Chapter 3
GINA
“What do you think about this?” I turn the iPad so my cousin can see the pictures of a wedding at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga.
Haddy has baby Lucy on her shoulder as she bounces in place, and I walk over to trade my littlest cousin for the iPad.
“Look at those and tell me if you think that’s magical or what?”
We didn’t really discuss it after she and Gavin got engaged last spring, but after their “honeymoon” last month in Japan, I figured I’d take the reins on planning their wedding before the guys start back with hockey season.
Haddy’s voice goes high. “It looks like an Ewok village!”
Lucy scrubs her baby face against my neck, and my nose wrinkles. “Is that a good thing?” I hug her closer, doing my best to keep her soothed. “I thought we decided Ewoks were the worst.”
“They really should’ve gone with Wookies instead of Ewoks, but you know how it is.” She shakes her dark head. “The artist’s mind.”
“Actually, I have no idea.” Now I’m bouncing Lucy on my shoulder, patting her baby back. “I’m a scientist. I leave the art to Uncle Jack and Knox.”
“What art is Knox doing?”
“Kimmie didn’t tell you? He’s writing poetry just like his dad.”
“Knox is writing poetry?” I’m pretty sure I see hearts floating around her eyes. “What are we going to do with these guys?”
Our uncle Jack, the oldest of the “Bradford Boys,” surprised everyone when we discovered he wrote short poems, observations and thoughts jotted in a small, leather-bound notebook he kept in his back pocket.
The only thing that surprised me more was hearing his quarterback youngest son Knox kept a similar notebook. Apparently he took it out at his high school girlfriend’s birthday party and read a short poem for her that stole everyones’ hearts.
His school-librarian mom, our aunt Allie, said it was as good as anything by William Carlos Williams or Wallace Stevens. It’s possible she’s biased, but I don’t know. Uncle Jack is pretty good…
“So the men in our families are artists, and the women are scientists?” My eyebrow arches.
“They’re also football players,” Haddy counters.
“And hockey players… and cowboys.”
“And your dad is a sheriff, which reminds me of someone else we know… Someone new.” Haddy pauses, her blue eyes circling playfully. “Who could it be?”
She taps her finger against her chin, but I’m not having it.
“Hayden Lucille Bradford.” My voice is firm. “Stop it right now. I am not getting involved with Owen Stone.”
“Why not?” she whines. “He’s gorgeous, and y’all have so much in common!”
My stomach tightens, but I put a firm hand on it. “Like what?”
“Well, for starters, you both have sheriff dads.”
“You already said that.”
She leans against the bar, crossing her arms. “You both have moms who are serious-minded career women. Your mom’s a lawyer, and didn’t Owen say his mom’s a forensic photographer?”
“I think his mom died.” My voice is quiet. “A lot like his late wife.”
“It sounded to me like that was a long time ago.”
“Can’t be more than seven years.”
“Which is a long time.” Haddy’s eyebrow arches.
I can’t get over my conspiratorial cousin. “I’m not rushing in on a man with a dead wife and a seven-year-old daughter!”
“And an adorable bloodhound!”
“Who destroyed Spanky’s chance at Best in Show this year.”
Haddy’s nose wrinkles. “Did you really have your heart set on it? I mean, I know it’s a big deal, but there are sooo many competitions all the time.”
Leaning against the bar, I hug Lucy closer. “I don’t know. I guess I thought it would be nice for Spanky to be top dog for once.”
Haddy rubs my arm. “I’m pretty sure Spanky thinks he’s top dog all the time. He can’t help it. We raised him that way, the stinker.”
My nose wrinkles, and I put my head on her shoulder. “We did spoil him pretty rotten as a puppy.” Then with a flick of my wrist, I redirect us back to the topic at hand. “Do you like this place for your wedding? If you do, I’ll try my best to get you on their schedule this month.”
“I love it. Let’s do it!”
A smile breaks across my face, and I give the baby a squeeze. “I’ll call them. It’s probably going to take a little bribery, but I’ll do what I can.”
“Do you think it’ll make a difference that Gavin’s a Champion?”
“It might… I’ll definitely mention it. And Mav’s his best man.”
“I think his brother’s his best man.” She wrinkles her nose.
“I’ll pretend I made a mistake. If we even get that far. They might laugh me off the phone.”
We’re hovering over my iPad when the front door opens, and Owen walks in looking dejected.
He’s so tall, and the way his dark brow lowers over his blue eyes makes my throat dry. I want to rush over and put my hand on his shoulder, ask him what’s wrong, and offer to help.
Silly response.
“Hey, Owen!” Haddy straightens, frowning. “You okay?”
