Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Stratton led Honeysuckle toward the barn. I walked beside him, our shoulders brushing every few steps. Arden was packing up and only spared Stratton a cursory glance as he guided Honeysuckle into her stall. He unsaddled the mare and gave her some oats as a treat.
Arden’s eyes met mine and we had an entire conversation in that look. Best friends could do that.
“Thanks for saving the day,” Arden said as Stratton gave Honeysuckle one last pat and then went into the makeshift stall dressing room.
“My pleasure.” He went for the buttons on his shirt.
“I’ll take the clothes,” Arden said to him, holding out her hand.
“I’ll do it,” I insisted.
No way was I going to let her get a look at him while he was half dressed.
My fingers brushed Stratton’s as he handed me the formal shirt. My breath caught when I saw his chest and a smattering of dark hair across his pecs.
It trailed lower and disappeared into his trousers.
He removed his boots and then shucked off his pants.
Thighs.
Muscular thighs.
Thighs I needed to bite.
“Jeez, Maisie. He’s got a brain too, ya know,” Arden drawled, startling me out of my mental grope fest.
My cheeks heated and I glared at her. With her help, we got the groom’s clothes—including the jacket I was wearing—into the garment bag and zipped them up.
When I faced Stratton again, he was covered, much to my consternation. He adjusted the cuff of his shirt, once again looking like the earthy, virile man that he was.
He glanced at me. “Still on for lunch?”
I nodded.
Arden grinned, clearly delighted.
“Great. I’ll meet you out front of the house,” Stratton said. He came to me and leaned down. “Don’t worry, gremlin. You can ogle me later. I promise.”
I held in a groan as he sauntered from the barn.
“Turn,” Arden commanded.
I turned and she unzipped the back of the dress and I went to the empty stall.
“Okay, talk,” she said.
“Talk? About what? About me going to lunch with him?”
“No. What were you guys talking about out there? When you were both standing next to Honeysuckle.”
“You didn’t overhear our entire conversation?” I asked with a laugh.
“No,” she admitted. “You guys were talking too softly, but I definitely caught the kiss on camera. By the way, your lipstick is totally smeared.”
I slithered out of the wedding dress and was careful to keep the skirt off the ground. She took the dress from me.
“I’m breaking up with Ethan,” I announced as I reached for my shirt.
“What? No way.”
“Way,” I said. “It’s time. You know it’s time. Past time.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the hot cowboy who wants to take you to lunch and then for a whirl on his, ah, appropriately sized appendage . . .”
“You snuck a look while he was in his boxers,” I accused.
“I’m only a woman. A woman with a libido. But relax, Maise. He’s all yours. He only has eyes for you.”
Her words offered me comfort and security. Arden and I had never competed for a man, and we weren’t doing it now.
“I can’t stay,” she said. “I have to get to the studio and drop off the clothes to get dry cleaned.”
“Oh.” I nibbled my lip. “My car is in Coeur d’Alene.”
“I’m sure Stratton will give you a ride. In more ways than one.”
“Arden,” I said with a laugh.
“That’s happening, right? Like, please. You two are ready to combust.”
“We just met.”
“So? When were you with Ethan last?” she demanded.
I thought on her question.
“If you have to think, it’s been too long.”
“A few months ago,” I said finally. “When I went out to Seattle to visit him.”
“And he didn’t make you orgasm. You should’ve dumped his ass for good, right then and there.”
That still chafed. Ethan was incredibly selfish in bed. And whenever I brought up the fact that he never made me finish, he made it seem like it was my fault.
“So, I’m guessing I won’t be seeing you back at the apartment tonight.”
The idea of sleeping with Stratton and then having him immediately drive me back to Coeur d’Alene would be the worst walk of shame in the word. It wouldn’t even be a walk of shame. It would be a drive of shame.
“I don’t know,” I said morosely.
“Hey, stop being in your head about this. Go have lunch with him. See where the afternoon takes you. And I’ll see you when I see you.”
I finished getting dressed. “I have to talk to Ethan before anything happens with Stratton.”
“Something already happened,” she pointed out.
“I feel awful about it.”
“Do you?”
I blushed in shame. “No.”
“Why not?” When I didn’t reply, her expression morphed into understanding. “You and Stratton . . . this isn’t just going to be dating for a while, is it?”
“I don’t think so,” I said quietly.
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Which is why I owe Ethan a phone call. I talked to him earlier, but we didn’t get into anything important.”
“Oh, so that was the cause of your bad mood when you came outside.”
I nodded. “He was preparing for a meeting.” I looked at the clock on my phone. “I wonder if he’s done yet.”
“Stratton teased you out of it. Your bad mood, I mean.”
“Noticed that too, did ya?”
“Good trait to have in a husband.”
“Gremlin whisperer?” I asked with a laugh.
“Exactly.”