30. Jaxon
Jaxon
“Never thought I’d see the day when all my brothers look like legit cowboys,” I mutter to myself. My brothers are standing in the middle of the old barn, wearing cowboy boots and brand-new matching white cowboy hats, entirely at home in their getups for the Golden Springs Gazette interview.
“I know,” Summer says with a satisfied smile that tells me she’s been waiting for this since Wyatt’s cowboy-hat text. She adjusts the collar of my denim jacket and brushes her fingers against my neck, sending sparks through me. “The Chance brothers look like honest-to-goodness cowboys.”
Grady overhears and holds up a finger. “To be clear, we’re not actual cowboys; we’re athletes, running a horse farm on the side.”
“We’re both,” Rhett corrects.
A month ago, I’d have scoffed at the idea of doing pictures and an interview with Jess Connors for our small-town paper. None of us need the publicity, but since the wedding venue does, I want nothing more than this to succeed for Summer’s sake.
I’ve been slow to accept every aspect of managing this place—the overwhelming responsibilities, the country lifestyle, even my future and whether I wanted to stay. But once I put Dad’s boots on, things started to shift, or maybe I did. It’s hard to say which came first.
“How do I look?” Wyatt asks, his hat pulled low, sporting shiny new boots that probably cost more than our vet bill last month. He looks like he was made for that hat, and a month ago, I would’ve found it annoying. Now I just shake my head and smirk at my brother.
“You look like you’re posing for a country music album.”
He winks at me playfully. “Just what I want to hear, big brother.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Grady says flatly.
“Oh, come on, Grady.” Wyatt slaps him on the back. “You make a fine cowboy.”
“I’m only doing this for you, Summer,” Grady says, without even glancing at the rest of us.
“Thanks, Grady. I appreciate it.” She takes a few pictures for the Wildflower Weddings social media accounts first. “Could we get some hay bales set up as a backdrop for Jess?”
She moves toward the barn doors, where Colton dropped some bales.
“I’ve got it,” I say, jogging past her to get the hay.
“Oh no.” Summer whirls around. “I almost forgot the new flyer that I printed out for Jess. I’m going to run back to the printer and get it.”
She runs toward the farm office as I bring over the first bale, setting it down next to Wyatt. He watches me with a smirk on his face. “You sure are Mr. Helpful today.” He leans closer to me. “I’m curious, though. Is it the farm you’re doing this for, or the pretty blonde?”
“I’m always helpful,” I mutter. “But the pretty blonde’s a great incentive.”
Grady brows rise. “Is this the same girl you were actively feuding with when we got here?”
“Things changed when we went into business together,” I say, hoping my answer satisfies them. I really wasn’t planning on sharing the news until after today’s interview. “Believe me, I’m the last one who thought this could happen.”
Before I can explain, tires crunch on the gravel outside. Jess Connors pulls up in a car that has a Golden Springs Gazette bumper sticker on the back window. She looks exactly like I remember her: late fifties, with short black hair and a bright smile.
She gets out with her equipment bag, takes one look at the four of us, and puts her hand over her heart.
“John and Miriam Chance’s boys,” she says. “Y’all are just as handsome in person as you are on ESPN.”
I don’t bother correcting her that the only time ESPN mentioned my name was my rookie year when I was eighteen, and it was barely even a reference.
Rhett turns on the smile he uses for cameras as he steps forward. “Good to see you, Ms. Connors.”
She blushes as he shakes her hand. “Call me Jess.” Then she turns to Wyatt and Grady next. “Wow. I’m just so honored to talk with you today. Y’all are a BIG deal.”
I always forget how famous my brothers are until I encounter someone who fangirls over them. Right now, Jess looks like she might need an actual fan.
She turns to me last. “Jaxon. You look just like your dad, you know.”
“I get that a lot,” I say, shaking her hand.
It used to bother me when people compared me to my dad, but these days, it’s starting to feel like a compliment. He was a strong man, well-liked in the community, and dedicated to his farm and his family. If the same could be said of me, I’d be proud.
She sets up her equipment quickly, and for the next twenty minutes she runs us through questions—mainly how four brothers came to take over Lucky Chance Ranch and then open a wedding venue with Summer Daniels.
Summer joins our circle, answering questions about what to expect from Wildflower Weddings that we aren’t equipped to explain. She’s honest and funny and understands the wedding business, even down to what brides want.
“We won’t have any bridezillas here,” she jokes with Jess. “We’re going to make every bride’s day the most stunning day ever.”
