Page 55 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

The music changed, transitioning seamlessly to “Here Comes the Bride” as the minister they’d chosen took center stage and motioned for everyone to stand.

Tyson appeared with Reagan on his arm, looking like the proudest brother-in-law a woman could have. The pair moved down the aisle with effortless grace.

Eli moved, transfixed, to the woman who would be his wife. He couldn’t wait for her to get to him but had to go to her, to meet her and bring her the rest of the way. The two brothers and the woman between them met roughly a dozen feet from the stage.

The minister smiled. “An anxious groom is a good sign.”

The crowd chuckled.

“Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?” the man called out.

“We, the Covingtons, who have loved her all our lives, stand for her today,” Tyson answered.

And so the ceremony went. It was short but moving, and, as predicted, over in fifteen minutes. The minister declared Eli and Reagan man and wife and Emma’s sob of happiness and heartbreak was lost to the cheers of the guests as Eli laid a heavy kiss on his new wife.

Shewantedthat. Craved it with everything she was. And she might have had it, but she’d lost it. Lost it because one letter had been buried so deep in a file she hadn’t found it.

Oh, he wanted her now. The chemistry between them still existed, hot as ever. But when she’d asked, he hadn’t been able to give her anything more. She wanted to be needed for who she was, and she wasn’t sure she and Cade would ever transcend the darker part of their history.

Grinning as if they’d won the love lottery, Eli and Reagan nearly sprinted down the hall. The moment the doors closed, a muted but decidedly masculine shout of joy could be heard. Guests laughed and the minister said something, but Emma had eyes only for Cade.

He crossed to her and offered her his arm.

She took it easier this time, allowing him to lead her out of the room and into the dining hall, where the reception would be held.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours, Emma?” he asked quietly before they reached the head table, where he helped her into her chair.

She smiled a little too brightly. “Just really happy for Eli and Reagan. It’s so amazing when it all comes together like this. Rare...” Her voice trailed off as guests began to file in.

Food and drink were shared, toasts were made and the party was in full swing when Emma couldn’t take it anymore. She had to get out of the oppressing happiness that made it near impossible to breathe in Cade’s presence. This entire wedding had her fingerprints on it, and none of it would ever be for her.

Tyson, her dance partner at that moment, kissed her cheek when the band’s latest country cover ended, and she slipped off the dance floor. She needed air. Distance. A logical means of escape. She’d promised to stay a couple more days, but it wasn’t going to happen.

A speaker squawked in protest as the microphone moved too close to someone’s mouth. There were shouts of jovial teasing as the band moved things around.

Her hand was on the door lever when that voice,Cade’svoice, cut through the crowd and quieted them down. “Stop right there, Ms. Graystone.”

Cold settled between her shoulder blades.

“Surely you didn’t think you’d just slink off in the early evening hours? Because for all you’ve been here, I’ve not had my say.”

She couldn’t force her numb feet to continue forward, not without giving Cade this moment to balance the scales between them. They needed this for the break between them to be clean. No matter how badly it hurt, it had to happen.

Squaring her shoulders, she moved as gracefully as she could to face him.

He stood on the stage, staring at her rather passively.

“When I first met you, I was pretty sure you were going to be a pain in the ass.” The crowd chuckled. “Imagine my surprise when I was right.” The crowd chuckled louder.

Her face flamed. “Do tell, Mr. Covington. I don’t believe I could leave here without knowing which ass cheek I chafed most. Why, I might never sleep well again for not knowing.” The dry response garnered fewer chuckles as people tried to figure out what was going on.

“Let me be perfectly clear, Ms. Graystone. You affected both ass cheeks equally. But more than that? You proved devastating to Lassos & Latigos.”

She steeled herself.

“You took one of the Covington brothers out of commission, Ms. Graystone.” He tipped the brim of his hat up a fraction. “He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t install a window in your cabin that would close properly.” He paused. “And he couldn’t find the faith necessary on a bright morning to believe a woman of your caliber was innocent of what appeared to be rather black-and-white in front of him.” A small hand signal and the band started to play. “I failed you, Emma. I professed to love you, and yet I let the first obstacle in our relationship decimate the house of cards we’d built. I will never be able to apologize enough, so I thought I’d put this out there and humble myself in a way you understand. I sang my mother out of her life at her request. I thought it was the hardest thing I’d ever experience. But you leaving me? That’s hurt worse. My heart’s demanding I at least try, Emma. But instead of singing you out, I’m going to do my damnedest to sing you right back into my life.”

The band began at his nod and he opened his mouth. The magic was instant, the crowd totally silent as he sang Dierks Bentley’s “Say You Do.”