Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
The Ranch
Every time I tried to approach Harlan, something got in the way. Either a guest wanted to talk to me or there was a problem with wedding logistics.
Muddy was three sheets to the wind and dancing up a storm, which left me to handle any issues that arose.
“I’ll have another ginger beer,” I said to Wade.
“We just ran out,” Wade said.
“What do you mean you just ran out?” I demanded.
“I mean I have no more ginger beer,” Wade said.
“There’s another case back at the house,” I explained. “In the cellar.”
“I’ll grab it,” Wade said.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get Cas’s help.”
“Cas? Who the hell is Cas?” Wade asked.
“Bowman,” I clarified.
“You sure?” Wade asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m the undesignated wedding planner right now. If there are any fires, I’ll put them out.”
I left the mobile bar and went to find Cas. He was talking to Gracie and Cole. Their toddler was perched on Gracie’s hip and she smiled and reached for me the moment I joined them.
“Oh, hello,” I said, taking Bella before she launched herself out of her mother’s arms.
“This is new behavior,” Cole said in surprise. “She’s usually pretty reserved with strangers.”
Bella’s hands went to my tresses.
“Oh, she’s going to mess up your hair,” Gracie said as she extracted her daughter from my arms.
“Worth it,” I said, taking one of Bella’s hands and kissing it. “She’s adorable.”
“She’s on her best behavior,” Cole said. “But a meltdown is imminent. If we’re lucky, we’ll make it to the cake before that happens.”
“What is the cake?” Cas asked. “Hadley mentioned it, but she was mysterious about it.”
“Nah, you have to wait like everyone else. It’s a secret between me and Hadley. But I told Cole he’d love it,” Gracie said.
“I bet Salem knows,” Cole said, looking at me.
I shook my head. “Nope. I know nothing about it. I’m just here for the cheese.” I looked at Cas. “Can I borrow you for a second? Wade’s out of ginger beer, but there’s a case in the cellar in the house.”
“And you want me and my brawn to carry it, right?” Cas asked.
“Yes. Exactly.” I grinned, and then turned back to Cole and Gracie. “See you guys in a few.”
“Cake,” Cole urged. “Send out the cake.”
Gracie dumped their daughter into his arms. “You had your wedding with your very own cake. Patience.”
Cas and I walked toward the house. I caught Gideon’s eye. I waved and he waved back before continuing his conversation with his father.
We ducked into the house and found the catering staff on a break, enjoying lemonade and iced tea.
“We’re just here to get a case of ginger beer,” I said when a few of them shot up from their seats. “At ease.”
“I guess we’ll tell them to get the cake ready when we head back up,” Cas said as he followed me down the cellar steps.
I hit the light and an Edison bulb flickered, illuminating the brick-and-mortar room.
The temperature immediately cooled. We passed the stored onions and potatoes, along with several other root vegetables. There were shelves and shelves of canned and pickled foods.
“Ah, here’s the case of ginger beer,” I said.
“That’s not a case, that’s a crate.” Cas bent down and lifted one of the bottles. “Ginger beer. You mean, homemade ginger beer? That’s what Wade’s been serving the guests?”
I grinned. “Why do you think we went through a batch already? He’s using it for Moscow Mules and Dark and Stormy’s. Hadley and I are also drinking it straight.”
Cas set the glass bottle down and stood.
“Cas?” I asked as he stalked toward me.
“I’ve been fantasizing about getting you alone, but I didn’t have a good excuse,” he growled.
His tone sent shivers up and down my spine.
“Cas,” I warned.
“I can’t wait, Salem. I can’t wait to have you again.”
His hands hiked up the skirt of my dress, bunching it around my waist, and his fingers plowed into my lace panties.
I held on to his shoulders and lifted my leg to wrap around his hip, giving him better access. He slid his fingers inside me and curled them, causing me to shudder. His thumb grazed my clit and I gasped.
“I can’t wait to see you in a few months, round and swollen with my baby. So everyone knows you’re mine. Everyone will know what we created together.”
“Cas,” I whispered.
“Come on my fingers, Salem. Make a mess.”
His words pummeled through me and I erupted around him. I rode his hand, taking my pleasure, mindless of everything else.
Cas slid his fingers out of me and I lowered my leg from his hip.
He stuck his fingers into his mouth and cleaned them, his gaze heated.
All I wanted was for him to unbuckle his belt and fuck me against the cellar wall, but we were already playing with fire.
He pressed a kiss to my brow, and then helped me with my dress, making sure my skirt was straight and free of wrinkles.
“Did I tell you that you look beautiful?” His voice was raspy.
“I don’t remember. Tell me again.”
“You look beautiful. Even more beautiful with your cheeks flushed and your eyes bright.”
