13. Ringing Glasses

CHAPTER 13

Ringing Glasses

TORI

T he biggest surprise of all at the wedding party was the gift table—something I hadn’t figured on. All these people, strangers to me, piled on gift after gift, and a card box filled with well wishes, likely containing money and gift cards. Totally unexpected.

Porsche made a comment about this being better than Christmas. I knew she couldn’t wait to unwrap it all. As for me, I hoped gift receipts were in each package so they could be returned.

Mama Harland, Tracy, and Jayne outdid themselves, laboring over three long tables full of food platters. I heard more than one guest praise it all.

A hundred strands of twinkle lights, if I had to guess, suspended overhead, helping to light the Love Ranch rustic barn. Kipp mentioned to Nate that they’d cleared out the hay yesterday, emptying the space for this party.

Wildflowers adorned the centers of the tables in bright fall colors of gold, orange, and red, each in unmatched crystal vases resting on white lace linens. Knowing Mama Harland, these were antiques and the mixture of it all gave splendid cottage farmhouse decor appeal.

In Las Vegas, I’d studied all types of design, including farmhouse and its predecessor, shabby chic, although I mainly focused on more upscale furnishings and decor each time I redid a room at the Bottesta mansion. Which I often did, since I had nothing better to do. But the simplicity and warmth of the natural elements here blended together. The old barn wood, the glass, the floral and lace, such simple beauty, touched some place deep inside of me.

The alcohol flowed, as well. Especially bourbon made by a family owned local distillery, The Locklands. Add to that a few bottles of champagne, and plenty of beer, all contributed to making the sizable crowd of family and friends rather chipper. Nate knew every single one of them, too. While I lost track of the names he tried to whisper in my ear, too much to stuff into my brain at once.

Finally, after a while, I found myself withdrawing, and seated at a table next to Sara and Prima. As we talked, I became pleasantly relieved that I wasn’t the only outsider in Kissing Springs.

First, Prima, a true celebrity, claimed the second she met Robbie Boyd here, she knew there was something about him and this small town. She stayed and considers Kissing Springs her home now.

Sara, her sister, met and married Charles here as well, and I lost count of the number of children they had between them.

Sitting between these two, I felt like we could easily become kindred spirits as we laughed about things they found funny with Kissing Springs compared to their Southern California origins.

“And don’t get me started on the church biddies. Be careful what you and Nate do in public because nothing escapes their attention. If one gossiping old woman sees you doing something, the next morning everybody knows your business,” Sara laughed.

“Great advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“You can call us any time. We’ll help you navigate the ins and outs of small town living,” Prima offered. I admired her style.

She didn’t dress flashy, like you’d expect of a celebrity. Her outfit veered toward bohemian, in a pair of flared faded denims, a cream crocheted halter top, and a flannel shirt, unbuttoned, in colors of rust and red. She appeared ready for any casual outing in a small town.

Sara sported more of a cottage prairie look. I adored her lace-up boots tied halfway up her shin. A full skirt in pale blue with a white, frilly underskirt, tied up on one side, flashed the skin of her shapely leg. A pink crocheted apron tied around her waist, and a floral embroidered bustier completed the look, showing of an enviable midriff—especially considering she was a mother to twins.

As for me, I had few options of what to wear, although I’d found two dress shops in town with nice things. Nate assured me I didn’t need to dress up tonight like I would in Vegas. A tailored, form-fitting, maybe even crystal studded mini-dress from a famous designer, with stiletto heels, would be my choice to a wedding there.

Here, in Kissing Springs, I would have stuck out like a sore thumb, dressed like that. Instead, I opted for a black denim skirt, booties and a simple white silk blouse. With my leather jacket along, in case it got cold—the only decent thing I brought with me from my old life to the new.

Of course, Porsche got her wish fulfilled. We easily found her a beautiful sundress and a short-sleeved sweater to match. She begged for a pair of cowboy boots. I told her no. Her Madden flats she’d brought with her would be fine this evening.

To my utter shock, before we left the cabin, Nate pulled out a box from behind the seat of his truck. They were the boots she wanted, which earned him a huge hug from her.

I shook my head, gazing across the dance floor at the two of them goofing off to a song and giggling. Connor was playing the DJ for the night, his eyes never leaving my daughter for a minute. Oh boy.

It’s too bad Nate wasn’t her real dad. From the looks Porsche gave him, to anyone watching, they might think a special bond grew between them in the way only certain fathers and daughters could. Was that all pretend though, just for show for tonight?

If only Nate were really hers, he’d make one helluva girl-dad. She’d be a daddy’s girl, for sure.

What would happen when all of this ended, and my girl had to let him go? I made a note to begin preparing her for that eventuality. Playing at being close was one thing, but we both needed to guard our hearts so they wouldn’t break for real when the time came to leave Nate behind.

I wouldn’t know much about being a Daddy’s girl. I loved my father, at least until about age eight, but he changed once he went to work for the Bottestas. And I haven’t spoken to him for years. Who knew if he was even still alive? I couldn’t care less.

“Anyway, enough about Kissing Springs, and please don’t get us wrong. We really are happy here. I don’t miss California at all.” Sara said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“It’s too bad you couldn’t stay longer. Robbie and I would love to have you three over for dinner. When are you leaving again?” Prima’s warmth and sincerity pulled me in two directions.

“Oh, um…” To his credit, Nate did his best to prep Porsche and me for these types of questions before arriving earlier. I glanced over and saw the two of them leaving the dance floor, making their way toward me. This was as good a time as any to make the announcement.

