy nickname. It also made the blonde's “soon-to-be-ineligible bachelor” comment make a lot more sense.

The realization hit her like a punch to the stomach.

He was the groom.

And she had almost just kissed him.

She hurried back over to the Captain's stall, holding onto the big white horse like a lifeline to sanity. Jace was the Jason getting married the day after tomorrow. No wonder he was so perfect. He was someone else's.

Ella shook her head, trying to keep her heart beat steady and her stomach from flinging its contents all over the barn. He must think her a complete idiot. He hadn't tried to kiss her, he was just catching her from falling. She was the one doing all the kissing. She was a terrible person. She was no better than those vicious trollops hunting for him outside. He was supposed to be getting married!

“You okay?” Jace asked after a moment. She was frozen, the brush paused in mid-air. She looked over and her heart sunk just a little bit more. His eyes were still far too blue for her to look at, especially now that she knew they weren't meant for her. He was probably just being nice to her for letting him stay in the barn and hide from the overzealous party guests.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” It almost sounded true.

“Don't let those women get to you,” Jace said, his voice low and comforting.

Damn him, even now she wanted him. Why did he have to be sweet and sexy?

“It's fine,” she replied, hating how bitter she sounded even in her own head. She steadied herself against Captain, drawing on his steady strength. She needed to change the subject. Something that would remind her that she shouldn't let her guard down, even for a minute. “So, I bet you'll be glad when this wedding is over, huh?”

Jace blew out a heavy sigh. “You have no idea. It's taken over my life. I can't wait for it to be done.”

Of course you can't wait, Ella thought to herself. You'll be happily married. I wouldn't want to wait for you either.

“Oh, come on- it's a wedding,” Ella pressed, determined to sound pleasant and happy. “You should be excited.”

“I am excited. Don't get me wrong,” he quickly replied, holding up one of his hands like a shield. “I am very excited for the wedding. The part with the vows and the declarations of love is the only reason I'm putting up with all the other things that come along with it.”