“Come on, Caspian, let’s get the ginger beer back to Wade. We’ve been gone long enough already.”
Cas picked up the crate and followed me up the stairs. I turned off the light and closed the door behind me.
“Where’s the catering staff?” I asked, looking around at the empty kitchen.
“No clue,” Cas said. “Maybe someone came to tell them to get the cake ready.”
“Probably right.” I opened the sliding glass door for him, and then followed him to the mobile bar.
“What took you guys so long?” Wade asked when we finally delivered the crate.
I didn’t think we were gone that long, but apparently long enough for Wade to notice.
“Had to hunt for the ginger beer,” Cas lied easily. “It wasn’t where Salem thought it was.”
“Yes. It’s all my fault,” I agreed.
When Wade wasn’t looking, Cas shot me a sexy wink.
“There you are!” Poet said, running up to the both of us. “They’re bringing out the cake in the next few minutes. I thought you guys were going to miss it.”
“We’d never miss cake,” Cas quipped.
“Especially because there’s all this air of mystery surrounding it,” I added.
“Well, I did get a little bit out of Hadley. It has chocolate in it,” Poet whispered. “But that’s all I know.”
People congregated on the dance floor, holding their drinks and talking to one another while we waited for the cake to be unveiled.
Gracie pushed a barrel on a wheeled carrier onto the dance floor, flanked by two cater waiters, ready to lend a hand if there was trouble. But Gracie got it onto the dance floor and pressed the brakes on the wheels to keep it in place.
“Hadley, you want to do the honors?” Gracie asked.
Hadley stepped forward toward the barrel and lifted the top. It swung back like a hatch to reveal a three-tiered chocolate cake with edible chocolate horse imprints around the sides. On top were two chocolate molds. A cowgirl lassoing a cowboy.
“I can see why you wanted to keep this a surprise,” Declan stated. “This is incredible! Gracie, you did this?”
“I did,” Gracie preened.
“That’s not the only surprise,” Hadley said, taking Declan’s hand and looking directly at him. “It’s a cherry mash cake.”
“No,” Declan said.
“I’m serious,” Hadley said with a laugh.
“What’s a cherry mash cake?” someone asked.
Hadley turned to address the party-goers. “A cherry mash is Declan’s favorite candy. It’s cherry fondant on the inside with a chocolate peanut coating on the outside. There are no peanuts in this cake, because I don’t want to kill anyone who might have an allergy.”
There was another chorus of laughter.
“You had Gracie make a cherry mash wedding cake,” Declan said.
“Yes.” Hadley nodded.
He cradled her cheeks and kissed her.
The two cater waiters set up a table near the barrel and one of them handed Gracie a knife.
“Did we get pictures of this masterpiece?” I asked. “To go down in history as the most incredible wedding cake of all time?”
“We got photos,” Hadley assured me.
Gracie stepped up to the cake. “Should I start slicing?”
“Yep, I’m ready,” Hadley said.
“Surely not the most incredible wedding cake to go down in history,” Amber said as she stepped forward out of the crowd.
Wyn frowned at her.
Hadley turned to look at Amber. “What do you mean by that?”
“Salem’s wedding cake will be even better, don’t you think?” She lifted her Tom Collins in mock cheers. “After all, she can’t help but always one-up you, Hadley.”
I took a step toward Amber with the intent to silence her, but stopped when Harlan grasped her arm. He gently tugged on it, but she wrenched her arm from his clasp.
“I’ve heard about you,” Wyn said. “Why are you even here? We don’t even like you.”
Poet cleared her throat and threw me a nervous look.
“I invited her,” Hadley said. “As a gesture of good will. She’s writing a wedding piece for the town paper.”
“Well, that was a mistake, clearly,” Wyn stated.
“Amber, let’s go talk somewhere,” I said, keeping my voice calm even though I was raging inside. Raging and nervous, because Amber was running her mouth and Wyn had clearly been imbibing. Which meant she had no filter . . .
“Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary.” Amber flashed a red-lipped grin. “But Salem, aren’t you going to tell everyone your good news?”
“What news?” Hadley asked, her attention turning to me.
Even Gracie, who’d cut a few slices of cake, had stopped to peer at me.
Amber’s eyes lit with excitement. “Oh, to hell with it, I’ll tell them for you.”
“Harlan,” Cas snapped. “Get her the fuck out of here. Carry her if you have to.”
I marched across the dance floor toward Amber, ready to take matters into my own hands, praying I got there in time.
But my weak ankle gave out and pain shot through my leg, momentarily distracting me.
“It’s truly a time for celebration!” Amber crowed, looking at Hadley. “Not only did you just get married, but Salem and Bowman are having a baby!”