Vibrant Heart: Book 1 in the Great Plains Romance Series (3 page)

She licked her lips and smoothed her dress over her hips. He’d regret that decision now. If she could only find him.

“You don’t really strike me as the wallflower type, darlin’.”

Melanie groaned. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Jake leaning against the wall, watching her. He nodded, tipping an imaginary hat to her, and she wondered where he’d left his cowboy hat. “Don’t you have something better to do?” She didn’t hide her irritation. “Serve the guests or something? Isn’t that what you’re here for?”

He chuckled, and she turned back to the crowd, furious that the delicious sound caused a warm shiver down her spine. Yes, Jake was a handsome man, but the only reason she was having such a strong reaction to him was because she hadn’t been on a date in nearly two years. If her reaction was that strong toward Jake, how would she react when she saw Raymond? She became absolutely giddy at the thought.

“You know, if you keep pretending to be so focused on everyone else, you might hurt my feelings.” He moved to stand next to her, their shoulders brushing. Melanie ignored him and tried to dismiss the energy that surged up her arm when they touched. He leaned over slightly and whispered against her neck, his warm breath causing the tiny hairs on her nape to stand on end. “Or is this your way of playing hard to get?”

“I’m looking for someone, if you must know. Someone who will be very, very happy to see me.”

“Not as happy as me.” He ran his fingers lightly up her arm, barely touching it.

Melanie was furious at the goose bumps emerging in the wake of his touch. He chuckled in her ear, which infuriated her even more. At least that’s what she told herself—that the heat in the pit of her stomach was anger.

The blond woman passed by them, handing Jake a stack of empty trays before moving on to the door, probably to get more food. “Ah, duty calls.” Jake winked at Melanie before following the woman. Melanie was surprised that the woman seemed to have only one helper. Usually caterers brought a small army to parties. She turned back to watch the party-goers, glad that Jake was no longer there to distract her.

The small clusters of people parted as a tall, silver-haired man moved through them, heading for the table of food. Melanie stepped out from her hiding spot under the stairs as the man turned toward her and smiled, showing a row of perfect teeth. “Mel! You made it!”

“Hi, Daddy.” She stepped up to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him on the cheek. “Of course I made it for your wedding, although I’m afraid a flat tire made me miss the ceremony.”

He laughed, a deep, hearty laugh. “You ain’t missed nothing yet. The preacher’s having a heck of a time with one of his prized cows and won’t leave her side until the calf is delivered.”

Melanie shook her head. How had she lasted more than two decades here without going crazy?

“So have you met Evelyn yet?” He leaned closer so only she could hear him. “She’s a little spitfire. But what a woman!”

Melanie leaned back and crossed her arms. “So is Mom,” she said with a frown.

“Aw, honey, now I know your mama is a good woman, but she’s happier down south.”

Melanie nodded, knowing he was right. Her parents didn’t resent each other after the divorce and had often said they just wanted the other to be happy. Her mother’s life in Florida resembled nothing like life on the farm, but she didn’t regret her country living. She often said it helped her grow into the person she was meant to be. So Melanie really couldn’t play the guilt card on her father now.

“So where is she—Evelyn?”

“She’s around her somewhere. Can you believe she insisted on making all the food herself?”

Melanie coughed several times, trying to clear the air trapped in her throat when she’d suddenly inhaled. The caterer was her father’s bride?

“Oh, but here’s someone you’ll probably want to catch up with.”

Melanie was still sputtering when she turned to see Raymond standing in front of her.

“Hey, Mel.” His voice was as soft and calming as ever. He leaned in to hug her, and Melanie relaxed into the familiar smell of his aftershave. He had cut his nearly shoulder-length hair to a very short, neat haircut—the kind her father would find acceptable.

“Well, hi there.” She tried to remember the lines she had rehearsed in the mirror for the last few weeks.

“Your dad tells me you’re doing well in Chicago.”

“I am. I really am.” She flashed her most beautiful smile. He’d offered her the perfect opening, but she decided to milk it a bit before going in for the kill. “Look at you, looking all respectable and everything. Has the long lost boy finally grown up?”

Raymond nodded, looking almost like a little boy trying not to show how excited he was.

“Well, go ahead and tell her why,” her father said.

