Tease (Cloverleigh Farms #8)(49)

“We always play in John Sawyer’s charity golf outing. Such good people.”

“Daphne still invites me to the annual staff Christmas party. We go every year, even though I haven’t worked there in years.” Copper penny curls paused. “I’ll probably be invited to the wedding.”

In the brief silence that followed, I could practically hear the ruffled feathers.

“Will it be a big wedding?” asked the one with the neon sweatband. “Lots of guests?”

“No,” I said firmly.

“Why not?” The smiling, nodding approval was replaced with narrowed eyes, hands on hips, and accusatory stares.

“We want to keep it small,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Small!” Copper penny curls was offended. “When you’re a local celebrity? That’s no fun!”

“You should do something spectacular,” said penciled eyebrows. “Like fireworks.”

“Oooh! My grandson flies those planes that tow banners,” neon sweatband told me. “You should do that.”

“My Alfred drives those horse-drawn carriages that take tourists around,” said a short granny in the back. “Something like that would be nice and splashy.”

“Yes,” added the one with bright pink lipstick. “Isn’t a small wedding just a bit selfish of you?”

“Selfish?” I repeated, dumbstruck.

“Everyone in town is so happy for you! We feel proud that such a brilliant, successful young man chose a hometown girl to settle down with!”

“It shows real character!”

“It shows that no matter how much money you make or how famous you get, what matters is family.”

“Yes! Friends and neighbors are an extension of family.”

“And in a small town, everyone is family.”

They all chimed in with agreement, like a gang of street urchins in an old movie. “Yeah! That’s right! You tell him, Gladys! Atta girl!”

“So if you’re not going to let us share in the joy of your big day, we just don’t know how to take it.” Neon sweatband shook her head and put her hands on her chest. “Our hearts might break.”

“You think about that, sonny.” Pink lipstick nodded once. “Come on, girls.”

They pranced away in a huff.





After my run, I went home to clean up and grab something to eat. I was hoping Felicity would be there so I could tell her about my encounter with the Prancin’ Grannies, but her car wasn’t in the driveway when I pulled in. It was funny how empty and silent the house seemed without her.

I showered and dressed, then discovered a Post-It note on the fridge. Eat anything you want in here! I’ve already photographed it! Beneath the words was a note in our secret code. Smiling, I puzzled it out—XOXO Felicity. I pulled the note off the fridge and stuck it in my pocket.

After I ate, I sat down at my desk in the downstairs guest room I used as an office to get some work done. I was sketching a rough outline for my testimony when my phone rang. Assuming it was Felicity, I smiled and answered it without thinking.

“Hello?”

“Dude,” Wade said. “You answered. Is that a thing now?”

Fuck. I rubbed my temples with my thumb and middle finger. “Not really. What’s up?”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your engagement yesterday, asshole? I just read about it online.”

“I guess I forgot.”

He laughed. “What the fuck? Who is she?”

“Felicity MacAllister.” I knew I’d mentioned her to Wade before, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t remember.

“The girl from back home?”

“Yeah.”

“Kinda sudden, isn’t it?”

“Not really. I’ve known her since I was twelve.”

“You knock her up or something?”

“Fuck off. No.”

“Dude,” he said. “Doesn’t even matter. Don’t do it.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t fucking get married. It will ruin your life.”

“Is this the point of your call, Hasbrouck? If so, I’m hanging up.”

“I know it seems like a good idea now, but the shine comes off. As soon as the ink is dry on that marriage certificate, she will not be the woman you think she is. That’s what they do—they pretend to be cool so you’ll propose, and then they turn into crazy, controlling lunatics once they’ve got your last name. I’ve never been so miserable.”

“We’re different.”

He laughed again. “Truth, man. If I was you, I’d still be in L.A. fucking Zlatka in my Porsche.”

“I’m sure you would.”

“How’d you fuck that up, anyway? She was crazy about you.” He laughed unkindly. “Susie said she read somewhere it was because Zlatka didn’t like being submissive in the bedroom. She wanted to be the boss.”

“You’d have to ask Zlatka about that.”

“Dude, I’d totally let her tie me up and slap me around if she wanted to. You really broke it off because of that?”

“No.” My jaw clenched. “We fought all the time. It sucked.”