“When we left Las Vegas, we talked about finding somewhere new to live, tired of our busy life there. We just weren’t sure where. Over the past few days, though, Kissing Springs has started to feel like home. And for Nate, he sort of misses it. We want to give Porsche a better quality of life and where better than here?”

Sara’s eyes enlarged, and Prima’s mouth opened, about to respond, when behind me a shriek hit my ears.

“Did I just hear what I thought I heard?” Tracy beat them and Nate, arriving at my side, and hugged me around the shoulders. “Are you really staying?”

“Sure. Why not? With family and friends here…”

Nate chimed in. “Yep. We’re staying.” We locked eyes, connecting over our lies as I stood next to him, and Porsche beside us.

“Nate Harland, we’re well into this party and you kept this news from us?” She swatted his arm, all in fun, though.

“We wanted to find the perfect time and present a unified front. You know, as a family, ” he explained, so believable that he must have taken acting lessons in his younger days. Either that or he was a master manipulator and liar. Which could be a red flag, if I were looking for one, which I wasn’t. Of course.

“Yay, the news is out now. Opal, guess what?” Porsche cheered and skipped off to tell her new friend.

Hugs ensued all around, especially from his mother, who must have pressed her son to her bosom a dozen times. Even Renny, his father, came around and they shook hands, a noticeable smile gracing his lips for the first time since we’d arrived in town. I wondered if bad blood existed between them, but this news appeared to warm him up.

“My heart is so full,” Mama Harland cried. “You’ve made me the happiest woman alive, my boy. You’ve expanded our family with a beautiful daughter. Oh, the only thing that could beat this would be if the two of you told me you planned to have babies soon. Are you trying?”

I gasped and Nate about choked on his tongue, then entered into a coughing fit. We hadn’t prepared in advance for that particular question.

I swatted his back until he calmed down, then saved the day quickly. “I-I think it’s time we have our first dance together, right, darling?”

I’d avoided it until this point. The idea of him touching me was a little too close for comfort, not that I wouldn’t want him touching me. I certainly wouldn’t mind a man of his gorgeous calibre paying me attention.

On the dance floor, the music cut like someone had scratched a needle across a record. Prima jumped on the stage and took the microphone, addressing the room.

“You all know I couldn’t let this party go by without a special song for the bride and groom, and my latest hit would be perfect. Some of you were at the Harland’s the other day and heard this, but not all of you. So I would love it if Porsche would come join Connor on stage and sing it again.”

The young man pulled his guitar out. But my daughter appeared timid with all eyes in the room on her.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I assured her as she passed us.

“No. It’s fine. I want to.” This would be the first big group she’d ever sung for. She kissed my cheek and bravely walked to the stage. It was like my baby bird leaving the nest. But would her wings catch the air, learning to fly, or fail and tumble her to the ground?

She took her place on a stool next to Connor. His fingers strummed the guitar leading her in, and he gave her a nod to start. With the voice of an angel filling the room, she entranced us all.

The words of the song held notes about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Prima waved from the stage to Robbie. Clearly, she’d found all that right here in Kissing Springs.

I glanced at Nate. Some women had all the luck.

Not me. Nope. I was on the run from a past that I hated. With only a blank future ahead of me. Porsche was all that mattered. A man? Someone I could trust and let into my heart again? Maybe that’d come along for me again some day. Much, much later.

“Dance with me?” Nate held out his hand in permission, and I took it. With his other hand landing on the small of my back, he pulled me into him. “Let’s make a good show for everyone—Mrs. Harland.”

A thrill worked up my spine at him calling me that, and my hand landed on his firm, bulging bicep. The muscle rippled under my touch. The front of our bodies connected, and I glanced up at him with my best sultry-laden eyes, taking advantage of the music and everyone watching, to gaze deep within his golden orbs. A spark ignited in them, all around the irises.

I bit my bottom lip. He licked his. And somewhere, bells were ringing.

No. More like spoons clinked with glasses.

“Do you know what that sound means?” He asked.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“We’d better do something about it, otherwise, they’ll never stop,” he winked with a tug of his lips into a smolder.

I giggled, a little nervous. “Right.”

We hesitated, and more glasses ringing joined in until they almost drowned out my daughter on stage.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I told you. I needed your permission before I touch you.”

“Kiss me then, my husband.” My hand moved from his shoulder to behind his neck, pressing him forward.

“Anything you say, wife. ” He hovered an inch above my lips like he dared me to meet him halfway. I straddled between the dream of it and my bleak reality, yearning to know what his lips would feel like on mine, until I couldn’t stand it another second.

I lifted on my toes and connected with a brush of our lips for the briefest moment. Enough to set my heart racing, waking up parts of me that had been dead for so long.

He took over and let my hand go, circling both arms around my back. Kiss after kiss landed on my lips, taking me until I was heady, drunk with him, since I hadn’t had but a few sips of bourbon all night.

“Okay.” I pulled back, breathless. “We’d better save some for the next round, don’t you think?”

“Whatever you say.” He took my hand and twirled me out and back, bringing me in front of him. He nuzzled into my neck from behind. “Darling, you were perfect. Look at the smiles on everyone’s faces.”

He was right. We made everyone happy. Which was a good thing; it meant we fooled them all. My brain quickly reminded me of that.

For another hour, I could hardly leave his side. People sure loved their spoons and glasses around here. We would hardly finish one kiss before another round would start. Each kiss, Nate pushed the limits, and I let him, with a twirl of our tongues, my eyes fluttering closed, and my mouth as demanding as his.

Somehow, it definitely felt real.