Chapter 47
BODIE
I stood next to the wooden arbor, waiting for my first glimpse of Lacey.
Shotgun waddled down the aisle, a heart-shaped pillow attached to her collar.
The fake rings nestled in the middle, tied on with thin satin ribbons.
Lacey had balked when I suggested we involve Shotgun in the wedding.
She’d argued that the poor dog would probably be so uncomfortable by then she might not make it down the aisle.
Then she’d almost had a heart attack when I wanted to tie the rings to the pillow.
Luckily I’d realized she was right. The giant fake diamond ring and the thin gold band that went along with it were safe and sound in Jonah’s front pocket.
I patted my thigh and Shotgun plopped down next to me, letting out a blast of gas as her bum hit the ground. I stifled a laugh. Poor dog.
Zina came next, taking long confident strides down the aisle. The orange dress—coral, I reminded myself—looked fabulous against her tanned skin. She made it to the front of the aisle and gave me a wink before stepping to the side and turning around to wait for Lacey.
A trumpet sounded, and a pair of mariachis began to shake. The band I’d found at the last minute down at Ortega’s Taqueria launched into a shaky rendition of “Here Comes the Bride.”
Zina gave me one of her looks. The kind that made me squirm. I lifted my shoulders in a slight shrug. The friend I thought I could count on for the music was playing a gig up in Fort Worth tonight. At least we had something.
The blood rushed to my head, making me feel slightly dizzy as I caught my first look at Lacey.
Like an angel, she floated down the aisle.
The dress, her mama’s dress, reached all the way to the ground and billowed out behind her.
My gaze roamed over the dip at her waist, the obnoxious bouquet Suzy had created, then moved higher.
Her smile dazzled me. Like looking right into the sun.
She was so bright, so stunning, I had to look away before my emotions got the best of me.
After what seemed like eternity but also much too soon, she reached for me with one hand while she passed her flowers to Zina with the other.
I took both of her hands in mine and met her gaze.
What I saw there was like looking at a reflection of myself.
The fear, the uncertainty, it was right there in front of me.
But more than that, I recognized love. A pure, shining love that flowed right through me, lighting me up inside until I felt like I could do anything as long as I had Lacey by my side.
The minister we’d found online leaned toward us. “You have the rings?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I said. “Jonah’s got them.” I didn’t want to tear my eyes away from Lacey. Her smile told me she felt the same way. Once again, I wished I could pause time. Take a quick break to tell her I didn’t want to pretend anymore. I wanted to marry her for real if she’d have me.
But before I could, Shotgun rolled to her side with a groan. I glanced down. Jonah put a hand on my shoulder. “She’s fine, keep going.”
I looked up again, my heart in my throat as my eyes met Lacey’s. Just looking at her hurt like hell.
The minister launched into the ceremony. “We’re gathered here today to celebrate the union of Bodie and Lacey as they declare their love before each other and all of you.”
Risking a quick look at the crowd, I caught sight of Jay working the perimeter, snapping pictures with a giant camera.
Samantha sat in the third row, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
Good. Lacey would get her pictures and the article that would hopefully catapult her new venture to success.
Jojo and Helmut sat on Lacey’s side of the aisle.
Lacey had asked Jojo to put her dad on video chat for the ceremony so he’d feel like he was part of it.
Everyone who’d pitched in on the house renovation was there; their excitement and hope seemed to fill the air.
Then the mood shifted. Tension crackled through the crowd. I tore my gaze away from Lacey’s as a shadow fell over us. I looked up, just in time to catch a fist. A fist that connected with my jaw, sending me crashing into the wooden arbor. The sound of splitting wood flooded my ears.
I turned toward the attacker, ready for a fight. Was it someone sent by Buck? Was this his way of getting revenge?
Lacey launched herself onto the man’s back. “Stop! Just stop.” Her hands slid from his forehead down to cover his eyes.
The man spun one way, then the other, trying to dislodge her. He stumbled through the butterfly garden we’d just planted, crushing the young plants under heavy boots. Military boots.
“Get off me, Lacey. I’ve got a score to settle and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Luke. I hadn’t seen my friend in years. The buzz cut threw me, but there was no denying the blond giant in front of me was Lacey’s brother.
“Let me explain,” Lacey shouted.
Luke grappled with her arms, trying to get a grip so he could slip her off his back. She slid to one side and he reached back, gently lowering her to the ground. She made a grab for his leg, trying to hold him back but it was too late.
I stood my ground, my palms out in front of me. “I don’t want to fight. Let’s talk about this.”
“No talking necessary,” Luke growled. His fist connected with my arm. Pain radiated out from where the punch landed.
I scrambled up the steps to the house. “Cut it out. Give me a chance to explain.”
Luke flung the door open, sending it crashing into the plaster wall.
I tried again. “It’s not what you think, man.”
“I think you took advantage of my sister.” Luke reached out, shoving me against the buffet table. Chafing dishes went flying. Barbecue sauce splattered the curtains. A Sterno can landed on the carpet. The flame licked at the tablecloth.
I stomped out the fire and backed toward the door. I needed to get Luke out of there before he ruined the whole place. “Stop. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Luke advanced, fury making his blue eyes burn bright. “I’m talking about you using her.”
“I’d never do that.” The fact Luke could even accuse me of something like that sparked a rage in my gut.
“Stop it, both of you.” Lacey hiked her dress up and climbed the steps to the porch. “You’re ruining everything. Luke, what are you doing here? You weren’t supposed to find out about this until it was over and Bodie and I had gone our separate ways.”
I put a hand to my head. “Lacey, stop. You don’t have to do this.”
The look she gave me told me she didn’t believe me. She thought I was still playing my part. “It’s okay, Bodie. This is all my fault.”
“How’s it your fault?” Luke asked. “He’s the one who took advantage. He’s the one who knocked you up.”
“Knocked me up?” Lacey turned her anger on her brother, her voice rising. “Who on earth told you that? I made Bodie pretend to be engaged to me so we could get an article in a magazine to promote the wedding venue. No one’s knocked up. No one’s really getting married. It’s all fake.”
I reached for her hand, my heart breaking for her, for me, for everything real that had happened between us. “Lacey, I do love you.”
She swatted my hand away. “Enough. It’s over.”
She didn’t believe me. Either that or she didn’t care.
For her it had all been a means to an end.
I’d underestimated her and her willingness to do whatever it would take to reach her goals.
With a gaping hole in my chest where my heart had once beaten for her, I took one last look at the house then turned my back and walked away.