“Something like that,” Nate said evasively as he took his cell phone from his pocket. “I think I’ll go make that call now. I should be back in plenty of time for the fireworks.”
“Who’s the lucky lady?” Ryder asked when Nate strolled off with his phone to his ear.
“He and that little blonde down in Waco are talking again,” Jaron answered, sounding distracted.
Lane noticed that Jaron hadn’t taken his eyes off of Mariah since he’d arrived for the wedding. “Still haven’t changed your mind about being too old for her?” Lane asked, taking a swig of his beer.
Jaron shrugged. “Nope.”
“You’re hopeless,” Ryder said disgustedly as he shifted little Katie to his shoulder.
“You could at least ask her to dance,” Sam pointed out.
Jaron shook his head. “No sense starting something I don’t intend to finish.”
“Damn, but you’re a stubborn cuss,” T.J. said, laughing.
“And you’re full of bull,” Jaron shot back. “What’s your point?”
“So who’s going to be the next brother to take the plunge?” Lane asked, smiling at his new bride when she lifted her wedding gown to do a series of dance steps, revealing a pair of white cowgirl boots. He couldn’t wait for the reception to wind down so he could spirit her away for their first night as husband and wife.
“Not me,” T.J. said, shaking his head. “I’m a confirmed bachelor and likely to remain so.”
“You mean you haven’t cozied up to your neighbor?” Sam asked, grinning. “Now that her stallion is staying on his side of the fence, I thought the two of you were getting along better.”
“Not even on a bet,” T.J. said vehemently. “I like her just fine as long as she stays on her side of the fence and I stay on mine and I don’t have to deal with her. She’s the kind of trouble I don’t want or need.”
“I think he’s protesting just a little too much, don’t you guys?” Lane teased.
“I think you’re right,” Sam agreed.
“I think you’re both full of bull roar and buffalo chips,” T.J. shot back. “My money is on Nate taking a trip down the aisle next.”
“He does keep going back to the blonde in Waco,” Ryder admitted.
While his brothers continued to speculate on which one would be the next to join the ranks of the blissfully hitched, Lane set his beer bottle on a table and walked over to the band. After making his request, he waited until they struck up the first chords of the song before he crooked his finger at Taylor. Looking like an angel in her full-length wedding gown, she smiled and floated across the dance floor toward him.
“I’d really like to dance with you, Mrs. Donaldson,” he said, smiling as he took her in his arms.
“I love the way my new name sounds,” she said, putting her arms around his neck.
“Donaldson?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She laughed. “No. The Mrs. part.”
“How much longer before we can leave?” he asked, hoping she agreed to their departure sooner rather than later.
“I’m ready now,” she said, kissing his chin. “The dinner is over with, we’ve cut the cake and we’ve danced. I’d call that good.”
“As soon as this dance is over, we’re out of here,” he said, unable to stop grinning.
“Oh, my word, Mr. Donaldson,” she teased. “You’re giving away your tell. From the look on your face, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
Laughing, he nodded. “I guess I’ll have to work on hiding that.”
“Don’t you dare,” she whispered, sending a wave of heat from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. “I like knowing that you want me as much as I want you.”
His body tightened to an almost painful state and to get his mind off what they would be doing later, he nodded toward her parents, dancing just a few feet away. “Your folks seem to be getting along pretty well.”