Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty-Seven
D allas stood next to Brandon and reached out to fist-bump him. “Looking good, my man.”
Nate, who was glued to Brandon’s chest, grinned back at him and gurgled, kicking his little legs.
“Too young for fist bumps?” Dallas looked at Brandon.
“Yep. But he is looking good, isn’t he?” Brandon beamed at his kid, who was sporting a little baby suit that matched his dad’s and his uncle’s.
Dallas rocked back on his heels. “We clean up good, kid.”
Brandon turned to face him. “Look at you, all happy and carefree.”
“I know, right?” Dallas grinned. “It feels like a weight is off my shoulders after finally telling Dad how I feel.”
Brandon’s smile was knowing. “Right. And that goofy grin has nothing to do with a certain snowboarding hotshot who’s been glued to your hip this week.”
Dallas didn’t even try not to gloat. Just the thought of Ronnie and their new relationship was enough to make him feel like he was floating.
“So, you’re really gonna take off with her, huh? You’re ready for that?” Brandon asked.
Dallas nodded. “I can’t wait. And…let’s be honest. You guys don’t need me underfoot around here. I’d only end up driving Bailey nuts.”
Brandon laughed. “True.” But then his smile faltered. “It’s actually Willow I’m worried about, though.”
Dallas grew serious. He was worried too. She hadn’t been the same this past week. She was evasive, especially with him. Outright avoiding them or hiding behind her work. Every time he asked to speak with her, she told him she was too busy.
His mother called a few days ago to say they’d had a chat with her and…
it hadn’t gone well. She’d been shocked that they knew about Eric, then started crying and telling them they had nothing to worry about.
After that, they couldn’t get another coherent sentence out of her…
and she’d refused to answer any further texts or calls.
Dallas took a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going on there, but you and Bailey will have to keep an eye on her. I did what I could by going to Walter Spencer.”
“You did?” Brandon sounded surprised. Probably because Dallas hadn’t told him or Bailey about that.
He hadn’t wanted Bailey to stress any more than she already was over the impending legal battle.
“Yeah, well…” He trailed off with a shrug as wedding guests walked past. Not exactly the place to air family business.
So he just said, “I made it clear we wouldn’t tolerate his son getting close to Willow to do his dirty work. ”
Brandon flinched. “I can only imagine how well that went over.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve prepared the legal team to get ready for action. I must call them for another update.”
“Must you?” Brandon gave him a teasing smirk. “I didn’t think you worked for the company anymore?”
Dallas grunted in response, but the conversation ended with Bailey’s arrival.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” She was grinning across the barn, in the general direction of Drew, who was ushering an elderly couple down the aisle. But it was clear she meant the barn as a whole, and…
“Yeah,” Dallas said. “You’ve really created something special here, Bailey.”
Bailey’s eyes went wide with surprise, and Brandon looked like he was smothering a laugh in the awkward silence that followed.
But the stunned silence didn’t last long, and he didn’t have a chance to tease Bailey for not being able to handle a simple compliment from her twin brother because the minister asked people to find their places.
Lewis stood at the front with his groomsmen, nervously adjusting his suit jacket as the wedding march began.
People stood and turned to smile at the bridesmaids as they headed down the aisle.
When it was Ronnie’s turn, Dallas could only stare in wonder. She was always beautiful, but watching her like this—a petite queen with her head held high and a smile on her lips…
Dallas had no idea how or why he’d been so freakin’ blessed. But he offered up a prayer of gratitude.
The ceremony was beautiful, the vows sweet and tender, the message heartfelt, the prayers and poem a lovely addition.
People cheered when Lewis kissed his bride, and he noticed Ronnie wiping a finger under her eye.
He tried to catch her gaze and let her know he was with her, but she was transfixed on her sister’s joy.
When it was over, Dallas wanted to rush to Ronnie’s side, but she was whisked away for photos. He instead found himself caught listening to Bailey’s plan for the reception and then bemoaning the fact that the honeymoon cabin wasn’t ready yet.
He loved his twin, but she was officially obsessed with this place.
A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he noticed Willow passing them in a rush, obviously heading for the service kitchen attached to the barn. He tried to catch her eye, but she kept her gaze averted. As if she was purposefully avoiding him.
Dallas frowned, breaking away from Bailey’s diatribe and heading after her.
It took him a minute, having to stop and greet a few people from town as he went, but eventually he stepped into the bustling service area and spotted Willow ordering the staff around, April hovering nearby as she put finishing touches on the wedding cake.
“We’ll start serving the canapés in five,” Willow said to the huddle of waitstaff. “We’ve already been over how that’s going to go, so I won’t repeat myself, but make sure you stick to your lines so that the entire room is covered.”
They all nodded, and Dallas waited for her sunshine smile and exaggerated praise. But it never came.
