Chapter Two #2
Standing next to Kristi, seeing how everyone else around her had dressed in what Mindy Sue would probably call resort chic, suddenly made her uncomfortable.
Nervous butterflies battled in her belly as her cheeks heated with embarrassment.
She’d tried so hard to make today perfect for everyone.
Now, she felt out of place. Not the first time.
Changing now would look too obvious. So she let it go with a heavy heart and tried not to let herself think about it again.
Brooke glanced at Mindy Sue and her other friends out on the lawn, all of them in sundresses or skirts and pretty blouses, hair done, makeup on. Brooke had swiped on some ChapStick and mascara and called it done.
Even the guys were in khakis and slacks with short-sleeved button-up shirts.
She scanned the crowd again and noticed the ranch hands had put on their finest boots, dark denim, and cowboy shirts with pearl buttons, belt buckles shining.
She sighed, thinking that instead of spending the whole morning helping the caterer set up, she could have taken time to actually think about what she wanted to wear and put together something a bit more…
sophisticated. Maybe then Cody would look at her like he looked at other women.
And she wouldn’t feel like the lovesick shadow who followed him around all the time, hoping he’d see how much she loved him.
Ugh. Pathetic. And yet she couldn’t squash the undying hope that lived inside her that one day…
Kristi tapped her on the shoulder. “Brooke. Hello. Cody?”
Right. Brooke looked out across the patio, gardens, and grass area where the just-over-two-hundred guests were mingling. “I haven’t seen him since we came out to greet everyone.”
Kristi huffed out a breath.
Trouble in paradise?
One could hope. Because Kristi had this way about her. She liked getting what she wanted and seemed to be the kind of person who’d do anything to get it.
An only child. Spoiled.
But Brooke had also gotten the sense that pleasing her parents really mattered to Kristi. Brooke got that. You wanted them to be proud of you. It just seemed like Kristi really needed it more than most.
Still, Brooke recognized the longing in Kristi’s eyes. She felt it in herself every time she thought about Cody or even looked at him. He had this quality that drew her in.
Kristi and others weren’t immune to it either.
But Cody was different with Brooke than he was with the other women who came and went.
They could talk for hours or just chill and watch a movie with nothing said.
She knew him so well, she could read him like a book.
And he was always there for her. Since the day she arrived at the ranch with her mom, they just clicked.
They were friends.
She wanted them to be more.
He ignored all her attempts to get his attention in that way.
She had half a mind to tell Kristi he was off talking to some ex, but that was petty and immature.
She’d long since grown past trying to sabotage Cody’s girlfriends by conveniently forgetting to deliver messages, or telling them Cody liked something that he hated.
He always caught on and gave her a disapproving look that made her feel terrible.
She didn’t want to be on the wrong side of Cody.
She definitely didn’t want to lose the amazing connection they shared.
She was really trying to be the grown-up no one on the ranch saw her to be, including her mother and Cody.
Maybe she could do a better job by thinking things through first, like dressing appropriately for the party and presenting herself as the adult she felt like on the inside. Then everyone would see it. Right?
It sucked that everyone still treated her like a child. Well, at least a teen with no sense, despite her stellar grades and the twenty years she’d kept herself alive and well, thank you very much.
Maybe she’d made some mistakes along the way.
Thinking Jamie was her friend at middle school summer camp, only to find out that Jamie had hidden a bottle of vodka in Brooke’s bag and she got caught during inspection the first day and sent home.
Luckily, her mom believed her that she hadn’t stolen it from the bar at home.
It was a cheap brand they didn’t keep in the house.
Then there was the time she’d played spin the bottle at Brent’s house freshman year with a bunch of friends.
She really wanted her first kiss to be with Cody, but Joe came in second, and then the bottle landed on Chris.
She’d been disappointed but game to kiss him just to get it over with.
But Brent, the asshole trickster, who she’d turned down in front of several of his friends for the spring dance, told her to close her eyes.
She did and puckered up to kiss Chris but got a face full of dog tongue instead.
Brent got his revenge. Everyone laughed at her.
The next day at school, everyone snickered behind her back about her French-kissing Brent’s mini poodle.
Yeah, high school was not fun with that hanging over her head.
Kristi frowned as she continued to scan the crowd. “If you see him, please send him to me. Tell him my father would like to have a word with him? It’s important.”
The demand wrapped in the request rubbed Brooke the wrong way. “We’re supposed to give a speech while everyone is eating. The lines are forming now. I’m sure he’ll find me soon.”
“That can wait. This can’t. It’s an opportunity Cody won’t want to pass up. Not if he’s smart.”
Cody was the smartest guy she knew.
“What’s it about?”
“The future. One I think Cody wants, which is why I worked so hard to set this up.”
Brooke cocked her head, concerned and suspicious. “What did you set up?”
Kristi huffed. “My father is waiting. Will you just help me find him?”
Mrs. Ellis and Susanne both raised a brow, though Kristi didn’t see their curious gazes.
