Damn it. He was romantic too.
“It can't be that bad.” Ella worked the brush harder on Captain's coat, making him turn and look at her. She wasn't usually this heavy-handed. “Weddings are nice.”
“Not this one,” Jace said, shaking his head. “Most of the people here aren't family. Most of them are just looking for ways to get their hands as deep into other people's pockets as possible. It's all about money and status. They aren't here to celebrate. They're here to be seen and possibly find a way into a billionaire's checkbook.”
Ella had never thought of it that way. Weddings were supposed to be about love and romance, not about family connections and upping one's status. She could see how having all the guests vying for the top position to earn a dollar would spoil the magic of love. The blonde popped into her mind, especially since she was looking to score with the groom.
“Like those women who are so intent on catching you,” she said softly. She looked up at him, doing her best wide-eyed innocent expression. “But they seem so genuine and kind.”
Jace snorted a laugh and it warmed her heart. Damn him again. All she wanted was to make him smile, even if he could never be hers.
Her watch beeped, reminding her that her time wasn't her own either. It belonged to Delores, and it was time to get back to work. But that meant leaving Jace here alone or having to push him out. She couldn't ask him to leave, not with those harpies still hanging about.
He'd have to stay without her. She wasn't planning on going back in that stall with him again. Not after how close she had come to kissing an engaged man. She didn't want to look like a fool again, but she wanted to check Jace's work and make sure that she could leave the horses alone with him.
She picked up the body brush and went into Commander's stall, making sure to keep the big horse between them this time. The gelding's coat was almost gleaming even without the final body brush. Jace certainly did know how to groom a horse, and the gelding was as happy as she'd ever seen him.
“You do good work, Jace,” she said as she patted Commander's neck. He whickered softly, taking the praise for himself. Such a male.
“I'm guessing that watch beep means you have to go,” Jace said, his eyes following her movement on the opposite side of the horse. He frowned when she nodded. “I have to ask then...”
Her heart started pounding for no good reason. He's taken! She reminded herself. He's not going to ask where you're staying or if you're doing anything later. He's getting married!
“Since you know the place so well, do you know any good places to hide?” Jace finished his question. It took a moment for Ella's brain to follow, especially since she wanted his words to be something else entirely.
“Other than your room?” she replied, knowing it was a lame answer. She just needed a moment to resettle herself.
“I can only hide out there so long before they learn how to pick the locks,” Jace teased. Ella couldn't stop the smile from crossing her lips.
“Well, guests aren't really allowed in here, but I name you honorary stable boy. You can hide out in here,” she offered. Secretly, she hoped she'd run into him again and at the same time she prayed they wouldn't. He couldn't be hers and it was just asking for heartache to even imagine that she had a chance.
“No one else is going to yell at me? Threaten to throw brushes at my head?”
“I didn't threaten to throw a brush!” Ella laughed as he mimicked her stance when she first found him, finding that she did have the brush ready to use as a weapon. She rolled her eyes, making him laugh.
“I don't know if I can take any other beautiful women threatening me this week,” Jace teased.
She tried to ignore the word beautiful in the sentence. “I have a teenager come in and help out, but she won't give you any trouble. And if you see Magnus, the carriage driver, just tell him I said you could be here.”
“Thank you.” He smiled at her and she knew he meant it. Her heart melted just a little bit more, which wasn't fair at all.
“The only other place I would recommend is the gazebo by the lake. Not the big one where the wedding will take place, but the smaller one just a little further down the path. It's hidden, but it's actually prettier than the big one.” Ella tucked a strand of hair out of her face and shrugged. “Not many people go there.”
“Thank you, Ella.”
The way he said her name made her shiver. He probably did that to all the women. He was a rich, handsome man about to marry a billionaire's sister. That meant he had to have some charm. This was probably just a normal day for him.
He probably broke hearts just by breathing and never even know it.
Her phone chimed, reminding her that the watch beep was just the warning. She had to get going now, especially if she wanted to change and not smell like horse for the rest of the evening.
“I have to go,” she said, turning off the alarm in her pocket.
“More horses to groom?” Jace teased, his smile so sweet it made her ache.
“Something like that,” she agreed. “I have a strict bedtime I have to adhere to. And lots of work before that.”
“I don't want you to go, but I'd hate for you to turn into a pumpkin at midnight if I don't.” He grinned. Again, why did he have to be so damn charmi