Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

It took a concerted effort, but Cassie wrenched her gaze from Easton and Presley and focused on Walker and his lady. “Yes. I’m here to plan the double weddings.”

“Ah, muy bien . Christmas weddings. It’s going to be so romantic.” She leaned into Walker.

“If you’d wanted a Christmas wedding, maybe you no cap shouldn’t have eloped days after meeting Walker,” Easton teased, taking a short break from his dancing and singing.

Walker and Marci were married? Did Easton have any desire to settle down now that his twin and best friend was married?

For a moment her heart leapt, but she knew better than to hope for that. Easton was the ultimate player. He would never grow up and accept responsibility. He even talked like the teenagers from their church back in Syracuse.

“Oh, you.” Marci waved a hand at him. “You just ask Walker how happy he is we eloped.” She winked at her husband .

Walker pulled her closer and whispered something in her ear that made her grin.

Cassie had never felt so happy for someone and so awkward at the same time. Walker deserved every happiness, but the newlyweds were over the top.

She met Easton’s gaze. He was still dancing and singing to Presley, who was obviously in heaven, but his blue eyes locked in on Cassie’s and lit up the dark night.

She couldn’t miss the words, “‘It’s you I’ve been looking for …’” by Brice Lewis.

Her stomach did a happy dance. She clenched her hands into fists and looked away.

“How long have you all been married?” she asked Marci and Walker, needing to break the spell Easton could weave over her with that look and a line of song.

Marci gazed up at her husband with hero worship, expecting him to answer.

“Little over a month,” Walker said, shifting his weight.

“Forty-two days,” Marci corrected, elbowing him.

“Every day is so incredible I lose track,” Walker said.

Cassie’s eyes widened. She’d always liked Walker, but she’d never known him to gush or even be overly flirtatious.

“Ah, that’s better, mi amor .” Marci cuddled into him. “I can’t wait to hear all about you and your beautiful daughter.” Marci turned to Easton and Presley. “Hello, angel girl. I’m Marci Coleville and this is my husband Walker.”

“You’re all a Colevilles?” Presley asked, clinging to Easton’s shoulder and looking miniscule held in one brawny arm. “You lucky. My prince cowboy Easton is a Colevilles.”

Marci’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, he is. Can I tell you something incredible, Presley?”

“Yes, please.”

“Your Easton and my Walker are twin brothers.”

“Twins?” Presley looked from Easton to Walker. “I thought twins was exact same.”

“Not exact, but very close. Even I can mistake them from the back or side,” Marci said. “Two of the best men on earth.”

“Thank you, sister Marci.” Easton grinned and winked at her.

“I thought I was the very best,” Walker whispered to his wife, but it carried through the night air.

“Oh, mi vaquero guapo , you know no one compares to you.”

They started whispering and kissing and then Walker swept her off her feet and against his broad chest. He carried her into the darkness of the trees close by.

“Oh, my,” Presley said in a very grown up tone. “They are smoochy!”

“It’s cringy but bussin’ at the same time, Princess Presley.” Easton held Cassie’s gaze, and a tremor raced through her. She and Easton had been like that, unable to stop whispering to each other, unable to keep their hands off each other.

Her spine stiffened. Not anymore. He couldn’t keep his hands off hundreds of other women. Her stomach churned just thinking about all the photos of other women she’d seen online—in his arms, kissing him, on his horse, in his truck … disgusting.

She strode toward him and Presley, holding out her arms. “Let’s get inside, love. It’s chilly out here.”

Presley cuddled into Easton’s muscular shoulder. “I want Easton.”

Cassie had no idea how to respond or what to think about this. Back in Syracuse, Presley loved and trusted her daycare Mama and Pops, an older couple who adored her, and many of their friends from church, but she’d never latched onto a man like this, scared of her own father. Marci didn’t like the idea of Easton worming his way into her daughter’s heart and then breaking it clean in two.

“The princess is no cap brilliant in knowing who the ideal male specimen is,” Easton said in his usual teasing tones.

“The princess is easily persuaded,” Cassie shot back. But the problem was, Presley wasn’t.

“It slaps to escort the most beautiful princess and her tantalizing mother into the party,” Easton announced.

“Don’t think you can worm your way into my heart through my daughter,” she whispered to him.

Presley unfortunately overheard. “Easton’s not wormy,” she protested. “He’s the best.” She clung to his neck and glared at her own mother.

“Glaze me all you want, Princess Presley.” Easton gave Cassie a smug smile. “From the mouth of angels.”

Cassie didn’t know what to do but glare at him. This was escalating out of control and of course Easton was to blame. How could she keep her and Presley’s hearts intact? How would she survive in the same town as him?