He seems to snap out of it when he sees us. “Oh, yeah. All good.” He clears his throat, and I’m pretty sure he’s not. “Just finished up with the realtor. It’s a lot.”
She walks over to him. “You should try to find something in this neighborhood. We’d love to have you close by. At least I know Spanky would.”
My cousin laughs, but I do my best to find a way to leave the room. I don’t like these jittery feelings he puts in my stomach, and I’m not getting involved in his house hunt. I’ve got a wedding to plan, and a calendar to fill with hounds in addition to my regular job.
That’s enough for one person.
“Come look.” Haddy grabs his hand.
Curiosity outweighs my resolve to remain neutral, and I follow them into the living room to where Spanky is curled up in his crate sleeping.
“See how happy he is?” Haddy looks from Owen to me. “I didn’t want you to think we were being cruel to Spanky the towel thief.”
“Towel thief?”
“Gigi didn’t tell you?” Her voice rises. “Spanky will steal your towel right off you if you’re not careful.”
“Shit, good to know.” He chuckles, and I’m glad to see him smile instead of frown. He has such a nice smile.
He steps closer, and as I blink up to him, something falls into my eye.
“Oh!” Waving at Haddy, I quickly pass her the baby. “Something’s in my eye!”
“Let me help you.” Owen steps closer as tears flood my vision.
He touches my chin gently, and as he leans closer, I’m surrounded by the clean, masculine scent of cedar and soap.
“Look up if you can.” His voice is low.
“I’ll try…” I whisper, forcing my lids to part as I look in the direction of my eyebrows.
“I don’t see anything.” His thumb lightly slides across the top of my cheek, under my eye, and the pain starts to ease.
His hands are so large, cupping my cheek. My heart beats faster at how close his lips are to mine.
“Does this help?” Haddy turns her phone light on right in my eye.
Again, I yelp as more tears come. They actually seem to do the trick, though. Whatever it is moves to the side of my eye, and relief replaces the pain.
“Here…” Owen lightly touches the corner of my eye, then lowers his hand in front of me. “Eyelash.”
I hold his arm as I look down, and sure enough, a black lash sits on the tip of his finger. Looking up again, our eyes meet, and he smiles. Blue eyes, white teeth, square jaw… it’s a shock of energy through my core, and I wobble, my grip on his forearm tightening.
Now I’m concerned hearts are floating around my eyes.
“Silly eyelash,” I manage to say, doing my best to grab the reins on my racing heart.
“Want to make a wish?” The way he says it makes me bite my lip.
Shaking my head, I force myself to step away from the gorgeous man with the warm hands and gentle touch. My pulse beats between my thighs, and my mind is racing through all the other places his hands might go.
“You’re really good at that.” Haddy’s voice has a tone I don’t like. It’s very, I told you so, and I know she’s plotting how she can matchmake us.
“Comes with being a dad, I guess.” Owen takes a step away from me as he turns to where Spanky is on his feet, coming out of his crate. “So, ah, about this cage, I guess it’s the word I don’t care for.”
“Yeah.” I redirect my thoughts as well, away from the warmth of this massive man holding me in his arms, touching my cheek, looking deep into my eyes. “I guess it does have negative connotations.”
Haddy’s standing between us, bouncing her baby on her shoulder with a smug grin on her lips. “It doesn’t have to. There’s Nick Cage, and umm… The Birdcage is a great old movie!”
Owen takes another step away, putting his hands in his back pockets. “When I played baseball as a kid, we always liked to get in the batting cage.”
“You played baseball?” My head tilts to the side. “What made you switch to hockey?”
He shrugs those lovely, broad shoulders. “I’m better at it?”
“Is that a question?” Haddy asks with a laugh.
“I guess not anymore.” Owen smiles, and that dimple appears beneath his dark scruff.
“I expect you’re very good if the Champions called you up.” Haddy starts for the door. “I’ve got to get this little girl to her crib. It’s naptime.”
With that, she leaves me alone in the living room with Owen Stone and his magic hands.
My jaw drops, and I don’t know what to say at first, blinking up at him with a laugh. “She knows how to make an exit. But she’s right. The Champions only recruit the very best… hence the name.”
“Right.” He nods as Ladybird bounds down the stairs to where we’re standing. “I should take her out.”
“Yeah… Spanky needs to go for a walk, too.” I take his harness and leash off the hook. “Want to go together?”
“Let me run up and grab her leash.” He jogs up the stairs, and I bend down to suit up my dog.
As soon as he’s back and Ladybird’s set, we head out the door with both our dogs trotting beside each other like they’ve been doing it all their lives.
We’re quiet starting out, listening to the sounds of our shoes padding the pavement, kids playing in the yards, the occasional car passing.