She stepped away from them, returning to the counter to continue slicing and dicing.
“Hey, Willow.” He approached her gently, darting his eyes at April, who gave him a sour look.
His expression folded with a quizzical frown, but April just shook her head and huffed, getting back to her cake decorating.
Clearing his throat, he tried to get his sister’s attention again. “Need any help?”
She muttered something like “No, thanks.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” she snapped.
“Because I’m here if you need?—”
“I don’t need you, Mr. Buttinski!” She spun around, her eyes flashing dangerously.
He blinked in surprise. “Willow…”
“You called Walter Spencer?” she huffed. “What is wrong with you?”
It was like she’d been holding on to this angst, and finally she couldn’t contain it any longer. He’d just put himself in the firing line, and there was no stopping it.
So, he took a step closer and softly murmured, “I was trying to protect you.”
“Yeah, yeah, you really convinced Mom and Dad of that. What I don’t understand is why you felt you had to.
” She pointed the knife she was holding at him, and he took a step back.
“Eric was just giving me a ride that day, you know? He was being kind. Why didn’t you come and ask me about it? Why’d you have to go behind my back?”
Dallas couldn’t help a quick scoff. “Go behind your back? Isn’t that what you’ve been doing to all of us? Sneaking around with him?”
Willow slammed the knife down, her nostrils flaring as she flashed him a searing look, her eyes gleaming as she spun away to check on something in the oven.
“I don’t know what you think I was doing.” She yanked an oven mitt on, pulling out the tray and lifting the aluminum foil before placing it back and shoving the door closed. “But you had no right to tell on me to Mom and Dad, and you had even less right to call Walter Spencer!”
Dallas clenched his fists. He couldn’t believe she was so riled when all he’d been trying to do was protect her. “You can’t trust those people, Willow. Eric’s not a good guy.”
“I know that!” she practically screamed, drawing the eyes of the kitchen staff, who were already hyperaware that major drama was going down in this corner of the kitchen.
She gave him a fiery glare he’d never seen before.
It had him taking a step back in surprise…
but also had his chest aching on her behalf.
She looked wrecked.
What had Eric done?
Her eyes were getting glassier by the second, and he wished like heck he knew how to help her. “Willow?—”
“Go and dance with your girlfriend, Dallas.” She turned her back to him, grabbing the knife and getting back to work with a ferocity that had him pitying the herbs she was dicing.
“Tink, come on. Did something else happen?”
“Leave me alone, Dallas.” She looked at the floor. “Please, just…get out of my kitchen.”
As much as he hated the idea of walking away from her, the kitchen during reception prep was no place to have this talk. So he followed her orders and went back to the barn, which was quickly being transformed into a reception hall.
Music had already started up, and a few couples were dancing.
He headed straight toward Ronnie, who was making small talk with her dad and some extended family. “May I have this dance?”
She grinned up at him and a few moments later was in his arms.
Exactly where he wanted her.
“You look amazing, sweetheart.”
Her eyes shone in the glow of the twinkling lights, and she tilted her head to the side. “Don’t get used to it. Dresses and heels aren’t really my thing.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Then it’s a good thing you look like a queen no matter what you wear.”
Her brows arched and her eyes danced with laughter. “Honestly, I can’t wait to get these clothes off.”
“And I can’t wait to take them off you…” The moment the words were out of his mouth, he realized just how inappropriate they were.
“Someday,” he added with a sheepish grin.
And then, because he couldn’t help himself, he gestured to the area where the wedding had been.
“Someday after we have our own version of this.”
Ronnie’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
Luckily, she laughed, and so did he.
He dropped his head so he could nuzzle her temple. “Sorry. It seems I have zero ability to play it cool with you.”
She leaned into him, her arms tightening around his neck. “Don’t apologize. I like the fact that you’re so straightforward with me.”
“So I’m not scaring you off?” he murmured into her hair.
She rested her head against his shoulder with a sigh. “Do I look like I’m running away?”
He chuckled. “Then I guess we’re a good fit.”
They danced for a long time in contented silence. The band was playing easy love ballads, and it set the perfect tone. The room was blossoming with romance, and it was hard not to get caught up in it.
He was certain he could spend the entire night just swaying with her in his arms like this and be happier than he’d ever been.
She tipped her head back to smile up at him. “Dallas?”
“Yes, my love?”
The L-word made her smile that much sweeter. They hadn’t said it for real yet, but he had a hunch he wouldn’t make it to the end of the night without blurting out exactly how much he adored her.
Her gaze was unfocused and a little dreamy as she looked out over the room. “Do you really think we’re going to have…all this?”
He knew she was talking about the wedding, the family…the happy life together.
He caught her chin, and her eyes met his. “I know it.”
Her lips curved up in a stunning smile…just before he sealed the vow with a kiss.