Melanie glanced at her father, who was beaming with pride, then back to Raymond, who smiled bashfully.

He tugged on the elbow of someone talking in a neighboring group. “This is Anna.” Raymond put his arm around a short, very pregnant red-headed woman. “The woman who changed my life.”

Melanie reached out to steady herself as the room spun around her.

Chapter Six

Jake walked into the barn just as the woman with the violet eyes turned to greet Raymond Turner. Jake’s jaw clenched, and he made a beeline for the small group. He’d had run-ins with Raymond before, although thus far both men had kept those encounters to themselves—Raymond out of self-preservation and Jake because his line of work required discretion. Warning signals were flashing in his mind to stay away from the small group of people surrounding the woman, but he pushed those warnings aside just in time to see the faint rosy flush in her cheeks turn to a sickly pale white. Something wasn’t right, and he pushed through the guests to get to her side, grabbing her elbow just as he felt her arm go limp.

He stepped close, letting her lean into his warm body to steady herself.

“Here you are, darlin’.”

He meant the term of endearment to be overheard by others, especially Raymond, whose stiffened reaction was almost amusing. Jake reaffirmed his message by brushing his lips against the woman’s cheek. He felt her muscles tense in preparation for flight, but his solid grip on her arm held her steady. He glanced down at her and smiled softly, then winked. “Did you find your friends?” He glanced at the others around them, but made no move to let Melanie go. “She was so worried she’d miss everybody because of that flat tire.”

“Well, lucky us that she got here in time,” Raymond said, flashing first Jake, then Melanie an uncomfortable smile. “Sweetie, I don’t think you’ve met Jake or Mel. This is my wife, Anna.”

“Melanie, please,” she corrected him, her voice tight. Melanie started to hold out a hand to the woman then faltered when Anna placed a hand on her swollen belly.

“Ugh, he’s a kicker.” Anna shifted on her feet, one hand rubbing her belly while the other was propped against the back of her hip.

“Looks like he’ll be making an appearance any day now.” Jake wanted to throttle Raymond, who hadn’t taken his eyes off Melanie despite his wife’s obvious discomfort. Instead, he pulled Melanie closer, grateful that she didn’t push back against him and create a scene.

“We’ve got a few more weeks yet.” Anna smiled, then glanced at the silver-haired man. “Just enough time for the wedding, Stan.”

Stan threw his arm around Raymond’s shoulder. “Wouldn’t have been right without you two here. Jake, Raymond here is the one who helped me build the barn.”

Jake nodded at the older man. “Oh, sure.” He slid his arm around Melanie’s waist. She didn’t protest. For a moment, everything felt right.

His mother ended the brief interlude when she burst into their little circle, leading Reverend Jackson by the wrist. “He’s here. Let’s get this show on the road.” Evelyn pushed through the group, grabbing Stan by the hand as she continued to the altar set up along the barn’s far wall. Both the preacher and Stan let themselves be pulled along, which caused knowing laughter to ripple through the crowd.

As everyone turned to move closer to the couple, Melanie freed herself from Jake’s grip. “Thank you,” she mumbled, not looking him in the eye.

“Mmm hmm. I suppose I should be thanking Raymond?”

She jerked her head up to glare at him, fury erupting on her face.

Jake leaned closer to her, until his face was just inches from hers. “After all, your swooning over a married man meant I got to kiss you.”

“Ha!” Melanie rolled her eyes. “As if that were a kiss.”

Before she could walk away, Jake reached out and pulled her to him until their lips were pressed together. It was a gamble, and he knew it. She could very well pull away, causing quite the scene. But she didn’t. Instead, her lips parted as her hands slid up his arms to his chest, leaving a trail of fiery desire. His tongue teased at her lips. When she pressed closer to him, he groaned and pulled back, ending a kiss that he wanted to spend the rest of the day exploring. He told himself to step away, that he was playing with fire with this woman, but he couldn’t bring himself to remove his arms that still encircled her waist.

Stan cleared his throat loudly. Melanie turned to see the entire crowd staring at her and Jake. Her face burned red, and she hid it in Jake’s chest, his arms coming up to hold her protectively. He chuckled at her embarrassment, trying to distract his body from the fact that he could smell the peach-scented shampoo from her hair and feel the curves of her body fitting so precisely into his. She tried to pull back, but his arms kept her firmly in place.

