A Montana Southern Charmer (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #6)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

“Gotcha,” Wendy murmured, pulling a beautiful long string of pearls from the display case. Back home, today would be reserved just for the brides’ maids. Not that she was complaining.

Okay, maybe she was complaining a little bit.

Montana was different from Georgia in every sense of the word. And it was the little things she missed. Like the fact Miss Annabelle Tucker was always asked to bring paper plates to the potlucks. Or the taste of Elizabeth Maury’s sweet tea.

Wendy shook her head slightly. She didn’t know what it was about weddings that got her acting nostalgic all of a sudden. Maybe it was the fact that she’d missed out on most of the fun when her best friend got married a couple years ago.

Olivia had certainly upgraded when she’d married Benjamin.

The ridiculous man she’d dated while in college was everything but a gentleman.

Of course, at one point they’d all fallen prey to his charm.

Looking back now, they could all see that Tripp was nothing but a cocky player who loved nothing more than to toy with girls’ hearts.

She let out a huff as she rounded the antique shop counter and headed for the door. With a flick of her wrist, she closed up shop for the afternoon. Then she locked the door. As she headed toward the back to grab her purse, the phone in her office rang.

For a split second, she considered letting it go to voicemail, then she thought better of it. With hurried steps she crossed the room and picked up the phone. “Horseshoe Antiques, how can I help you?”

“Hey, so my mother was in the store last week and she saw a piece you have.”

Wendy rolled her eyes. There were lots of pieces on the floor. He was going to have to narrow it down a bit. Heaving a sigh and pushing her frustration and impatience to the side, she forced a smile so it would translate to her voice. “Can you describe the piece for me?”

“Yeah, it’s an end table.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. “How about size. Color. Type of wood?”

“Mmm. Let me look.” He shuffled on the other end.

Look? Did that mean he had a picture?”

“Yeah, so it’s—”

“You have a picture?” She never liked to interrupt anyone—least of all a customer, but she was already late for this wedding luncheon as it was.

“I do,” the man confirmed.

“Will you send it to my cell phone?” She prattled off the number and in moments the picture came through.

“I know it’s in rough shape,” the man hedged. “Do you by chance know anyone who can restore it?”

Wendy was already scribbling the word ‘hold’ onto a post-it note as she pinned the phone between her ear and her shoulder. “Yes, I have a guy who can do that for you. It’ll cost extra though. And you’ll need to send me a deposit.”

“That’s not a problem.”

“Great,” she chirped. She took his payment then wrote down the address for delivery. “I’m not sure what the timeline for restoration will be, but I can reach out and let you know—”

“That won’t be necessary. It’s not for any special event. I just wanted to get her something nice.”

“How sweet,” she murmured. Then her eyes snagged on the time. “Well, I have everything covered. Thank you for calling Horseshoe Antiques. Have a wonderful day!” She hung up and snatched her purse from the desk again just as her cell phone rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, she tossed her head back with a groan. Then she swiped across the screen to answer and placed the phone to her ear. “I’m on my way now,” she murmured before Serenity had a chance to chew her out for her tardiness.

“If being part of the bridal party is too much—”

“You know it isn’t,” Wendy argued. “I’m literally in the car and—”

“You’re still at the shop, aren’t you?”

Wendy flushed. “No.”

Her friend sighed but it was laced with amusement. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to be part of this wedding. It’s a big ask. We turned it into such an affair…”

Wendy could hear the sound of the party in the background. There weren’t any real reasons for her not to want to participate. Serenity had become a very good friend over the last year or so. They worked well together and she was one of the only people Wendy would step in front of a bullet for.

To say she’d been surprised when Serenity asked her to join the wedding party last minute was an understatement.

There was so much to be done. Dress fittings.

Activities. This wedding wasn’t the typical sort.

This one was like a giant party that would end up spanning an entire week beginning in one week’s time.

Today was just a getting to know you event to break the ice.

Wendy slipped out the back door and locked it behind her, the cellphone still at her ear. “I’m happy to be part of your weird wedding celebration,” she teased. “It’s going to be fun.”

“Are you sure? You’re not exactly the social type.”

Not with strangers, no. Back home? That was another story.

“I’ll manage. It’s fine, truly.”

“Okay, so I’ll see you in a couple of minutes?”

Wendy winced. “Maybe closer to ten?”

“Wendy!” Serenity gasped with a laugh. “I knew you were still at the shop. The party is already starting and we’re making introductions.”

“Buy me some time,” Wendy laughed. “I’m getting in the car now.

I’ll be there as soon as I can.” They both hung up and Wendy climbed into her beat-up Ford.

It was rusty in spots. And it was probably bigger than most would expect someone like her to drive.

But it was perfect for making deliveries and it was bought and paid for.

Nine minutes later, she pulled onto Sagebrush property. She’d never been out this way, but she’d heard of the family who ran it. They seemed like good people. And the fact that they took care of Serenity when she’d really needed it made her like them all the more.

The property was massive. There were several houses, barns, and other structures. Fields for crops and livestock spread for as far as the eye could see. If she had to guess, she’d say the Reese family owned a good chunk of the farming land she drove past on a daily basis.

Wendy tugged at her pink sundress, smoothing it. Her family had been well off enough to be comfortable, but nothing like this. If she were honest with herself, it was intimidating. The truck door creaked when she gave it a push to shut it.

There were signs indicating where the party was being held and it was over at the largest house on the premises.

Muffled music filtered her way and the distinct sound of chatter did as well.

Several cars and trucks lined the drive.

How many people did Serenity and her fiancé know? Sheesh, this was a lot.

She clenched and flexed her hands then shook them out. Serenity had been right. Wendy didn’t like big groups. She didn’t like socializing when it was with people she didn’t know. There was a reason people like her took time to warm up to others.