When Jess asks her to describe a wedding in the barn, she lays out her entire vision for the place, down to the chalkboard sign listing couples’ names and the flowers she’d use to decorate for every season. Wyatt looks over at me with raised eyebrows, thoroughly impressed.
And then comes the easy part: Jess takes shots of us in the barn. My brothers have been through promotional photos with their professional teams and major magazines, so a small-town newspaper is nothing in comparison.
“Now,” she says, looking over at Summer and me, “since you’re the ones running Wildflower Weddings, I’d love a shot of you two together.
” Jess moves her finger between us. “The farm owner and the venue director. People will love that angle.” She gives us a sly smile.
“Plus, a source tells me that you’re dating. Is that correct?”
Summer blinks, then looks over at me frantically. If the entire town doesn’t know after that dance we shared at the concert, they will now.
I lift a brow and give Summer a look. Are you okay with this?
She gives me a shy smile back. Why not?
“Yes, that’s correct,” I reply. “The best thing about coming home to Golden Springs was falling for Summer Daniels.”
The smile on Jess’s face says that getting this scoop probably made her entire year. We have nothing to hide, even if it means we’ll be the subject of every conversation at Minnie’s Diner for the next month.
“Wonderful,” she says, clapping her hands. “Why don’t we pose the two of you outside the barn?”
We walk just outside the barn doors, and Jess positions us, Summer’s back to my front. The afternoon’s cooler than yesterday, and when I brush Summer’s shoulder by accident, I notice the goose bumps on her skin.
“You’re cold?” I ask near her ear.
“I’m okay for a few pictures,” she responds, glancing at me.
I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. I shrug off my jacket and slide it over her shoulders, my arms coming around her from behind to pull it closed before settling her back against my chest.
“That’s great…stay right there!” Jess commands, holding up her camera.
Click, click.
I feel Summer’s body stiffen as soon as Jess starts taking pictures. I guess I hadn’t realized until now how nervous she was. I rub a hand over her arm to warm her up. “If you don’t want to do this,” I whisper, “I’ll tell her we’re done.”
“No,” she murmurs. “I just wish I were as natural at this as you and your brothers are.”
“Don’t assume I’m comfortable though. Or better at it.”
“Of course I think you’re better at it,” she says. “Look at you.”
“What?”
“You look incredible. You’re amazing at all things PR-related, while I’m just…”
“Beautiful?” I finish against her ear. “Intelligent? Capable of running this farm better than the four of us brothers combined?”
Her breath catches, and she looks at the ground. “You’re making it hard to concentrate, Chance.”
“Good,” I say. “I want to distract you. I told you before, I could never see you as average, Summer Daniels.”
I pull her back against me, wrapping my arms around her waist securely.
“What are you doing, Jaxon Chance?” she asks with a playful smile over her shoulder at me.
Click.
“Hugging you,” I say. “Didn’t you know a hug reduces stress hormones? And the longer the hug, the bigger the impact.”
“So, you’re doing this for science, then?”
I can’t see her face, but judging by her tone, she’s fighting a smile right now. “Well, no,” I say. “I’m doing it because you’re cold.”
She laughs. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“No comment,” I say, pressing her against me tighter, my arms heavy around her waist and the heat of our bodies mingling.
I exhale a slow breath against her neck, and a shiver runs over her.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she complains.
“I’m enjoying you in my arms, yes.”
Click, click.
Her shoulders come down from her ears as she relaxes into me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hitting on me, cowboy.”
“Oh, I’m definitely hitting on you,” I say in a low, teasing voice. “Is it working?”
“Too well,” she says with a laugh. Maybe it’s easier to say these things when you’re both focused on something other than each other.
She turns her head to the side, her mouth so close, I imagine angling my face two more inches to capture her lips with mine.
“The question is,” she begins, “do we like each other enough to announce it to the entire town of Golden Springs?”
“I know I do,” I say without hesitation. “Do you?”
“I’m still deciding,” she deadpans, but her eyes gleam.
“Now who’s the liar?” I growl into her ear.
A muffled laugh bubbles up inside her as she tips her head back into my chest, her body pressed against mine, sending sparks through me.
Jess takes a few more pictures as my brothers look on.
“Perfect,” Jess coos, reviewing the screen with a smile. “You two are so cute. It’s going to be hard to choose which picture to use.” Then she looks at Summer. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions for the article as well?”