“Sorry, folks,” he said to the guests. “Guess we got swept up by the romance of the day.”

The guests laughed, and some applauded. As the couple turned back to the altar, Jake’s hold on her eased. Melanie pulled herself away from him and stepped back, raising a hand to slap him. Stan’s words stopped her in mid-swing.

“Son, you’ll have to save it for your own wedding. For now, get my daughter up here so we can get this ceremony over before your mother hog ties us both.”

Daughter? Understanding hit Jake like a fist to the gut, and suddenly he was wishing he had just left her by the side of the road. He had created a mess of it all now, and it would only be getting messier because he would be sharing another kiss with Melanie Olson. Of that he was certain.

Chapter Seven

Melanie reeled with the realization that Evelyn, her new step-mother, was Jake’s mother. She had just made out with the bride’s son at her father’s wedding while all the guests watched. Including Raymond and his pregnant wife. She swallowed, trying to push down the embarrassment that she was sure was evident on her face.

Jake placed his hand just above her elbow to lead her to the altar, but she jerked her arm away, her face burning even brighter. She stormed up to the two steps to the dais, refusing to look at anyone as she moved to stand next to her father.

“Over here, sweetie,” Evelyn said in a hushed voice, waving Melanie to her side.

Melanie glanced first at Evelyn, then Jake, who was standing just next to the dais, smirking at her. How dare he laugh at her when this was all his doing. If he had just left her alone when she’d made her distaste known the first thousand times, she would not be standing up in front of more than a hundred people anxious for the ceremony to finish so they could call their friends with the latest gossip. She ground her teeth, threw back her head, and took her place next to the bride.

“All right, preacher,” Evelyn said. “No more stalling. Let’s make this official.”

Melanie could barely keep her attention focused on the preacher’s words. When the ceremony ended and the newlyweds were making the rounds with their guests once again, Melanie tried to make her way toward the door to sneak out unnoticed. Unfortunately, Evelyn had eagle eyes. Each time Melanie moved a bit closer to the exit, Evelyn was suddenly by her side, ushering her back into the crowd to meet a friend or cousin of hers, saying, “And this is my beautiful new daughter,” followed by a wink and a smile. Melanie was mortified by what people must be thinking in light of her recent public display with Jake, but she didn’t want to ruin Evelyn’s fun. It was her wedding day after all. Besides, her father would read her the riot act if she offended his new bride.

The one good consequence of being ushered around by Evelyn was that she shooed Jake away every time he got too close to them, although usually by making a comment that made the guests laugh and Melanie’s face burn in embarrassment. Jake seemed completely unfazed by his mother’s reminders that he’d already welcomed Melanie to their family. He would move away, but never too far, so Melanie was constantly aware of his presence and his deep emerald eyes following her.

Soon Evelyn was introducing Melanie as a big city writer, patting the younger woman’s hand with pride as she asked Melanie to share her latest projects. Melanie didn’t have the heart to correct her and explain that she had abandoned writing to work full time as an acquisitions editor, but she was able to name drop a few of her bigger-named clients, which led to oohs and ahs and questions about what they were really like. Before Melanie realized it, she had forgotten all about her pre-wedding embarrassment and was enjoying herself. It helped that Evelyn’s family and friends were certainly entertaining.

Melanie was introduced to a group of three little old ladies all dressed in varying shades of pastels, each with blue-tinted hair that matched their polyester dresses. “These are my aunts: Rose, Lily, and Daisy,” Evelyn said. “Spinsters the lot of them.” She winked at the women, who cackled in response.

“Oh, you are incorrigible, Evie,” Lily said. “Spinsters my tiny wrinkled patootie.”

“Spinsters who have married more men than you bothered to invite to this shindig,” Daisy said.

“Married and buried,” Rose corrected.

Daisy shushed her sister, then turned back to Evelyn. “Where are all the single men you promised, anyway?”

“I never promised you anything, auntie.” Evelyn laughed and rolled her eyes at Melanie.

“Bull puckey,” Lily said. “I heard it myself. You told us to come and enjoy the meat market.”