It was different at the shop. When people came and went, she could stay behind the counter. She could put on a mask of cordiality while she helped people with their purchases. But when thrown into situations like this one?

Everything was fine. Wendy had made it through before, and she’d do it again. She just needed to find her focus. Maybe she would track down Hallie. With one familiar face at her side, she’d be just fine.

Wendy blew out a breath, nodded to herself, then entered the fray.

This wasn’t as bad as she’d originally thought. A lot of the faces were familiar. And apparently they were mostly family.

“This is Bo and his wife Gabrielle,” Serenity introduced. “He’s Reese’s cousin. And he’s head of most of the operations around here.”

Bo was tall. Handsome, too. His eyes crinkled when he smiled, indicating he found plenty to be joyful about. Wendy liked that. Gabrielle was striking in a simple maxi dress and with her hand linked to her husband, it was clear they were still very much in love.

Serenity introduced Wendy to Bo’s siblings—there were four of them. Three brothers and a sister. Then they moved onto the other cousins.

Wendy had already met Leo, Reese’s brother. Then there were three men—Caleb, Mack, and Noah—and their wives.

“Brent, where’s your brother?” Serenity asked.

A brawny young man turned from an older woman—his mother? He glanced from Serenity to Wendy and back. “I think he went inside to refill the lemonade.”

Serenity’s hand squeezed Wendy’s forearm. “His brother is going to be your counterpart in the wedding. He’s nice. Charming, too. I’m sure you’ll like him.” There was a hesitancy in her voice that caught Wendy’s attention.

But before she could ask what that was about, the door to the house burst open and a man backed out of it.

That must have been Brent’s brother. He looked tall.

Maybe as tall as Bo. His hair was trimmed nicely—good, he wasn’t one of those guys who didn’t care to keep up their appearance.

He wore a suit with a vest which was a bit more formal than most of the others who wore dress shirts with jeans.

The guy liked to impress. Interesting. Maybe being stuck with him wouldn’t be so bad.

Serenity had said she needed to put herself out there more—find love instead of just reading about it in her favorite romance books. This could be that chance.

Wendy glanced to Serenity just as her friend hurried forward to help the guy. His arms were full and she took one of the jugs he held.

Then he turned and the air was knocked straight out of her lungs.

Her eyes widened for the briefest of moments as recognition flooded every sense in her body.

Muscles went tight. Breathing sharpened.

She felt dizzy and sick to her stomach all at once.

Even the music seemed to shift into an annoying buzzing sound.

Serenity said something to him and gestured in her direction. That was the only warning she got before Tripp found her.

Blood boiling, Wendy plastered on the sweetest as sugar smile she could muster.

Based on the lack of recognition in Tripp’s expression, Wendy had to assume Olivia had never shown him a picture of her best friend.

Olivia had started dating Tripp the summer Wendy spent with her grandmother in Florida.

It had been a whirlwind romance and by the end of August, Olivia had been left broken hearted.

Clenching her fists so tight, she wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t break the skin, she watched Tripp take the lemonade to the table and pour the jug into a larger dispenser. Then he grabbed a rag from somewhere and wiped his hands before tucking it back where he’d found it.

Those clear, blue eyes never left hers as he strode toward her.

No, strode wasn’t a good enough descriptor.

The man sauntered as if he were God’s gift to mankind.

Wendy hated him.

Tripp held out his hand, flashing her a megawatt smile. “I’m Tripp. You must be Wendy. I hear we’re being set up.” He winked.

He actually winked! What was wrong with this guy?

Her cheeks hurt from the smile she continued to force. “I hear the same,” she murmured, placing her hand in his. But he didn’t shake it like a normal person. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a feathery kiss to her knuckles.

“Is that a southern accent I hear? Where are you from?”

Wendy pried her hand from him as smoothly as she could manage. “Georgia, mostly. But I have family in several of the southern states.”

“Wow, that’s quite a long way from home.” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear him. “But don’t worry, I can help keep you safe.”

Oh, the strength it took not to roll her eyes into the back of her skull. “Bless your heart,” she said as sweetly as she could muster. “That’s so kind of you.”

The way he grinned at her made her stomach knot even more.

The guy definitely didn’t know who she was.

Good. That would make her next plans all the easier to carry out.

Tripp broke her friend’s heart. He reeled her in and made her believe that true love could exist before dropping her like a hot potato.

Well, if he thought he could waltz into Wendy’s life to manipulate her, he had another thing coming. She wouldn’t be so easily swayed by his charm and good looks even though there had been a moment of insanity when she’d first caught sight of him.

Guilt trickled through, mingling with the other raging emotions and making one nasty cocktail. What would Olivia think if she knew that Wendy had a momentary lapse of judgment?

Olivia was level-headed. She would overlook a fleeting thought of attraction. Just so long as Wendy ensured a line was drawn between the two of them, everything would work out. That was why she needed to make it perfectly clear to Tripp that she was off limits.

No flirting. No sweet words. He would escort her down the aisle for the wedding then they’d part ways and never see each other again.

But first, she was going to get even with him for hurting her best friend.

Tripp was still droning on and Wendy only listened with half an ear as she scanned the immediate area. The guy obviously cared about his looks. Maybe she could capitalize on that.

Yes, she could work with that. There were drinks, condiments, and even mud readily available. She just needed to find the perfect opportunity and take advantage.

“What about you?” Tripp asked.

Wendy blinked and smiled again. “I think you’re a little too cocky for your own good.” She’d said it with a teasing tone—one that had his smile growing.

I’m going to ruin you she sang in her head.

The next couple of weeks would be all about payback.