Brooke couldn’t let the snappish tone go. “You know, a straight answer would get better results.”
“Cody wants to make a name for himself. I can make that happen.” Smugness was not becoming on Kristi.
The muscles in Brooke’s shoulders tensed. “He doesn’t need anyone to make him look good. He’s smart, driven, and good at everything he does.”
Kristi smirked. “Oh, I know he is.”
Brooke didn’t like the innuendo. She avoided Mrs. Ellis and her mother’s stares. “Whatever.” She tried to walk away, but Kristi snagged her arm and halted her.
“Don’t mess this up for him.”
She turned and looked Kristi right in the eyes. “I want what’s best for him.”
Kristi grinned again. “Good. Then send him over to me.” She smiled smugly and walked away.
Brooke wanted to tear Kristi’s pretty blonde hair out.
Mrs. Ellis gave Brooke the same sympathetic look as her mom. “Don’t let her get to you. Women like her end up with no friends, wondering why no one likes them.”
“I guess. Excuse me. I have to find Cody.” She decided if whatever Kristi was talking about would really help him, then she’d do the right thing.
She found him in the garden, sitting in an Adirondack chair next to his buddy Brad Whitlock, the district attorney’s son. They’d grown up together and went to college together.
Brad saw her coming and grinned. “Hello, beautiful.” He took her hand and tugged, putting her off-balance so that she landed in his lap. He hugged her close. “Where have you been all my life?”
“Right under your nose. But the B word you use for me is usually brat.” She elbowed him in the gut, making him laugh as she smiled back at him. Brad was like a brother to her.
Which was weird to think of him as when she’d never seen Cody that way.
And the object of all her desires frowned at his friend.
Brad ignored it. “I think gorgeous suits you better now.”
Cody pounded his fist into Brad’s shoulder with anger in his eyes as he reached out and took Brooke’s hand, pulling her up and out of Brad’s lap and into his. “Hands off, asshole.”
Brad held up his hands. “I was just saying hello.”
Cody narrowed his gaze. “You know the rule. No flirting with her.”
Brooke cocked a brow. “Is this like the bro code?” She had to admit, she liked seeing Cody possessive over her. And sitting in his lap gave her all kinds of shivery feelings and indecent ideas.
Brad chuckled. “You don’t mess with your best friend’s sister.”
Cody nudged her off him. “Is it time for the speech you want us to make?”
Brooke stood beside him, knowing he’d changed the subject on purpose, but not understanding the wince he’d given at Brad’s words or the strange look in his eyes when she left his lap. Regret?
No. That’s wishful thinking and my imagination.
She tamped down her hormones and adoration for him and focused. “Uh, Kristi ordered me to find you.”
“Excuse me?” Cody didn’t look happy about that.
Brooke let it go. “Her father wants to talk to you. Something important.”
“Better hop to it,” Brad teased. “Don’t want to keep the future Mrs. Jansen waiting.”
“What?” Brooke nearly choked on the word and the idea that Cody planned to propose.
Cody punched his fist into Brad’s arm again as he stood. “Stop joking about shit like that.”
She grabbed his forearm and stopped him from walking away. “Are you…”
“No,” he said emphatically.
She breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t planning on asking her to marry him.
Yet.
Shut up, she yelled at that voice in her head.
Cody glanced at the crowd. “Where is she?”
Brooke looked past him. “By the bar.”
“How about I get you a drink, Brooke?” Brad offered.
“No,” Cody snapped. “Brooke isn’t of age.”
Brad shook his head. “Come on, old man. We were drinking way younger than she is now.”
Cody met Brad’s taunting eyes. “Go find one of the couple dozen available women here today. She’s not for you.”
Brooke wanted to break the tension between these two friends. “I mean, I could do worse.”
Cody’s lethal gaze landed on her. “Are you serious?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I’m going to make sure everyone is heading to the buffet line.” She walked away, but not before she heard Brad tell Cody, “I was just messing around.”
She knew it was to keep his friendship with Cody on good terms, but it kind of pinched her heart, too, that he wasn’t serious about her being beautiful, or that he would be interested in her.
Not that she wanted to date Brad. It would just be nice if he thought she was worth Cody’s wrath.
You’re being ridiculous.
She knew that.
Still, the whole interaction with all of them felt weird. Like maybe Cody didn’t want her with anyone but him.
Now that’s really ridiculous.
Or was it?
She really needed to stop this train of thought and get a grip.
She made it through the garden and to the buffet line just in time to catch the moment Cody found Kristi and slipped his hand around her waist, pulling her close to his side as he used his free hand to shake her father’s hand.
Kristi looked up at him adoringly.
Cody glanced down at her and smiled. People close to them noticed the happy couple.
Was he really thinking about marrying her? Or had Brad really just been joking?
Brooke’s heart sank. She was too used to this feeling when it came to Cody. Maybe one day he’d see her as the woman she’d become.
The one who wanted him and only him.